Master's in Curriculum & Instruction in Massachusetts

Massachusetts does not treat a curriculum and instruction master's as one degree. Some programs are built for career changers and lead toward an Initial teaching license through the state's approved pathway. Others are non-licensure M.Ed.s for licensed teachers who want to move into instructional coaching, department leadership, or a district curriculum role.

The two types can share a name and still deliver different outcomes. Tuition varies widely between the public and private institutions on this list, and format ranges from fully online to campus-based.

Districts pay for credentials they can verify, so a degree that does not match your licensure status can cost real money without changing what you are eligible to teach.

Our Ranked Picks: Massachusetts Curriculum & Instruction Master's Programs

Massachusetts curriculum and instruction master's degrees split into two broad types: fast, fully online non-licensure programs for teachers already in the classroom, and hybrid licensure routes for people entering the profession. The seven picks below cover both, along with the concentrations in between, from literacy and inclusive practices to applied behavior analysis. Each card names the format, the concentrations, graduate tuition and fees where the school publishes them, and the institution-wide graduation rate.

Rank	School	Location	Net price	Best for
#1	Fitchburg State University	Fitchburg, MA	~$6,000/yr (est.)	Working teachers seeking non-licensure study
Fitchburg State University carries a practical, working-teacher orientation into its online Master of Education in Curriculum and Teaching. The program is built for licensed educators who want to deepen instructional practice rather than earn an initial license, and it can be finished in about a year through accelerated seven-week courses. Coursework covers assessment design, social and emotional learning, technology integration and differentiated instruction, capped by a required capstone. The university's overall graduation rate is 55%. Master of Education in Curriculum and Teaching — Online $385 per credit, or $13,860 total program tuition 36 credit hours and 10 courses, finishable in about 12 months 100% online with accelerated 7-week courses Non-licensure: no teaching license required No GRE; 2.8 GPA minimum; $50 application fee Four start dates per year; capstone required Same tuition for all students, paid by the course Visit Website
#2	Endicott College	Beverly, MA	$15,000 – $20,000/yr (est.)	Campus-based learners weighing licensure routes
Endicott College runs a campus-based Master of Education in Curriculum Design and Instruction at its Beverly campus. Candidates share a common foundation in curriculum, assessment and data-informed decision making, then branch into ten concentrations that range from initial licensure routes in early childhood, elementary and secondary education to non-licensure options such as literacy, social emotional learning and Reggio Emilia. The university's overall graduation rate is 76%. Master of Education in Curriculum Design and Instruction — On-Campus 30-credit General Studies track; 36 credits with licensure Initial licensure options in early childhood, elementary and secondary Non-licensure options include literacy, SEL and Reggio Emilia Shared foundation in curriculum, assessment and data use Electives include Integrated STEM and Disciplinary Literacy Campus-based program in Beverly Visit Website
#3	Western New England University	Springfield, MA	~$18,000/yr (est.)	Prospective teachers without classroom experience
Western New England University delivers its Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction entirely online, with Elementary and Secondary tracks and rolling admissions that let teachers start in any of four terms. The Springfield-based university draws on long-standing partnerships with Springfield Public Schools and surrounding districts for fieldwork, and it prices the online degree the same for residents and non-residents. Applicants do not need prior teaching experience. The university's overall graduation rate is 64%. Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction — Online Rolling admissions 30 credits, fully online, with Elementary and Secondary tracks Rolling admissions with four start terms per year No teaching experience required to apply 2.8 GPA minimum; $30 application fee TEACH Grant and Adult Learner Scholarship eligible Employer tuition reimbursement supported Transfer up to 6 credits Visit Website
#4	University of Massachusetts-Lowell	Lowell, MA	~$16,000/yr (est.)
