An online master's in adult education prepares you to teach adults and design learning for them: people working toward a high school equivalency, learning English, retraining for a new job or being trained inside a company. Coursework is delivered at a distance, and it centers on how adults learn, how to teach them and how to judge whether a program works.
The degree is a graduate credential from a college, not a state teaching license. The setting you want to work in decides whether a program fits, because public adult basic education, community college classrooms and workplace training each ask for different credentials. The sections below cover coursework, timing, state rules for online students, cost and how to choose.
Source: IPEDS completions and Institutional Characteristics, read October 6, 2026.
fully online master's programs in adult education ranked, from 26 schools
26
master's degrees a year at the median ranked program
15
median out-of-state tuition and fees for a master's year, 2023-24
$20,677
home states among the 25 schools on the list
17
This ranking covers fully online master's programs in adult education only. Hybrid programs, programs with a required campus visit and programs on campus are counted but not ranked here.
The 25 Best Online Master's Programs in Adult Education, Ranked
The 25 best online master's programs in adult education are ranked below by one score out of 100, built from IPEDS degrees awarded and graduate tuition and fees. Across all 26 ranked programs the median charge is $11,080 in state and $20,677 out of state, so each card's figures read high or low against that.
1
American College of Education
Master of Education in Adult Education and Training
Indianapolis, Indiana
84.6- Private for-profit
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 33 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,600
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,600
Professionals who train and develop adult learners are the audience for American College of Education's 31-credit Master of Education in Adult Education and Training, a non-thesis online degree that is not a K-12 licensure program. No tracks are named, but elective focus areas let candidates fit the coursework to their setting. A 1-credit capstone provides an applied finish in place of a thesis, and the school advertises completion in 10 to 15 months. The Higher Learning Commission holds the institution's accreditation.
2
80.3- Private for-profit
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 24 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $5,220
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $5,220
Waldorf University offers an online Master of Education with a Teaching and Learning concentration of 36 credits for educators already in the classroom. A 24-credit major combines with 12 concentration credits, and the curriculum centers on personal leadership development and 21st-century digital teaching strategies. State educator certification is not part of the degree, so those who need a license are referred to the university's partner TeacherReady. Study is entirely online, which suits teachers who keep working, and the Higher Learning Commission accredits the university.
3
University of Phoenix-Arizona
Master of Arts in Education - Adult Education and Training
Phoenix, Arizona
70.8- Private for-profit
- Adult and Continuing Education Administration
- Degrees awarded
- 138 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $16,215
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $16,215
Corporate trainers and other professionals who teach adults on the job are the focus of the University of Phoenix's 34-credit Master of Arts in Education in Adult Education and Training. Online courses run five to six weeks, and most candidates finish in about 16 months. The degree does not prepare candidates for professional certification or state teacher credentials, so its value lies in workplace and adult-learning settings instead of K-12 classrooms. The Higher Learning Commission is the accreditor.
4
Park University
Master of Education in Organizational Leadership and Adult Learning
Parkville, Missouri
66.5- Private nonprofit
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 13 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,942
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,942
Park University teaches its online Master of Education in Organizational Leadership and Adult Learning on a scholar-practitioner model, in which candidates ground leadership decisions in evidence while working on problems from their own settings. Small cohorts move together through 30 credits, which keeps the work collaborative. A capstone project asks candidates to synthesize their studies into applied work. The degree is aimed at working adults stepping into leadership across organizations and adult education, and the university holds Higher Learning Commission accreditation.
5
64.5- Public
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 25 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $13,546
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,868
Eight-week terms and a finish in about a year define the University of West Alabama's fully online Master of Science in Adult and Continuing Education. Of 33 credit hours, 24 go to customizable concentration study, with General and Library Media options, and up to 9 transfer hours are accepted. The degree does not lead to Alabama teaching certification. It is aimed instead at educators and trainers who work with adult learners outside K-12, in workforce training, continuing education and adult program administration. SACSCOC accredits the university, and the program is open to students in SARA member states.
