The California State University system supplies most of the public programs: Long Beach leads with a Master of Arts in Education, Fullerton follows with educational technology, and Bakersfield, San Diego State and East Bay also make the list. Private nonprofits such as Concordia University Irvine and Fresno Pacific sit beside them.
California is a large market, so many more online programs exist than a list of ten can show. The ones here earn their place on degree volume and the in-state price. The sections below sort them by purpose, set out how the Commission on Teacher Credentialing fits in, and cover the one thing that makes California different for online students: it is not a member of the interstate authorization agreement.
Source: IPEDS, read October 6, 2026. Tuition is the 2023-24 in-state rate.
top score, California State University-Long Beach
91.3
median in-state tuition and fees across the 10 listed, 2023-24
$9,427
schools in California with a ranked fully online master's in education
37
ranked programs in California that lead to a license
28
This list covers fully online master's programs at universities located in California, one per school.
The 10 Best Online Master's in Education Programs in California
The 10 programs below are at schools in California, scored at the in-state price and listed one per school.
1
California State University-Long Beach
Master of Arts in Education
Long Beach, California
91.3- Public
- No license involved
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 68 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,442
- In-state rate
- $8,442, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $17,946
California State University-Long Beach designed its Master of Arts in Education for teachers who already hold a teaching credential and want to keep working while they study. Candidates choose a path for elementary Multiple Subject or secondary Single Subject classrooms, and each concentration has its own faculty advisors. Progress toward the degree includes passing the Writing Proficiency Exam and reaching Advancement to Candidacy.
The degree does not confer licensure, so the Preliminary Teaching Credential still comes from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Tuition for California residents is $8,442 in 2023-24, and out-of-state students pay $17,946. The Long Beach campus awarded 68 master's degrees in the latest federal count, and the university is public.
2
California State University-Fullerton
Master of Science in Educational Technology
Fullerton, California
91.1- Public
- No license involved
- Educational/Instructional Technology
- Degrees awarded
- 129 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,507
- In-state rate
- $8,507, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $18,011
Educators in Fullerton and across California can complete California State University, Fullerton's Master of Science in Educational Technology online as part of a cohort. Equity drives the coursework, alongside instructional methods backed by research. A doctoral option follows later, since an Ed.D. is slated to open at the university in Fall 2028.
The degree leads to no license, and it does not replace the Preliminary Teaching Credential from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. California educators who want to add expertise with technology in teaching can do so while keeping the credential they already hold. California residents pay $8,507 for 2023-24, while nonresidents pay $18,011. Master's completions on the campus numbered 129 in the latest federal count, and the university is public.
3
Concordia University-Irvine
Master of Arts in Education: School Counseling
Irvine, California
90.3- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
- Degrees awarded
- 128 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,730
- In-state rate
- $8,730, 2023-24
Irvine is home to Concordia University-Irvine, a private nonprofit, whose Master of Arts in Education: School Counseling prepares candidates for California's PPS credential. It is a single track of 48 units, studied alongside the same classmates for 26 months. A practicum of 3 units precedes 6 units of fieldwork, and a final project finishes the degree.
Live evening sessions land on alternating weeks of each 8-week term, midweek. The state's teacher credentialing commission issues the credential, and WASC standards also apply to the program. That credential is a school counselor credential, a different document from a teaching credential, so a California applicant should plan for the state paperwork alongside the degree. Tuition is $8,730 for 2023-24, identical for residents and nonresidents. The school's master's degrees in the latest federal year numbered 128.
4
California State University-Bakersfield
Education, M.A. with Concentration in Curriculum and Instruction
Bakersfield, California
89.2- Public
- No license involved
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 121 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,130
- In-state rate
- $9,130, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $18,634
California State University, Bakersfield built its Education M.A. with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction for teachers who already hold a multiple- or single-subject credential, so it is not an initial licensure program. The 30 units split into 12 core and 15 elective units, then close with a 3-unit Master's Exam. Some post-baccalaureate credential coursework may transfer in with advisor approval.
Optional add-ons include a Reading and Literacy Added Authorization, a Computer Science Supplementary Authorization, a Bilingual Education Added Authorization and an Educational Technology Certificate. All coursework is online. A California resident pays $9,130 for 2023-24, while out-of-state students pay $18,634. The campus awarded 121 master's degrees in the latest federal count. The degree builds on the credential from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing rather than replacing it.
5
San Diego State University
Master of Arts in Teaching (Elementary or Secondary)
San Diego, California
88.3- Public
- No license involved
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other
- Degrees awarded
- 223 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,724
- In-state rate
- $9,724, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $19,228
At San Diego State University, the School of Teacher Education offers a Master of Arts in Teaching with Elementary and Secondary options, completed fully online in one year. The curriculum is 10 courses totaling 30 units. It is a public university, and its master's output is large, with 223 degrees awarded in the latest federal count.
