Alabama's list is unusually uniform: public universities only, led by the University of West Alabama in Livingston. Its online Master of Education in Elementary Education for kindergarten through sixth grade awards the most degrees of any program here and carries the lowest in-state price. Regional campuses and the two flagship systems follow.
For an Alabama teacher, the useful question is rarely which school costs least. It is which program feeds the state's own certificate ladder, and which ones serve a different career entirely. The sections below take the schools, the Class A level, the programs that are not classroom teaching, and what an online student at a home campus should ask.
Source: IPEDS, read October 6, 2026. Tuition is the 2023-24 in-state rate.
top score, University of West Alabama
93.5
median in-state tuition and fees across the 10 listed, 2023-24
$10,263
schools in Alabama with a ranked fully online master's in education
13
ranked programs in Alabama that lead to a license
24
This list covers fully online master's programs at universities located in Alabama, one per school.
The 10 Best Online Master's in Education Programs in Alabama
The 10 programs below are at schools in Alabama, scored at the in-state price and listed one per school.
1
University of West Alabama
Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Elementary Education (K-6)
Livingston, Alabama
93.5- Public
- Leads to a license
- Elementary Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 249 a year
- Yearly cost
- $6,868
- In-state rate
- $6,868, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $13,546
Alabama's Class A credential for elementary teaching is the destination of this degree, and the Alabama State Department of Education issues it. At the University of West Alabama, the M.Ed. in Elementary Education (K-6) is taken entirely over the internet, in compressed terms that let a candidate finish near the one-year mark.
The campus in Livingston reported 249 master's degrees awarded in the latest federal count. Residents of Alabama pay $6,868 a year in 2023-24, against $13,546 out of state. CAEP is the accreditor, and the state's exam system is the Praxis Series. Grades K-6 are the target, which suits a teacher wanting a stronger grounding in the early grades.
2
University of North Alabama
Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) in Elementary Education
Florence, Alabama
87.3- Public
- Leads to a license
- Elementary Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 59 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,990
- In-state rate
- $9,990, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $18,900
Florence, Alabama, is where the University of North Alabama offers a Master of Arts in Education in Elementary Education for K-6 classroom teachers. The degree spans 33 semester hours online, and it moves a Class B holder up to Class A, the advanced credential awarded by the Alabama State Department of Education. A diversity course approved by the state is one required element.
Annual in-state cost is $9,990 for 2023-24, while nonresidents face $18,900. UNA awarded 59 master's degrees in the latest federal count, and the college that houses the program answers to CAEP standards. Teachers already employed in Alabama schools are the people this degree is shaped around, so the study fits alongside a full teaching load.
3
Troy University
Master of Science in Adult Education
Troy, Alabama
80.3- Public
- No license involved
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 31 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,550
- In-state rate
- $8,550, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $17,100
Alabama residents pay $8,550 a year at Troy University in 2023-24, and out-of-state students pay $17,100. In return, the Master of Science in Adult Education gives working trainers and instructors a graduate credential through online study, and a full-time student can be done in about a year. A thesis is optional. Emphasis choices are curriculum design with instructional technology, or workforce development leadership.
Once the degree is finished, four more post-master's certificates stay open for added specialties. No license attaches, so a classroom teacher would still seek credentials from the Alabama State Department of Education. Troy, a public university, awarded 31 master's degrees in the latest federal count. Courses arrive in 9-week blocks, which suits adults who are already employed.
4
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Master of Arts in Education in School Psychometry
Birmingham, Alabama
78.3- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational Assessment, Testing, and Measurement
- Degrees awarded
- 27 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,424
- In-state rate
- $8,424, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $20,556
School Psychometry is the focus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Master of Arts in Education, and the credential it prepares for is Alabama Professional Educator Certification in School Psychometry from the Alabama State Department of Education. The scientist-practitioner curriculum covers cognitive assessment and academic and behavioral assessment. Candidates complete 6 hours of field-based practicum and internship in the school district that employs them, within a minimum of 31 credit hours delivered fully online.
