Master's in Secondary Education

A secondary education master's is worth what your state licensing board says it is worth. Every state issues its own certificate, so a program built to one state's rules can leave you unlicensed in another.

Two facts settle most of it: whether you already hold a license, and whether your bachelor's covers the subject you plan to teach. Career changers can finish a licensure-track master's online without an education major, though supervised student teaching stays. Each program in the ranking carries a "best for" label, because a degree's usefulness turns on state approval first and prestige second.

10 Top-Ranked Master's in Secondary Education Programs for 2027

The ten programs below cover the range of what a secondary education master's can do: initial licensure for career changers, advanced licensure for working teachers, and content depth for educators who want to stay in the classroom. Each entry notes whether the degree leads to a teaching license, how it is delivered, and what the credit load looks like, because those three details usually decide whether a program fits your situation.

Rank	School	Location	Net price	Best for
#1	Chadron State College	Chadron, NE	~$6,000/yr (est.)	Rural educators expanding subject-area knowledge
Chadron State College is a small public college in the Nebraska Panhandle, and its graduate education offerings are shaped around teachers working in rural districts. The Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction adds a secondary concentration that pairs 18 credits of advisor-chosen content coursework with a professional core in curriculum development, school law, and performance assessment. The concentration is built for middle and high school teachers who want deeper subject knowledge rather than a new endorsement, so candidates should confirm it satisfies their district's salary-advancement rules. Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (Secondary) — On-Campus 36 total credit hours, including 18 advisor-approved content-area credits Content options include math, science, social science, business and CTE Core covers curriculum development, school law and performance assessment Does not lead to a secondary endorsement or additional certification 18 graduate hours in a subject needed to teach dual credit courses Aligned to InTASC standards and designed for grades 5-12 educators Visit Website
#2	Fayetteville State University	Fayetteville, NC	$7,000 – $18,000/yr (est.)	Career changers entering biology classrooms
Fayetteville State University is a public historically Black university in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and its College of Education houses graduate study in secondary education through a dedicated department. The M.Ed. in Secondary Education is built for college graduates and working professionals whose bachelor's degrees sit outside education, with specialty areas in biology and mathematics that prepare candidates for grades 9 through 12 classrooms. Coursework stresses curriculum development, instructional design, and technology integration, and the program is approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Master of Education in Secondary Education (Biology Specialty Area) — On-Campus Prepares candidates to teach biology in grades 9 through 12 Designed for bachelor's holders whose degree is outside education Approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Coursework in curriculum development, instructional design and technology Global perspective, with teachers welcomed from around the world Visit Website Master of Education in Secondary Education (Mathematics Specialty Area) — On-Campus Prepares candidates to teach mathematics in grades 9 through 12 Built for career changers with non-education bachelor's degrees Curriculum design and classroom assessment focus Technology and media integration to enhance learning Faculty recognized as teachers and scholars Visit Website
#3	University of North Carolina at Charlotte	Charlotte, NC	$5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.)	Online learners already holding a teaching license
UNC Charlotte is the largest public research university in the Charlotte metro, and its M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction is delivered fully online and asynchronously for practicing teachers. The secondary education concentration spans English, mathematics, science, and social studies, and it leads to advanced instructional licensure in North Carolina rather than an initial license. The program holds NCDPI and CAEP accreditation, and a faculty member in middle, secondary, and K-12 education was a finalist for Charlotte's 2026 Teaching Excellence Award. Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (Secondary Education) — Online 30 total credit hours, delivered 100% online and asynchronously Concentrations in secondary English, math, science or social studies Requires an initial teaching license; leads to advanced licensure Accredited by NCDPI and CAEP Prepares teacher leaders, curriculum specialists and mentors One of five concentration options within the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction Visit Website
#4	University of Utah	Salt Lake City, UT	$9,000 – $28,000/yr (est.)
The University of Utah pairs a licensure-bearing master's with the Urban Institute for Teacher Education, a program built around urban teaching, family and community partnerships, and culturally responsive pedagogy. The M.Ed. with Secondary Licensure is a joint degree with the Department of Education, Culture, and Society and combines graduate coursework with field practicum and student teaching in Salt Lake City area schools. Candidates can add a concentration if they want to pair licensure with leadership training or study of schools as cultural institutions. Master of Education with Secondary Licensure — On-Campus Joint degree with the Urban Institute for Teacher Education Leads to Utah secondary teaching licensure Field practicum and student teaching in Salt Lake City area schools Tracks: Education, Culture and Society Licensure available in multiple secondary subjects Visit Website Master of Education with Secondary Licensure (Educational Leadership and Policy) — On-Campus Pairs secondary licensure with an educational leadership focus Develops teacher leaders ready to lead change in schools Offered through the Urban Institute for Teacher Education Visit Website
#5	University of West Florida	Pensacola, FL	$5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.)
