Master's in STEM Education

A master's step on the district salary schedule is usually worth a fixed dollar amount, whether the degree is in STEM education, literacy, or administration. That number, not the program brochure, sets what a working teacher can afford to pay.

Licensure is the other fixed constraint. Most states attach STEM endorsements to specific course requirements, so a 30-credit M.Ed. and a 36-credit M.S. can lead to the same lane change with very different price tags.

Completions and early-career earnings separate the programs teachers actually finish from the ones that only look cheap on a per-credit sheet.

M.Ed., M.S. or M.A. in STEM Education: How the Three Degrees Differ

The three degree titles overlap more than their names suggest, and each school sets its own curriculum, capstone and licensure options. Use these general patterns as a starting point, then check the specific requirements of every program you consider. The degree label matters less than the curriculum, the licensure outcome and the capstone requirement.

Top 10 Master's in STEM Education Programs Ranked for 2027

The ten programs below have more in common than the ordering suggests: nearly all can be completed without leaving a classroom, most sit between 30 and 36 credits, and several let teachers stack a certificate, endorsement, or leadership credential into the master's itself. What separates them is what the whole degree costs end to end, whether it leads to a new license or deepens an existing one, and how the coursework bends around a full teaching load. Graduation rates shown with each entry describe the entire institution, not the STEM education program itself.