In Birmingham, that setup fits staff who already work in a school system and want to take on the testing behind special education decisions. Alabama residents pay $8,424 a year in 2023-24, and nonresidents pay $20,556. UAB awarded 27 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
5
Jacksonville State University
Master of Science in Education (MSE) in Elementary Education K-6
Jacksonville, Alabama
75.2- Public
- Leads to a license
- Elementary Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 36 a year
- Yearly cost
- $11,304
- In-state rate
- $11,304, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $17,640
Jacksonville State University delivers its Master of Science in Education in Elementary Education K-6 completely online, and the intended student already teaches with a certificate. Coursework sharpens instructional knowledge for the elementary classroom and is structured to support Class A Professional Teaching Certification, an Alabama credential handled by the Alabama State Department of Education.
The degree comes out of the College of Education and Professional Studies, where educator preparation holds CAEP accreditation. Alabama residents pay $11,304 a year in 2023-24, and the rate for students from elsewhere is $17,640. The Jacksonville campus awarded 36 master's degrees in the latest federal count. Teachers who want to keep their own students while advancing can fold the online coursework into a working week.
6
Athens State University
Master of Education in Career and Technical Education
Athens, Alabama
75.1- Public
- No license involved
- Technical Teacher Education
- Degrees awarded
- 30 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,536
- In-state rate
- $10,536, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $16,920
Athens State University in Athens, Alabama, offers a Master of Education in Career and Technical Education built around instructional technology and training analysis for adult learners, not K-12 teaching theory. The degree is 30 credits and asks for no GRE. Concentrations exist, though their specific tracks are described in a program PDF rather than on the main page.
No licensure, certification or endorsement comes with it, so it suits someone already working in a trade or training role who wants more advanced skills. It does not replace a credential from the Alabama State Department of Education. Alabama residents pay $10,536 a year in 2023-24, against $16,920 for out-of-state students. The public university awarded 30 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
7
The University of Alabama
Master of Arts in Instructional Technology
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
75.0- Public
- No license involved
- Educational/Instructional Technology
- Degrees awarded
- 38 a year
- Yearly cost
- $11,740
- In-state rate
- $11,740, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $33,040
Tuscaloosa is home to the University of Alabama's online Master of Arts in Instructional Technology, a 30 semester hour degree that typically takes about 18 months. Five required courses are joined by five electives, among them game-based learning, mLearning, assistive technologies, and AI and instructional design, so each student shapes a personal focus. A digital portfolio serves as the comprehensive examination in place of a thesis.
Non-licensure by design, the degree is for educators and trainers who build technology-rich learning, and it sits apart from teaching certificates issued by the Alabama State Department of Education. Alabama residents pay $11,740 a year in 2023-24, while nonresidents pay $33,040. The university awarded 38 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
8
Auburn University at Montgomery
Master of Education (MEd) in Elementary Education
Montgomery, Alabama
71.0- Public
- Leads to a license
- Elementary Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 19 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,884
- In-state rate
- $8,884, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $19,018
Montgomery's Auburn University at Montgomery teaches its Master of Education in Elementary Education entirely online for teachers who already hold an Alabama teaching certificate. Coursework builds toward Class A professional certification for K-6, and an early childhood P-3 concentration is available. CAEP accredits the program, which keeps working teachers in their own classrooms while they study.
Candidates arrive certified, so this is advancement within Alabama licensure from the Alabama State Department of Education and not a first credential. The in-state yearly figure is $8,884 for 2023-24, and out-of-state students pay $19,018. In the latest federal count the public university awarded 19 master's degrees, so a teacher in Alabama has a sizable group of fellow graduates behind this degree.
