An online master's in reading and literacy trains teachers to diagnose reading difficulties, teach struggling readers and coach colleagues in literacy instruction. The coursework arrives online. The supervised practicum with real students still happens in a school near you, and many programs expect you to be a working teacher already.
That makes the decision narrower than it first looks. You are choosing a program that lines up with your state's reading specialist endorsement, and a school that will tell you in writing whether it does. The sections below explain the coursework, the endorsement, the dyslexia options, the rules that reach online students and how to compare programs.
Source: IPEDS completions and Institutional Characteristics, read October 6, 2026.
fully online master's programs in reading and literacy ranked, from 118 schools
118
master's degrees a year at the median ranked program
14
median out-of-state tuition and fees for a master's year, 2023-24
$17,911
home states among the 25 schools on the list
16
This ranking covers fully online master's programs in reading and literacy 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 Reading and Literacy, Ranked
The 25 best online master's programs in reading and literacy are ranked below by one score out of 100, built from IPEDS degrees awarded and graduate tuition and fees. Across all 118 ranked programs the median charge is $11,515 in state and $17,911 out of state, so each card's figures read high or low against that.
1
University of the Cumberlands
Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.), Teacher Leader P-12 with Literacy Specialist concentration
Williamsburg, Kentucky
95.2- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 93 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $4,560
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $4,560
University of the Cumberlands delivers its Master of Arts in Education with a Literacy Specialist concentration fully online, in 30 credit hours built for teachers who already work in schools. The degree sits inside a Teacher Leader P-12 framework, so candidates complete capstone projects and clinical experience hours in their own classrooms. This concentration prepares candidates for the Kentucky Literacy Specialist P-12 endorsement, and the same degree family also houses school counseling, principal and special education tracks. CAEP accreditation at the initial and advanced levels and alignment with the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board stand behind it.
2
94.1- Private for-profit
- Degrees awarded
- 525 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,600
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,600
Built around the science of reading, American College of Education's 31-credit Master of Education in Literacy can be finished online in 10 to 15 months, with year-round start dates. There are no fixed tracks. Candidates choose elective focus areas such as digital media literacy or literacy for exceptional learners, then close with a capstone. Teachers who have completed LETRS training may transfer up to 12 credits. The degree is professional growth for working educators and is not presented as a route to a state license. Higher Learning Commission accreditation covers the college as a whole.
3
92.6- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 80 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,946
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,946
Northwest Missouri State University runs its 30-credit-hour online Master of Science in Education in Reading as a single curriculum with no tracks. Two seven-week practicum courses, one in elementary and one in secondary settings, lead into an Action Research Capstone that applies the coursework in a real school. Finishing in as little as twelve months is possible. Missouri Special Reading Teacher Certification for K-12 can be pursued by consulting an advisor, and extra coursework may be needed depending on a candidate's earlier transcripts. AAQEP accreditation and Higher Learning Commission recognition support the degree.
4
Grand Canyon University
Master of Arts in Reading with an Emphasis in Elementary Education
Phoenix, Arizona
84.7- Private for-profit
- Degrees awarded
- 537 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,124
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,124
Grand Canyon University's online Master of Arts in Reading with an emphasis in elementary education is written for working teachers aiming to become reading specialists or literacy coaches. Applicants need either a current teaching license or at least one year in a classroom, and they must arrange access to a K-8 classroom for fieldwork. The practicum puts candidates in front of real K-8 students to apply assessment and instructional strategies. Coursework follows International Literacy Association standards. The degree builds literacy expertise but does not itself lead to licensure. AAQEP provides programmatic accreditation, and the Higher Learning Commission accredits the university.
5
81.2- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 124 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,416
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,980
Arkansas State University offers its fully online Reading, MSE in an accelerated format with multiple start dates each year, and up to nine transfer credit hours are accepted. One curriculum covers reading instruction and literacy leadership, including clinical experience in correcting reading difficulties and the Arkansas Delta Writing Project model. Finishing a defined sequence of reading courses makes graduates eligible for a Dyslexia endorsement on their teaching license, and the degree also prepares them for the reading specialist certification exam. Regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission, while CAEP accredits the university's licensure programs in education.
6
78.3- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 40 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,111
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,111
Morningside University's 32-credit online Master of Arts in Teaching in Literacy Education pairs a 17-credit core of professional foundations with at least 15 credits of literacy coursework. Topics include Science of Reading foundations, language development, children's and adolescent literature, and diagnostics and assessment. Everything is delivered online, and teachers keep working while they study, with the classroom at the center of the design. Because the coursework lines up with Iowa reading endorsement requirements, graduates can pursue that endorsement alongside the M.A.T.
