Colorado State University Global, based in Denver, leads the list with a Master of Science in Teaching and Learning, and it quotes a single rate to every student. Colorado State University Pueblo and the University of Colorado Denver follow, and the list runs to Adams State in Alamosa, Western Colorado University in Gunnison and Fort Lewis College in Durango.
That geography is the story: a student in the San Luis Valley, on the Western Slope or in Greeley can find an in-state school nearby, and several of them offer programs that lead to a license. The sections below sort the schools by purpose, set out what the Colorado Department of Education adds, and cover fingerprints and placements for an online student.
Source: IPEDS, read October 6, 2026. Tuition is the 2023-24 in-state rate.
top score, Colorado State University Global
89.7
median in-state tuition and fees across the 10 listed, 2023-24
$12,005
schools in Colorado with a ranked fully online master's in education
13
ranked programs in Colorado that lead to a license
21
This list covers fully online master's programs at universities located in Colorado, one per school.
The 10 Best Online Master's in Education Programs in Colorado
The 10 programs below are at schools in Colorado, scored at the in-state price and listed one per school.
1
Colorado State University Global
Master of Science in Teaching and Learning
Denver, Colorado
89.7- Public
- Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision
- Degrees awarded
- 59 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,000
- In-state rate
- $9,000, 2023-24
Colorado teachers who cannot attend live sessions can use the online M.S. degree offered by CSU Global, since each course is asynchronous and lasts 8 weeks. Credits total 36, and as many as 18 may transfer in. An optional route toward the Colorado principal license covers the Praxis exam for school leaders.
The Denver-based public university holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. Tuition is $9,000 a year for 2023-24, identical for residents and nonresidents. Colorado joined the WICHE compact for state authorization in May 2014. This M.S. does not replace the Initial Teacher License issued by the Colorado Department of Education, and 59 master's degrees were awarded here in the latest federal count.
2
Colorado State University Pueblo
Master of Education
Pueblo, Colorado
88.8- Public
- No license involved
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 52 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,665
- In-state rate
- $9,665, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $16,031
Pueblo's public university offers a 38-credit Master of Education through CSU Pueblo Online, with concentrations in Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership, Gifted Education, Health/Physical Education, Instructional Technology, Linguistically Diverse Education, Reading Language and Literacy, Special Education and World Language. Coursework is aligned with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards core propositions and the Colorado Teacher Quality Standards, and completion requires a portfolio review and an oral examination.
The degree does not lead directly to a license. A separate Principal Licensure program sits alongside it for Colorado educators headed toward administration, while the Colorado Department of Education remains the issuer of any license. Tuition for 2023-24 is $9,665 a year in state and $16,031 out of state, and the Higher Learning Commission accredits the university. CSU Pueblo awarded 52 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
3
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction, Critical Pedagogy
Denver, Colorado
83.0- Public
- No license involved
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Degrees awarded
- 40 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,947
- In-state rate
- $8,947, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $26,047
Critical Pedagogy gives the University of Colorado Denver's Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction its framework, with coursework that examines educational inequity. Electives let a teacher specialize in Social-Emotional Learning, 21st Century Pedagogy, Special Education, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education, Responsive Literacy, Mathematics Education or Science Education. Delivery is fully online, asynchronous with scheduled synchronous sessions, and ASPIRE to Teach alumni receive 3 transfer credits.
Admission requires a current teaching license, and the degree confers none, so the license from the Colorado Department of Education stays what qualifies a teacher to lead a classroom. It also does not meet F-1 or J-1 visa requirements. Colorado residents pay $8,947 a year for 2023-24, while nonresidents pay $26,047. The Higher Learning Commission accredits the institution, which awarded 40 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
4
Adams State University
Master of Arts in Education
Alamosa, Colorado
77.4- Public
- Leads to a license
- Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
- Degrees awarded
- 33 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,425
- In-state rate
- $10,425, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $13,161
Alamosa is home to Adams State University, whose Master of Arts in Education splits into separate tracks: a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse endorsement, a Curriculum and Instruction emphasis with a STEM concentration, and Educational Leadership. The leadership track leads to a Colorado principal license and asks for four internships totaling 200 hours of supervised practice. Curriculum and Instruction candidates finish with two capstone projects, and CLD coursework can also earn a 15-credit-hour post-baccalaureate TESOL Certificate.
The degree runs five to six semesters and is built for working adults who already hold a teaching license. Coloradans pay $10,425 a year for 2023-24, against $13,161 for nonresidents. The Colorado Department of Education issues the endorsement and the principal license, and the school awarded 33 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
5
University of Northern Colorado
Special Education M.A., Generalist Concentration
Greeley, Colorado
75.7- Public
- Leads to a license
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 112 a year
- Yearly cost
- $14,788
- In-state rate
- $14,788, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $25,426
Greeley's University of Northern Colorado offers a Special Education M.A. with a Generalist concentration that covers literacy and mathematics instruction, standards and assessment, behavior, differentiated instruction and technology. It prepares educators to work with students who have moderate to severe disabilities and follows a three-year structure. UNC also runs separate special education master's programs in Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, Early Childhood, Gifted and Talented, Intervention Specialist and Visual Impairment. Details sit in the graduate catalog entry.
