An online master's in educational leadership prepares licensed teachers to run schools, with courses in school law, instructional supervision and budgeting delivered at a distance. A program that leads to a principal license typically starts from a teaching license you already hold, so the coursework is online while you keep your classroom job.
Two questions decide whether a program fits. Will your state accept it for an administrator license, and will the school help you arrange an internship in a building near your home?
Source: IPEDS completions and Institutional Characteristics, read October 6, 2026.
fully online master's programs in educational leadership ranked, from 261 schools
280
master's degrees a year at the median ranked program
19
median out-of-state tuition and fees for a master's year, 2023-24
$15,391
home states among the 25 schools on the list
17
This ranking covers fully online master's programs in educational leadership 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 Educational Leadership, Ranked
The 25 best online master's programs in educational leadership are ranked below by one score out of 100, built from IPEDS degrees awarded and graduate tuition and fees. Across all 280 ranked programs the median charge is $10,782 in state and $15,391 out of state, so each card's figures read high or low against that.
1
95.2- Private nonprofit
- Educational Administration and Supervision, Other
- Degrees awarded
- 282 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $4,560
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $4,560
Educators who already hold a teaching license can add a second specialty through this 30 credit-hour Master of Arts in Education from the University of the Cumberlands, taken fully online. Candidates pick a focus in literacy specialist, school counseling or teacher leader, so the coursework follows the role they are heading toward. The school advertises a finish in just over a year, a pace built around full teaching schedules. The degree builds on an existing license rather than opening the profession to newcomers, and anyone aiming for school administration is pointed to a separate post-master's Ed.S. certification.
2
Fitchburg State University
Educational Leadership and Management, M.Ed. (non-licensure)
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
94.6- Public
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 67 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,246
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,246
Fitchburg State University's online M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Management is a non-licensure degree, so it gives administrative preparation without a state endorsement. It runs 30 credits in an accelerated online format with rolling admissions, and no teaching license is needed to enroll. Candidates can follow online education administration, principal or assistant principal, or special education director pathways, or build their own from electives, all aligned to the Massachusetts standards for administrative leadership. Up to six years are allowed to finish, and two is the fastest route. Those who do want an endorsement can look to the department's separate initial-licensure tracks.
3
94.1- Private for-profit
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 1,074 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,600
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,600
American College of Education's 34-credit Master of Education in Educational Leadership is built for teachers heading toward the principal's office, and it is delivered online over roughly 14 to 17 months. A required internship and practicum capstone carries the field work, with internship courses written for Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Texas. The degree is approved for principal licensure in Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Texas, so candidates elsewhere should expect to meet extra state requirements. The college holds Higher Learning Commission accreditation.
4
94.1- Private nonprofit
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 88 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,600
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,600
The Master of Education in Educational Administration at Northwestern College is aimed at classroom teachers in Iowa who intend to run a school. Finishing it earns an initial administrator license and opens principal certification for PK-12, while the same coursework supports athletic director jobs. Accreditation comes through the Iowa Department of Education, and the college handles certification elsewhere case by case.
5
Youngstown State University
Master of Science in Education - Educational Administration with Principal Licensure
Youngstown, Ohio
93.7- Public
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 60 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,795
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,615
Youngstown State University delivers its Master of Science in Education in Educational Administration online, with an optional principal licensure track for candidates seeking an Ohio administrative credential. The base degree is ten courses and 30 credit hours, and it can be finished in as few as twelve months. Choosing licensure adds six credit hours and clinical work across four terms, and candidates must pass Ohio's administrative licensure exam before the university recommends them. Courses follow NELP standards, and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation accredits the program.
6
Ashland University
Master of Education in Educational Leadership with Administrative Licensure
Ashland, Ohio
93.0- Private nonprofit
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 63 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,776
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,776
Building Principal, School Superintendent, and Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development are the three pathways at Ashland University, and a candidate chooses one when entering the educational leadership master's. Passing the Ohio Assessment for Educators exams and meeting track-specific prerequisites is required, so the route is built for Ohio. Course content follows National Educational Leadership Preparation standards alongside the Ohio Principal Standards.
7
Northwest Missouri State University
Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership
Maryville, Missouri
92.6- Public
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 221 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,946
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,946
Missouri's building-level administrator certification is the destination of Northwest Missouri State's educational leadership MSEd., and the entry ticket is a teaching certificate already in hand. Missouri DESE and the Higher Learning Commission recognize the institution, AAQEP carries the accreditation, and the school cautions that additional state-specific requirements may apply outside Missouri. Cohort-based, accelerated 7-week terms carry the coursework. Anyone planning to work in another state should confirm that state's rules before enrolling.
