What Are the Best Online Master’s in Teaching Programs?

You don’t necessarily need a master’s degree to teach. Surprised? In many states, you can start teaching with nothing more than a bachelor’s degree and the requisite number of student teaching hours. While some states require that you earn a master’s degree before you can renew your teaching license (usually in five years’ time), others do not. It is possible to pursue a teaching career without a graduate degree.

Even so, there are compelling reasons to consider earning a master’s. The pursuit of knowledge for knowledge’s sake is one. Gaining new teaching skills is another. The biggest, though, is career advancement. There are just some roles you won’t be considered for with only a bachelor’s degree, no matter how much teaching experience you accrue. A master’s degree should also net you a substantial increase in pay.

If your goal is to spend your career in the classroom, consider pursuing the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) or a Master of Science in Teaching (MST). Both degrees provide the knowledge and qualifications necessary to transition to a specialty role in teaching (e.g., special education teacher or math teacher in a secondary school) or to make more money as a generalist.

But if you’re like most teachers, you probably can’t just take a year or two off to complete a graduate program. Universities recognize this, which is why many now offer part-time online master’s in teaching programs that are very similar (and, in some cases, identical) to their on-campus programs. Students in on-campus and online programs earn identical degrees, which means if you pursue a Master of Arts in Teaching online, your future employers won’t know you were a distance learner unless you tell them.

In this article listing the best online Master’s in Teaching programs, we’ll cover:

• Benefits of a master’s degree in teaching
• Courses included in a master’s degree program in teaching
• Concentration options in online Master’s in Teaching programs
• Ways to get financial aid for an online master’s degree in teaching
• Best online master’s degree programs in teaching

Benefits of earning a master’s degree in teaching

Most, but not all, students in online MAT programs already have hands-on experience in the classroom. The desire to be a better teacher prompts some to enroll in MAT or MST programs, but if that’s why you’re reading this, you should know that more teaching experience is better than more schooling when it comes to improving student outcomes. No degree can make you a more committed, more engaging, and more effective teacher.

What having a master’s in teaching can do is provide the qualifications you need to land better paying, more desirable, or more specialized jobs in education. You may also be able to make the leap to curriculum design or administration with a master’s degree, though MAT and MST programs are usually designed for teachers who choose to keep teaching.

Courses included in a master’s degree program in teaching

In most traditional and online master’s in teaching programs, the classes you take will be determined by the concentration you choose. The curriculum and instruction in most online master’s degree programs for teachers touch on the fundamentals (e.g., classroom management, engagement, and motivation; learning theories and models of instruction) but also include specialized coursework designed to prepare students to teach at the secondary education, teach special-needs students, or teach in underperforming schools. Always read the list of course offerings carefully before enrolling in a master’s degree program to make sure that you’ll get as much value as possible out of the work you’ll be doing.

Concentration options in online Master’s in Teaching programs

A lot of MST and MAT concentrations focus on the skills and knowledge teachers need to teach at a specific grade level (e.g., elementary education) or to teach a specific topic or student group (e.g., math or special education). Some concentrations available from the best online MAT programs are:

• Elementary education
• Middle school education
• Science and mathematics education
• Teaching English as a second language (ESL)
• Literacy and language instruction
• Educational psychology
• Educational technology
• Childhood special education
• Early childhood education

Ways to get financial aid for an online master’s degree in teaching

You can expect to pay between $250 to $470 per credit and $8,000 and $20,000 in total tuition when you pursue an online master’s in teaching. That’s a lot less than students in many other disciplines pay, but it’s still a lot—especially on a teacher’s salary.

The good news is that teachers in regionally accredited and nationally accredited online master’s degree programs can submit FAFSA forms for financial aid, take out student loans, and apply for private grants and scholarships just like traditional students. You may even be eligible for loan forgiveness programs, provided you put in the requisite number of hours of public service after graduation.

Best online master’s degree programs in teaching

For each of the online master’s programs in teaching listed below, we’ve included the most relevant information to consider when choosing a program: degree type, format, tuition, graduation requirements, core courses, electives, features, and concentrations. Remember that ‘best’ is highly subjective when it comes to master’s degree programs for teachers. The best online MAT will always be the one with a curriculum that aligns with your professional goals, a commitment you can handle, and a price tag you can afford.

