What you’ll learn in this article…
- Massachusetts issues a single elementary credential: Teacher, Grades 1-6.
- Career changers with any accredited bachelor's degree can pursue initial-licensure tracks.
- The federal TEACH Grant can cover up to $8,000 of a master's.
Every elementary master's has to carry you through the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure, and how a program folds that preparation into its coursework separates a clean two-year path from a scattered one.
The sharper divide is who the degree serves: career changers need an initial-licensure track with a supervised practicum, while licensed teachers come back for the professional license or a non-licensure degree. Formats run from full campus to fully online, and price does not track reputation.
State tuition rates keep the public universities well below private price tags, but an unpaid full-time practicum is a cost no tuition line shows.
Massachusetts Elementary Education Master's Programs, Ranked
Massachusetts has no shortage of routes into an elementary classroom, but the ten programs below differ sharply in who they are built for. Some assume you already hold an initial license and want the professional one; others are designed for career changers who need the license and the degree at the same time. Format matters just as much: several of these can be finished online, while a few still expect you on campus in the late afternoon.
- Program completion and graduation outcomes
- Licensure track and state approval
- Field placement and practicum depth
- Graduate tuition and total credit load
- Delivery format and scheduling flexibility
- Federal College Scorecard outcomes data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- IPEDS institutional survey data from NCES covering graduate tuition — nces.ed.gov
- Program-level records maintained in house
- Independent editorial research
- State cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities — bea.gov
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst | Amherst, MA | $15,000 – $20,000/yr (est.) | UMass undergrads continuing straight through | |
UMass Amherst is the flagship public research university in the western part of the state, and its educator preparation programs are approved specifically for Massachusetts licensure rather than automatic licensure elsewhere. The elementary route is built for its own undergraduates: the 4+1 accelerated MEd lets you bank up to 9 graduate credits while still enrolled as a senior and finish the master's plus an initial teaching license in one additional year. Coursework leans on child development, elementary math methods, and social justice-oriented pedagogy. The university graduates about 83 percent of its undergraduates.
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| #2 | Worcester State University | Worcester, MA | ~$7,000/yr (est.) | Working teachers upgrading to professional licensure | |
Worcester State built its elementary master's for people already standing in front of a classroom. The campus MEd assumes a Massachusetts initial license and experience in an elementary setting, then uses an action research project and a graduate portfolio to move teachers toward a professional license in grades 1 to 6. A separate online version runs 34 credits over roughly 14 months for working professionals on a different schedule and budget. The university graduates about 61 percent of its undergraduates.
No entrance exam
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| #3 | Bridgewater State University | Bridgewater, MA | ~$9,000/yr (est.) | Educators customizing half their coursework | |
Bridgewater State's elementary education department runs several Massachusetts-aligned graduate pathways, including initial licensure, non-licensure, technology-integration, and STEM-concentration options. The professional licensure MEd is the flagship: a 31-credit hybrid program that pairs foundation work in curriculum, instruction, assessment, and teacher leadership with 15 credits of advisor-approved electives drawn from arts and sciences departments. A comprehensive examination closes the degree, and the program is aligned with CAEP and NAEYC standards. The university graduates about 53 percent of its undergraduates.
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| #4 | Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg, MA | ~$6,000/yr (est.) | ||
Fitchburg State runs its elementary education master's entirely online for career changers who hold a bachelor's degree but no teaching license. The 39-credit program follows the Massachusetts Professional Standards for Teachers and threads field work and a classroom practicum through the coursework, so graduates leave with supervised classroom hours as well as a degree. Rolling admissions and a six-year completion window make it one of the more flexible entry points in the state system, and it is accredited by AAQEP through 2030. Rolling admissions
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| #5 | Salem State University | Salem, MA | $5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.) | ||
Salem State splits its elementary offerings into three clean paths: initial licensure, advanced studies for licensed teachers, and licensure-only study. The initial licensure MEd places candidates in a full-year public school practicum and lets them choose among one-year, two-year, or self-paced schedules, with add-on options in special education, autism, and TESOL. The advanced studies route combines an 18-credit core with 12 to 15 credits of subject-matter coursework. It is also one of the few programs here that advertises a fellowship covering tuition and fees.
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| #6 | Westfield State University | Westfield, MA | $5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.) | ||
Westfield State's 40-credit elementary master's leads to an initial license in grades 1 to 6 and leans hard on field work: three pre-practicum placements come before a full-time practicum, with placements arranged within roughly a 30-mile radius of campus. Classes meet late afternoons and evenings so working adults can keep their day jobs, and the program is approved by the state and accredited by AAQEP. A teacher incentive discount is available to candidates who complete the MTEL.
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| #7 | Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | North Adams, MA | $5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.) | ||
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, in North Adams, pairs licensure coursework with an optional master's, so candidates can stop at the license or continue four more courses to the MEd. The licensure sequence runs 34 credits, including two field placements and a 9-credit student teaching practicum; the full master's totals 46 credits and adds a capstone seminar. Admission to the practicum requires an interview and passing MTEL scores, and applicants may need extra subject-matter coursework in math, science, history, civics, and the arts.