Candidates need a Colorado teaching license, or the additional course EDSE 507 if they lack one. Before practicum they must pass the Elementary Education Multiple Subjects Praxis and the Special Education Core Knowledge and Application Praxis. In-state tuition is $14,788 a year for 2023-24 and out-of-state tuition is $25,426. UNC awarded 112 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
6
Western Colorado University
Master of Arts in Education
Gunnison, Colorado
63.1- Public
- Leads to a license
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 33 a year
- Yearly cost
- $15,550
- In-state rate
- $15,550, 2023-24
Gunnison's Western Colorado University groups its Master of Arts in Education into these emphases: Reading Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, Educator Effectiveness, Educational Administration with Principal Licensure, K-12 Online Teacher Leadership, and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education. Online coursework is paired with active placement in a school under a mentor teacher, and alternative licensure pathways exist for people who are already employed as teachers.
The licensure and degree programs are authorized by the Colorado Department of Education. They lead to Colorado licensure in Elementary, Secondary, K-12 and Special Education, to principal licensure, and to added endorsements. Western charges $15,550 a year for 2023-24, the same for residents and nonresidents. The university awarded 33 master's degrees in the latest federal count, so the cohort a Coloradan joins is a modest one.
7
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Master of Arts in Leadership
Colorado Springs, Colorado
63.0- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 29 a year
- Yearly cost
- $15,131
- In-state rate
- $15,131, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $26,072
At the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, the online Master of Arts in Leadership comes in a 33-credit-hour Principal Education License track and a 30-credit-hour P-12 Leadership track alike. Faculty are the same ones who teach on the Colorado Springs campus. The licensure track adds a 300-hour supervised leadership practicum and a professional portfolio.
Graduates of the licensure track can apply for the Colorado principal license from the Colorado Department of Education. Applicants need a bachelor's degree, three years of licensed K-12 experience and a passing result on Praxis 5412. The curriculum is built to satisfy the state's principal licensure requirements. Resident tuition is $15,131 a year for 2023-24, and nonresidents pay $26,072. UCCS awarded 29 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
8
Fort Lewis College
Master of Arts in Education in Special Education
Durango, Colorado
60.0- Public
- Leads to a license
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 10 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,358
- In-state rate
- $8,358, 2023-24
Durango's Fort Lewis College offers a Master of Arts in Education in Special Education that finishes in one year at 32 credits. Mentorship from experienced district educators is built into the structure, and the preparation points toward rural and culturally diverse school communities across Colorado. A 37-credit initial teaching licensure pathway serves career changers, while a special education endorsement serves teachers who already hold a license.
Both are aimed at a credential issued by the Colorado Department of Education, which handles the Initial Teacher License. Fort Lewis charges $8,358 a year for 2023-24, and residents and nonresidents pay the same rate. The college awarded 10 master's degrees in the latest federal count, the smallest cohort among the Colorado programs at this level.
9
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Master of Science in Student Affairs in Higher Education
Fort Collins, Colorado
59.7- Public
- No license involved
- Student Counseling and Personnel Services, Other
- Degrees awarded
- 19 a year
- Yearly cost
- $13,584
- In-state rate
- $13,584, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $29,786
Fort Collins is where Colorado State University runs its online Master of Science in Student Affairs in Higher Education, a degree for people who plan to work with college students rather than in a school classroom. The curriculum follows the ACPA, NASPA and CAS professional competencies for student affairs educators. A 2-credit practicum is embedded in the coursework, cohorts average 24 students, and no GRE is required. The program reports a 100% graduate job-placement rate.
Because it leads to no license, it does not substitute for anything issued by the Colorado Department of Education. In-state tuition for 2023-24 is $13,584 a year, and $29,786 for out-of-state students. A residential option exists but was not accepting applications at the time of the research, and the university awarded 19 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
10
Regis University
Master of Education in Reading
Denver, Colorado
56.6- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Reading Teacher Education
- Degrees awarded
- 25 a year
- Yearly cost
- $16,193
- In-state rate
- $16,193, 2023-24
Regis University in Denver gives Colorado teachers two ways through its online Master of Education in Reading. One pathway adds the Reading Specialist endorsement for teachers licensed in Colorado and requires a university-supervised practicum with students who have documented or suspected reading disabilities. The other is a degree-only pathway open to any licensed teacher, and it ends in an online summer capstone. The school describes it as the only fully online reading specialist program in Colorado.