6
58.8- Public
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 12 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,512
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,512
Morehead State University lets candidates shape its online Master of Arts in Adult and Higher Education around a target role, whether teaching, administration, student personnel or developmental studies. No single track is fixed, so the coursework is planned with an advisor toward work in adult or postsecondary settings. The GRE or MAT requirement can be waived once a student completes 9 program hours with a 3.5 GPA or better. The degree is not approved as a pay-advancement credential for public school teachers, so it is aimed at adult educators and higher education professionals.
7
58.7- Public
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 31 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $17,100
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,550
Troy University offers its fully online Master of Science in Adult Education in 9-week sessions across five terms, a schedule that can be finished in about a year. Concentrations are available in Curriculum Design and Instructional Technology, and Leadership in Workforce Development. It is not a licensure program. Graduates prepare for roles such as instructional designer, workforce development specialist, and college, corporate or military instructor. Thesis and non-thesis options are offered, and four related post-master's certificates allow further specialization.
8
48.3- Public
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 14 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $15,535
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,315
Formerly the University of Houston-Victoria and now Texas A&M University-Victoria, the school delivers its 30-credit-hour Master of Education in Adult and Higher Education completely online. Two tracks divide the degree. A Higher Education track leans toward student affairs and administrative leadership in colleges, while a Discipline track prepares graduates to teach a specific subject at the postsecondary level. One credential therefore serves both the future administrator and the future college instructor. The old uhv.edu web address now redirects to tamuv.edu, where the program page lives.
9
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Master of Education in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education
University Park, Pennsylvania
45.9- Public
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 32 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $24,406
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $24,406
Penn State World Campus offers its 30-credit Master of Education in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education fully online and asynchronously, so coursework fits around a working schedule. Students choose a general M.Ed., a Global Online and Distance Education option or a Medical and Health Professions option, and may earn a related postbaccalaureate certificate alongside the degree. The non-thesis curriculum ends with ADTED 588, a Professional Seminar on research and adult education. No teaching license is granted, though the coursework is Act 48-approved for Pennsylvania educator professional-development hours.
10
45.1- Public
- Adult and Continuing Education Administration
- Degrees awarded
- 23 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $20,807
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,658
East Carolina University lets candidates in its online Master of Arts in Education in Adult Education specialize in community-based education, community college instruction, education in the healthcare professions, instructional design, student affairs in higher education, or workplace training and development. Admission does not depend on the GRE or the GMAT. The degree takes a minimum of 36 semester hours, about 2.5 years part-time, and a cumulative portfolio is required for graduation. A thesis is optional and suggested mainly for those heading to doctoral study, while an internship is recommended for anyone without adult-education work experience.
11
43.0- Public
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 9 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $14,560
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,157
No formal concentrations exist in Texas A&M University-Kingsville's 36-credit online Master of Education in Adult and Higher Education, so candidates work with an advisor to shape a focus through electives. Study is asynchronous, with no residency requirement and no fixed class meetings, and a finish in as little as 1.5 years is possible. Instead of a thesis, the degree ends with comprehensive examinations. It does not lead to teacher licensure, which makes it preparation for adult and higher education work rather than for the K-12 classroom.
12
Capella University
Master of Science in Education, Adult Education specialization
Minneapolis, Minnesota
41.3- Private for-profit
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 9 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $15,066
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $15,066
Capella University runs its Master of Science in Education, Adult Education specialization online in the GuidedPath format, where learners move through material at their own pace. The non-thesis curriculum consists of four core courses, five specialization courses, one elective and a capstone. Capella states plainly that the degree is not designed to meet requirements for a professional license or certification, so it serves career advancement in adult learning settings. The Higher Learning Commission accredits the university institutionally.
13
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Master of Education in Adult and Community College Education
Raleigh, North Carolina
40.9- Public
- Adult and Continuing Education Administration
- Degrees awarded
- 38 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $31,793
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,819
North Carolina State University offers an online Master of Education in Adult and Community College Education for people who teach and lead adults in postsecondary settings, and it does not lead to teacher licensure. Candidates select among Adult and Continuing Professional Education, Community College Teaching and Health Professions Education. The degree is non-thesis, with a supervised internship, EAC 651, available in place of a research project, and no GRE is needed for admission. The school holds regional accreditation through SACSCOC.