9
Auburn University
Master of Education / Master of Science, Curriculum and Teaching
Auburn, Alabama
68.5- Public
- Leads to a license
- Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
- Degrees awarded
- 29 a year
- Yearly cost
- $12,524
- In-state rate
- $12,524, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $33,908
Two purposes share one Curriculum and Teaching degree at Auburn University. The M.Ed. leads to Alabama Class A certification and requires acceptable edTPA performance, while the M.S. is meant for community-based or international educators who do not need a U.S. license. Specializations in the Curriculum and Teaching master's programs run from Early Childhood and Elementary to Secondary English, Mathematics, Science and Social Science, plus Reading, Music, Foreign Language, ESOL and Career and Technical Education.
Most options are offered online as well as on campus, and CAEP, NASM for music, and the Alabama State Department of Education all have a role in approval. A related Education Specialist degree continues toward Class AA. In-state tuition is $12,524 for 2023-24, and nonresidents pay $33,908. Auburn awarded 29 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
10
University of Montevallo
Secondary Education, Alternative Master's (M.Ed.)
Montevallo, Alabama
66.6- Public
- Leads to a license
- Secondary Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 23 a year
- Yearly cost
- $11,916
- In-state rate
- $11,916, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $26,532
Candidates holding a bachelor's degree who want to teach grades 6-12 can use the University of Montevallo's fully online Alternative Master's in Secondary Education to reach advanced Class A Alabama certification. Passing the Praxis II Content Area Exam is required, and the Alabama State Department of Education issues the certificate. Broad-field options cover English/Language Arts, Social Science and General Science, with subject-specific routes in business, family and consumer sciences, and math.
The Montevallo Educators Partnership scholarship provides up to $70 per credit hour for candidates employed by eligible school systems. Annual tuition is $11,916 for Alabama residents in 2023-24, against $26,532 out of state. The public university in Montevallo awarded 23 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
How We Rank
Every eligible program is scored out of 100. Each figure becomes a percentile against the 1771 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.
- In-state tuition and fees: 50%. The university's graduate in-state tuition plus required fees for a full-time year, 2023-24, the price a Alabama resident pays. Lower cost scores higher.
Reading the cards. The tuition figure is each school's in-state graduate rate for a full-time year, 2023-24, with its out-of-state rate beside it where the two differ.
Source: federal IPEDS records, read October 6, 2026. Tuition and fees are each school's graduate in-state rate for 2023-24. Scores are our own.
Which Online Master's Programs in Alabama Lead to a License?
5 ranked programs at schools in Alabama lead to a license, certificate or endorsement, scored the same way as the list above, one program per school. The Alabama teacher licensure guide covers what the state asks for beyond the degree.
| Rank | School | Program | Credential the school names | In-state rate, 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of West Alabama | Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Elementary Education (K-6) | Alabama Class A Professional Educator Certificate (elementary) | $6,868 |
| 2 | University of North Alabama | Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) in Elementary Education | Alabama Class A professional certification, K-6 | $9,990 |
| 3 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | Master of Arts in Education in School Psychometry | Educator license | $8,424 |
| 4 | Jacksonville State University | Master of Science in Education (MSE) in Elementary Education K-6 | Alabama Class A Professional Teaching Certification, Elementary Education K-6 | $11,304 |
| 5 | Auburn University at Montgomery | Master of Education (MEd) in Elementary Education | Alabama Class A professional certification, elementary education (K-6) | $8,884 |
What Does an Online Master's in Education Cost in Alabama?
An online master's in education at a school in Alabama costs a resident from $6,868 to $12,524 a year in graduate tuition and fees across these 10 programs, with a median of $10,263, for 2023-24. These are full-time yearly charges at the in-state rate, and many universities bill online students per credit instead, so the program's own figure may differ.
Which Alabama Universities Lead the Online Master's in Education List?
The Alabama universities that lead the online master's in education list are the University of West Alabama and the University of North Alabama, and both lead with elementary education. West Alabama's Master of Education in Elementary Education for grades K-6 leads to the Alabama Class A elementary certificate.