In California, the teaching license is the Preliminary Teaching Credential, issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and this degree does not take its place. California residents pay $9,724 for 2023-24, while nonresidents pay $19,228. For a teacher in San Diego or elsewhere in the state who wants a graduate degree on a one-year schedule without relocating, the course load is the main thing to weigh.
6
California State University-East Bay
Master of Science in Special Education
Hayward, California
85.3- Public
- Leads to a license
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 43 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,489
- In-state rate
- $8,489, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $17,993
Hayward is home to Cal State East Bay's Master of Science in Special Education, which pairs the degree with the Education Specialist teaching credential. Candidates pick Mild/Moderate Support Needs or Extensive Support Needs. Coursework is fully online, while fieldwork is supervised in person at approved school sites. Plan on four semesters over two years, or five semesters if you arrive without a prior general education credential.
Because the degree travels with the credential, graduates look to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the agency that issues the Preliminary Teaching Credential in California, for their authorization to teach. In-state tuition for 2023-24 is $8,489, while nonresidents pay $17,993. California State University-East Bay awarded 43 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
7
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses
Master of Arts in Education
Stockton, California
84.6- Private nonprofit
- No license involved
- Higher Education/Higher Education Administration
- Degrees awarded
- 54 a year
- Yearly cost
- $11,070
- In-state rate
- $11,070, 2023-24
Stockton is the base for Humphreys University's Master of Arts in Education, offered across its Stockton and Modesto campuses and delivered 100% online. Coursework is asynchronous, class sizes are small, and students reach faculty directly. A student who keeps a steady pace can finish in about one year, and electives let you steer the general degree toward your own goals.
The degree leads to no teaching license. Anyone who needs the Preliminary Teaching Credential still applies to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. It suits California educators who want advanced study without leaving their jobs. Humphreys is a private nonprofit, and it charges every student $11,070 for 2023-24 regardless of residency. It awarded 54 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
8
Fresno Pacific University
Master of Arts in School Counseling with Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential
Fresno, California
79.0- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
- Degrees awarded
- 78 a year
- Yearly cost
- $13,200
- In-state rate
- $13,200, 2023-24
Charging $13,200 for 2023-24 to every student, Fresno Pacific University is a private nonprofit in Fresno. Its Master of Arts in School Counseling with Pupil Personnel Services credential program is a single path with 800 field hours in schools from Bakersfield to Merced, in addition to more than 50 units of classes.
The PPS Credential is what lets a graduate counsel in California's public schools. A portfolio review is part of finishing. The state's teacher credentialing commission has approved the program, which suits residents who want to be counselors in their own region. Because the school counselor credential is issued in California, a graduate who plans to practice elsewhere would need to check that state's own rules. In the latest federal count, the campus awarded 78 master's degrees.
9
University of Massachusetts Global
Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Elementary Education with 2042 Multiple Subject Credential and English Learner Authorization
Aliso Viejo, California
78.8- Public
- Leads to a license
- Elementary Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 101 a year
- Yearly cost
- $13,282
- In-state rate
- $13,282, 2023-24
University of Massachusetts Global, a public university headquartered in Aliso Viejo, charges residents and nonresidents the same $13,282 for 2023-24. Its Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education doubles as the route to California's Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, with the 2042 standards and an English Learner Authorization attached. Students complete 42 credits online.
Instructors lead eight-week courses. A candidate with a credential already in the same area may count 30 of those credits toward the degree. Elementary teaching in California runs through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, which approves this course of study, and AAQEP accreditation backs it. In the latest federal count, the school conferred 101 master's degrees. Anyone weighing the degree should expect it to be an initial-credential pathway.
10
University of Arizona Global Campus
Master of Arts in Education
San Diego, California
77.9- Private for-profit
- No license involved
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 115 a year
- Yearly cost
- $13,515
- In-state rate
- $13,515, 2023-24
The University of Arizona Global Campus, based in San Diego, offers a Master of Arts in Education that students take one class at a time as full-time online learners. Seven specializations are available: Child Development, Curriculum and Instruction, Early Childhood Education, Family and Community Services, Higher Education, School Leadership in the 21st Century, and Special Education. Admission requires no standardized testing and no application fee.
The degree is not designed to meet teacher licensure requirements in any state, so it does not stand in for the Preliminary Teaching Credential issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. WSCUC accredits the institution, and the program is not CAEP accredited. The school charges California residents and nonresidents the same $13,515 for 2023-24, and it awarded 115 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 California 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 California Lead to a License?