14
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Master of Arts in Adult Learning and Development
Natchitoches, Louisiana
39.3- Public
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 16 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $20,546
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,758
Professionals who train adults outside a traditional classroom can pursue Northwestern State University of Louisiana's online Master of Arts in Adult Learning and Development. Students lean toward either E-learning, which centers on designing online instruction, or Adult and Workforce Development, which builds programs for workplaces and communities. The finish is a choice between a capstone research course for those who want to deepen scholarship and a practicum that applies theory in a real adult education setting. Delivery is fully online, and SACSCOC gives the university its institutional accreditation.
15
36.9- Public
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 27 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $29,784
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,548
Working professionals who develop and lead learning for adults are the audience for the University of Idaho's Master of Science in Adult, Organizational Learning and Leadership, based in Moscow. Areas of emphasis include adult learning and literacy education, organizational learning, and human resource development. Courses are offered online across fall, spring or summer terms, and both thesis and non-thesis options are available. Licensure is not part of the degree, so the focus stays on adult and workplace learning in place of K-12 certification.
16
34.8- Public
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 19 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $25,884
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,594
Candidates at the University of Southern Maine can steer the 36-credit online Master of Science in Adult and Higher Education toward student affairs, teaching and learning in higher education, adult education, or nonprofit community education leadership, staff development and corporate training. Within the adult education focus, an Adult Education Director Certification is available. The degree closes with a choice between an internship and a directed-study project, so the finish can be applied fieldwork or a scholarly capstone. No GRE is required, and delivery is fully online.
17
34.6- Public
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 18 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $25,147
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,786
Eight-week asynchronous sessions carry Kansas State University's 33-credit Master of Science in Adult Learning and Leadership, which is fully online and can be finished in as little as 24 months. Instead of a thesis, candidates assemble a Program Completion Portfolio. Electives can line up with graduate certificates in Adult Learning, Leadership Dynamics for Adult Learners and Social Justice Education. A partnership with the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth extends the degree to military professionals, and the degree stops short of K-12 licensure.
18
28.1- Public
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 12 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $24,350
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,870
SUNY Empire State University's online Master of Arts in Adult Education offers three concentrations: General, Workplace Learning and Community Education. A two-course capstone sequence ends the degree, and candidates pick a Professional Project, a Practicum of at least 120 supervised field hours, or a Policy Brief. Adults arriving with substantial experience can have up to 12 credits of prior learning assessment applied toward the requirements. Delivery is fully online, which suits those who want a flexible route through adult education.
19
Teachers College at Columbia University
Master of Arts in Adult Learning and Leadership
New York, New York
27.5- Private nonprofit
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 18 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $35,987
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $35,987
Teachers College, Columbia University delivers its 36-credit Master of Arts in Adult Learning and Leadership fully online, with New York State approval for a fully online master's degree. Electives draw from Leadership, Coaching, Applied Workshops and Societal Transformation. A final integrative project applies a literature review to a practice-based question from the student's own professional context. For those who want time on campus, up to 14 credits can optionally be taken in person.
20
Central Michigan University
Master of Arts in Education, Training and Development concentration
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
26.4- Public
- Adult and Continuing Education Administration
- Degrees awarded
- 5 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $16,293
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $16,293
Central Michigan University aims its Master of Arts in Education, Training and Development concentration at corporate and organizational learning rather than K-12 classrooms. The degree involves 30 to 33 credits across ten core courses, with new eight-week starts six times a year, and no thesis or practicum is required. Diversity, equity and inclusion in adult-learning program design gets particular emphasis. It is not a certification or licensure program, and it points toward corporate training, human resources and adult-education leadership roles. Training and Development is one of two concentrations in the Education M.A., the other being Curriculum and Instruction.
