An online master's in secondary education is a graduate degree for people who teach, or want to teach, one subject such as math, science, English or history to middle and high school students. Some versions are built for career changers who need a first teaching license, and others are built for licensed teachers who want deeper subject knowledge and an advanced credential.
Which version you need, and whether the school can recommend you for a license in the state where you live, settle most of the other choices. The sections below separate the two routes, explain how classroom placements work from home, and show where federal rules and state agencies come in.
Source: IPEDS completions and Institutional Characteristics, read October 6, 2026.
fully online master's programs in secondary education ranked, from 63 schools
63
master's degrees a year at the median ranked program
13
median out-of-state tuition and fees for a master's year, 2023-24
$15,193
home states among the 25 schools on the list
15
This ranking covers fully online master's programs in secondary education only. Hybrid programs, programs with a required campus visit and programs on campus are counted but not ranked here.
The 25 Best Online Master's Programs in Secondary Education, Ranked
The 25 best online master's programs in secondary education are ranked below by one score out of 100, built from IPEDS degrees awarded and graduate tuition and fees. Across all 63 ranked programs the median charge is $11,261 in state and $15,193 out of state, so each card's figures read high or low against that.
1
University of the Cumberlands
Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education, 8-12
Williamsburg, Kentucky
95.2- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 101 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $4,560
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $4,560
Kentucky secondary certification is the goal of University of the Cumberlands' 33-credit-hour online Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education for grades 8 to 12. Candidates specialize in English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science or Social Studies, and eight-week terms keep the pace brisk. Three clinical components, Clinical I, Clinical II and a III/Practicum, build classroom experience in sequence. Those already working can use the Option 6 pathway to earn provisional licensure while teaching, and every state-required exam must be passed before a recommendation for professional licensure. The unit is recognized by EPSB and accredited by CAEP.
2
91.7- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 115 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-hour online Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education is framed around Virginia licensure requirements and prepares candidates for initial licensure in grades 6 to 12, with ACSI certification also within reach for Christian school settings. Endorsement areas run from biology, chemistry, English and mathematics to music, theater arts, computer science, engineering and English as a second language. Courses last eight weeks with multiple start dates through the year, and up to 50% of credits may transfer in. CAEP is the accreditor named for the education unit.
3
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
Master of Education (MEd) in Secondary Education with Teacher Certification
Scottsdale, Arizona
86.4- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 72 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 30-credit online M.Ed. in Secondary Education with Teacher Certification ends in an institutional recommendation for Arizona certification in grades 6 to 12. Over sixteen classes, candidates pick a subject-specific methods course, from American government and biology to physical education and Spanish, while hands-on middle and high school field experience keeps the work tied to classrooms. A final applied research project has them design a classroom intervention. International applicants are not eligible for the certification track.
4
Grand Canyon University
Master of Education in Secondary Education (Initial Teacher Licensure)
Phoenix, Arizona
84.7- Private for-profit
- Degrees awarded
- 506 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,124
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,124
Candidates at Grand Canyon University pick either a STEM or a Humanities emphasis within the 41-credit Master of Education in Secondary Education, with focus areas such as math, English or history. The degree leads to initial teaching licensure for grades 6 to 12. Online courses run six weeks each, one subject at a time, and the sequence builds toward a 15-week student teaching practicum with roughly 100 hours of field and observation experience. Institutional accreditation is held through the Higher Learning Commission.
5
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Master of Education in Classroom Teaching
Weatherford, Oklahoma
83.9- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 34 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,939
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $7,915
Southwestern Oklahoma State University lets candidates shape its online Master of Education in Classroom Teaching around what they already teach, choosing an Elementary Teaching track for PreK through grade 5 or 6 or a Secondary Teaching track for grades 6 through 12, then customizing by content background such as English, math, science or social studies. No cohort is required, so students move at their own pace with one-on-one guidance from program advisors. Coursework may support pathways toward teacher certification, but requirements vary by state and candidates should confirm how it fits their own route.
6
82.1- Private for-profit
- Degrees awarded
- 28 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,600
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,600
Bachelor's holders in a non-education field can enter Indiana classrooms through American College of Education's Master of Arts in Secondary Teaching, approved as an alternative route to initial secondary certification. The 34-credit degree runs fully online in roughly 12 to 20 months, with a single-subject focus and electives across content areas for grades 5 to 12. Its centerpiece is a 400-hour, 15-week full-time student teaching practicum. The Higher Learning Commission is the college's institutional accreditor.