UMass Lowell runs one of the larger curriculum and instruction operations in the state, with three routes through a 30-credit Master of Education: a non-licensure pathway for experienced teachers, an Applied Behavior Analysis and Education track, and an initial licensure track for career changers. The School of Education works with more than 50 area districts, giving licensure candidates clinical placements in Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill and neighboring communities. The ABA pathway is fully online, while the licensure pathway mixes online coursework with classroom experience. The university's overall graduation rate is 65%. Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction — Online 30 credits with non-licensure and ABA pathway options Tracks: Applied Behavior Analysis and Education ABA pathway is fully online and builds on a graduate certificate 3.0 GPA minimum; some prerequisite coursework required Accelerated bachelor's to master's option available Mixes pre-service and in-service teachers in shared classes Emphasis on culturally sustaining practice and equity Visit Website Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (Initial Licensure) — Hybrid No entrance examRolling admissionsTest optional Hybrid format with 300 clinical hours in partner districts $470 per credit, 30 credits, about 12 months No entrance exam required; test optional; rolling admissions SEI Endorsement included Prepares candidates for middle and secondary licensure Placements through Haverhill, Lowell, Lawrence and nearby districts Full-time and part-time options Visit Website
#5	Boston College	Chestnut Hill, MA	~$38,000/yr (est.)
Boston College's Lynch School offers a non-licensure Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction aimed at experienced educators and students heading toward doctoral work. The hybrid degree pairs curriculum design and assessment theory with six concentrations, including Catholic Education, TESOL and Inclusive Practices, and draws on university ties to Boston, Newton and Brookline schools for field placements and action research. A comprehensive exam caps the program. The university's overall graduation rate is 91%. Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction — Hybrid Non-licensure degree; 30 credits and 10 courses Tracks: Catholic Education Six concentrations, including TESOL and Inclusive Practices Hybrid format; full-time students finish in 1 to 1.5 years Comprehensive exam required Field placements and action research with Boston area schools J.D./M.Ed. dual degree offered Visit Website
#6	Merrimack College	North Andover, MA	~$37,000/yr (est.)
Merrimack College structures its Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction around a self-designed capstone, with concentrations in early childhood, elementary, middle and high school, ESL and moderate disabilities. Courses run online or on campus in North Andover, and the 36-credit degree can be finished in as few as 13 months with six start dates a year. No GRE or GMAT is required. The college's overall graduation rate is 70%. Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction — Online No entrance examTest optionalEmployer tuition reimbursement 36 credits with a self-designed capstone project Six concentration options, or design your own $620 per credit; $22,320 total program tuition Finish in as few as 13 months; six start dates per year Courses online or on campus, full-time or part-time No GRE or GMAT; $0 application fee District partnership discounts and alumni scholarships Visit Website
#7	Boston University	Boston, MA	$65,000 – $70,000/yr (est.)
Boston University's Wheelock College of Education and Human Development offers a Master of Education in Curriculum & Teaching in online and in-person formats, with full- and part-time pacing. The degree covers subject-area methods in math, social studies, special education and modern languages, and its concentrations let candidates aim at elementary or science classrooms or at an initial licensure pathway. A CAGS option is available for educators who want to go further. The university's overall graduation rate is 89%. Master of Education in Curriculum & Teaching — Online Online and in-person formats; full- and part-time options Coursework spans math, social studies, special education and languages Option to pursue initial teaching licensure CAGS available for further study Research-focused curriculum with classroom management practice Visit Website Master of Education in Curriculum & Teaching (Elementary Education) — Online 36 credits over two years Asynchronous online classes with flexible live sessions Spring, summer and fall start terms Visit Website Master of Education in Curriculum & Teaching (Science Education) — Online 36 credits over two years, full-time or part-time Three start dates per year Asynchronous classes with live sessions Pathway to teaching licensure available 653 student field placements arranged in 2022-2023 Visit Website

What Went Into Our Scoring: Cost, Outcomes, Flexibility and Licensure Clarity

Scoring a curriculum and instruction master's comes down to a short list of checkable things: graduate tuition, the earnings and debt of people who finished the degree, and whether the program leads to a license.

The Numbers We Looked At

We start with graduate tuition per credit, because it is the cost you carry for years. Format comes next: online, hybrid or evening scheduling decides whether a working teacher can finish at all. Then federal Scorecard earnings and debt figures for a program's graduates tell you what happened to people a few years out, and completion counts show whether students actually finish what they start. Graduation rate appears as context only, with a caveat: it is school-wide, covering undergraduates and every major, not just this master's cohort.