8
91.7- Private nonprofit
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 142 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,340
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,340
Liberty University's 36-credit Master of Education in Administration and Supervision is built for Virginia teachers working toward advanced licensure in educational administration. Courses are fully online with eight-week or full-semester options, and up to half of the credits may transfer in. Applicants need a Virginia teaching license that is current, plus two years in the classroom, and candidates licensed elsewhere must obtain Virginia credentials while they are enrolled. Practicums and a required three-credit internship are part of the coursework. The curriculum is taught with an emphasis on Christian leadership principles and carries CAEP accreditation.
9
Concordia University-Irvine
Master of Arts in Educational Leadership: Social Emotional Learning, Character, and Ethics
Irvine, California
90.7- Private nonprofit
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 104 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,730
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,730
Concordia University Irvine pairs educational leadership with its Servant Leadership Institute in a 30-unit online Master of Arts focused on social emotional learning, character and ethics. Coursework is asynchronous and cohort-based, with a capstone at the end, and the school says a student can finish in about ten months. It admits both credentialed and non-credentialed applicants and asks for no GRE. The degree shapes culture-minded school leaders but does not itself confer a state administrative credential.
10
90.1- Private nonprofit
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 623 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,856
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,856
Western Governors University structures its online Master of Science in Educational Leadership around competencies, so progress comes from showing mastery instead of logging seat time. Applicants need a current state teaching license and three years of licensed PreK-12 experience, and the preparation targets principal and school administrator certification. A two-part practicum places each candidate with a practicing principal, and a program mentor stays with them throughout. Tuition is a flat $4,125 per six-month term. The degree is not accepted for licensure in Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas or Minnesota.
11
89.8- Public
- Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision
- Degrees awarded
- 59 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,000
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,000
A 12-credit customizable specialization sits inside Colorado State University Global's Master of Science in Teaching and Learning, and one option is the Education Leadership Principal Licensure concentration. It includes preparation for the Praxis Educational Leadership exam. The capstone is a choice between a research-based analysis and a professional project, so a candidate can finish with either study or applied work.
12
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
Master of Education in Educational Leadership - Principalship
Scottsdale, Arizona
86.4- Public
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 64 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,573
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,573
Arizona State University's online M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, Principalship moves through eleven courses and 36 credit hours in 7.5-week classes. A required internship feeds a culminating applied project that tackles a problem the candidate spots during fieldwork. Applicants should have at least two years as a PreK-12 teacher of record. ASU says the degree may not meet licensure rules outside Arizona and advises out-of-state applicants to check locally. A separate leadership track without certification exists for policy, nonprofit and education entrepreneurship paths.
13
85.6- Private nonprofit
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 174 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,782
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,782
Concordia University Chicago offers its 30-credit Master of Arts in Educational Administration online as one curriculum for everyone, covering instructional leadership, curriculum assessment, school finance, ethics and human resources management. The schedule runs about 24 months and ends with a capstone project in which candidates show command of the coursework. The university states plainly that the degree does not lead to state licensure, so it suits educators who want administrative knowledge and not a principal credential.
14
Delta State University
Master of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision
Cleveland, Mississippi
85.5- Public
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 46 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,605
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,605
Delta State University's online M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Supervision offers two concentrations on a shared core of nine semester hours, with 21 hours in the chosen area for 30 in all. The Public School concentration leads toward Mississippi administrator licensure and is accredited by the state education department and CAEP, with courses aligned to NELP standards. The Higher Education concentration is a non-licensure track for college and university leadership. Finishing in as little as one year is possible.
15
Grand Canyon University
Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction (Non-Licensure)
Phoenix, Arizona
84.7- Private for-profit
- Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision
- Degrees awarded
- 343 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,124
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,124
Grand Canyon University designed its non-licensure Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction for teachers who already hold a license and want to deepen how they plan and deliver lessons, not earn a new credential. The 32 credits are fully online in focused six-week courses, which fits a teacher who keeps working while studying. A capstone project includes field-experience hours, so the learning lands in the classroom where the graduate already teaches. Accreditation comes through the Higher Learning Commission.