7
80.4- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 86 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,672
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,672
William Carey University runs its Master of Education in Secondary Education fully online with no synchronous meetings required, so teachers can fit study around their own schedules. Portfolio development is woven through the coursework and pushes candidates to apply new ideas in their own classrooms. A minimum of 30 credit hours is required, and the degree can be finished in as little as 12 to 15 months. The format is aimed at working secondary educators who want a focused master's, with nothing to attend live.
8
University of Massachusetts Global
Aliso Viejo, California
79.5- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 62 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $13,282
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $13,282
University of Massachusetts Global pairs its Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education with the California Single Subject Teaching Credential (2042) for grades 7 to 12, an initial licensure route. Seven content areas are available: English, Mathematics, Science, History and Social Science, Physical Education and Health, World Languages, and Music or Art. After the first four courses a candidate becomes intern-eligible, so teaching for pay can overlap with the remaining online coursework. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing approves the credential program, AAQEP accredits it, and WASC accredits the university.
9
78.4- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 142 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $13,546
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,868
Certified teachers who hold a valid bachelor's-level Professional Educator Certificate in the same teaching field qualify for the University of West Alabama's online Master of Education in High School Education (6-12). The degree leads to advanced Alabama teaching certification, with concentrations in Biology, History, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Science. The 33 credit hours are taught in 8-week courses and can be completed in about a year, ending in a comprehensive exam. A personal success coach is assigned to each student. CAEP accreditation covers the program, and the university is accredited by SACSCOC.
10
Morningside University
Master of Arts in Teaching, Secondary Education Initial Licensure
Sioux City, Iowa
76.9- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 36 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,111
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,111
Morningside University's fully online Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education leads to Iowa initial licensure through a Teacher Intern model, which lets candidates teach while they complete licensure coursework. The 100% online format is aimed at career changers and working educators who cannot relocate or pause their jobs. The degree is one of ten MAT options in the Sharon Walker School of Education, alongside tracks in literacy education, STEM education and special education. The Higher Learning Commission accredits the institution, and it is approved through NC-SARA.
11
73.3- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 139 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $15,486
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,606
Candidates with no teaching license can work toward initial licensure through the University of Arkansas at Monticello's online Master of Arts in Teaching. Candidates can take the standard M.A.T. for general secondary teaching or a version with a Special Education focus. The route suits career changers and recent graduates who need graduate-level preparation before they enter a classroom. Eligible candidates may apply for the Arkansas Teacher Academy Scholarship. The university holds Higher Learning Commission accreditation.
12
72.5- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 34 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,386
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,261
Pennsylvania Western University pairs an online Master of Arts in Teaching with initial Pennsylvania Level 1 teacher certification across ten subject areas. Tracks include elementary, middle level, secondary English, mathematics, science and social studies, and K-12 art, health and physical education, and technology education. Fifteen full weeks of student teaching ground the online coursework in a real classroom. The degree can be finished in as few as five semesters and 45 credits. Accreditation comes from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
13
71.2- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 55 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $16,164
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $16,164
Point Park University's 42-credit Master of Education in Secondary Education 7-12 is cohort-based and fully asynchronous, so classmates move through together while studying around their own commitments. Content areas include biological sciences, chemistry, citizenship, communications, computer science, English, general science, mathematics, physics and social studies. An in-person student teaching practicum of 60 days and 420 hours anchors the online coursework. Completing the degree leads to Pennsylvania initial secondary certification, Instructional I, which is valid for six years from the start of a teaching position.
14
University of Phoenix-Arizona
Master of Arts in Education - Secondary Teacher Education
Phoenix, Arizona
70.8- Private for-profit
- Degrees awarded
- 81 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $16,215
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $16,215
Candidates who need an initial license for grades 6 to 12 can study online through the University of Phoenix's 39-credit Master of Arts in Education in Secondary Teacher Education. The single-subject track covers English, history, math, science and social studies. Clinical work includes at least 100 hours of field experience and a minimum 12-week full-time clinical practice placement. Because state pathways differ, candidates in a state without a direct route must first obtain Arizona certification before seeking their home-state license. Admission asks for no GMAT or GRE, and Phoenix holds institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
15
66.1- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 56 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $18,430
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $5,938
Career changers, provisionally certified teachers and recent graduates are the audience for the University of West Georgia's Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education, a 30-semester-hour degree delivered primarily online. Field experiences in public schools supply the classroom practice. Concentrations include biology, broad field science, chemistry, economics, English, history, mathematics, physics and political science. Finishing leads to a Georgia Educator Certificate for grades 6 to 12, once the candidate has passed the GACE Basic Skills and content exams.