Accreditation and Honest Limits

NECHE accredits the institution as a whole, which is why a school's regional standing says nothing specific about its teacher preparation. For that, look for CAEP accreditation or Massachusetts DESE approval of the educator-preparation program, and confirm it with the program directly. A program that never states its licensure outcome plainly is a bigger risk than one with a higher sticker price.

Two limits are worth naming. Net price figures are sector averages rather than a quote for your situation, and earnings come from windows measured after completion, so they describe past graduates, not a promise about yours.

Tuition, Credits and Format: How the Programs Stack up on Cost

Published graduate tuition runs from $6,246 a year at Fitchburg State University to $67,626 at Boston University, according to IPEDS and College Scorecard data from the U.S. Department of Education. Sector drives most of the gap: Fitchburg State and UMass Lowell are public universities, while the private colleges here charge more per credit, and 36-credit programs like Fitchburg State and Merrimack add coursework compared with 30-credit options. For budget-minded teachers, the affordable picks are Fitchburg State (listed at $385 per credit and $13,860 in total program tuition), Endicott College and UMass Lowell (in-state), though UMass Lowell's out-of-state rate rises to $29,118, and annual figures reflect schoolwide graduate tuition, so confirm program-specific rates and fees with each bursar.

Can This Degree Get You a Massachusetts Teaching License?

Does a curriculum and instruction master's lead to a Massachusetts teaching license? Only if the program is built for licensure. A licensure-track program, approved by the state, can lead to an Initial license.¹ A non-licensure M.Ed. is built for licensed teachers who want to advance, not for people starting a teaching career.

What DESE Requires for an Initial License

Under 603 CMR 7.00, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) sets the route.¹ For a standard Initial license you generally need:

• Degree: At least a bachelor's degree.
• Approved program: Completion of an educator preparation program approved by the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education.
• MTEL: The Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure, typically Communication and Literacy Skills plus a subject-matter test. Required tests vary by license field, so confirm yours.¹
• Practicum: A field-based practicum in the role and level you are seeking, or a practicum equivalent. Hours are license-specific, and an equivalent cannot be shorter than the practicum it replaces.

An Initial license is valid for five years of employment.² DESE guidance on extensions allows a further five years, but that is at the Commissioner's discretion, not automatic.

From Initial to Professional

The Professional license requires an Initial license in the same field, plus the requirements of your route under 603 CMR 7.04(c), 7.09 or 7.11.¹ Those include route-specific experience and mentoring or induction. A master's does not convert an Initial license to a Professional one automatically. In some routes it may satisfy the education component, but it does not replace the experience and induction pieces. DESE's renewal guidelines say Professional licenses run five years and renew in five-year terms.³

Which Track Fits You

• No license yet: Choose a licensure-track program. Fitchburg State, Endicott, Merrimack and others offer different formats, so check each program page to see which track you are looking at.
• Already licensed: A non-licensure M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction usually fits, since you are building expertise or working toward Professional licensure.

DESE documents were updated in 2025 and 2026, but they do not show a broad change to these rules. Check current MTEL test requirements and practicum hours for your specific field before you enroll.

Massachusetts Initial Licensure Pathway Basics

Umass Lowell vs. Boston University: Which Fits Your Goals and Budget?

UMass Lowell offers two online tracks with published costs and admission rules: a general M.Ed. for working educators and an initial licensure option for content-degree holders seeking a Massachusetts license. Boston University offers a Master of Education in Curriculum & Teaching, but our 2026 research did not confirm its current tuition, credits, format or licensure status, so get those details from BU's admissions office before comparing costs. UMass Lowell's rates are subject to change.

Online Options: Live Sessions, Self-Paced Work and Practicum Placement

An online curriculum and instruction master's puts your coursework on a screen, but the schedule behind that label differs from school to school. Fitchburg State, Western New England, UMass Lowell, Merrimack and Boston University are listed as online. Boston College is hybrid, and Endicott is campus-based. Merrimack lets students choose online or on-campus for each course.