7
Olivet Nazarene University
Master of Arts in Education: Reading Specialist and Reading Teacher Endorsement
Bourbonnais, Illinois
77.2- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 36 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,957
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,957
Classes at Olivet Nazarene University start every eight weeks, so working teachers can fit its online Master of Arts in Education with a reading path around full-time classroom hours. Candidates choose between an endorsement-only route to the Illinois Reading Teacher Endorsement, about 12 months and 24 credit hours, and the full master's, about 18 months and 32 credit hours. A separate Curriculum and Instruction track sits beside the reading path for teachers weighing other directions in leadership.
8
76.4- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 23 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,340
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,340
Liberty University prepares currently licensed teachers for Virginia's advanced reading specialist endorsement through a 36-credit-hour online Master of Education in Reading Specialist. Courses run in eight-week or, in some cases, full-semester formats with eight start dates a year, and up to half of the credits may transfer in. Endorsement eligibility needs a current initial teaching license and two years of documented teaching, then a practicum, an internship and the licensure tests, with a third year of experience finalizing it. Liberty has announced a rename to M.Ed. in Reading Specialist beginning in Fall 2026. CAEP and SACSCOC accreditation apply.
9
75.1- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 41 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,386
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,261
PennWest University's fully online Reading Specialist M.Ed. is meant for certified PreK-12 teachers pursuing Pennsylvania Reading Specialist certification. A capstone clinical practicum comes at the end and puts each candidate one-on-one with school-aged children, so graduates have diagnosed and supported struggling readers firsthand, without leaving the online format. No concentrations are offered, so every candidate follows the same sequence, which working teachers across Pennsylvania can complete. CAEP accredits the program, and in 2025 it earned accreditation from the International Dyslexia Association.
10
University of Central Arkansas
Master of Science in Education in Literacy with a Dyslexia Endorsement
Conway, Arkansas
73.7- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 38 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,443
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,162
Practicing teachers who want to become reading specialists, literacy coaches or interventionists can study online at the University of Central Arkansas, in the Master of Science in Education in Literacy housed in the Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education. Expect 30 to 36 hours of courses written to meet CAEP, International Literacy Association and ISTE standards, with field experience placing the learning in classrooms. Passing the Foundations of Reading exam brings the Arkansas K-12 Reading Specialist license plus a K-12 Dyslexia Endorsement. For a shorter start, an embedded Graduate Certificate in Dyslexia takes 15 to 18 hours. The International Dyslexia Association accredits the degree.
11
71.4- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 20 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,492
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,492
Delaware-licensed teachers who want to serve as K-12 Delaware Reading Specialists can take Wilmington University's online Master of Education in Reading. It carries 34 to 35 credits, including a six-credit clinical practicum, a combined diagnosis, assessment and correction course, and content-area field experience. A requirement to participate in a professional reading organization connects candidates to the wider field. Delaware's Knowledge of Reading Test and the Praxis II Reading Specialist exams must be passed before the final seminar, and the degree must be finished within five years. CAEP accredits the program, which meets International Literacy Association standards at the Reading Specialist level.
12
71.2- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 16 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,650
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,650
Concordia University Nebraska offers its online Master of Education in Literacy as either a 33-hour Reading Specialist Endorsement or a 48-hour track that adds an ESL endorsement. A required three-credit case study, based in the field and documented through student interaction, keeps the work tied to real classrooms, and an ESL practicum is optional. The degree leads to the Nebraska Reading Specialist endorsement and is recognized in Interstate Mobility Compact states, while a non-certification field-of-study option serves candidates elsewhere. CAEP accreditation backs the program.
13
Missouri State University-Springfield
Master of Science in Education, Literacy
Springfield, Missouri
68.9- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 34 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $13,704
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,476
Missouri State University's online Master of Science in Education in Literacy is meant for teachers who already hold classroom certification and want to specialize in reading. Study is online, and field work stays local: practical and field experiences take place in the student's own district or a school close by, so the coursework plays out where candidates already work. Faculty are experienced classroom teachers and reading researchers. Adding a child or adolescent psychology course brings completion in line with the coursework requirements for Missouri DESE Special Reading Teacher certification for K-12.
14
Northern Illinois University
Master of Science in Education in Literacy Education (Reading)
Dekalb, Illinois
66.4- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 15 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,090
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,090
Northern Illinois University's 33-credit-hour online Master of Science in Education in Literacy Education with a Reading specialization is typically finished over two to three years, a pace that suits teachers who keep working. Practicum work takes place through the Jerry L. Johns Literacy Clinic, where candidates get supervised experience in reading assessment and intervention. Up to fifteen credits can transfer in, and admission is fall only. Graduates can add a K-12 reading specialist or reading teacher endorsement to a professional educator license. The International Literacy Association recognized the curriculum as exemplary, and it aligns with ILA and NCATE standards.