16
Southeast Missouri State University
Master of Arts in Teaching with Middle or Secondary Teaching Certification
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
65.3- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 12 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 designed its online Master of Arts in Teaching with middle or secondary certification for career changers who have no teaching background. Candidates choose grades 5 to 9 or grades 9 to 12 and a content area such as agriculture, business, music, physical education, chemistry or world languages. Across 33 credit hours, field experience leads into a student-teaching practicum that can sometimes be completed at the candidate's own workplace. Missouri licensure requires a 3.0 GPA, the Missouri Content Assessment and the MO Educator Evaluation System. NCATE and AAQEP both stand behind the degree.
17
65.0- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 23 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,705
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,705
Two paths run through Notre Dame of Maryland University's online Master of Arts in Teaching. The ten-month accelerated route, called the Graduate Education Intern option, has candidates take full-time courses while interning in a classroom for two semesters, and part-time candidates typically take two years. Fields for grades 7 to 12 include English, mathematics, several sciences, social studies, computer science, French, Spanish, art, music, business and theater. Maryland state teaching certification follows once national testing requirements are met, and the program carries CAEP accreditation.
18
64.5- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 12 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,092
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,092
Mississippi University for Women offers its fully online Master of Arts in Teaching as an alternate route, with a full classroom internship built in. Candidates can focus on secondary education for grades 7 to 12 or K-12 in areas such as biology, English, mathematics, social studies, music, theater and Spanish, and an elementary option also exists. Licensure steps from a three-year non-renewable Class A license at entry, to a five-year renewable Class A at completion, then a five-year Class AA after the master's. Coursework can be done in as few as four semesters, with individualized advising along the way. The program holds CAEP accreditation.
19
University of Southern Mississippi
Master of Arts in Teaching, Secondary Teacher Education (Alternate Route)
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
62.7- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 17 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $11,618
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,618
Career changers can enter Mississippi classrooms through the University of Southern Mississippi's online Master of Arts in Teaching, Secondary Teacher Education, an alternate-route program covering fourteen subject areas including art, biology, business education, chemistry, English, French, health, mathematics and Spanish. While training, candidates apply for a three-year Mississippi alternate-route license. Practice takes one of two forms: an internship as teacher of record earning a salary, or a mentor-supported residency. Either way, a full academic year in an accredited Mississippi district is required. MCARE assistance and living stipends may be available, and the coursework follows Mississippi Department of Education licensure standards.
20
61.8- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 13 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,969
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $9,969
McDaniel College's 33-credit Master of Science in Secondary Education does not lead to an initial license: applicants must already hold a Maryland Standard Professional Certificate, either SPC I or SPC II. A one-on-one relationship with the program coordinator shapes each student's own plan of study, built from certificate areas such as Special Education, TESOL, Gifted and Talented Education, Learning Technologies and Administrator I. An individually developed capstone project closes the plan. Depending on the areas chosen, it can lead to an Administrator I or GATES endorsement. The degree is fully online, and AAQEP initial accreditation runs through June 30, 2029.
21
60.7- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 16 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,000
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $12,000
Young Harris College's 42-credit-hour Master of Arts in Teaching runs three semesters, summer, fall and spring, and leads to initial Georgia certification for grades 6 to 12. Coursework is asynchronous online, joined by a fall field-studies placement and a spring student-teaching internship. An Action Research course has candidates examine their own practice. Content areas are biology, broad field science, English, history and mathematics. Throughout enrollment, candidates must hold a Pre-Service Certificate from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, which ties each enrollment to the certification track.
22
58.5- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 8 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,576
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $6,576
Dickinson State University's Master of Arts in Teaching is an expedited graduate route into secondary teaching for mid-career professionals and recent graduates with a bachelor's degree outside education. It is delivered primarily online and leads toward secondary teacher licensure, and it is not an advanced degree for teachers who are already licensed. Candidates need no existing teaching credential to begin. Working adults can switch fields without leaving their jobs entirely, and the coursework sits under the university's Higher Learning Commission accreditation.
23
56.8- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 20 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $15,193
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $15,193
Mercyhurst University delivers its 36-credit Master of Science in Secondary Education fully online and asynchronously, and it can be finished in as little as 12 months. Candidates choose English, mathematics, science or social studies as their content area. The degree satisfies Pennsylvania Department of Education certification requirements for grades 7 to 12, provided the candidate passes the PRAXIS exam for the chosen subject. Those who already hold teaching certification face a shortened six-week clinical requirement, so prior classroom experience shortens the field work.
