Arkansas State University in Jonesboro tops the list with a Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership, a degree that leads to the building-level administrator, or principal, license. Behind it come the University of Central Arkansas, the University of Arkansas at Monticello and a run of regional campuses whose online master's degrees are priced for working teachers.
The list is mostly public, and the two private schools, Harding and Ouachita Baptist, charge a single rate to everyone. What sets Arkansas apart is how many of these programs are licensure-bearing: principal, library media, reading, special education and secondary teaching all appear. The sections below take them by purpose.
Source: IPEDS, read October 6, 2026. Tuition is the 2023-24 in-state rate.
top score, Arkansas State University
93.5
median in-state tuition and fees across the 10 listed, 2023-24
$7,615
schools in Arkansas with a ranked fully online master's in education
10
ranked programs in Arkansas that lead to a license
24
This list covers fully online master's programs at universities located in Arkansas, one per school.
The 10 Best Online Master's in Education Programs in Arkansas
The 10 programs below are at schools in Arkansas, scored at the in-state price and listed one per school.
1
Arkansas State University
Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership
Jonesboro, Arkansas
93.5- Public
- Leads to a license
- Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship
- Degrees awarded
- 242 a year
- Yearly cost
- $6,980
- In-state rate
- $6,980, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $12,416
Jonesboro's Arkansas State University awarded 242 master's degrees in this field in the latest federal count. Its M.S.E. is aimed at Arkansas classroom teachers who want to run a school, and the online degree page spells out the entry bar: a current teaching certificate and 2 to 3 years of experience. CAEP accredits the educator preparation, and the Higher Learning Commission accredits the university.
Electives in elementary or secondary curriculum let each candidate lean toward the grade span they work in. The coursework points to the Arkansas principal credential issued by the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. Arkansas residents pay $6,980 a year for 2023-24, while out-of-state students pay $12,416.
2
University of Central Arkansas
Master of Science in Education, Advanced Studies in Teacher Leadership
Conway, Arkansas
93.2- Public
- No license involved
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other
- Degrees awarded
- 67 a year
- Yearly cost
- $7,162
- In-state rate
- $7,162, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $12,443
Conway's University of Central Arkansas designed its 30-credit-hour Master of Science in Education, Advanced Studies in Teacher Leadership for working teachers who want to expand their core competencies and prepare for change-leader roles without interrupting their careers. The M.S.E. awards no license and does not replace the Initial Teaching License from the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.
For a classroom teacher in Arkansas, the degree is a way to add advanced study while staying in the job. The public university charges Arkansas residents $7,162 a year for 2023-24 and nonresidents $12,443. It awarded 67 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
3
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Master of Arts in Teaching
Monticello, Arkansas
88.3- Public
- Leads to a license
- Secondary Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 139 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,606
- In-state rate
- $9,606, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $15,486
Monticello's campus of the University of Arkansas awarded 139 master's degrees in this field in the latest federal count. Aimed at those with no classroom license yet, the Master of Arts in Teaching prepares them for the Arkansas Initial Teaching License from the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. The regular M.A.T. is one option, and a version with special education built in is the other.
Arkansas licensing runs on The Praxis Series, described on the state exam page. Residents pay $9,606 a year for 2023-24 at this public university, and nonresidents pay $15,486. Applications go to the agency's Office of Educator Effectiveness and Licensure.
4
Southern Arkansas University
Master of Education in College Counseling and Student Affairs
Magnolia, Arkansas
83.5- Public
- No license involved
- Student Counseling and Personnel Services, Other
- Degrees awarded
- 33 a year
- Yearly cost
- $7,236
- In-state rate
- $7,236, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $10,440
Magnolia's Southern Arkansas University asks for a letter of application before admitting candidates to its Master of Education in College Counseling and Student Affairs. Of the 51 credit hours, 27 are content, 12 are college counseling and student affairs, 9 are field experience and 3 are research, with two required internship courses, COUN 6883 and COUN 6893. One curriculum covers student development theory, leadership and management, and organizational development.
Graduates move toward counseling and administrative positions in university student services, so this is not a state licensure program and does not replace the license from the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. Arkansas residents pay $7,236 a year for 2023-24, and nonresidents pay $10,440. The Higher Learning Commission accredits the university.
5
Arkansas Tech University
Master of Education in Instructional Technology, Library Media Specialist K-12 Option
Russellville, Arkansas
78.8- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational/Instructional Technology
- Degrees awarded
- 25 a year
- Yearly cost
- $7,546
- In-state rate
- $7,546, 2023-24
Russellville's Arkansas Tech University is public, and its M.Ed. in Instructional Technology includes a route for school librarians. Instead of writing a thesis, candidates compile a professional portfolio and take the Practicum in Educational Media, worth 3 credits. CAEP, AASL and ALA standards guide the coursework.