16
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Durant, Oklahoma
83.1- Public
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 174 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,772
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $5,220
Southeastern Oklahoma State University builds its online Master of Education in Educational Leadership as three tracks. A 30-credit-hour academic track gives advanced study with no certification, a 30-credit-hour professional track prepares for Oklahoma principal certification, and a 45-credit-hour track adds a school-based internship and points toward both principal and superintendent certification. The GRE is waived, and a teaching certificate is not required to apply. The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation accredits the program.
17
82.7- Public
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 59 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,973
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $5,898
East Central University teaches its 32-hour Master of Education in Educational Leadership online in eight-week terms: 29 core credits plus a three-hour elective. Candidates complete a 146-hour practicum and assemble a program portfolio, and up to nine transfer credits are accepted. The curriculum prepares graduates for roles such as principal and assistant principal, and it is recognized under NELP standards, with Higher Learning Commission accreditation for the university. The program page notes that the degree alone does not guarantee certification.
18
82.4- Public
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 53 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,051
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $4,696
Fort Hays State University's online Master of Science in Education Administration runs 36 credits with an emphasis on action research and technology integration. Kansas State Department of Education approval and advanced-level accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation back the degree, which prepares educators for building leadership licensure in Kansas and other states. The International Society for Technology in Education recognized its alignment of technology and leadership standards. Graduates move into principal, special education coordinator and curriculum coordinator roles.
19
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Master of Science in School Administration
Marion, Indiana
82.3- Private nonprofit
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 48 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,391
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,391
Indiana Wesleyan University's online Master of Science in School Administration follows one curriculum of 33 credit hours, with progression gateways along the way and a Christ-centered framing. The clinical anchor is a six-credit internship lasting six months under a required principal mentor. Coursework prepares graduates to seek a Building Level Administrator license in Indiana or Ohio, and each state applies its own license types and requirements. There are no separate specializations to choose, so every candidate follows the same path toward building-level leadership.
20
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Master of Science in Education in Educational Administration, Principal Preparation Specialization
Edwardsville, Illinois
82.1- Public
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 44 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,102
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,102
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville packages its principal preparation specialization as a fully online Master of Science in Education in Educational Administration with 36 credits and a finish in about 12 months. Field experiences sit inside the courses rather than at the end. Graduates earn the Principal Endorsement on the Illinois Professional Educator License, and a separate Teacher Leader specialization exists within the same administration area. Accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation runs through December 2029.
21
81.5- Private nonprofit
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 39 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,920
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,920
Servant leadership in a Christian framework shapes Campbellsville University's online Master of Arts in Educational Administration, which prepares educators for Kentucky certification as a principal (P-12), supervisor of instruction or superintendent. Candidates choose among those three concentrations according to the post they want. Prior classroom teaching is expected, and the principal track asks for three years of it. Assessment leans on leadership essays, portfolios and field projects, so graduates show applied practice and not only finished courses. SACSCOC accredits the university, its education programs are CAEP-accredited, and the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board approves the preparation.
22
Arkansas State University
Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership
Jonesboro, Arkansas
81.2- Public
- Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship
- Degrees awarded
- 242 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,416
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,980
Arkansas State University designs its online Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership for licensed teachers who want to become building-level administrators. Admission requires a valid U.S. teaching certificate and two to three years of classroom experience. The accelerated format uses twelve seven-week courses totaling 33 credit hours, so a candidate can finish in as few as 20 months. A semester-long capstone internship places each student under a building-level mentor, and electives in elementary or secondary curriculum tailor the degree. Graduates are prepared for Arkansas Building Level Administrator licensure, and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and the Higher Learning Commission stand behind the degree.
23
Southeast Missouri State University
Educational Leadership, Master of Arts (MA)
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
80.6- Public
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 27 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,371
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,371
Southeast Missouri State University's 30-credit Master of Arts in Educational Leadership can be taken face to face or online, so teachers preparing for the principalship choose their own format. The curriculum rests on the PSEL and NELP standards plus Missouri's leadership standards, which lines it up with state expectations for PK-12 principal licensure. Field work centers on two internship courses, Leadership for Research in Action and Leadership for Experiential Learning. To finish, candidates sit a Master's Final Comprehensive Exam and need a 3.25 GPA at graduation.
24
Concordia University-Nebraska
Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Administration
Seward, Nebraska
79.7- Private nonprofit
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 26 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,650
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,650
Faith shapes Concordia University-Nebraska's 36-hour Master of Education in Educational Administration, which is delivered in eight-week online terms with a cohort model. Candidates pick a principal endorsement for K-6 or 7-12, a dual-certification option that adds an elementary or secondary layer, or the Educational Administration for Christian Schools track. Each student logs 250 hours of field experience with a mentoring administrator. Those living in Interstate Mobility Compact states receive the principal endorsement automatically with the degree. The university cites NCATE and Higher Learning Commission accreditation, with standards aligned to NAEYC.