Colorado State University – Global Campus

• Degree: Master of Science in Teaching and Learning
• Format: Online
• Tuition: $500 per credit hour
• Graduation requirements: 36 to 39 credit hours over one year
• Core courses: Fundamentals of Research and Writing; Learning Theories and Models of Instruction; Social, Ethical, and Legal Issues in 21st Century Learning; Theory and Practice in Backward Design; Technology and Innovation; Evaluation and Assessment; Cultural Responsiveness in the Differentiated Classroom; Action Research
• Electives: None listed
• Concentrations: English K-12 Educators; English Language Learning (ELL); Math K-12 Educators; Online Learning Innovation and Design; Teacher Leadership; K-12 Education Technology and Instructional Design; Contemporary Practices in K-12 Online Learning
• Features: Students can combine this program with CSU Global’s teacher preparation program; asynchronous delivery style; university partners with 2,200+ employers to offer tuition discounts; no student fees; one of the fastest master’s degrees for teachers; monthly class start means no long wait to begin pursuing your degree

Fordham University

• Degree: Master of Science in Teaching
• Format: Online
• Tuition: $1,442 per credit
• Graduation requirements: 36 to 45 credit hours over two years
• Core courses: Special Education Foundations: Past, Present, Future; Historical, Philosophical, and Multicultural Foundations of American Education; Psychology Of Child Development and Learning; Teaching Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Children; Beginning Reading and Writing In Inclusive Classrooms; each concentration track has additional course requirements and students must also complete seven New York State mandatory child safety workshops
• Electives: None listed
• Concentrations: Early Childhood Education; Early Childhood Special Education; Childhood Education; Childhood Special Education; Childhood Education and Early Childhood Education
• Features: 98 percent pass rate on the New York State teacher certification exams; students complete two 14-week full-time teaching experiences; placement specialists help students find appropriate fieldwork assignments; online students have access to federal financial aid programs, external scholarships, and student loan programs

Liberty University

• Degree: Master of Arts in Teaching
• Format: 100 percent online
• Tuition: $415 per credit hour
• Graduation requirements: 36 credit hours over one and a half years
• Core courses: Learning Theory; Historical & Philosophical Foundations of Education; Foundations of Exceptionality; Tests & Measurements; Curriculum Fundamentals; Principles of Behavior Management; Language Acquisition and Instruction
• Electives: Teaching Mathematics; Teaching Natural and Social Sciences; Reading and Language Acquisition; Young Adolescents, Schools, and Communities; Teaching Literacy in the Middle School; Curriculum and Methods for the Middle School; Current Issues in Content Areas; Curriculum Fundamentals; Principles of Behavior Management; Collaborating for Successful Transitions; Curriculum Fundamentals; Principles of Behavior Management
• Concentrations: Elementary Education; Middle Grades; Secondary Education; Special Education
• Features: Flexible eight-week courses and no set login times; one of the lowest per-credit tuition rates in the US; students may be eligible for the Federal TEACH Grant; students still have the opportunity to complete an internship; Liberty is an evangelical university with a curriculum that stresses “the principles of God’s Word.”

Michigan State University

• Degree: Master of Arts in Teaching and Curriculum
• Format: 100 percent online
• Tuition: $897.50 per credit hour
• Graduation requirements: 30 credit hours over two years
• Core courses: Students develop a custom academic plan with their advisors, choosing from classes on the MATC course list as well as courses offered by other departments. Each concentration has its own required coursework.
• Electives: Students can choose three credits of elective coursework with the help of their advisors
• Concentrations: Educational technology; Educational psychology; K-12 educational administration; Literacy and language instruction; Socio-cultural perspectives in teaching and learning; Science and mathematics education; English language learner (ELL) or English as a second language (ESL)
• Features: The student to faculty ratio is 20:1; three start dates per year; Michigan State University has been ranked fifth in the nation for the best online master’s programs in education by US News & World Report

Tufts University

• Degree: Master of Arts in Teaching
• Format: Online plus two three-day on-campus residencies
• Tuition: $1,200 per credit plus a $200 fee for each of the two immersion experiences
• Graduation requirements: 33+ credits over 16 months for full-time students or 20 months for part-time students
• Core courses: (varies by concentration) Human Development and Learning; Education of the Exceptional Child; Interdisciplinary Elementary Curriculum I and II; Practices of Teaching Elementary STEM; Human Development and Learning; Critical Foundations of Education; Foundations of Literacies; Practice of Teaching in the Elementary School; Arts and Expression in the Elementary Classroom; Human Development and Learning; Practice of Teaching in the Middle School; Curriculum and Pedagogies in Science and Mathematics; Arithmetic for Middle School Teachers; Algebra for Middle School Teachers; Physical and Engineering Sciences for Middle School Teachers
• Electives: None listed
• Concentrations: Elementary STEM; Middle School Mathematics
• Features: Online students complete the same curriculum and study under the same faculty as on-campus students; students complete an eight-month placement in a school; STEM-focused curriculum

