An online master's in math education puts the advanced mathematics, the teaching methods and the research coursework on your screen, and it sends you to a real classroom only for the part that has to happen in one. That split matters most to career changers who need a first license, and least to working teachers who already stand in front of students every day.
Programs in this field fall into two kinds, and confusing them is the costliest mistake a buyer can make: a Master of Arts in Teaching that ends in an initial license, and a content master's for teachers who already hold one. The sections below cover what each includes, how long it runs, how your home state's rules reach an online student and how to choose.
Source: IPEDS completions and Institutional Characteristics, read October 6, 2026.
fully online master's programs in math education ranked, from 18 schools
18
master's degrees a year at the median ranked program
12
median out-of-state tuition and fees for a master's year, 2023-24
$13,934
home states among the 18 schools on the list
13
This ranking covers fully online master's programs in math education only. Hybrid programs, programs with a required campus visit and programs on campus are counted but not ranked here.
The 18 Best Online Master's Programs in Math Education, Ranked
The 18 best online master's programs in math education are ranked below by one score out of 100, built from IPEDS degrees awarded and graduate tuition and fees. Across all 18 ranked programs the median charge is $10,330 in state and $13,934 out of state, so each card's figures read high or low against that.
1
Western Governors University
Master of Arts in Teaching, Mathematics Education (Secondary)
Salt Lake City, Utah
90.1- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 796 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,856
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,856
Western Governors University prepares career changers for a first mathematics teaching license through its online Master of Arts in Teaching, Mathematics Education (Secondary). Progress is competency-based, so a candidate who already knows a unit can move past it quickly, and pricing is a flat rate per six-month term. Clinical work means student teaching of 12 to 20 weeks plus a professional portfolio. The license covers middle or high school mathematics, though requirements differ by state. CAEP accreditation and recognition by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics stand behind the degree.
2
Northwest Missouri State University
Master of Science in Education in Teaching Mathematics
Maryville, Missouri
84.9- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 37 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,946
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,946
Teachers already working in secondary mathematics classrooms can use Northwest Missouri State University's fully online M.S.Ed. in Teaching Mathematics for professional growth, not initial licensure. Admission asks for a valid teaching certificate or two years of teaching experience. Of the 30 credit hours, 12 are in education and 18 are in mathematics. Courses are paid for one at a time, start dates come often, and a finish in about 12 months is realistic. Graduates may qualify to teach dual-credit courses. AAQEP-accredited educator preparation backs the degree, with recognition from Missouri's education department and the Higher Learning Commission.
3
84.1- Private for-profit
- Degrees awarded
- 32 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,600
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,600
Fully online and asynchronous, the 34-credit Master of Education in Mathematics Education at American College of Education can be completed in 10 to 16 months. There are no fixed concentrations. Instead, each candidate selects three electives from mathematics and education options. A discovery model drives the coursework, putting mathematical modeling and real-world problem solving at the center, and a one-credit capstone closes the degree. Working teachers who want to strengthen their own command of the content on a schedule they set are the people it suits. Accreditation for the college as a whole rests with the Higher Learning Commission.
4
65.2- Private for-profit
- Degrees awarded
- 18 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,124
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,124
Stronger mathematics pedagogy at the postsecondary level is the aim of Grand Canyon University's 34-credit M.S. in Mathematics with an Emphasis in Education, which does not lead to initial teacher licensure. Those who already hold an active license can use it to add credentials as a secondary teacher. Courses run online in eight-week sessions, with no thesis or capstone to complete. Coursework draws on adult learning theory and research-based instructional practice for higher education, community college and secondary settings. The Higher Learning Commission has accredited the university since 1968.
5
58.0- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 9 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,340
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,340
Liberty University's Master of Arts in Teaching in Mathematics Education for grades 6-12 leads to a Virginia teaching license in secondary mathematics, with all 36 credit hours taken online. Three program gate checkpoints mark progress, and a Praxis Subject Assessment must be completed before student teaching starts. Placements are flexible, either distance or local and at one site or several. Graduates outside Virginia seek licensure through their own state's reciprocity rules, which adds steps. SACSCOC provides the university's regional accreditation.
6
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Master of Science in Mathematics in Education
Marion, Indiana
48.8- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 7 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,391
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,391
Experienced teachers who want to teach AP, dual-enrollment or early college mathematics are the intended candidates for Indiana Wesleyan University's 33-credit-hour Master of Science in Mathematics in Education. Applicants need a teaching license with a mathematics endorsement and at least one year of P-12 experience. The degree itself leads to no initial or advanced state licensure, since it deepens content for people already credentialed. A faith-based Christian curriculum shapes it, and gateways at admission, mid-program and completion mark progress. There are no formal tracks to choose between.