25
McKendree University
Lebanon, Illinois
79.3- Private nonprofit
- Secondary School Administration/Principalship
- Degrees awarded
- 32 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,450
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,450
McKendree University splits its online Master of Arts in Education in Educational Administration, with a focus on secondary school administration, into 29 credit hours of coursework and a 7-credit internship. The internship runs in three parts across spring, summer and fall, so candidates work beside a current school administrator while keeping their own teaching jobs. Illinois requires four years as teacher of record for the Principal license, and graduates prepare for it by passing the Principal as an Instructional Leader assessment, tests 195 and 196.
How We Rank
Every eligible program is scored out of 100. Each figure becomes a percentile against the 280 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 educational leadership 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 Educational Leadership Are There?
There are 357 fully online master's programs in educational leadership, out of 715 on federal record, and 280 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 educational leadership, 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 Educational Leadership Cost?
An online master's in educational leadership costs from $3,600 to $42,020 a year out of state in graduate tuition and required fees across the 280 ranked programs, with a median of $15,391. In state the median is $10,782. 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 educational leadership program's own price page is the figure to plan on.
What Does an Online Master's in Educational Leadership Cover?
An online master's in educational leadership covers how a school is led: its law, its curriculum, its data and its staff. Northwest Missouri State University's online Master of Science in Education in educational leadership lists ten courses, among them School Law, Data Literacy and Assessment for Schools, and separate courses on visionary, relational, instructional and managerial leadership, before a capstone practicum.
The field's own yardstick is the National Educational Leadership Preparation standards, which the National Policy Board for Educational Administration publishes in one set for principals and a second for superintendents. Programs title their courses differently, so compare a syllabus with those standards.
How Long Does an Online Master's in Educational Leadership Take?
An online master's in educational leadership takes as few as 12 months at Northwest Missouri State University, which teaches its 30 credit hours in seven-week courses. Emporia State University's online educational administration master's also lists a 12-month minimum at 33 credit hours.
Those are the shortest schedules these two schools list, and the clock to ask about is the internship, because field hours happen while a school is in session. A part-time pace spreads the same credits over more terms, so ask which terms the internship hours must fall in.
Does an Online Master's in Educational Leadership Lead to a Principal License?
An online master's in educational leadership leads to a principal license only when the program is approved by the state that issues the license, and it builds on a teaching license you already hold. Northwest Missouri State describes its program as designed to lead to certification in Missouri for those who already hold teaching certification, though it adds that finishing the degree does not guarantee certification. Southern New Hampshire University says its Curriculum and Instruction master's, which includes an educational leadership concentration, does not lead to licensure.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that principals typically hold a master's in education leadership or administration plus teaching experience, and that most states require public school principals to be licensed administrators.
How Does the School Internship Work in an Online Master's for Aspiring Principals?
The school internship in an online master's for aspiring principals takes place in a school near you under a site supervisor, while the coursework stays online. Northwest Missouri State builds 21 to 27 hours of field experience into several courses and ends with a capstone practicum directed by a university supervisor and a site supervisor.
States set the internship differently: the National Association of State Boards of Education notes that Illinois's principal endorsement requires a yearlong, performance-based internship and North Carolina's Principal Fellows Program funds preparation programs that include full-time internships for aspiring principals. Ask the program who finds your site and how many field hours your state counts.
How Do State Authorization and Licensure Disclosures Work for Online School Leadership Students?
State authorization and licensure disclosures for online school leadership students work through a federal rule: the school must tell you before you enroll if its program does not meet, or it has not decided whether it meets, your state's requirements for a license. The rule is 34 CFR 668.43, and it applies to any program designed to meet the requirements for a professional license.
Your home state decides what counts, and states differ. Texas asks for a master's degree, a classroom teaching certificate, two years of classroom teaching, an approved preparation program and an exam, while Missouri asks for a master's in educational administration from a program the state has approved. NC-SARA, the interstate authorization agreement, says it does not address licensing board approval for programs leading to state licensing, teacher education among them.
What Costs Come With an Online Master's in School Leadership Besides Tuition?
