Wilmington University in New Castle comes first, with a Master of Education in Education Studies, and the University of Delaware in Newark follows with a Master of Education in Teacher Leadership. Neither leads to a first teaching license, which tells you who each degree is for.
Each program quotes one rate rather than a separate resident and nonresident price, so Delaware's in-state advantage is less visible than in states with large public systems. A short list is a plain list: two schools, two programs, and a state whose licensing tiers depend on experience more than on degrees. The sections below take each school and then the rules.
Source: IPEDS, read October 6, 2026. Tuition is the 2023-24 in-state rate.
top score, Wilmington University
83.9
median in-state tuition and fees across the 2 listed, 2023-24
$14,519
schools in Delaware with a ranked fully online master's in education
2
ranked program in Delaware that lead to a license
1
This list covers fully online master's programs at universities located in Delaware, one per school.
The 2 Online Master's in Education Programs in Delaware
The 2 programs below are at schools in Delaware, scored at the in-state price and listed one per school.
1
Wilmington University
Master of Education in Education Studies
New Castle, Delaware
83.9- Private nonprofit
- No license involved
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 47 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,492
- In-state rate
- $9,492, 2023-24
Wilmington University in New Castle offers the Master of Education in Education Studies for people building education careers outside traditional K-12 public school licensure. Graduates are not qualified for a Delaware teaching license, and the degree does not stand in for the Initial License issued by the Delaware Department of Education, Licensure and Certification. Tracks include Elementary Education (K-6), Secondary Education (6-12), School Leadership, Special Education, and Skilled and Technical Sciences, all without licensure.
The degree takes 30 to 33 credits, or 10 to 11 courses, in terms of 7 to 8 weeks, and it follows CAEP standards under NCATE. Tuition for 2023-24 is $9,492 a year, the same for every student. This private nonprofit school awarded 47 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
2
University of Delaware
Master of Education in Teacher Leadership
Newark, Delaware
21.7- Public
- No license involved
- Education, Other
- Degrees awarded
- 6 a year
- Yearly cost
- $19,546
- In-state rate
- $19,546, 2023-24
Classroom teachers in Delaware who want to lead without leaving instruction can look at the Master of Education in Teacher Leadership from the University of Delaware in Newark. It is built for roles such as department chair or curriculum coordinator. It is not a separate licensure credential, so it sits alongside the Initial License from the Delaware Department of Education, Licensure and Certification and does not replace it.
Courses are fully online and asynchronous, in 5, 7 and 14 week formats, and part-time students finish in about 2 years. The public university charges $19,546 for 2023-24, and out-of-state students receive the Delaware resident graduate rate. It awarded 6 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 Delaware 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 Delaware Lead to a License?
One ranked program at school in Delaware leads to a license, certificate or endorsement, scored the same way as the list above, one program per school. The Delaware 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 | Wilmington University | Master of Education in Reading | Educator license | $9,492 |
What Does an Online Master's in Education Cost in Delaware?
An online master's in education at a school in Delaware costs a resident from $9,492 to $19,546 a year in graduate tuition and fees across these 2 programs, with a median of $14,519, 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 Is Wilmington University's Online Master's in Education Studies For?
Wilmington University's online master's in education studies is a general Master of Education, offered by a private nonprofit university in New Castle that awards far more education degrees than the University of Delaware. It is the broader of the two programs and the one with the higher volume.
A general degree of this kind suits a teacher who wants graduate credit without committing to a single specialty. It does not lead to a first license, so a career changer should ask Wilmington whether any of its education programs includes student teaching. The Delaware Department of Education decides who is licensed, regardless of the degree title.
What Does the University of Delaware's Online Teacher Leadership Master's Cover?
The University of Delaware's online teacher leadership master's covers teaching practice at an advanced level for educators who lead colleagues without leaving the classroom. It is a Master of Education in Teacher Leadership, offered by Delaware's flagship public university in Newark.
The program awards few degrees compared with Wilmington's, and it is a degree for educators who already hold a license. Ask how the capstone or leadership work is arranged for someone who works full time in a school, and whether your own district will count the credits. The program page, not this list, is the place to confirm the course sequence.
How Do Delaware's License Tiers Work for a Teacher With a Master's?
Delaware's license tiers work by experience rather than by degree for a teacher with a master's: the Initial License is for educators with fewer than four years of credentialed experience, the Continuing License follows with more, and the Advanced License is reserved for National Board certified teachers. The Delaware Department of Education issues all three.
Under Regulation 1510 the Initial License also asks for a bachelor's degree and student teaching or a listed alternative. That means a master's from either school does not move a teacher between tiers by itself. What the degree can do is meet the requirements of a district salary schedule or prepare for a leadership role. Our Delaware licensure guide covers the Praxis exams and the route for teachers licensed in other states.
What Does Studying for an Online Master's in Delaware Mean for Placements and Moves?
Studying for an online master's in Delaware means a resident can complete any practicum in the district where they work or live, with no weekly travel to campus; ask each program what it requires in person. Wilmington and Newark are both close to the state's largest school systems, which keeps any in-person requirement close to home.
Delaware belongs to NC-SARA through the Southern regional compact, approved in 2016, which governs enrollment authority only. If you later move to another state, the licensure disclosure required by 34 CFR 668.43 tells you which states the program has checked.
Questions About Online Master's in Education Programs in Delaware
What Is the Cheapest Online Master's in Education in Delaware?
How Are Online Master's in Education Programs in Delaware Ranked?
Which Delaware School Has the More Affordable Online Master's in Education?
The more affordable online master's in education among Delaware schools is Wilmington University's, per the cost chart. Compare what each program includes, since fees and course materials vary, and ask whether a payment plan applies.
Does a Delaware Master's Lead to a Teaching License?
A Delaware master's on this list does not lead to a first teaching license, because neither program leads to one. Delaware licenses rest on a bachelor's degree, content exams and student teaching, and the department sets the details.
Can a Delaware Teacher Use a Master's for a Leadership Job?
A Delaware teacher can use a master's toward a leadership job, though the state's principal credential asks for specific leadership coursework from an accredited program. The University of Delaware's teacher leadership degree builds skills that complement it.
How Do the Two Delaware Online Master's Programs Differ?
The two Delaware online master's programs differ in breadth and setting. Wilmington University's Education Studies degree is a general program at a private nonprofit, while the University of Delaware's Teacher Leadership degree is a focused program at the state's public flagship. Pick by the career you want, then compare cost.
Where Do the Figures for Delaware Come From?
Tuition and degree counts come from federal records each college reports about itself.