15
66.1- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 31 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $14,668
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,408
Teachers who hold an Initial, Professional or Permanent New York certificate can broaden it through SUNY Brockport's Master of Science in Education in Literacy Education, which now has a fully online format beside the hybrid one. Faculty, standards and certification outcomes are identical in both. One track spanning birth through grade 12 leads to state certification in Literacy birth-grade 6 and Literacy grades 5-12. Internships are required and keep the study tied to practice, and a motivated candidate can finish in as little as one year. Career targets include literacy specialist, coach and director of literacy instruction.
16
65.3- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 28 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $14,160
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $14,160
Certified teachers can add a literacy specialization through Touro University's online Master of Science in Teaching Literacy while they keep working. Candidates choose a Birth through Grade 6 pathway or a Grades 5 through 12 pathway, and the degree meets the academic requirements for New York State certification in Teaching Literacy for those bands. Prior state teaching certification is required. Everything is online except a fifty-hour clinical practicum, which is completed locally under a certified cooperating teacher, so supervised fieldwork happens close to the student's own school.
17
64.3- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 12 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,115
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,115
Drury University's 30-credit-hour online Master of Education in Special Reading is a single-focus degree for teachers who are already certified. Two practicum courses worth six credits give candidates supervised reading work, and the last nine hours consist of Introduction to Educational Research and a Capstone Seminar. The degree does not automatically confer Missouri Special Reading Certification. That credential also requires two years of teaching experience and approved coursework in behavior management, child and adolescent psychology, education of the exceptional child, and basic reading methods.
18
63.0- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 21 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $13,170
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $13,170
Concordia University Wisconsin offers its online Master of Science in Literacy in three tiers. The Reading Teacher Certification alone takes 15 credits, the certification plus the master's takes 30, and the same 30-credit master's can be extended with the Reading Specialist Certification. Courses are self-paced and eight weeks long, while practicums and internships take place in person, locally. Portfolio-based assessment runs across a five-semester plan that can be completed in as little as one year. Outcomes are the Wisconsin Reading Teacher License and, on the final tier, the Reading Specialist License.
19
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Master of Education (M.Ed.) in PK-12 Reading Specialist
Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
61.9- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 48 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $18,216
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,659
Slippery Rock University teaches structured literacy strategies across grades PK-12 in its online Master of Education in PK-12 Reading Specialist. Depending on the track, the degree runs from 12 to 30 credit hours and takes 12 to 18 months, and candidates can take it alone or pair it with an Instructional Coaching Endorsement in literacy. A passing Praxis II Reading Specialist result after completion makes graduates eligible for Pennsylvania Reading Specialist Certification. Faculty hold doctoral degrees in literacy education, and CAEP accreditation covers the program.
20
Muskingum University
Reading Endorsement, with optional combined Master of Arts in Education (MAE)
New Concord, Ohio
61.8- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 14 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,530
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,530
Licensed teachers can earn an Ohio Reading Endorsement through Muskingum University's online Reading Endorsement for Pre-K through Grade 12, a 12-credit asynchronous sequence that can be completed in as little as one term. Those who want more can stack it into the Master of Arts in Education, which brings the total to 43 credits. The curriculum is built on the Science of Reading, reflecting what Ohio now expects of reading specialists, and the credential opens paths into reading specialist and literacy leadership roles. Delivery is entirely online and self-paced, so teachers add the credential without leaving their classrooms.
21
61.6- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 11 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,550
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,550
Missouri teachers aiming for Literacy Specialist certification can work toward it through Lindenwood University's online M.A. in Education, Literacy Specialist K-12. The curriculum starts at 33 credit hours and builds toward Missouri DESE certification, which asks for an initial professional teaching certificate and two years in the classroom. Coursework may begin before that experience is in hand. Lindenwood also lets a student take only the courses the certificate requires and stop short of the full master's degree, so each teacher decides how far to go. One specialization is offered, with no further tracks.
22
California State University-Fullerton
Master of Science in Literacy and Reading Education
Fullerton, California
61.3- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 43 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $18,011
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,507
California State University, Fullerton packages its 30-unit online M.S. in Literacy and Reading Education with the coursework for the Reading and Literacy Added Authorization and the Literacy and Reading Specialist Credential, both issued through the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Learning is cohort-based and bichronous, mixing live sessions with self-paced work. A READ 581 practicum on strategic interventions for literacy specialists puts fieldwork at the center, and candidates finish with a capstone project or a thesis. Coursework follows CTC standards under national and state accreditation.