7
48.3- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 5 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,113
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,113
Gordon College runs its online Master of Education in Mathematics Education through the Herschend School of Education, pairing mathematics content with teaching-strategy coursework. Courses cover discrete mathematics, mathematical modeling, mathematics pedagogy and technology integration. Both an Initial Licensure pathway and a Professional Licensure pathway are available, so one degree can serve someone entering teaching and a veteran advancing a credential. Delivery is fully online, which suits educators who cannot relocate or come to campus.
8
46.0- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 9 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $13,200
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $13,200
California teachers who already hold a credential are the intended candidates for Fresno Pacific University's online Master of Arts in Mathematics Education. It deepens subject-matter mastery and does not grant initial licensure. Two emphasis tracks follow grade band: a Secondary Emphasis for single-subject credentialed teachers and an Elementary/Middle School Emphasis for those with a multiple-subject credential. Splitting the degree this way fits the mathematics to the classroom, since a high school course and an elementary one ask very different things of a teacher. Study is online and built around practicing educators.
9
45.5- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 5 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,280
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,280
Hood College offers licensed teachers a 30-credit online Master of Science in Mathematics Education that sharpens content knowledge and instruction but does not lead to an initial credential. A Middle School track serves educators without an undergraduate mathematics degree, while a High School track is for those who hold one. Most finish in 18 to 24 months, up to 6 credits can transfer in, and two electives come from more than 14 options. The coursework supports preparation for National Board Certification. The college participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement.
10
45.1- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 10 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $14,668
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,408
Teachers holding a valid New York State initial certification in mathematics for grades 7 through 12 are the applicants for SUNY Brockport's Adolescence Education: Mathematics MSEd, which can be finished fully online. The 30 credits satisfy the master's degree requirement for professional certification in New York. Focus stays on secondary mathematics, with no additional tracks. Up to 12 credits from other accredited institutions may transfer, helping candidates who have already taken relevant graduate work. The degree advances a certified teacher and does not open the classroom to newcomers.
11
35.4- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 13 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $20,318
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,168
Built with National Science Foundation funding and shaped alongside K-12 teachers, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's 30-credit Master of Arts for Teachers in Mathematics is a fully online degree for practicing middle-level and secondary mathematics teachers. Applicants must already hold a valid teaching certificate, because the degree adds no endorsement or licensure. Its work centers on deepening mathematical understanding, and teachers keep their jobs while they study. More than 375 teachers have completed it since 2005.
12
34.5- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 16 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $24,140
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $24,140
Nova Southeastern University's 36-credit online Master of Science in Mathematics Education offers two options, K-12 Mathematics Education and Postsecondary Mathematics Education. The degree stands alone and is not described as a route to state teaching licensure. Candidates finish with an applied professional experience capstone, which calls for reflective journals and portfolios of student work and assessments drawn from their own classrooms. That makes the study practical for teachers who learn by examining what they do, and the fully online delivery lets them keep working.
13
33.3- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 21 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $29,196
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,992
Ball State University delivers its fully online Master of Arts in Mathematics Education asynchronously for already-licensed teachers, with three concentrations. Elementary and middle school mathematics takes 30 credits, secondary mathematics takes 30 to 32, and the elementary and middle school mathematics specialist track takes 36. The specialist track adds Mathematics Teacher Leadership coursework and action research, and its completers are eligible to apply for the Indiana Elementary Mathematics Specialist License. Both the Higher Learning Commission and CAEP accredit the university.
14
32.2- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 13 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $22,077
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,547
Northern Arizona University asks for at least two years of teaching experience before admitting candidates to its 37-unit online Master of Science in Mathematics Education. The curriculum links secondary mathematics content, pedagogy and reflective practice across grades 8 through 14, spanning high school and early college instruction. A final oral exam before an advisory committee closes the degree, giving each candidate a chance to defend what was learned. Completion does not result in teacher certification, so it is meant for continuing mathematics teachers seeking growth in their present classrooms.
15
Wilkes University
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
24.8- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 12 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $26,064
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $26,064
Career changers can earn Pennsylvania middle-level certification for grades four through eight through Wilkes University's 30-credit online Master of Arts in Teaching. No campus travel is required, and twelve weeks of student teaching are arranged near the candidate's home. Mathematics is one of four concentrations, alongside science, social studies and English language arts. Completers may also test toward high school or elementary certification without another degree, and reciprocity is available in other states.
