Earn a Master’s Degree in Education Online

Earning a master’s degree in education online can be an excellent career move. Educators will always be in demand, and schoolteachers with master’s degrees tend to earn significantly higher pay. A master’s degree in education also opens doors to careers outside of elementary school and high school classrooms.

Where can I work with a master’s degree in education?

Many kinds of master’s degrees in education are available online, and each is associated with different career opportunities. Many masters of education continue to work as teachers in primary and secondary schools. Others become school administrators, teach at the college level, or work outside of academia.

Be aware that not all master’s programs prepare students to teach at colleges and universities. This is generally more dependent upon the area of education than the quality or content of the graduate program. For example, a master of music education may readily find employment at a community college or four-year university, and a master of nursing education may be in great demand by medical schools. A master of science education, however, will need to earn a Ph.D. to work at the same institutions.

An online master’s in education can also prepare people for jobs outside of traditional academic settings. Jobs are available in places such as:

  • community centers
  • corporations
  • correctional institutions
  • government agencies
  • museums
  • religious institutions

People who specialize in international education may also find work within non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and public or private schools worldwide.

How long does it take to earn a master’s degree in education online?

Master’s programs in education typically require one to two years of full-time coursework plus a practicum and/or master’s thesis. Part-time and summers-only programs are also available for working professionals.

How much will I earn with a master’s degree in education?

Financial compensation for educators varies widely. In primary and secondary schools, a teacher earning a master’s degree can expect an approximate 10-20% increase in pay over earnings at the bachelor’s level. This puts starting pay at approximately $40,000-$50,000 per year, with salaries ranging widely among school districts and states.

At the university level, professors’ salaries typically start above $60,000. Compensation varies by discipline, and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the highest 10 percent of post secondary education teachers earn well over $100,000 annually. In 2006, business school deans had an average salary of $135,000. Higher salaries are also earned by educators who work in corporate environments.

At the master’s level, pay tends to be lowest for administrators of preschools and child care centers. In 2006 they earned an average of about $37,000.

How valuable is an online degree in education?

Fortunately, just as people are realizing that additional education can give them the edge in a recession, the quality of convenient online programs is climbing and the cost of distance learning is falling. A variety of well-established universities, from Boston University to Utah State, now offer master’s programs in education online.

All of the online programs listed below are accredited by federally-recognized agencies.

Where can I get a master’s degree in education online?

Hundreds of accredited programs are now available online. Below is a sampling of reputable programs in a few subdivisions of education. For a comprehensive list, pick up a guide to graduate school such as Harold Doughty’s Guide to American Graduate Schools, which includes information about distance learning.

Art education

  • Boston University offers an online Master of Arts degree program in Art Education. Local students may add an optional on-campus studio component.
  • The University of North Carolina has an online master’s degree program for elementary, middle, and secondary school art teachers. Students complete their degree with a thesis or other comprehensive project.

Education administration

  • Seton Hall University has a distance-learning program leading to the master’s degree in Education Leadership, Management and Policy.
  • The University of New England’s Master of Science in Educational Leadership program is designed is designed for full-time professional teachers.

International education

  • Drexel University awards the M.S. in Global and International Education through a two-year online program. Drexel also offers online master’s degrees in several other areas of education.
  • Lehigh University offers a master of education program in Globalization and Educational Change. This unique program features a mixed instruction format with on-campus, online, and off-site classes.

Medical education

  • Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Education jointly offer a program leading to the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. Additional credits can be earned for a special “medical education” designation.
  • The University of Illinois Online offers a Master of Health Professions Education program that’s designed for busy professionals.