North Alabama in Florence offers a Master of Arts in Education in Elementary Education, and Jacksonville State and Auburn University at Montgomery run their own elementary master's degrees, so a student in the northeast or the capital region has a campus within reach. Troy University, a public university in Troy, appears with a different field, adult education, which shows how far the list reaches beyond the primary grades.
How Does an Alabama Master's in Education Connect to a Class A Certificate?
An Alabama master's in education connects to a Class A certificate because the state attaches its Professional Educator Certificate to degree level, and a master's-level program is what earns the Class A tier. The Alabama State Department of Education issues every certificate, and its exams run through the Praxis series.
Several programs on this list lead to certification: the elementary degrees at West Alabama, North Alabama, Jacksonville State and Auburn University at Montgomery, the University of Alabama at Birmingham's school psychometry degree, Auburn's curriculum and teaching degree, and the alternative secondary master's at the University of Montevallo. The adult education, career and technical education and instructional technology degrees do not lead to a certificate and suit people who already hold one or work outside K-12 classrooms. Our Alabama licensure guide covers the exams and the route for certificates from elsewhere.
What Do Alabama Master's Programs Offer People Who Are Not Classroom Teachers?
Alabama master's programs for people who are not classroom teachers include Troy University's Master of Science in Adult Education, Athens State University's Master of Education in Career and Technical Education, and The University of Alabama's Master of Arts in Instructional Technology. Each serves a trainer, a workforce instructor or a technology specialist rather than a K-12 homeroom.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham's Master of Arts in Education in School Psychometry sits in a narrower corner, measurement and assessment, and is the one non-teaching degree here that leads to certification. Tuscaloosa's instructional technology program also charges nonresidents far more than residents, which makes the in-state rate matter most there.
What Does an Online Master's at an Alabama School Mean for a Resident?
An online master's at an Alabama school means a resident pays the in-state rate, which the cost chart shows, and the clinical or internship hours can usually be arranged in a district near home. Ask each program who finds the placement and whether your own school system accepts it.
Alabama has belonged to NC-SARA through the Southern regional compact since 2016. If you later move, that membership governs whether a school may enroll you, not whether a licensing board will accept the degree. Federal rules in 34 CFR 668.43 require a school that advertises licensure to disclose, state by state, where the program qualifies.
Questions About Online Master's in Education Programs in Alabama
What Is the Cheapest Online Master's in Education in Alabama?
How Are Online Master's in Education Programs in Alabama Ranked?
Do Alabama Universities Offer an Online Master's That Leads to a Teaching Certificate?
Alabama universities do offer online master's programs that lead to certification, and the University of West Alabama's elementary education degree is the clearest example on this list. North Alabama, Jacksonville State and Auburn University at Montgomery offer elementary degrees that lead to the Class A certificate as well. Ask each school how its graduates are recommended to the state before you apply.
Which Alabama University Offers an Online Master's in Adult Education?
Troy University offers the online Master of Science in Adult Education on this list. It prepares trainers and program leaders and does not lead to a K-12 teaching certificate.
Compare it with the career and technical education degree at Athens State if your work is in skilled-trades instruction.
What if I Hold a Teaching Certificate From Another State and Move to Alabama?
A teaching certificate from another state is reviewed by the Alabama State Department of Education and, if accepted, converted into an Alabama certificate rather than carried over as it is. Our Alabama licensure guide sets out the conditions, and an Alabama master's can add the degree level the state asks for.
Does a Master's From an Alabama Public University Raise My Certificate Level?
A master's from an Alabama public university can raise a certificate from Class B to Class A when the program is a state-approved teaching field program. The department decides, so confirm the field and approval with the school before you enroll.
Where Do the Figures for Alabama Come From?
Tuition and degree counts come from federal records each college reports about itself.
Show the federal record for all 10 colleges ranked, in 1 state
University of West Alabama University of North Alabama Troy University University of Alabama at Birmingham Jacksonville State University Athens State University The University of Alabama Auburn University at Montgomery Auburn University University of Montevallo