16
22.6- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 11 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $26,576
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,268
The University of Georgia's fully online M.Ed. in Mathematics Education is meant for teachers already licensed in Georgia who want to advance, including through the Level 4 to Level 5 T-5 certificate upgrade. It is not intended for initial certification. The focus is secondary instruction in grades 6-12, with electives selectable from across the College of Education. A capstone project falls in the final semester, and a typical part-time pace is two years. SACSCOC accredits the university.
17
20.9- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 8 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $23,982
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,484
Georgia State University directs its online M.Ed. in Mathematics Education at teachers who already meet Georgia certification requirements in mathematics at the middle or secondary level, so it extends practice rather than granting a first license. NCTM standards and the NBPTS core propositions frame the curriculum. Candidates conduct action research in their own grades 6-12 classrooms, with an urban-equity focus. The degree spans a minimum of 36 semester hours over four semesters, and online delivery lets certified teachers keep working while they study.
18
17.4- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 10 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $30,528
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $13,080
James Madison University runs its Master of Education in Mathematics jointly through the College of Education and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, for practicing secondary teachers who want deeper content knowledge and not a first license. Of the minimum 34 credit hours, 21 are in mathematics and 13 in educational development. Delivery is online, so teachers can stay in their classrooms. The curriculum aligns with the Mathematical Education of Teachers report from the Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences.
How We Rank
Every eligible program is scored out of 100. Each figure becomes a percentile against the 18 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 a math 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 Math Education Are There?
There are 31 fully online master's programs in math education, out of 111 on federal record, and 18 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 math 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 Math Education Cost?
An online master's in math education costs from $6,600 to $30,528 a year out of state in graduate tuition and required fees across the 18 ranked programs, with a median of $13,934. In state the median is $10,330. 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 math education program's own price page is the figure to plan on.
What Does an Online Master's in Math Education Cover?
An online master's in math education covers advanced mathematics content, the teaching of mathematics and research methods, in proportions that change from program to program. Ball State University's online Master of Arts in mathematics education offers three concentrations, and each one pairs mathematics content courses with pedagogy and research courses. Northwest Missouri State University's online M.S.Ed. in teaching mathematics splits its credits 12 in education and 18 in mathematics.
The field's yardstick is NCTM's 2020 standards for preparing secondary mathematics teachers, seven standards that run from knowing mathematics to supervised field experience.
How Long Does an Online Master's in Math Education Take?
An online master's in math education takes anywhere from about a year to three years, depending on whether the program is accelerated and whether you study part time. Northwest Missouri State University lists a program duration of 12 months, while Ball State University reports that students typically finish in two to three years at their own pace across spring, summer and fall terms.
Licensure routes run on a different clock. North Carolina State University's online MAT in mathematics can be finished full time in as little as a year and a half, and its plan of study includes a full semester of student teaching.
Does an Online Master's in Math Education Lead to a Teaching License?
An online master's in math education leads to a teaching license only when it is built as an initial-licensure route, and the Master of Arts in Teaching is the usual form. North Carolina State University's MAT earns both an initial teaching license and a master's degree, and applicants need at least 18 hours of prior mathematics, with 24 required for licensure.
Content degrees are built for people who already teach. Northwest Missouri State University describes its program as professional growth rather than initial licensure, and Georgia State University asks for proof that you meet Georgia certification requirements in middle or secondary mathematics. Student teaching in a licensure route takes place in a school, and Wilkes University says its online MAT for grades 4 through 8 includes 12 weeks of student teaching that can be completed in a district where you reside.
How Do State Rules Apply to an Online Master's in Math Education?
State rules apply to an online master's in math education mainly through the state where you live and plan to teach, though the school's own state can matter too. A program designed to meet licensure requirements, or advertised that way, must give you a list of the states where the school has determined it does and does not meet them. NC-SARA says its reciprocity agreement does not address licensing board approval for teacher education.
Liberty University's MAT in mathematics education shows how this plays out: every graduate, regardless of state residency, must obtain a Virginia license, which then moves to other states by their reciprocity rules. The math content exam is also local: passing scores vary by state or agency and are not set by ETS.
What Costs Come With an Online Master's in Math Education Besides Tuition?
An online master's in math education brings costs besides tuition, chiefly per-term fees and the way the school chooses to price its courses. Wilkes University lists $588 per credit for 2026-27, Regent University adds a $750 services fee each semester for online students, and Western Governors University charges $4,125 per six-month term plus a $200 resources fee, so finishing sooner costs less.