Candidates seeking the Arkansas licensure endorsement for library media specialists go through the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, and The Praxis Series, which the state uses, sets the testing, described on the state exam page. Tuition is a flat $7,546 a year for 2023-24, whether or not a student lives in Arkansas, and the university awarded 25 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
6
University of Arkansas
Master of Education in Physical Education
Fayetteville, Arkansas
71.6- Public
- No license involved
- Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
- Degrees awarded
- 32 a year
- Yearly cost
- $12,160
- In-state rate
- $12,160, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $30,220
Taking 6 credit hours each semester, a working physical education teacher, athletic director or coach in Arkansas can finish the Master of Education in Physical Education in two years. The University of Arkansas runs the degree from its Fayetteville campus.
The M.Ed. leads to no license and does not replace the one issued by the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. What it adds is graduate study for people who plan to stay in school gyms and athletic offices. The public university charges Arkansas residents $12,160 a year for 2023-24, while nonresidents pay $30,220. It awarded 32 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
7
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Reading, M.Ed.
Little Rock, Arkansas
62.9- Public
- Leads to a license
- Reading Teacher Education
- Degrees awarded
- 11 a year
- Yearly cost
- $7,684
- In-state rate
- $7,684, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $15,100
Little Rock's University of Arkansas at Little Rock splits its 30-hour Reading M.Ed. into two degree plans. The Reading Specialist option takes 24 core hours plus 6 electives and leads to Arkansas reading specialist licensure, which requires passing Praxis II. The Reading Generalist option takes 12 core hours plus 18 electives and does not lead to specialist licensure. A Dyslexia K-12 endorsement is also available.
Coursework happens fully online. The degree meets Arkansas Department of Education standards and carries International Literacy Association accreditation, and the School of Education holds CAEP accreditation. In-state tuition is $7,684 a year for 2023-24, and out-of-state tuition is $15,100. The university awarded 11 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
8
Henderson State University
Master of Arts in Teaching - Special Education, Early Childhood Special Education (B-K) emphasis
Arkadelphia, Arkansas
59.9- Public
- Leads to a license
- Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs
- Degrees awarded
- 9 a year
- Yearly cost
- $6,903
- In-state rate
- $6,903, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $9,081
Early childhood is the emphasis at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, where the Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education centers on Birth to Kindergarten. The degree is 36 hours spread over two years and taught fully online, covering pedagogy, methodology, classroom management and the needs of exceptional children.
Students earn the Arkansas standard teaching license in special education while finishing the master's, a credential issued through the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. Henderson is public. Arkansas residents pay $6,903 a year for 2023-24, and nonresidents pay $9,081. The university awarded 9 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
9
Harding University
Master of Education in Special Education K-12
Searcy, Arkansas
57.1- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 17 a year
- Yearly cost
- $13,684
- In-state rate
- $13,684, 2023-24
Harding University, a private nonprofit school in Searcy, offers the Master of Education in Special Education K-12 to teachers who already hold an Arkansas teaching license. The degree totals 33 credit hours and closes with comprehensive exams in the final semester. Adding two courses earns an optional dyslexia endorsement.
Coursework prepares those licensed teachers for special education K-12 licensure qualifications, with the paperwork handled through the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. Harding charges $13,684 a year for 2023-24, and that rate is identical for residents and nonresidents. The university awarded 17 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
10
Ouachita Baptist University
Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction
Arkadelphia, Arkansas
37.5- Private nonprofit
- No license involved
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Degrees awarded
- 10 a year
- Yearly cost
- $17,188
- In-state rate
- $17,188, 2023-24
Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia compresses its Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction into 12 months and five terms, with full-time students taking two courses each term. Participants complete a cohort service project at a local school and attend an annual Called to Teach conference. A Curriculum and Instruction Graduate Certificate draws on part of the same coursework, EDCI 5113, 5313, 5413 and 5523.
The degree suits practicing Arkansas teachers aiming at roles such as curriculum specialist or instructional coach. It does not lead to state licensure and does not replace the license from the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. Tuition at this private nonprofit is $17,188 a year for 2023-24 for every student.
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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas Lead to a License?