5 ranked programs at schools in California lead to a license, certificate or endorsement, scored the same way as the list above, one program per school. The California 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 | Concordia University-Irvine | Master of Arts in Education: School Counseling | School counselor credential (California Pupil Personnel Services credential) | $8,730 |
| 2 | California State University-East Bay | Master of Science in Special Education | Educator license | $8,489 |
| 3 | California State University-Fullerton | Master of Science in Literacy and Reading Education | Educator license | $8,507 |
| 4 | Fresno Pacific University | Master of Arts in School Counseling with Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential | Educator license | $13,200 |
| 5 | University of Massachusetts Global | Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Elementary Education with 2042 Multiple Subject Credential and English Learner Authorization | California Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with English Learner Authorization | $13,282 |
What Does an Online Master's in Education Cost in California?
An online master's in education at a school in California costs a resident from $8,442 to $13,515 a year in graduate tuition and fees across these 10 programs, with a median of $9,427, 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.
What Do the Cal State Campuses Offer in an Online Master's in Education?
The Cal State campuses offer an online master's in education in several forms. California State University, Long Beach runs a Master of Arts in Education, and Fullerton's Master of Science in Educational Technology serves teachers moving into instructional design.
Bakersfield offers a Master of Arts in Education with a curriculum and instruction concentration, San Diego State a Master of Arts in Teaching for elementary or secondary candidates, and East Bay a Master of Science in Special Education that leads to a credential. All of these campuses are public, which is why their in-state rate sits well below the private schools on the list.
Which California Master's Programs Lead to a Pupil Personnel Credential?
The California master's programs that lead to a pupil personnel credential are the school counseling degrees at Concordia University Irvine and Fresno Pacific University. Concordia's Master of Arts in Education: School Counseling leads to the state's school counselor credential, and Fresno Pacific's program is named for the Pupil Personnel Services credential itself.
The Commission on Teacher Credentialing issues that credential, and it covers counseling, psychology and social work. Counselors complete fieldwork inside a school, which an online student arranges locally, so ask each program how an online student finds a supervisor. Our school counseling ranking compares the field nationally.
How Does a California Master's Relate to a Teaching Credential?
A California master's relates to a teaching credential only when the program is approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, because the state grants credentials through approved preparation programs, not through degrees alone. Among the listed programs, the University of Massachusetts Global master's in teaching names the 2042 Multiple Subject credential and English learner authorization in its title.
The Commission sets the exams, the performance assessment and the clearance steps. The Long Beach, Fullerton and Bakersfield degrees do not lead to a credential and suit teachers who already hold one. Our California credential guide covers the exams and the route for educators from other states, and the Commission is the office that settles any doubt about a particular program.
What Does Studying Online at a California School Mean Without NC-SARA?
Studying online at a California school means you are enrolling in a state that has not joined NC-SARA, so out-of-state online schools reach Californians under different arrangements. For a California resident choosing a California school, that matters little at enrollment, and it matters for a classmate or for you later when you move.
A California degree is still subject to the licensure disclosure in 34 CFR 668.43, which tells you which states the program has checked. Ask for that list in writing before you apply, especially if relocation is possible, and keep a copy with your enrollment papers.
Questions About Online Master's in Education Programs in California
What Is the Cheapest Online Master's in Education in California?
How Are Online Master's in Education Programs in California Ranked?
Which California Schools on the List Are Public?
California State University, Long Beach, Fullerton, Bakersfield, San Diego State and East Bay are the public campuses, and the University of Massachusetts Global is listed as public too. Concordia, Fresno Pacific, Humphreys and the University of Arizona Global Campus are private.
Is a California Online Master's the Same as a Teaching Credential?
A California online master's is a degree, and a credential is a separate license issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Some programs combine the two, so read the program page for the credential it recommends you for.
Does California Accept Teaching Credentials From Other States?
California accepts a professional-level credential from another state through the Commission's routes for out-of-state teachers, and the credential needs to be earned through a program with student teaching. The Commission treats intern and temporary documents differently, and its out-of-state pages list what to submit.
Can I Study for a California Educational Technology Master's Online at a Cal State Campus?
A California educational technology master's is available online at California State University, Fullerton, which is on this list. It suits classroom teachers, trainers and instructional designers, and it does not lead to a teaching credential, so treat it as a degree for people who already teach or train.
Where Do the Figures for California 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
California State University-Long Beach California State University-Fullerton Concordia University-Irvine California State University-Bakersfield San Diego State University California State University-East Bay Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses Fresno Pacific University University of Massachusetts Global University of Arizona Global Campus