Rank	School	Location	Net price	Best for
#1	American College of Education	Indianapolis, IN	$5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.)	Online learners balancing a full teaching load
American College of Education is an online institution built around practicing teachers, and the Master of Education in STEM Education is its STEM-specific master's. The 31-credit program is designed to finish in 12 to 15 months and pairs research-based STEM pedagogy with a running thread on using artificial intelligence as a planning partner in lesson design. Credit can also come in from outside: six credits transfer from the National Institute for STEM Education's National Certificate for STEM Teaching, and up to three more from Eduscape's STEM Coordinator Certificate. A capstone documenting classroom impact closes the degree. Master of Education in STEM Education — Online 31 semester credits, typically finished in 12 to 15 months Total program tuition runs about $9,109 Six credits transfer from the National Certificate for STEM Teaching Up to three credits for Eduscape's STEM Coordinator Certificate Coursework includes using AI as a lesson planning partner Capstone project documents impact on classroom practice 2.0 GPA minimum for admission Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission Visit Website
#2	Fort Hays State University	Hays, KS	~$4,900/yr (est.)	Teachers adding a science endorsement
Fort Hays State University is a public university in Hays, Kansas, with a large online teaching footprint, and its STEM offering sits inside the Master of Science in Education in Curriculum and Instruction rather than standing alone as a STEM degree. The 33-credit emphasis targets elementary and secondary teachers who want stronger content and pedagogy in science, technology, engineering, and math. Its practical draw is the exam preparation built in: Praxis courses in chemistry, physics, and biology can support an added STEM endorsement, though the program itself does not lead to an initial teaching license. M.S.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction (STEM Education), Master's — Online 33 credit hours delivered online STEM emphasis inside the M.S.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction Praxis preparation courses in chemistry, physics, and biology Coursework can support an added STEM teaching endorsement STEM content electives in biology or mathematics Does not lead to an initial teaching license Visit Website
#3	Adams State University	Alamosa, CO	~$6,000/yr (est.)	Aspiring STEM coordinators building leadership credentials
Adams State University is a small public university in Alamosa, Colorado, with deep roots in teacher preparation, and this STEM concentration sits inside its online Master of Arts in Education. The 30-credit sequence blends core education coursework with hands-on science classes delivered in partnership with US Satellite Lab, and it finishes with a STEM Leadership Certificate. Three start dates a year plus synchronous or asynchronous options make it manageable for working teachers. Federal earnings data for the university's education master's graduates shows median earnings of about $55,300 one year after graduation and about $59,100 four years after. Master of Arts in Education (STEM Concentration) — Online 30 credit hours inside the online M.A. in Education Total program tuition around $15,000 Finishes with a STEM Leadership Certificate Science courses delivered with US Satellite Lab Three start dates a year, synchronous or asynchronous Emphasis on teaching students from diverse backgrounds Full-time and part-time pacing available Visit Website
#4	Northeastern State University	Tahlequah, OK	~$6,000/yr (est.)
Northeastern State University is a public regional university in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and its Master of Education in Science Education runs entirely online. The 36-hour degree splits into a 15-hour professional education core, 15 hours of science content, and a six-hour capstone, with content courses built around inquiry, online simulations, and real data sources. Admission is more structured than most: a 3.0 GPA over the last 60 hours, or a qualifying Miller Analogies or GRE score, plus a standard teaching certificate or eligibility for alternative certification. Master of Education in Science Education — Online Fully online option 36 hours: 15 professional core, 15 science content, 6-hour capstone All courses run online, with simulations and hands-on inquiry 3.0 GPA over the last 60 hours, or a qualifying GRE or MAT score Teaching certificate or alternative certification eligibility required STEM Education certificate courses stack into the master's TEACH Grant funds open to qualified graduate students Prepares K-12 science teachers Visit Website
#5	Valdosta State University	Valdosta, GA	$5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.)
Valdosta State University is a public university in south Georgia, and its Master of Arts in Teaching is an initial-certification route rather than a degree for teachers who already hold a clear license. The 36-credit program leads to Georgia certification in middle grades or secondary science and math, with separate tracks for employed teachers on provisional certificates and full-time students who complete two semesters of internship and student teaching. Coursework is online, but face-to-face field experiences are required. Federal data for the university's education master's graduates shows median earnings of about $57,800 one year after graduation and about $62,000 four years after. Master of Arts in Teaching (Elementary, Middle Grades or Secondary Education) — Hybrid Fully online option 36 credits leading to initial Georgia teacher certification Concentrations in science and math at middle grades or secondary Two tracks: employed teachers and full-time pre-service students Two full semesters of internship and student teaching Online coursework with required face-to-face field experiences Clear-renewable T-5 certification after the GACE content test Summer start with an April 15 application deadline 2.75 GPA under the standard admission pathway Visit Website
#6	Clayton State University	Morrow, GA	$5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.)
Clayton State University is a public university in Morrow, Georgia, and its STEM teaching route is a Master of Arts in Teaching with a mathematics concentration that leads to secondary certification for grades 6 through 12. Candidates take 18 hours of intensive graduate coursework in mathematics alongside methods and professional studies classes, and field-based clinical experiences run throughout the program. The university also lists master's options across its College of STEM in data science, cybersecurity, archival studies, and teaching. Master of Arts in Teaching (Mathematics) — On-Campus Leads to secondary certification in grades 6 through 12 18 hours of intensive graduate coursework in mathematics Content and methods courses plus professional studies classes Field-based clinical experiences built into the program Elementary P-5 certification also available Provisional teaching certificate accepted for admission Visit Website College of STEM Master's Degrees — On-Campus Options include data science, cybersecurity, teaching, and archival studies Teaching option leads to certification for grades 6 through 12 Internships, research, and clinical work across programs Visit Website
#7	Florida Atlantic University	Boca Raton, FL	$7,000 – $18,000/yr (est.)
Florida Atlantic University is a large public university in Boca Raton, and its Master of Education in Secondary Education leads to certification with subject concentrations that include mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics. Admission is straightforward for a research university: a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, a resume, a personal statement, and two recommendation letters, with fall, spring, and summer entry points. Classes meet at the Boca Raton campus, which makes this the program on the list least suited to a teacher who lives outside South Florida. Master of Education in Secondary Education — On-Campus M.Ed. in Secondary Education with certification in mathematics Biology, chemistry, and physics concentrations also offered 3.0 undergraduate GPA required for admission Resume, personal statement, and two recommendation letters Deadlines: June 1 for fall, October 1 for spring, March 1 for summer Classes meet at the Boca Raton campus International applicants: TOEFL 4.5, IELTS 6.0, or Duolingo 110 Visit Website
#8	Texas A & M International University	Laredo, TX	~$7,000/yr (est.)
Texas A&M International University is a public university in Laredo, and its route for math teachers is a Master of Science in Mathematics with a mathematics education track rather than an education degree. The 36-credit program keeps real mathematics at the center, with core courses in real analysis, complex variables, abstract algebra, and topology, then layers in five education courses on curriculum and instructional methods. It is a campus program, and the non-thesis track requires no thesis or capstone. Master of Science in Mathematics (Mathematics Education) — On-Campus 36 credit hours, with a non-thesis option 12 credits of core mathematics: analysis, algebra, topology Five education courses (15 credits) in curriculum and methods Three 5000-level mathematics electives round out the degree Thesis or capstone option available in the research concentration 300-word personal statement and two recommendation letters Visit Website
#9	Youngstown State University	Youngstown, OH	~$7,000/yr (est.)
Youngstown State University is a public university in northeast Ohio, and its STEM concentration sits inside the online Master of Science in Education in Curriculum and Instruction. The 30-credit program is built to finish in about 12 months, with pay-by-the-course tuition and faculty who are current practitioners in schools. It is designed for working teachers who want to change curriculum and instruction in their own classrooms right away rather than move into administration. Master of Science in Education in Curriculum and Instruction (STEM) — Online 30 credit hours, completable in about 12 months Concentration in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics Pay-by-the-course tuition Faculty are current education practitioners Fully online, built for working teachers Apply new learning to your own classroom right away Visit Website
#10	University of North Carolina at Pembroke	Pembroke, NC	~$7,000/yr (est.)
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke is a public university in Pembroke, in the state's Sandhills region, and it runs two fully online science education master's routes: a Master of Arts in Teaching for career changers and a Master of Science in Science Education for licensed teachers. Both specialize in middle school science or high school comprehensive science teaching, and residency students in the teaching route serve as the teacher of record. Federal earnings data for the university's education master's graduates shows median earnings of about $48,500 one year after graduation. Science Education (M.A.T. and M.S.), Master's — Online Fully online option M.S. requires 36 graduate credits over about two years M.A.T. requires 30 semester hours and runs about 18 months Specializations in middle school science or high school science Fully online coursework M.A. leads to an M teaching license M.A.T. residency students serve as teacher of record Six graduate credits counts as full-time enrollment Visit Website

What Can You Do With a Master's in STEM Education?