Aid is worth asking about. The TEACH Grant lists mathematics among its high-need fields, which means a recipient can meet the grant's four-year service obligation in a math classroom at a school serving low-income students.
What Jobs Does an Online Master's Lead to for Math Teachers?
An online master's leads math teachers to jobs in middle and high school classrooms, and to a few roles outside a single one. The classroom work is the one the Bureau of Labor Statistics profiles in its Occupational Outlook Handbook entry for high school teachers, and the high school teacher career page here covers it in more detail.
Experienced teachers use the degree to move sideways. Regent University's leadership program, which is built for grades K-8 and asks for an active license and three years of teaching in which mathematics was an important area of responsibility, lists math supervisor or coordinator, lead teacher or department chair, coach and interventionist as career options. Your state's license still decides which grades and courses you may teach.
How Much Do Jobs Tied to an Online Master's in Math Education Pay?
Jobs tied to an online master's in math education pay a median of $72,040 a year in the closest federal occupation, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, in May 2025. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts 1,065,210 workers in that occupation, and the lowest-paid tenth earn $48,780 or less while the highest-paid tenth earn $107,600 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 Math Education Program?
To choose an online master's in math education program, match the program type to your license status first, then check accreditation and the mathematics it expects you to bring. Educator-preparation accreditation comes from bodies such as the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation, and the program's own page should say which one it holds.
Do not expect an NCTM seal. The council ended its program review service after the spring 2024 cycle while keeping its standards, so ask how a program meets them instead. Then confirm the placement help, the per-credit price and your state's written licensure answer.
How Do You Become a Math Teacher With an Online Master's Degree?
You become a math teacher with an online master's degree by starting from your license status and your math credits, then letting your state's rules choose the program.
- Decide whether you need a first license. Career changers need a licensure route such as an MAT, while licensed teachers can choose a content master's.
- Count your mathematics credits. Admission and licensure both look at prior math coursework. North Carolina State asks for 18 hours to apply and 24 for licensure, so list your transcript credits before you apply.
- Get your state's answer in writing. Ask the school whether the program meets licensure requirements where you live, and save the reply.
- Line up a classroom near you. Ask who finds the host school and supervisor for an online student, and whether your own school can host you. Placement is local even when every course is online.
- Pass the state exam and apply. Take the math content exam your state requires, then send transcripts and the program's recommendation to the licensing agency.
Common Questions About Online Master's Programs in Math Education
How Many Online Master's Programs in Math Education Are There?
How Much Does an Online Master's in Math Education Cost?
What Are the Best Online Master's Programs in Math Education?
Are Online Master's Programs in Math Education Accredited?
How Are Online Master's Programs in Math Education Ranked?
Do You Need an Undergraduate Math Degree to Enter an Online Master's in Math Education?
Can an Online Master's in Math Education Qualify You to Teach Dual-Credit Courses?
Does an Online Master's in Math Education Prepare You to Be a Math Coach?
Which Math Exam Do Online Math Education Graduates Take for a License?
What Does an Online Master's in Math Education Add for a Teacher Who Is Already Licensed?
Where Do the Figures on These Online Master's Programs in Math 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: Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- 34 CFR 668.43, Institutional and programmatic information (eCFR)
- NC-SARA, Professional Licensure
- NCTM, Standards for the Preparation of Secondary Mathematics Teachers (2020)
- NCTM, Program Review Service Ending Following the Spring 2024 Cycle
- ETS Praxis, Passing Scores
- Ball State University, online Master of Arts in Mathematics Education
- Northwest Missouri State University, online M.S.Ed. in Teaching Mathematics
- North Carolina State University, online MAT in Mathematics, Secondary Education
- Georgia State University, M.Ed. in Mathematics Education
- Wilkes University, MA in Teaching with Initial Certification
- Liberty University, M.A.T. in Mathematics Education 6-12
- Western Governors University, MAT in Mathematics Education (Secondary)
- Regent University, M.Ed. in Leadership in Mathematics Education
- Federal Student Aid, TEACH Grant counseling guide
The figures on these online master's programs in math 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 18 colleges ranked, in 13 states
Western Governors University Northwest Missouri State University American College of Education Grand Canyon University Liberty University Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global Gordon College Fresno Pacific University Hood College SUNY Brockport University of Nebraska-Lincoln Nova Southeastern University Ball State University Northern Arizona University Wilkes University University of Georgia Georgia State University James Madison University