21
Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas
25.5- Public
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 6 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $18,301
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,901
Established in 1989, Texas State University's Master of Arts in Adult, Professional and Community Education is delivered online with a Workplace, Community, and Continuing Education concentration, and an Adult ESL concentration extends it to language instruction for adults. Candidates take either a thesis route of 36 to 39 credit hours or a non-thesis route of 30 to 33 hours. Both routes include a supervised internship that anchors the study in professional practice. Licensure is not part of the degree, which keeps attention on adult and community learning contexts.
22
25.3- Public
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 14 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $29,196
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,992
Small cohorts and full-time, tenure-line faculty define Ball State University's online Master of Arts in Adult and Community Education. The community emphasis points toward nonprofit, civic and community-based learning roles. Candidates can add a dual major in Executive Development for Public Service by taking a single additional 3-credit-hour course, which broadens the credential toward public-sector leadership. Because licensure is not on offer, the degree works as career preparation in community settings and not as a state credential.
23
23.9- Public
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 10 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $24,637
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,157
Buffalo State University's online Master of Science in Adult Education lets candidates design a nine-credit field concentration with an advisor, in areas such as literacy, ESL, human resource development, workplace learning or student personnel administration. The degree ends with an online portfolio and a portfolio defense, so graduates leave with a documented body of applied work. Up to three no-cost microcredentials can be earned alongside it, in Grant Writing, Human Resource Development, Instructional Design and Online Teaching. Delivery is fully online.
24
Indiana University-Bloomington
Master of Science in Education in Adult Education
Bloomington, Indiana
23.0- Public
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 14 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $33,410
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,611
Indiana University Bloomington houses its Master of Science in Education in Adult Education with Learning Sciences and Instructional Systems Technology, so the emphasis falls on how adults learn and how instruction is designed. Between 80 and 99 percent of the coursework is online. The one campus requirement is a three-day residency for D521 Participation Training, a hands-on course that brings face-to-face practice into a mostly remote degree. It is a practitioner-oriented degree and does not provide K-12 teacher licensure.
25
20.3- Public
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 12 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $31,698
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $15,795
Cohorts move together through Oregon State University's 45-quarter-credit Master of Education in Adult and Higher Education, a fully online degree offered through OSU Ecampus over roughly two years. A required internship can be tailored to interests such as instructional design or workplace training, since there are no formal tracks. Up to 22 graduate credits from related certificates and microcredentials can be stacked toward the degree. Teacher licensure is not part of it, which keeps the aim on adult and postsecondary settings.
How We Rank
Every eligible program is scored out of 100. Each figure becomes a percentile against the 26 ranked programs, and the percentiles are weighted as below. The methodology page explains each choice.
- Degrees awarded: 50%. Master's degrees the program conferred in the latest reported year, counted up to 50. Past 50 a year a program is clearly established and more volume adds nothing.
- Out-of-state tuition and fees: 50%. The university's graduate tuition plus required fees for a full-time year, out-of-state rate, 2023-24. Lower cost scores higher.
Reading the cards. Degrees awarded is the program's own count for the latest year reported to IPEDS, counted up to 50 for the score. Each tuition figure on an adult education card is the university's graduate charge for a full-time year, read from IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, 2023-24. It is not a per-credit price or an online-only rate, so ask the program for its own.
Source: federal IPEDS records, read October 6, 2026. Tuition and fees are 2023-24. Scores are our own.
How Many Online Master's Programs in Adult Education Are There?
There are 28 fully online master's programs in adult education, out of 50 on federal record, and 26 of them are ranked above. A program counts as fully online when the school's own description of it says the whole degree can be completed at a distance, in line with the federal definition of an exclusively distance education program. In adult education, a required campus residency makes a program hybrid here, even when most of the coursework is online, while a student teaching or practicum placement near home does not.
What Does an Online Master's in Adult Education Cost?
An online master's in adult education costs from $5,220 to $35,987 a year out of state in graduate tuition and required fees across the 26 ranked programs, with a median of $20,677. In state the median is $11,080. These are each university's annual graduate charge from IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, 2023-24 rather than a per-credit price or an online-only rate, so a adult education program's own price page is the figure to plan on.