5 ranked programs at schools in Arkansas lead to a license, certificate or endorsement, scored the same way as the list above, one program per school. The Arkansas 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 | Arkansas State University | Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership | Building level administrator (principal) | $6,980 |
| 2 | University of Arkansas at Monticello | Master of Arts in Teaching | Educator license | $9,606 |
| 3 | University of Central Arkansas | Master of Science in Education in Literacy with a Dyslexia Endorsement | Educator license | $7,162 |
| 4 | Arkansas Tech University | Master of Education in Instructional Technology, Library Media Specialist K-12 Option | Educator license | $7,546 |
| 5 | Southern Arkansas University | Master of Education in Educational Leadership in Administration and Supervision | Educator license | $7,236 |
What Does an Online Master's in Education Cost in Arkansas?
An online master's in education at a school in Arkansas costs a resident from $6,903 to $17,188 a year in graduate tuition and fees across these 10 programs, with a median of $7,615, 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 Arkansas Master's Programs Lead to a Leadership or Specialist License?
The Arkansas master's programs that lead to a leadership or specialist license include Arkansas State's educational leadership degree, Arkansas Tech's instructional technology degree with a library media specialist option for kindergarten through grade twelve, and the reading master's at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Arkansas State publishes a state authorization and licensure disclosure page for its online students.
Each of those pairs a degree with an endorsement or administrator license, so the question to ask is which license the program recommends you for. The School Leaders Licensure Assessment applies to building and program administrators, and a reading or library media specialist has its own exam. Arkansas Tech in Russellville is the school here where the library credential is part of the program title, and Little Rock is the one in the capital region.
Which Arkansas Online Master's Programs Prepare New Teachers?
The Arkansas online master's programs that prepare new teachers are the Master of Arts in Teaching degrees: the University of Arkansas at Monticello's secondary program and Henderson State University's special education program with an early childhood emphasis for birth through kindergarten. Harding University's Master of Education in Special Education for kindergarten through grade twelve also leads to licensure.
These suit a career changer with a bachelor's degree in another subject. The Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education lists non-traditional routes, among them Master of Arts in Teaching programs, on its license application page. Henderson State in Arkadelphia and Monticello in the south of the state give the region its own online teaching routes.
What Do Arkansas Master's Programs Offer Teachers Who Already Hold a License?
Arkansas master's programs for teachers who already hold a license include the University of Central Arkansas's Advanced Studies in Teacher Leadership, Ouachita Baptist University's Curriculum and Instruction degree, the University of Arkansas's Master of Education in Physical Education and Southern Arkansas University's College Counseling and Student Affairs degree. None of them leads to a first license.
One caution applies to anyone counting on the state's Master Professional Educator designation: the division excludes master's degrees in pedagogy fields such as curriculum and instruction, and recognizes academic content degrees instead. Read the division's rule on recognized master's degrees before you pay for a degree in the expectation that it counts. The Arkansas licensure guide covers that designation.
What Does Studying Online at an Arkansas University Mean for a Resident?
Studying online at an Arkansas university means a resident pays the in-state rate at the public campuses, shown in the cost chart, and arranges field work in a nearby district. Ask whether your school system will host the placement and who supervises it.
Arkansas joined NC-SARA in 2015 through the Southern regional compact, which governs where a school may enroll students but not whether a licensing agency accepts the degree. A graduate who later moves can read the program's disclosure under 34 CFR 668.43 to see which states it has checked.
Questions About Online Master's in Education Programs in Arkansas
What Is the Cheapest Online Master's in Education in Arkansas?
How Are Online Master's in Education Programs in Arkansas Ranked?
Which Arkansas University Offers an Online Principal Program?
Arkansas State University offers the online educational leadership master's on this list that leads to the building-level administrator license. Confirm with the school which administrator license it recommends graduates for, and whether the superintendent track is separate.
Can I Get a Library Media Specialist License Through an Online Master's in Arkansas?
A library media specialist license is the aim of the library media option inside Arkansas Tech University's Master of Education in Instructional Technology. It is a K-12 option, so ask Arkansas Tech which exam and which Arkansas endorsement it prepares you for.
Does the Arkansas License Come With a Praxis Requirement?
An Arkansas license generally requires Praxis tests matched to the license area, and the division publishes a table of tests and passing scores. Reading, special education and early childhood add a literacy exam.
Do Veterans and Military Spouses Get a Faster Arkansas License?
Active-duty service members, veterans and their spouses can receive an equivalent Arkansas license under Act 820 of 2019 when they hold one elsewhere. The division's application page lists the steps.
Where Do the Figures for Arkansas Come From?
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, 2023-24
- Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, How to Obtain a License
- Arkansas State University, state authorization and licensure disclosures
- NC-SARA, Professional Licensure
- eCFR, 34 CFR 668.43
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
Arkansas State University University of Central Arkansas University of Arkansas at Monticello Southern Arkansas University Arkansas Tech University University of Arkansas University of Arkansas at Little Rock Henderson State University Harding University Ouachita Baptist University