The University of West Florida is a public university in Pensacola that delivers many of its graduate education programs online, and its College of Education and Professional Studies serves a large share of working teachers across the Gulf Coast. Its M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction pairs a 12-credit professional core and a 6-credit research sequence with a Secondary Education Comprehensive specialization, plus cognates such as instructional leadership, instructional technology, reading endorsement, and TESOL. The degree is a professional development path for certified teachers rather than an initial certification route, and it closes with a practice-based capstone. Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (Secondary Education Comprehensive) — Online 33 semester hours: a 12-credit core plus a 6-credit research sequence Secondary Education Comprehensive specialization Not an initial certification program; requires professional certification Capstone applies scholarly inquiry to a practice-based product Cognates include instructional leadership, instructional technology and TESOL 3.0 GPA and a letter of intent required for admission Faculty mentor provides career advice and advisement Visit Website
#6	Montana State University Billings	Billings, MT	~$9,000/yr (est.)
Montana State University Billings is the public university serving Montana's largest city and the surrounding Yellowstone Valley, and its graduate education programs are structured for people already in schools. The Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction offers a secondary concentration that includes teacher licensure, combining an advanced professional core with content-area methods, reading, and student teaching across 38 to 41 credits. Classes run in the evening and mostly online, program materials report an 87 percent job placement rate, and alumni have been hired by 14 school districts. Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (Secondary) — On-Campus 38 to 41 credits, including a teacher licensure core Mostly online with evening classes; about 5 semesters at 9 credits Secondary specialization in content-area methods, reading and student teaching Program materials report an 87 percent job placement rate Alumni hired by 14 school districts, including Billings and Great Falls 3.0 GPA and a $40 application fee Fingerprinting required Visit Website
#7	Southeastern Louisiana University	Hammond, LA	~$9,000/yr (est.)
Southeastern Louisiana University is a public regional university in Hammond, north of New Orleans, and its online M.Ed. programs are designed for currently certified teachers. The Curriculum and Instruction degree offers a Secondary School Education concentration spanning grades 6 through 12, with advanced instructional strategies, a capstone action research project, and alignment to Louisiana's COMPASS teaching standards. Completing the concentration can add credentials to an existing Louisiana certificate, and the program is included in the university's online flat-rate tuition structure. Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (Secondary School Education, Grades 6-12) — On-Campus 36 credit hours online, built for currently certified teachers Concentration spans grades 6 through 12 Capstone action research project required Aligned to Louisiana's COMPASS teaching standards Can add credentials to an existing Louisiana teaching certificate Program materials cite CAEP/NCATE and SACS accreditation Covered by the university's online flat-rate tuition Visit Website
#8	University of Central Oklahoma	Edmond, OK	$5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.)
The University of Central Oklahoma is a large public university in Edmond, just north of Oklahoma City, and its teacher preparation spans both traditional and alternative routes into the classroom. The M.Ed. in Secondary Education blends foundations of educational research, educational sociology, advanced developmental psychology, and contemporary learning sciences with internships in real classrooms. It suits both career teachers and bachelor's holders seeking alternative certification, and it prepares candidates for the Oklahoma Professional Teacher Exam or the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers. Master of Education in Secondary Education — On-Campus Capstone research experience required Internships put theory into practice in real classrooms Alternative certification pathway for bachelor's degree holders Prepares candidates for the OPTE or the PPAT Starts in fall, spring or summer Coursework in educational research, sociology and developmental psychology Visit Website
#9	California State University-Stanislaus	Turlock, CA	~$10,000/yr (est.)
Stanislaus State is a public university in California's northern San Joaquin Valley, serving Turlock, Modesto, and the surrounding region. Its M.A. in Education with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction offers secondary education as one of six concentrations, and it admits candidates who already hold a valid California Multiple or Single Subject credential. Classes meet in the late afternoon and evening so teachers can keep working, and students can finish in two to seven years at their own pace. Master of Arts in Education, Curriculum and Instruction (Secondary Education) — On-Campus Secondary education is one of six concentration options Requires a valid California Multiple or Single Subject credential Late afternoon and evening classes for working teachers Finish in two to seven years at your own pace Two-step application: Graduate School plus a one-page checklist Coursework in multicultural education and reading assessment and evaluation Visit Website
#10	University of Southern Maine	Portland, ME	$10,000 – $27,000/yr (est.)
The University of Southern Maine is a public university in Portland whose Extended Teacher Education Program moves candidates into classrooms early and builds the master's around that clinical work. Its MSEd in Teaching and Learning includes a Secondary (6-12) and world language track that pairs a 6-credit professional internship with content-area methods and research coursework, and completion brings a recommendation for initial teacher certification. Undergraduates can declare the Accelerated Graduate Pathway before finishing the bachelor's and carry nine credits of required coursework into the master's. Master of Education in Teaching and Learning (ETEP), Secondary (6-12) — On-Campus Accelerated pathway lets undergraduates carry 9 credits into the MSEd Declare before any 500-level course; apply after about 75 credits Secondary (6-12) track requires 24 graduate credits Includes a 6-credit professional internship in secondary education Plus 6 credits of research methods and inquiry Completion brings a recommendation for initial teacher certification B- or better required in each carried undergraduate course Visit Website