What Does an Online Master's in Adult Education Cover?
An online master's in adult education covers adult learning theory, the teaching of adults, program design and the research behind them. Penn State World Campus's 30-credit online M.Ed. in lifelong learning and adult education shows the pattern: a core that includes an introduction to the field, a course on teaching adults and one on adult learning theory, then electives within options such as global online and distance education or medical and health professions.
American College of Education's online M.Ed. in adult education and training mixes the material differently, with courses in adult literacy development, assessing adult learners and evaluating instructional programs. The American Institutes for Research wrote a set of Adult Education Teacher Competencies that outline the core knowledge and skills these teachers need.
How Long Does an Online Master's in Adult Education Take?
An online master's in adult education takes between about a year and four years, depending on the program and how many courses you carry at once. Penn State World Campus's 30-credit program runs three semesters a year and lets you take one to four courses a term, with completion times from one to four years. American College of Education lists its 31-credit program at 10 to 15 months.
The track you pick also moves the total. North Carolina State University's catalog entry asks for 36 hours in two tracks and 33 to 36 in its community college teaching track.
Does an Online Master's in Adult Education Lead to a Teaching License?
An online master's in adult education does not by itself lead to a teaching license, because the degree is a college credential while the certificate for a public school classroom comes from your state. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports in its Occupational Outlook Handbook that public school teachers of adults need a teaching certificate, that some states issue one for adult education and that others ask for an elementary or secondary credential.
Two states show how far the rules differ. Connecticut's adult education endorsements all ask for a 36-clock-hour course of study in special education, and the endorsement for teaching English to non-English-speaking adults adds a bachelor's degree and three semester hours in methods of teaching English to speakers of other languages. Pennsylvania's staffing guideline requires certification in adult classes when school-aged students and adults are enrolled together for public-school credit, among other cases.
How Do State Authorization and Licensure Disclosures Work for Online Adult Educators?
State authorization and licensure disclosures reach an online adult education student through a federal rule that applies when a program is built to meet a license or certificate requirement. 34 CFR 668.43 requires a program designed or advertised to meet a license requirement to list the states where the school has determined that it does and does not meet them, so a program aimed at an adult education endorsement should be able to answer in writing.
A program that is not designed or advertised as meeting a license requirement has no state list to show, so the notice to ask for is a plain statement that the degree leads to no license, plus the school's answer for any endorsement your state issues. NC-SARA, the interstate authorization agreement, says it does not address licensing board approval in fields such as teacher education, which means a school's permission to enroll you never replaces a state agency's decision.
What Do Per-Credit Prices and Federal Loan Limits Mean for an Online Master's in Adult Education?
Per-credit prices and federal loan limits set what an online master's in adult education means for your budget, and the prices range widely. Penn State World Campus lists $1,048 per credit for 2026-27, while Indiana University lists $560.56 per credit for Indiana residents and $664.67 for nonresidents, with a distance education fee included.
Borrowing rules changed on July 1, 2026. The Department of Education's loan-limit guidance sets a $100,000 aggregate limit on Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans borrowed for graduate study, and Grad PLUS loans stay open only, and only for a limited time, to students who were enrolled in their program on June 30, 2026 and had received a Direct Loan for it before July 1, 2026. Multiply the per-credit price by the credit total, add fees, and compare the bill with that limit.
What Jobs Does an Online Master's in Adult Education Lead To?
An online master's in adult education leads to jobs teaching adults, designing their courses and running programs for them. The Bureau of Labor Statistics profiles the teaching side as adult basic and secondary education and ESL teachers, who work in community colleges, community-based organizations and public schools, often in morning and evening classes, with part-time work common.
The federal Adult Education and Family Literacy Act supports programs for adults without a secondary diploma, English learners, parents and incarcerated adults. Outside those programs, Indiana University's program page names human resource training, community college teaching or administration and e-learning among the roles it prepares for. See the adult education and ESL teacher guide.
How Much Do Jobs Tied to an Online Master's in Adult Education Pay?