University of Maryland – University College

• Degree: Master of Arts in Teaching
• Format: Online, but each course will require one or more in-school on-site components
• Tuition: $480 per credit hour for in-state tuition; $659 per credit hour for non-residents; $480 per credit hour for all military students
• Graduation requirements: 30 credit hours over two years
• Core courses: Orientation to Graduate Studies; Foundations of Teaching for Learning; Adolescent Development and Learning Needs; Reading and Multiple Literacies; Subject Methods and Assessment
• Electives: None listed
• Concentrations: None listed
• Features: The MAT program includes field experience components, including a full-time, 18-week teaching internship on-site at an approved secondary school of your choice; the program is designed to help students earn a Maryland teaching certification in the field of secondary education

University of Saint Francis – Fort Wayne

• Degree: Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education
• Format: Online
• Tuition: $525 per credit hour
• Graduation requirements: 33 credit hours over 12 months when attending full-time or 18–24 months as a part-time student
• Core courses: Contemporary Learners in Today’s Classroom; Collaborative Classrooms and Schools; Integrated Classroom Technology; Responsive Classroom Management; Inclusive Content Assessment; Effective and Inclusive Classrooms; Diagnosis and Differentiation; Methods for Secondary Instruction; Literacy in Content Areas; plus a 16-week practicum and 16-week clinical internship
• Electives: None listed
• Concentrations: None listed, though there is a non-licensure track available
• Features: Up to six start dates during the year; accredited by the Indiana Department of Education and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation; every online student at the University of Saint Francis is assigned an experienced success coach; free one-on-one career mentoring is available entirely online

University of Southern California

• Degree: Master of Arts in Teaching
• Format: Online
• Tuition: $53,984 for students enrolled full-time
• Graduation requirements: 28 credit hours over 13 to 15 months for full-time students or 18 to 24 months for part-time students
• Core courses: Introduction to Curriculum and Pedagogy in Urban Schools; Contexts for Educational Equity, Access, and Agency; Integrated Language Development Across the Curriculum; Applications of Curriculum and Pedagogy; Identifying and Teaching to Student Differences; Literacy Development and Instruction in Elementary Education; Applying Knowledge and Strategies for Teaching All Students; Blended Learning Experiences for Students in Urban Schools
• Electives: None listed
• Concentrations: Multiple Subject Teaching (Elementary); Single Subject Teaching (English, Mathematics, Science, or Social Science)
• Features: Three cohort start dates each academic year; students can earn a special education teaching credential, a Gifted Education Certificate, or Spanish Bilingual Authorization by completing additional coursework; the curriculum is identical to the on-campus program; graduates are eligible to be recommended for a California teaching credential; a departmental Placement Team helps students find fieldwork assignments; USC was rated one of the top-ranked Best Education Schools by US News & World Report

Western Governors University

• Degree: Master of Arts in Teaching
• Format: Primarily online
• Tuition: $3,240 per six-month term
• Graduation requirements: 19-24 courses completed over 18 months
• Core courses: Each concentration has its own curriculum. For example, the core courses in the Elementary Education concentration include Foundational Perspectives of Education; Principles of Psychology, Child and Adolescent Development for Educators; Fundamentals of Diversity, Inclusion, and Exceptional Learners; Classroom Management, Engagement, and Motivation; Educational Assessment; Mathematics for Elementary Educators; Instructional Planning and Presentation in Elementary Education; Elementary Reading Methods and Interventions; Language Arts Instruction and Intervention; Elementary Science Methods; Elementary Mathematics Methods; Application of Elementary Social Studies Methods; Application of Elementary Visual and Performing Arts Methods; Application of Elementary Physical Education and Health Methods; Elementary Disciplinary Literacy; Preclinical Experiences in Elementary Education; Research Foundations
• Electives: None listed
• Concentrations: English Language Learning (Pre-K-12); Elementary Education; Mathematics Grade 5-9; Mathematics Grades 5-12; Science
• Features: WGU’s Teachers College was named the best value in teacher education by the National Council on Teacher Quality; students work with a program mentor each term to build a personalized degree plan; students can finish as many courses per term as they’re comfortable taking on; class schedules are highly flexible; the program follows a competency-based format so students with teaching experience can finish faster

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