23
59.9- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 17 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,646
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $10,009
Illinois State University's 36-credit-hour online M.S.Ed. in Reading and Literacy is written for K-12 educators who want to lead reading instruction. Completing it leads to an Illinois State Board of Education approved Reading Specialist Certificate along with a Reading Teacher Endorsement. Because every course is online, teachers can keep their own classrooms while they study. The university calls the program intensive and highly competitive, a signal that it expects motivated, committed applicants.
24
58.5- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 14 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,692
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,692
Working professionals who want reading-focused graduate study can take University of Mary's online Master of Education in Reading on a schedule that can be completed in as few as two years. Christian, Catholic and Benedictine values run through the curriculum, reflecting the mission of the Bismarck, North Dakota, university. The degree is delivered online for educators who need flexibility around a job, and it is accredited to North Dakota's education standards.
25
57.8- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 31 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $17,712
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,720
Ohio University's 31-credit-hour online Master of Education in Reading Education drops both the thesis and the GRE, and a student can finish in three semesters. Two start dates a year give a teaching schedule some room. Graduates are eligible to apply for the reading endorsement on an Ohio teaching license once they pass the OAE reading exam. The degree is fully online with a single track and no formal concentrations, so teachers can specialize in literacy without stepping away from the classroom.
How We Rank
Every eligible program is scored out of 100. Each figure becomes a percentile against the 118 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 reading and literacy 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 Reading and Literacy Are There?
There are 157 fully online master's programs in reading and literacy, out of 265 on federal record, and 118 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 reading and literacy, 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 Reading and Literacy Cost?
An online master's in reading and literacy costs from $4,560 to $55,572 a year out of state in graduate tuition and required fees across the 118 ranked programs, with a median of $17,911. In state the median is $11,515. 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 reading and literacy program's own price page is the figure to plan on.
What Does an Online Master's in Reading and Literacy Cover?
An online master's in reading and literacy covers how children learn to read, how to find where a student's reading breaks down, and how to teach and coach others around what you find. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock's fully online M.Ed. in Reading shows a common shape: 30 credit hours, divided into a Reading Specialist option with 24 core hours and a Reading Generalist option with 12 core hours and more electives.
The field measures programs against the International Literacy Association's Standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals, which name seven areas, from foundational knowledge and assessment to equity, leadership and a final standard on practicum and clinical experiences. A course list that maps onto those seven tells you more than a degree title.
How Long Does an Online Master's in Reading and Literacy Take?
An online master's in reading and literacy can take as little as 12 months at Arkansas State University, where 30 credit hours run in seven-week terms in fall and spring and five-week terms in summer. California State University, Fullerton schedules its 30-unit cohort program around a required four-unit practicum.
Thirty credits is the total at both programs above, so your pace depends on how many courses you carry a term while you teach. Ask when the practicum course runs, because work with students has to fit the calendar of the school that hosts you.
Does an Online Master's in Reading and Literacy Lead to a Reading Specialist License?
An online master's in reading and literacy leads to a reading specialist license mainly for teachers who already hold a classroom license, because the states below build the specialist credential on top of a first one. Texas requires a master's degree, two years of classroom teaching experience, a required test and an approved preparation program. The University of Alaska Southeast asks applicants for a copy of a current teaching or administrative certificate and a Praxis II Reading Specialist score before it verifies the program to the state.
The hands-on part happens near home. Arkansas State's program includes two practicum courses, one in diagnosis and intervention and one in literacy leadership, and the Alaska program is delivered so teachers can finish while teaching in their own district. If you hold no license yet, a first-license program comes before any of this.
How Do State Authorization and Licensure Disclosures Work for Online Reading and Literacy Students?
State authorization and licensure disclosures work for online reading and literacy students through a federal duty on the school to tell you, in writing, whether its program meets the licensure requirements where you live. 34 CFR 668.43 requires a program built for a license to list the states where the school has found that it does and does not qualify, to warn you before enrollment if it has found the program falls short in your state or has not yet decided, and to make the notice directly in writing, which email satisfies.
The school applies one policy to decide which state you are in, so state your home address and your plans to work. NC-SARA says its reciprocity agreement does not address licensing board approval for teacher education, though it does require member schools to give the notice. Your state education agency, not the school, grants the endorsement.
Which Costs and Aid Options Come With an Online Master's in Reading and Literacy?
The costs and aid options that come with an online master's in reading and literacy are a per-credit price, the exam and endorsement fees your state charges, and a federal TEACH Grant if the program qualifies. Arkansas State lists $350 per credit hour for in-state and out-of-state students alike, which works out to $10,500 over 30 hours.