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| #8 | Gordon College | Wenham, MA | ~$9,000/yr (est.) | ||
Gordon College is a private Christian liberal arts school in Wenham, north of Boston, and its MEd in elementary education prepares teachers for kindergarten through sixth grade in public, private, Christian, and mission settings. Coursework stresses the science of reading and evidence-based instruction alongside math, science, and social studies methods, with two concentration options to choose from. Candidates can pursue either an initial or a professional licensure track. The college graduates about 69 percent of its undergraduates.
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| #9 | Framingham State University | Framingham, MA | ~$11,000/yr (est.) | ||
Framingham State's elementary MEd is a professional-license upgrade for teachers who already hold a Massachusetts initial license in grades 1 to 6 and are currently teaching or assisting in a public school. The on-campus format puts practicing teachers in the same room to sharpen content knowledge and instructional strategy against current elementary classroom practice. Admission requires a 3.0 GPA, two recommendations, and a short personal statement, and the university graduates about 48 percent of its undergraduates.
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| #10 | Cambridge College | Boston, MA | $10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.) | ||
Cambridge College in Boston serves working adults, and its elementary teacher MEd runs in a hybrid format that mixes scheduled evening and weekend sessions with self-paced online work. The main track leads to initial licensure in grades 1 to 6 through a 14-week supervised field experience, with coursework in inclusion and behavior management, literacy, and math. A separate 30-credit program taught in Spanish and English is designed for teachers who already hold a Puerto Rico teaching certification.
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What Went Into Our Rankings
A strong elementary education master's has to clear two bars at once: it leaves you ready for a Massachusetts classroom, and it leaves you solvent. The ranking weighs that balance more heavily than any single number.
- Outcomes: Earnings and completion outcomes reported for each school.
- Tuition: Graduate tuition charged to education students.
- Completion context: How many students finish, and how long the degree takes.
- Format: Whether the program runs on campus, online or hybrid.
Some figures describe a whole institution rather than the elementary education program itself, so treat them as school context. Program-level earnings carry the time window they cover, whether that is one year, two years or four years after graduation.
Initial, Professional or Non-Licensure: Which Master's Track Fits You
The right master's track depends on where you stand relative to the one elementary credential Massachusetts issues: Teacher, Grades 1-6.
Three Tracks, Three Starting Points
- Initial licensure: For career changers and others who need a first Elementary 1-6 license. Examples include Salem State's Initial Licensure M.Ed., Westfield State's Elementary 1-6 Initial M.Ed. and Lesley University's initial license master's. Expect an approved preparation program with a supervised practicum.
- Professional licensure: For holders of an initial license, such as Bridgewater State's Elementary Education (Professional Licensure) MEd or Salem State's Advanced Studies track.
- Non-licensure: Graduate study that deepens content or teaching knowledge but does not, on its own, lead to a Massachusetts license.
Tests You Will Take
DESE requires Elementary 1-6 candidates to pass the Communication and Literacy Skills MTEL, the Foundations of Reading MTEL and the General Curriculum MTEL, which has multi-subject and mathematics subtests. The Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) endorsement is a separate credential that can be earned by passing the SEI MTEL. For the initial license itself, DESE lists a bachelor's degree, not a master's.
From Initial to Professional
An initial license is valid for five years of employment, and the Commissioner may extend it for five more. A master's does not automatically convert it into a professional license. DESE's regulations describe specific routes, and some call for at least 12 graduate credits, with at least 6 addressing the license subject. Whether a given degree satisfies a route depends on that route's full requirements. After you advance, renewal includes at least 15 PDPs in SEI or ESL and 15 focused on students with disabilities and diverse learning styles.
Before you apply, confirm with both the school and DESE that the program is approved for the exact license you want.
What Massachusetts Elementary Education Master's Programs Cost
The first rows show the lowest-cost programs in federal data, reported as annual in-state graduate tuition and fees. The remaining rows show per-credit rates from each school's own tuition page, so compare like with like and confirm the year before you budget. These are sticker prices: fellowships, district tuition benefits and employer discounts can lower what you pay, and any institution-wide net price on federal college sites is an undergraduate average, not a graduate figure.