There is no cohort. Coursework is self-paced and tied to the candidate's own classroom, and it follows science-of-reading research. The Higher Learning Commission accredits the private nonprofit university, and tuition is $16,193 a year for 2023-24 with no difference between residents and nonresidents. Regis awarded 25 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 Colorado 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 Colorado Lead to a License?
5 ranked programs at schools in Colorado lead to a license, certificate or endorsement, scored the same way as the list above, one program per school. The Colorado 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 | Adams State University | Master of Arts in Education | Educator license | $10,425 |
| 2 | University of Northern Colorado | Special Education M.A., Generalist Concentration | Educator license | $14,788 |
| 3 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Master of Arts in Teaching, English Education (License) | Educator license | $8,947 |
| 4 | Western Colorado University | Master of Arts in Education | Educator license | $15,550 |
| 5 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Master of Arts in Leadership | Educator license | $15,131 |
What Does an Online Master's in Education Cost in Colorado?
An online master's in education at a school in Colorado costs a resident from $8,358 to $16,193 a year in graduate tuition and fees across these 10 programs, with a median of $12,005, 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 Colorado Universities Offer an Online Master's That Leads to a License?
The Colorado universities that offer an online master's leading to a license are Adams State University, the University of Northern Colorado, Western Colorado University, Fort Lewis College, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and Regis University. Northern Colorado's special education generalist degree and Fort Lewis's special education degree are the clearest teaching routes, and Regis offers a Master of Education in Reading.
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs, with its Master of Arts in Leadership, serves people heading toward administration, where the state asks for a separate principal license. Ask each school which endorsement it recommends graduates for, and which Colorado campus or district partners host the field work, since the department matches an applicant's program to its endorsement standards.
What Do Colorado Master's Programs Offer for Teachers Who Already Have a License?
Colorado master's programs for teachers who already have a license include Colorado State University Global's Teaching and Learning degree, Colorado State University Pueblo's Master of Education, and the University of Colorado Denver's Curriculum and Instruction degree with a critical pedagogy focus. None of the three leads to a first license.
Colorado State University in Fort Collins offers a different kind of degree, a Master of Science in Student Affairs in Higher Education, for people who work in college residence life, advising and student services. It sits outside the K-12 licensure system entirely, so a student weighing it should look at the career it serves, not at a certificate.
What Does the Colorado Department of Education Require After a Master's Degree?
The Colorado Department of Education requires, after a master's degree, an application for the Initial Teacher License through its educator licensing office, with a program verification form, proof of content knowledge and fingerprints taken through an approved vendor. Content knowledge is usually a Praxis exam, though state law allows coursework or a portfolio in some cases.
Fingerprints taken for another employer do not transfer, so plan to have them done for the license. The state treats a Colorado resident enrolled in an online program run from outside Colorado as an out-of-state candidate, which is one reason to weigh a Colorado school. Our Colorado licensure guide covers the exam options and the principal and counselor routes.
What Does an Online Master's at a Colorado School Mean for Pricing and Placements?
An online master's at a Colorado school means the price depends on the campus: a public campus quotes a lower resident rate, while Colorado State University Global, Western Colorado University and Fort Lewis College charge residents and nonresidents the same figure. The cost chart prints each rate.
Clinical placements happen in the student's own district, so confirm early that the school will host yours. Colorado has belonged to NC-SARA through the western compact since 2014, which covers enrollment authority, not licensing. The disclosure rule at 34 CFR 668.43 shows where a program qualifies.
Questions About Online Master's in Education Programs in Colorado
What Is the Cheapest Online Master's in Education in Colorado?
How Are Online Master's in Education Programs in Colorado Ranked?
Is Colorado State University Global a Public University?
Colorado State University Global is a public university based in Denver, and its online Master of Science in Teaching and Learning leads this list. Ask the school how it handles field experience for students outside the Denver area.
Can I Teach in Colorado While I Finish My Degree?
Colorado's Teacher of Record option lets some candidates teach while finishing preparation, but the department closes that option to people in out-of-state programs, online ones included. A Colorado school's program may be treated differently, so check with the department.
What Does a Colorado School Counselor Need?
A Colorado school counselor needs a master's in school counseling of a stated length, with a practicum and a supervised internship. The department's page lists the required hours, so compare them with the program plan before you enroll, and ask how the internship site and supervising counselor are found for an online student.
Is There a Colorado Master's in Reading Offered Online?
Regis University in Denver offers a Master of Education in Reading online, and it leads to licensure. Confirm which Colorado endorsement it prepares for before you apply.
Where Do the Figures for Colorado 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
Colorado State University Global Colorado State University Pueblo University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Adams State University University of Northern Colorado Western Colorado University University of Colorado Colorado Springs Fort Lewis College Colorado State University-Fort Collins Regis University