Federal rules name reading specialist as a high-need field for the TEACH Grant, but the grant pays only toward a program the school has designated as eligible, so ask its financial aid office. The annual charges in the ranking above come from IPEDS Institutional Characteristics for a full-time year, which suits comparing schools better than budgeting part-time study.
What Jobs Does an Online Master's in Reading and Literacy Lead To?
An online master's in reading and literacy leads to work as a reading specialist, literacy coach or literacy coordinator, the three specialized roles the International Literacy Association's standards define.
The nearest federal occupation is instructional coordinator. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says instructional coordinators in public schools are required to have a master's degree in education or curriculum and instruction, may be required to have a teaching or administrator license, and most need several years of related experience as a teacher or instructional leader. Titles vary by district. The licensure guide by state lists each state's agency, and the instructional coordinator career page covers the work.
How Much Do Jobs Tied to an Online Master's in Reading and Literacy Pay?
Jobs tied to an online master's in reading and literacy pay a median of $77,440 a year in the closest federal occupation, Instructional Coordinators, in May 2025. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts 227,760 workers in that occupation, and the lowest-paid tenth earn $47,980 or less while the highest-paid tenth earn $121,670 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 Program to Become a Reading Specialist?
To choose an online program for a reading specialist role, begin with your state's endorsement rules and keep only programs that name your state in their licensure disclosure. Then look for recognition from the field's own bodies: the Little Rock program reports accreditation by the International Literacy Association, and educator-preparation accreditation comes from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
Compare what each school actually does for a distance student: how it finds practicum sites and supervisors near you, whether it requires a current license for admission, what it charges per credit, and whether a dyslexia endorsement is built in. The ranking above sorts programs on federal degree counts and tuition, and those are the points to settle with the school.
How Do You Become a Reading Specialist With an Online Master's Degree?
You become a reading specialist with an online master's degree by starting from your state's endorsement rules and your own license, then picking a program that fits both.
- Check your license and experience. Confirm that you hold a current teaching license and note how many years of classroom experience your state asks for before it issues a reading specialist credential.
- Read your state's endorsement rules. Find the reading specialist or literacy requirements on your state agency's site, including the required exam, the practicum hours and any dyslexia component.
- Get the licensure disclosure in writing. Ask each school for its written determination for your state before you apply, and keep the message that gives it.
- Line up a practicum site. Ask how the program arranges clinical work with struggling readers near you, who supervises it, and whether your own school can host it.
- Pass the exam and apply. Finish the coursework and practicum, sit the state's reading specialist exam, and send the program's recommendation and your transcript to your state agency.
Common Questions About Online Master's Programs in Reading and Literacy
How Many Online Master's Programs in Reading and Literacy Are There?
How Much Does an Online Master's in Reading and Literacy Cost?
What Are the Best Online Master's Programs in Reading and Literacy?
Are Online Master's Programs in Reading and Literacy Accredited?
How Are Online Master's Programs in Reading and Literacy Ranked?
Do You Need a Teaching License to Enroll in an Online Master's in Reading and Literacy?
Can an Online Master's in Reading and Literacy Include Dyslexia Training?
Which Exam Do Reading Specialist Candidates Take After an Online Degree?
Do Reading and Literacy Master's Programs Cover Every Grade Level?
Can Transfer Credits Shorten an Online Reading and Literacy Master's Degree?
Where Do the Figures on These Online Master's Programs in Reading and Literacy 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: Instructional Coordinators
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- 34 CFR 668.43, Institutional and programmatic information (eCFR)
- NC-SARA, Professional Licensure
- 34 CFR 686.2, Definitions (TEACH Grant)
- International Literacy Association, Standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals 2017
- University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Master of Education in Reading
- Arkansas State University, online MSE in Reading
- California State University, Fullerton, M.S. in Literacy and Reading Education
- University of Alaska Southeast, Reading Specialist M.Ed.
- University of Central Arkansas, M.S.E. in Literacy with Dyslexia Endorsement
- Texas Education Agency, Student Services Certificates
- Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, Structured Literacy Certification Process
The figures on these online master's programs in reading and literacy 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 16 states
University of the Cumberlands American College of Education Northwest Missouri State University Grand Canyon University Arkansas State University Morningside University Olivet Nazarene University Liberty University Pennsylvania Western University University of Central Arkansas Wilmington University Concordia University-Nebraska Missouri State University-Springfield Northern Illinois University SUNY Brockport Touro University Drury University Concordia University-Wisconsin Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Muskingum University Lindenwood University California State University-Fullerton Illinois State University University of Mary Ohio University