What Went Into Our Scoring

A program's name on a diploma says little about whether it will get you into a classroom. Three practical questions drive the ranking: does it lead to a license, what does it cost, and what happens to graduates afterward.

The Weighted Criteria

Programs were scored on CAEP accreditation or clear state approval, graduate tuition, earnings and debt reported for program completers, completion volume, and whether the format fits a working adult (online, hybrid, or campus). Reputation carried less weight than the paper trail a licensure officer will actually read.

What the Numbers Cannot Tell You

Some figures are institution-wide rather than program-specific, so a graduation rate reflects the whole university. Tuition is the sticker price before aid, fellowships, or district reimbursement. Earnings windows differ by school, with some reporting one year past completion and others reporting five.

How the "Best For" Labels Worked

Labels went to schools where a criterion was decisive: career changer programs with structured pre-licensure coursework, the lowest net cost once testing and clinical fees are counted, and MA options for teachers who already hold a license and want a subject deep dive.

MAT, M.Ed., MA, or MS: Matching the Degree to Where You Are in Your Career

A career changer needs a license; a licensed teacher needs a pay-schedule bump. Both paths can lead to a master's in secondary education, but the right degree title and program structure depend on which job the degree has to do.

Two Readers, Two Jobs

If you are coming from a content-area bachelor's in biology, history, or math and have never held a teaching license, look for an initial-certification track. Many programs admit you without a teaching degree, provided your undergraduate coursework covers the subject you plan to teach. The program should combine graduate coursework with supervised student teaching and the state testing and paperwork that lead to a license.

If you already teach, you are usually shopping for advancement: a pay-schedule bump, a curriculum or leadership role, or deeper work in your subject. Check your district's salary schedule first; some schedules specify a master's in the field or in education, while others accept either.

What the Letters Usually Mean

An MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) is typically the classroom-and-licensure degree. An M.Ed. is often broader, with concentrations in curriculum, instruction, or school leadership. The MA and MS labels vary widely by school, so read the admission requirements and the licensure pathway rather than the letters.