The costs that come with an online master's in school leadership besides tuition are fees, the per-credit price that turns a credit total into a bill, and the exam and application fees for the license itself. Northwest Missouri State's page lists $432 per credit hour, which it totals at $12,960 for the full 30-credit program.
These annual graduate charges come from IPEDS Institutional Characteristics and describe a full-time year, so they suit comparing schools better than budgeting a part-time degree. Ask each program for its per-credit price, its fee schedule and any charge for the internship.
What Jobs Does an Online Master's in Educational Leadership Lead To?
An online master's in educational leadership leads most directly to work as a school principal, the occupation the Bureau of Labor Statistics profiles in its Occupational Outlook Handbook. That profile describes a job that rests on a master's degree, teaching experience and, in most states, an administrator license, the sequence this degree is built to complete.
District leadership asks for more. Missouri's superintendent certificate requires a degree beyond the master's, so the master's is a step rather than the last credential on that path. State agencies, and the licenses they issue, are listed in the licensure guide.
How Much Do Jobs Tied to an Online Master's in Educational Leadership Pay?
Jobs tied to an online master's in educational leadership pay a median of $105,870 a year in the closest federal occupation, Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary, in May 2025. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts 328,330 workers in that occupation, and the lowest-paid tenth earn $76,280 or less while the highest-paid tenth earn $167,770 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 Educational Leadership Program?
To choose an online educational leadership program, start from your state's licensing agency and keep only programs whose written disclosure names your state. Then check accreditation: Northwest Missouri State reports accreditation from the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation, and the NELP standards are used to review leadership programs through the advanced program review of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
Compare the practical details last: how the program finds an internship site near you, the per-credit price, and whether it targets an administrator license or builds skills without one.
How Do You Become a Principal With an Online Master's in Educational Leadership?
You become a principal with an online master's in educational leadership by starting from your state's license requirements and choosing the program that meets them.
- Read your state's principal requirements. Look up the administrator license at your state agency: the degree it names, the years of teaching it requires, the exam, and whether it insists on a state-approved preparation program.
- Pick a program that names your state. Choose a program whose licensure disclosure lists your state, and confirm whether it leads to a first administrator license or builds leadership skills without one.
- Finish the online coursework. Take the courses in school law, instructional supervision, data and school management in the terms the program sets, while you keep teaching.
- Complete the internship near home. Arrange a site and a supervisor in a school you can reach, log the field hours your program and state require, and keep the supervisor's written evaluations.
- Pass the exam and apply. Pass the administrator exam your state requires, ask the program to send its recommendation, and apply to the state agency with your transcript.
Common Questions About Online Master's Programs in Educational Leadership
How Many Online Master's Programs in Educational Leadership Are There?
How Much Does an Online Master's in Educational Leadership Cost?
What Are the Best Online Master's Programs in Educational Leadership?
Are Online Master's Programs in Educational Leadership Accredited?
How Are Online Master's Programs in Educational Leadership Ranked?
Do You Need a Teaching License Before Starting an Online Master's in Educational Leadership?
How Much Can You Borrow for an Online Master's in Educational Leadership?
Can Your Own School Host the Administrative Internship?
Can an Online Master's in Educational Leadership Prepare You to Be a Superintendent?
Where Do You Find Your State's Principal Licensing Agency?
Where Do the Figures on These Online Master's Programs in Educational Leadership 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: Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- 34 CFR 668.43, Institutional and programmatic information (eCFR)
- NC-SARA, Professional Licensure
- National Policy Board for Educational Administration, NELP standards
- Northwest Missouri State University, online MSEd in Educational Leadership
- Emporia State University, online MS in Educational Administration
- Southern New Hampshire University, MEd in Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership concentration
- Texas Education Agency, becoming a principal or superintendent
- Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, become a certified administrator
- National Association of State Boards of Education, states can strengthen principal preparation through internships
- Federal Student Aid, One Big Beautiful Bill Act loan-limit updates
- Federal Student Aid, Frequently Asked Questions on the new loan limits
The figures on these online master's programs in educational leadership 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
University of the Cumberlands Fitchburg State University American College of Education Northwestern College Youngstown State University Ashland University Northwest Missouri State University Liberty University Concordia University-Irvine Western Governors University Colorado State University Global Arizona State University Digital Immersion Concordia University-Chicago Delta State University Grand Canyon University Southeastern Oklahoma State University East Central University Fort Hays State University Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Campbellsville University Arkansas State University Southeast Missouri State University Concordia University-Nebraska McKendree University