Live Sessions vs. Self-Paced Work

There is no single model. Boston University's EdM is primarily asynchronous, with flexible live sessions layered on top. UMass Lowell's general option is self-paced and does not lead to licensure. Merrimack's related Teacher Education program is hybrid and competency-based, with immersion events alongside online work. Check each program page for whether live meetings are required or optional.

Practicum Placement for Licensure Candidates

Online does not mean you can student-teach anywhere. UMass Lowell's secondary initial-licensure option is fully online, but its 6-credit practicum takes place in a Massachusetts school for at least 12 weeks, after coursework is finished. It totals 300 hours, 100 of them with full teaching responsibility, and a university supervisor evaluates and mentors you.

Merrimack's Teacher Education program also requires Massachusetts placements near your home. Using your current full-time job for the practicum requires approval from its Director of Field Placement. Boston University's licensure route runs through a graduate certificate, and its page does not spell out practicum logistics, so ask admissions directly who finds the placement.

A Tip for Working Teachers

Ask for a sample week of a typical term. If it includes live sessions at set times, compare those hours against your own school day, and ask whether the practicum can overlap with your current job.

Concentrations Worth Considering: Literacy, STEM, Special Education, ELL and ABA

A fixed menu of named tracks and a build-your-own path lead to different degrees. Endicott College lists ten concentration options inside its Curriculum Design and Instruction degree, while Merrimack College offers six and lets candidates design their own focus around a self-directed capstone. Boston College and UMass Lowell each attach concentrations to their M.Ed., and Western New England University keeps it simple with elementary and secondary tracks.

Match the track to the job you want

• Classroom subject depth: Boston University's curriculum and teaching program covers math, social studies and special education content, which suits teachers staying in the room but deepening one subject.
• Coaching and district roles: A general curriculum focus, like Fitchburg State's, points toward instructional coordinator and curriculum director work rather than a new license.
• Behavior analysis: UMass Lowell runs its applied behavior analysis pathway fully online, a useful option for educators working with students who need intensive behavioral support.

Watch for the second credential

Some specializations do not end at graduation. Applied behavior analysis coursework feeds a separate board certification process with supervised fieldwork and an exam, not a Massachusetts teaching license. Special education, reading and English learner roles each carry their own state license with distinct subject-matter testing. Before you pick a concentration, confirm with the program whether the track ends in a degree, a license, a certification, or some combination.

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Applying: Requirements, GRE and MTEL Waivers, and Deadlines

Admissions to curriculum and instruction master's programs in Massachusetts are generally straightforward, but requirements vary by school. Use this checklist before you apply.

• Bachelor's degree and GPA

  Every program requires an accredited bachelor's degree. UMass Lowell sets a 3.0 minimum GPA, and Fitchburg State asks for at least a 2.8 in prior coursework.
• Transcripts, essays and resume

  Merrimack College asks for an application, all official transcripts, a resume or LinkedIn profile, and a personal statement, and may request more. Fitchburg State requires a professional resume and an essay. Check each admissions page to see whether letters of recommendation are required.
• Teaching experience for non-licensure tracks

  UMass Lowell says applicants should have at least one year in an educational setting. Its online General Option does not lead to a teaching license in any state. Fitchburg State does not require a teaching license to enroll.
• GRE and MTEL

  Merrimack, UMass Lowell and Fitchburg State do not require the GRE. UMass Lowell and Fitchburg State also do not require MTEL scores for admission. If you are on a licensure track, ask when MTEL results are due.
• Deadlines and start terms

  UMass Lowell admits year-round with no deadlines. Merrimack runs six 8-week terms. Its Spring I 2027 deadline is Jan. 4, 2027, with classes starting Jan. 13. The international deadline for that term is Dec. 8, 2026. Fitchburg State offers four starts a year across summer and fall. Its June 8, 2026 deadline has passed, so confirm dates for the next cycle.
• Transfer credit and financial aid

  Ask each school how many graduate credits it accepts in transfer. File the FAFSA early, and check whether your district offers tuition reimbursement.
• Next step

  Request information from the programs on your shortlist to confirm current deadlines, costs and licensure outcomes before you apply.

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