The two basic paths are staying in the classroom and moving beyond it, and the degree you choose should match the path you want. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures (May 2025 wages, 2025-35 projections) show how different the markets are.

Classroom Teacher or Department Lead

High school teachers earned a median of $72,040, and middle school teachers $64,370.² BLS labels both occupations as 0% growth, which it describes as little or no change, but it still projects a net loss of about 2,500 and 2,600 jobs respectively.¹ Openings come mostly from turnover, so a master's matters here for pay lanes and leadership, not for new demand.

This track requires a state teaching license. Several programs are built around that: the Master of Arts in Teaching options at Valdosta State (science or math, middle grades or secondary), Clayton State (mathematics, grades 6-12) and UNC Pembroke (science education) include a certification path. Northeastern State's science education degree expects you to hold a license already.

Instructional Coordinator or STEM Coach

Instructional coordinators earned a median of $77,440, with 2% projected growth, roughly 4,100 jobs.³ It is a small field, so competition for each role can be real. Programs that lean toward this work include Adams State's Curriculum and Instruction with a STEM concentration, which adds a STEM Leadership Certificate, and Youngstown State's integrated STEM option. Fort Hays State's STEM education degree prepares graduates for teacher or coordinator roles but does not lead to licensure, so it suits people who are already licensed.

Roles Outside K-12

Curriculum design, museum education and edtech work have no single BLS category, so there is no occupation-specific wage to report for them. Postsecondary teaching is the closest measurable relative: an $85,330 median, 7% projected growth and about 98,200 jobs.⁴ Content-heavy degrees fit best. Texas A&M International's Master of Science in Mathematics with a mathematics education track is one example, though many four-year faculty posts expect a doctorate.

Matching Concentration to Role

• Elementary and middle grades: Integrated STEM or general science education, such as ACE's STEM Education degree, which lists a national STEM teaching certificate option.
• High school: Subject-specific tracks in math or science, like Florida Atlantic's secondary education degree with a mathematics concentration.
• Coaching and leadership: Curriculum and instruction degrees with a STEM focus.

Coaching and non-K-12 jobs generally reward experience, while classroom teaching depends on your license. Confirm your state's rules before enrolling.

What a STEM Education Master's Really Costs: Credits, Per-Credit Rates and Fees

Start with the per-credit rate, then add the mandatory fees that decide what the degree actually costs.

Run the Formula First

total credits x per-credit rate + mandatory fees = real sticker price

At Fort Hays State University, the online M.S.E. in Curriculum and Instruction: STEM requires 33 credits at $362.73 per credit; the university estimates a 9-credit semester at about $3,264.57 in tuition and fees.¹ LSU Shreveport's online M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a STEM concentration requires 30 credits at $378 per credit, with an official all-in total of $11,353.² Neither estimate isolates a standalone technology charge, so ask what the semester figure assumes.

Published Graduate Tuition, Before Aid

These are published graduate tuition and fee figures before scholarships, grants or employer reimbursement, not net price. To compare fairly, divide the advertised program cost by the credits required. American College of Education advertises $9,109 total program tuition for its 31-credit M.Ed. in STEM Education, roughly $294 per credit; Adams State lists $15,000 across 30 credits, or about $500 per credit. At that higher rate, 30 credits is $15,000 in tuition alone, before a single fee.

Same Credit Count, Different Residency

Fully online programs often post one flat per-credit rate no matter where you live. Campus-based and hybrid programs usually split into in-state and out-of-state columns, and the gap compounds: a $100-per-credit residency difference on a 30-credit degree adds $3,000 for identical coursework.

Fees the Tuition Page Leaves Out

• Technology fees: billed per course or per credit, so they scale with your course load.
• Practicum and supervision fees: charged when a field placement or site supervisor is assigned.
• Residency or campus-visit fees: short summer intensives and orientation weekends.
• One-time charges: application, transcript and graduation fees.

Request a written cost estimate at your actual credit load before you commit.

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Typical Early-Career Earnings Benchmark

This is the highest program-level median earnings figure among the schools ranked here. It belongs to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas program, which offers Mathematics Education, Science Education and K-8 Integrated STEM Education concentrations.

Additional Schools Offering STEM Education Graduate Degrees

The directory below extends the ranking with additional graduate programs in STEM education. Entries are presented as a non-ranked directory, with location, format, and program details for each school. Use these notes to compare teaching levels, delivery options, and tuition alongside the ranked programs above.