24
Concordia University-Irvine
Combined Credential and Master of Education (Secondary)
Irvine, California
54.7- Private nonprofit
- Degrees awarded
- 8 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,730
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,730
Concordia University Irvine folds teacher preparation and a graduate degree into one online path, the Combined Credential and Master of Education (Secondary). The 30 units of Single Subject credential coursework count directly toward the 46-unit M.Ed., so overlapping work is not repeated. Graduates leave with a California Single Subject Teaching Credential for grades 6 to 12 and complete a capstone experience along the way. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing approves the program, and WSCUC provides regional accreditation for the university.
25
Valley City State University
Master of Education
Valley City, North Dakota
54.1- Public
- Degrees awarded
- 7 a year
- Out-of-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,026
- In-state tuition and fees, 2023-24
- $8,026
Valley City State University offers a fully online Master of Education structured around a wide menu of concentrations rather than a single secondary-education track. Candidates can shape the degree toward Elementary Education, English Education, Library and Information Technologies, Teaching English Learners, Technology Education, or a broad Teaching and Technology strand that spans options from Mathematics Education to Teacher Leadership. Several of these concentrations are built to serve teachers working at either the primary or secondary level, giving the program a flexible, cross-grade character. The all-online format and practitioner-oriented tracks suggest a degree aimed at working educators deepening their expertise. It reads less as a licensure pipeline and more as continuing professional development tailored to a teacher's own subject and setting.
How We Rank
Every eligible program is scored out of 100. Each figure becomes a percentile against the 63 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 secondary 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 Secondary Education Are There?
There are 79 fully online master's programs in secondary education, out of 278 on federal record, and 63 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 secondary 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 Secondary Education Cost?
An online master's in secondary education costs from $4,560 to $41,124 a year out of state in graduate tuition and required fees across the 63 ranked programs, with a median of $15,193. In state the median is $11,261. 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 secondary education program's own price page is the figure to plan on.
Is an Online Master's in Secondary Education for Career Changers or for Licensed Teachers?
An online master's in secondary education serves both career changers and licensed teachers, but each group needs a different program, and the degree title and admission rules show which one you are reading. Grand Canyon University's Master of Education in Secondary Education is an initial-licensure program approved in Arizona. The University of West Alabama's online Master of Education in high school education works the other way: applicants must already hold a valid bachelor's-level Professional Educator Certificate in the teaching field they choose.
Career changers should look for the words initial licensure or Master of Arts in Teaching. Licensed teachers should expect an advanced certificate, not a first license.
What Does an Online Master's in Secondary Education Cover?
An online master's in secondary education covers how adolescents learn, how to teach one subject to them and how to assess what they have learned, with the subject chosen as a concentration. At the University of West Alabama, students take 15 credit hours in biology, history, English language arts, mathematics, science or social science.
Grade bands differ too: Grand Canyon University prepares candidates for grades 6-12, while the University of the Cumberlands titles its Master of Arts in Teaching track for grades 8-12. The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation opens its initial-level standards with content and pedagogical knowledge.
How Long Does an Online Master's in Secondary Education Take?
An online master's in secondary education takes about a year at the University of West Alabama, which lists 33 credit hours in 8-week courses, while the University of the Cumberlands lists 33 to 42 credits that vary by concentration.
A first-license program runs longer because it ends in student teaching. Grand Canyon University's 41-credit program uses 6-week courses and finishes with a 15-week student teaching term. The placement follows a school's calendar, so ask when it can start. A part-time pace spreads the same credits across more terms and pushes that start date later.
Where Does Student Teaching Happen in an Online Master's Degree for Secondary Teaching?
Student teaching in an online master's degree for secondary teaching happens in a real secondary school, not on a screen, and the program pairs you with a certified teacher there. Grand Canyon University places each candidate in an approved school with a certified cooperating teacher or mentor, supervised by a GCU faculty supervisor, after the program's 100 hours of fieldwork, which include observations and practicum experiences.
Some routes let you teach while you study. In Kentucky, fully admitted candidates at the University of the Cumberlands who receive a qualifying job offer may teach on a temporary or provisional license while completing coursework. Ask any program whether it finds sites near your home.
How Do State Authorization and Licensure Disclosures Apply to an Online Master's in Secondary Education?
State authorization and licensure disclosures apply to an online master's in secondary education through 34 CFR 668.43, which requires a school whose program is designed or advertised to meet licensure requirements to list the states where it has decided that the program does and does not meet them. If the program does not meet your state's requirements, or the school has made no decision, it must tell you in writing before you enroll.