Jobs tied to an online master's in adult education pay a median of $61,540 a year in the closest federal occupation, Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors, in May 2025. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts 37,310 workers in that occupation, and the lowest-paid tenth earn $41,810 or less while the highest-paid tenth earn $98,030 or more.
The Bureau's Occupational Outlook Handbook profile for this occupation covers projected growth, entry requirements and typical duties.
These are national wages for the occupation as a whole, not what a master's graduate earns, so a district's salary schedule or an employer's own pay scale is the figure to plan on.
How Should You Choose an Online Master's in Adult Education Program?
To choose an online master's in adult education program, start from the setting you want to work in and match the program's track to it. North Carolina State University's adult and community college education degree, for example, separates adult and continuing professional education, community college teaching and health professions education into different tracks.
Then confirm institutional accreditation, since the degree is a credential from the college and not a state license: American College of Education reports accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission, and the Department of Education's accreditation database lets you check any school. Finally, ask your state agency which credential your target job needs, and ask the program how its capstone or internship is arranged near you.
How Do You Earn an Online Master's in Adult Education?
You earn an online master's in adult education by picking the setting first, then the program, and confirming credentials with your state before you pay a deposit.
- Name your setting. Decide whether you want adult basic education, English instruction for adults, community college teaching or workplace training, because each setting asks for different credentials.
- Check your state's rule. Find out whether your state agency issues an adult education certificate or endorsement, and what it requires beyond the degree.
- Match a program and get it in writing. Choose a track that fits your setting, then ask the school for its licensure disclosure for your state and a statement of whether the degree leads to any credential.
- Finish the capstone near home. Complete the final paper or internship with a local program, college or employer, then apply for any state endorsement with your transcript.
Common Questions About Online Master's Programs in Adult Education
How Many Online Master's Programs in Adult Education Are There?
How Much Does an Online Master's in Adult Education Cost?
What Are the Best Online Master's Programs in Adult Education?
Are Online Master's Programs in Adult Education Accredited?
How Are Online Master's Programs in Adult Education Ranked?
Does an Online Master's in Adult Education Require a Capstone, Thesis or Internship?
Can an Online Master's in Adult Education Focus on Health Professions or Online Teaching?
Does an Online Master's in Adult Education Qualify You to Teach at a Community College?
How Does ESL Fit Into an Online Master's in Adult Education?
Where Do You Find Your State's Adult Education Certification Rules?
Where Do the Figures on These Online Master's Programs in Adult Education Come From?
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, 2023-24
- Distance Education in IPEDS
- College Navigator
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
- Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP)
- Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- 34 CFR 668.43, Institutional and programmatic information (eCFR)
- NC-SARA, Professional Licensure
- Penn State World Campus, online M.Ed. in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education
- Penn State Graduate Bulletin, Lifelong Learning and Adult Education
- American College of Education, M.Ed. in Adult Education and Training
- North Carolina State University Graduate Catalog, Adult and Community College Education (MEd)
- Indiana University, online M.S.Ed. in Adult Education
- U.S. Department of Education OCTAE, Adult Education and Family Literacy Act
- Connecticut State Department of Education, Adult Education Teacher Certification
- Pennsylvania Department of Education, CSPG 103 Staffing Adult Education Classes
- Higher Learning Commission, Guidelines on determining qualified faculty
- Federal Student Aid, Loan Limits Frequently Asked Questions
- American Institutes for Research, Adult Education Teacher Competencies
The figures on these online master's programs in adult education come from federal records that each college reports about itself, as of the dates shown. Each card's description is researched from that program's own page, which the card links.
Show the federal record for all 25 colleges ranked, in 17 states
American College of Education Waldorf University University of Phoenix-Arizona Park University University of West Alabama Morehead State University Troy University University of Houston-Victoria Pennsylvania State University-World Campus East Carolina University Texas A&M University-Kingsville Capella University North Carolina State University at Raleigh Northwestern State University of Louisiana University of Idaho University of Southern Maine Kansas State University Empire State University Teachers College at Columbia University Central Michigan University Texas State University Ball State University SUNY Buffalo State University Indiana University-Bloomington Oregon State University