| School | Program | Cost Figure | What the Figure Covers | Total Credits | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitchburg State University | Elementary Education (1-6), MEd, Initial Licensure (online) | $6,246 per year | Annual in-state graduate tuition and fees, federal data | 39 | 2024 federal data |
| Worcester State University | Master of Education, Elementary Education (on campus; requires an initial license) | $6,813 per year | Annual in-state graduate tuition and fees, federal data | 37 | 2024 federal data |
| Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | Elementary Initial Teacher Licensure 1-6 with Optional MEd (online) | $8,181 per year | Annual in-state graduate tuition and fees, federal data | 46 | 2024 federal data |
| Bay Path University | MSEd/EdS in Elementary Education | $585 per credit | Tuition rate; the school does not list a separate per-credit fee | N/A | 2026-2027 |
| Endicott College | M.Ed. in Education | $614 per credit | Graduate education rate, listed with the education certificate rates; separate program fees not specified | N/A | 2026-2027 |
| Merrimack College | M.Ed. in Elementary Education (1-6) | $640 per credit (about $23,040 in listed tuition) | Tuition only; additional program fees may apply and rates can change annually | 36 | 2026-2027 |
| Stonehill College | M.Ed. in Elementary Education | $787 per credit ($629 discounted rate for eligible employees, alumni and partner groups) | Tuition plus per-semester registration, technology and parking fees, a practicum fee for licensure students and a graduation fee | N/A | 2025-2026 |
Schools in Massachusetts
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Fellowships, Residencies and Grants That Cut the Bill
The federal TEACH Grant pays up to $4,000 per year, and a graduate student can collect up to two awards, $8,000, across a master's program.1 Its terms are the firmest and most verifiable of any route here.
- TEACH Grant: Open to master's students in TEACH-eligible programs with a 3.25 GPA (or a top-quartile test score).2 It is not need-based. File the FAFSA and confirm your school participates. Recipients owe four years of full-time teaching in a high-need field at a low-income school within eight years, or the grant converts to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan.1 Best for career changers committed to high-need classrooms.
- MASSGrant: Undergraduate only for 2026-2027, so it generally will not cover a master's. Do not budget around it.
- Paid teacher residencies: Some Massachusetts districts and preparation programs pair classroom placement with pay or tuition help. Terms vary, so ask each program's admissions office directly. These suit career changers who need a paycheck while earning initial licensure.
- School scholarships and fellowships: Ask the graduate financial aid office at each school on this list what is offered for education students.
- District tuition discounts: Paraprofessionals and current teachers should ask their district's human resources office or union about tuition support.
How aid changes the ranking
Compare programs by cost after aid, not sticker price. A pricier school with a residency or scholarship can end up cheaper than a low-tuition option with none.
Online, Hybrid or on Campus: Picking a Format
Most programs here are campus-based, including UMass Amherst, Worcester State, Salem State, Westfield State, Gordon College and Framingham State. Bridgewater State and Cambridge College run hybrid formats. Fitchburg State and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) deliver their initial licensure coursework online.
The Practicum Applies Everywhere
Online does not mean classroom-free. Any program that leads to a Massachusetts license will generally require supervised, in-person practicum or student teaching in a school, so confirm placement logistics before you apply. Westfield State, for example, notes placements within a 30-mile radius, and Cambridge College lists a 14-week supervised field experience.
Full-Time or Part-Time Pacing
Career changers who keep a paycheck usually need part-time pacing. Evening or weekend meetings (Westfield State and Cambridge College both advertise them) and online tracks such as Fitchburg State's, which can finish in as few as 2.5 years, spread the load. Salem State offers one-year, two-year and self-paced options. Full-time study finishes sooner, but a full-year practicum is hard to combine with outside work.
A Simple Rule of Thumb
- Campus: Best if you want cohort ties and local school networks, and can reduce work hours.
- Hybrid: Best if you work days and can commute for scheduled sessions.
- Online: Best if distance or a fixed schedule rules out commuting, and you can still free daytime hours for the practicum.
For many candidates in Massachusetts, the master's is not an add-on to licensure. It is the route to the initial elementary license itself.
Elementary Teacher Pay in Massachusetts
Massachusetts elementary teachers earn well above the national midpoint.
Admissions, Accreditation and Licensure Steps Checklist
You do not need a teaching degree to apply. Massachusetts initial-licensure master's programs accept career changers with any accredited bachelor's degree, though you may have to make up prerequisite coursework first.
- Bachelor's degreeAn accredited bachelor's degree in any field is the baseline requirement.
- PrerequisitesThese vary by school but often include elementary content, child development, literacy, math, science and social studies.
- Application packageExpect transcripts, a résumé, recommendations, a personal statement and often an interview. State rules set no uniform GPA or test-score requirement, so check each school's testing policy.
- Program lengthPlan on roughly 30 to 48 credits over 12 to 24 months full time, or 24 to 36 months part time. Confirm the exact total in each catalog.
- MTELPass the communication and literacy test plus the subject-matter test for the elementary license.
- Student teachingComplete a background check and fingerprinting before school-based clinical work.
- AccreditationDESE approval is required for in-state programs. CAEP accreditation is a separate external review. DESE posts MTEL pass rates by test subject and race/ethnicity on its Educator Dashboard and state data portal.
- License applicationApply to DESE for the Grades 1–6 Initial License. It is valid for five years of employment and can be extended once by five years.
More Massachusetts Programs Worth a Look
Beyond the ranked programs above, Massachusetts offers additional elementary education master's pathways at private and public institutions across the state. This unranked directory groups those programs by region so you can compare location, delivery format and licensure options while building a shortlist.