The state that counts is the one the school records as your location, and the school updates that record when you tell it you have moved. Grand Canyon University's program is approved by Arizona, and its disclosure says approval in one state does not guarantee that it meets requirements in another. NC-SARA adds that its reciprocity agreement does not address licensing board approval in teacher education.
Which Extra Costs and Aid Come With an Online Master's in Secondary Teaching?
The extra costs of an online master's in secondary teaching are per-credit pricing, term fees and the exams after the degree, and federal TEACH Grant aid is available to students who agree to teach in high-need fields. The University of West Alabama lists $429 per credit hour plus a $120 technology fee each semester, Grand Canyon University lists $625 per credit, and the University of the Cumberlands lists $315 per credit hour.
The TEACH Grant is federal aid tied to high-need subjects, and it applies only to programs a school has designated as eligible. Recipients agree to teach full-time for four school years in a high-need field at a school serving low-income students, and mathematics, science and foreign language are among those fields.
What Jobs Does an Online Master's in Secondary Education Lead To?
An online master's in secondary education leads most directly to teaching a subject in middle or high school, the work the Bureau of Labor Statistics describes in its Occupational Outlook Handbook profile of high school teachers. The subject and grade band on your license set which classes a district can assign you.
In some states the master's is part of the license path itself. New York's initial certificate is valid for five years, and its professional certificate requires a related master's degree and three years of experience. Check your own agency in the licensure guide by state.
How Much Do Jobs Tied to an Online Master's in Secondary Education Pay?
Jobs tied to an online master's in secondary 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 Program for Secondary Teaching?
To choose an online master's program for secondary teaching, start with your state's licensing agency and work back to schools that name your state in their licensure disclosure. Then confirm accreditation: the University of the Cumberlands reports CAEP accreditation at the initial-licensure and advanced levels, so ask any other school for its own.
Compare what the ranking cannot show: the grade band and subject on the resulting license, how placements are arranged, the price per credit and whether you need a first license or an advanced one. Ask for the school's answer in writing.
How Do You Become a Secondary School Teacher With an Online Master's Degree?
You become a secondary school teacher with an online master's degree by starting from the license your state issues and choosing the program that leads to it.
- Choose a first or advanced route. With a bachelor's degree and no license, look for an initial-licensure program. With a certificate already, look for one that adds content depth and an advanced certificate.
- Pick a subject and grade band. Check which subjects and grade ranges your state agency licenses, then match a program's concentrations to the classes you want to teach.
- Get the licensure determination in writing. Ask the school whether the program meets requirements where you live, keep the reply, and tell the school if you move before you finish.
- Line up the classroom placement. Ask how the program finds a school and cooperating teacher near you, who supervises you, and when student teaching can start.
- Pass state exams and apply. Take the subject and teaching tests your state requires, then send your transcript and the program's recommendation to the state agency.
Common Questions About Online Master's Programs in Secondary Education
How Many Online Master's Programs in Secondary Education Are There?
How Much Does an Online Master's in Secondary Education Cost?
What Are the Best Online Master's Programs in Secondary Education?
Are Online Master's Programs in Secondary Education Accredited?
How Are Online Master's Programs in Secondary Education Ranked?
Can You Work as a Teacher While Finishing an Online Master's in Secondary Education?
Which Subjects Can You Teach After an Online Master's in Secondary Education?
Does CAEP Accreditation Matter for an Online Master's in Secondary Education?
What Do Online Secondary Education Programs Require for Admission?
Will a Secondary Teaching License From an Online Master's Transfer to Another State?
Where Do the Figures on These Online Master's Programs in Secondary 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
- University of West Alabama, online Master of Education in High School Education (6-12)
- Grand Canyon University, Master of Education in Secondary Education (Initial Teacher Licensure)
- University of the Cumberlands, Master of Arts in Teaching
- Federal Student Aid, TEACH Grant counseling guide
- New York State Education Department, Professional Certificate
- ETS, Praxis tests
The figures on these online master's programs in secondary education come from federal records that each college reports about itself, as of the dates shown. Each card's description is researched from that program's own page, which the card links.
Show the federal record for all 25 colleges ranked, in 15 states
University of the Cumberlands Liberty University Arizona State University Digital Immersion Grand Canyon University Southwestern Oklahoma State University American College of Education William Carey University University of Massachusetts Global University of West Alabama Morningside University University of Arkansas at Monticello Pennsylvania Western University Point Park University University of Phoenix-Arizona University of West Georgia Southeast Missouri State University Notre Dame of Maryland University Mississippi University for Women University of Southern Mississippi McDaniel College Young Harris College Dickinson State University Mercyhurst University Concordia University-Irvine Valley City State University