A degree title does not guarantee a license. The program must include a state-approved licensure track, so confirm that with the school and your state licensing board before you enroll.

What Does the Career Changer's Route From Bachelor's Degree to Classroom Look Like?

If you already hold a bachelor's degree, a licensure-track master's is the bridge to your own classroom. The order below holds in most states, though exam names and timing vary.

Will an Online Program Qualify You to Teach in Your State?

Online delivery buys you flexibility, but it does not buy you a license in every state. An online program leads to licensure only where it is approved, and that usually starts with the state where the provider is headquartered or authorized.

What the NASDTEC Agreement Does and Doesn't Do

The NASDTEC Interstate Agreement does not create a nationwide license. It is a set of more than 50 separate agreements, and the receiving state issues the license and sets the conditions. It mainly supports mobility for people who already hold a certificate. It does not approve online programs or waive student teaching.

States layer on their own rules. Pennsylvania asks for proof of student teaching or an internship, a minimum 3.0 GPA, and its own required tests, even for applicants prepared in another participating state.¹ Tennessee can accept an out-of-state provider's recommendation for a practitioner license, but only with a bachelor's degree, State Board Rule 0520-02-04 conditions, and Policy 5.105 assessment scores. Wisconsin treats any program headquartered elsewhere, online included, as out-of-state.³ Iowa's 2026 directions call for official transcripts plus a provider form or another state's license.⁴

The Student Teaching Problem

Clinical placement is where out-of-state online students most often get stuck. Your state will want supervised classroom hours, and the program must be able to arrange or approve a school placement near you. Some programs place students only in certain states.

Before You Enroll

• Confirm approval: Ask your state education agency whether it accepts this provider's preparation for your certificate field and type.
• Request the list: Ask the program for its state-by-state eligibility list.
• Verify placement: Get written confirmation that student teaching is available in your district.
• Check the extras: Note any testing, GPA, transcript, and background check rules.

Related Articles

CAEP Accreditation vs. State Approval: Which Checks Actually Matter

Accreditation around a secondary education master's comes in three layers, and they answer different questions. Institutional accreditation covers the university as a whole. CAEP accreditation applies to the educator-preparation provider, meaning the school or department that runs the teaching program, and comes at two levels: initial-licensure and advanced. State approval is granted by the state education agency under that state's own standards, and it usually determines whether a graduate can be recommended for a license.

A Three-Step Check

• CAEP search: Look up the institution, state, or program in CAEP's Accredited Provider & Recognized Program tool, then confirm the decision level and program scope in CAEP's decision records.
• State list: Pull your state education agency's approved-program list.
• Program disclosure: Read the program's licensure page for the state in which you intend to teach.

CAEP is a strong quality signal. State approval is the legal gate, and a CAEP-accredited provider still has to meet it.

If CAEP Is Missing

A state-approved program without CAEP accreditation can still lead to licensure. Ask how the program documents completer outcomes and confirm its state approval is current. Also confirm whether the track is initial-licensure, advanced-level, or non-licensure, since the search tool reports at the provider level and the specific program can differ.

Earnings and Debt After Finishing: What Program Completers Report

The figures below come from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS and College Scorecard data (2024). They describe each school's master's completers in its teacher education field rather than one named program, so read them as school-level signals; N/A means the figure is not reported. UC Irvine completers post the highest early earnings here, University of Central Oklahoma completers carry the largest median debt, and the UGA and UNC Charlotte degrees serve teachers who already hold a license, while USF's TESOL track does not lead to certification.

What Secondary Teachers Earn, and What a Master's Can Add

Half of U.S. secondary school teachers outside special and career/technical education earned more than $72,040, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $59,980 and $92,570.

More Secondary Education Master's Programs Worth a Look

This directory lists additional secondary education master's programs beyond the ranking above. Each card shows location, delivery format, and published graduate tuition, with a direct link to the program for course details.