Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton and Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers hold the top two places, and both teach a Master of Education in Educational Leadership. Florida Atlantic also carries the lowest in-state rate on the list, so the cheapest route here is a principal program, not a classroom degree. The University of West Florida follows with exceptional student education, and Florida State, Florida and North Florida fill in the middle.
Florida runs its own certification system, with its own exams and its own vocabulary: a certificate, not a license. The sections below take the leadership programs, the special education and reading degrees, the exam system, and what an online student at a Florida school should ask.
Source: IPEDS, read October 6, 2026. Tuition is the 2023-24 in-state rate.
top score, Florida Atlantic University
93.6
median in-state tuition and fees across the 10 listed, 2023-24
$10,396
schools in Florida with a ranked fully online master's in education
23
ranked programs in Florida that lead to a license
23
This list covers fully online master's programs at universities located in Florida, one per school.
The 10 Best Online Master's in Education Programs in Florida
The 10 programs below are at schools in Florida, scored at the in-state price and listed one per school.
1
Florida Atlantic University
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Boca Raton, Florida
93.6- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 62 a year
- Yearly cost
- $6,693
- In-state rate
- $6,693, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $18,482
Boca Raton is where Florida Atlantic University runs the IDEAL cohort, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership for aspiring school leaders. Candidates meet through synchronous distributed eLearning over six semesters, on Saturday mornings and Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and each works with a school administrator mentor. IDEAL graduates are guaranteed placement in the School District of Palm Beach County's Aspiring Assistant Principals Program.
After the degree and a pass on the Florida Educational Leadership Exam, graduates qualify for Florida Educational Leadership Certification, the credential for assistant principal and principal posts, which the Florida Department of Education oversees. The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation accredits the program, and 62 master's degrees were awarded in the latest federal count. In-state tuition is $6,693 a year for 2023-24, and out-of-state students pay $18,482.
2
Florida Gulf Coast University
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Fort Myers, Florida
89.5- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 68 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,961
- In-state rate
- $8,961, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $31,216
Fort Myers candidates weighing a move into administration will find 320 hours of internship at the center of Florida Gulf Coast University's online Master of Education in Educational Leadership. The internship is matched to the Florida Educational Leadership Standards and supervised by a district mentor, and the degree runs 30 to 33 credit hours.
Passing the Florida Educational Leadership Exam before graduation qualifies a graduate for Florida Level 1 Principal Certification from the Florida Department of Education. Employees of partner districts in Collier, Lee, Charlotte and Heartland can add the LEADs+ cohort pathway into their district's assistant principal pool. FGCU, a public university, awarded 68 master's degrees in the latest federal count and charges Florida residents $8,961 a year for 2023-24.
3
University of West Florida
Exceptional Student Education, M.A. with Special Education specialization
Pensacola, Florida
89.4- Public
- No license involved
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 278 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,062
- In-state rate
- $9,062, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $24,894
Special education coursework at the University of West Florida includes IEP development and behavior management, plus a research sequence that moves from Introduction to Research into Applied Research. The Master of Arts in Exceptional Student Education with a Special Education specialization totals 33 credit hours, takes an estimated 24 months, and is non-residential.
The degree is not intended to lead to teacher certification from the Florida Department of Education, and the school suggests teachers ask their district about salary advancement eligibility. SACSCOC accredits the university in Pensacola, which awarded 278 master's degrees in the latest federal count. Florida residents pay $9,062 a year for 2023-24, out-of-state students pay $24,894, and out-of-state tuition waivers of up to 90 percent are offered.
4
Florida State University
Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction
Tallahassee, Florida
82.8- Public
- No license involved
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Degrees awarded
- 163 a year
- Yearly cost
- $11,553
- In-state rate
- $11,553, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $26,707
Tallahassee's Florida State University offers its Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction online to practicing educators, with 30 credit hours and a choice among eleven majors. Autism Spectrum Disorders, Early Childhood Education, Mathematics Education, Science Education and TESOL are among them, so a teacher can aim the degree at a grade band, a content area or a particular group of learners.
The degree does not lead to a license and does not replace the Professional Certificate from the Florida Department of Education. SACSCOC accredits the university, and 163 master's degrees were awarded in the latest federal count. Florida residents pay $11,553 a year for 2023-24, while out-of-state students pay $26,707.
5
University of Florida
Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education
Gainesville, Florida
79.3- Public
- No license involved
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 52 a year
- Yearly cost
- $12,737
- In-state rate
- $12,737, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $30,130
Gainesville's University of Florida lets special educators assemble their own path through its online Master of Education in Special Education. A 12-credit core is followed by 24 credits of specialization, 36 in all, drawn from tracks in Academic, Behavior, Disabilities in Society, Dyslexia, Early Childhood Studies, and Early Childhood Care and Policy, and a student may stay in one track or mix courses across them.
Part-time study usually takes about two years, and projects are tied to each student's professional goals. The degree is not a route to the Professional Certificate issued by the Florida Department of Education. CAEP accredits the provider, and UF reported 52 master's degrees in the latest federal count. Florida residents pay $12,737 a year for 2023-24 and out-of-state students $30,130.
6
University of North Florida
Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Elementary Education
Jacksonville, Florida
71.6- Public
- Elementary Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 23 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,364
- In-state rate
- $10,364, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $21,930
Teachers in Jacksonville who already hold a valid license can take the University of North Florida's fully online Master of Education in Elementary Education through the Silverfield College of Education and Human Services. Across 30 credit hours, coursework runs from instructional strategies and curriculum design to assessment and data literacy. Embedded graduate certificates in literacy, mathematics, STEM or instructional leadership can be added along the way.
Because the degree is advanced study for licensed educators, it adds to the Professional Certificate from the Florida Department of Education and does not replace it. The educator preparation unit holds CAEP accreditation. UNF awarded 23 master's degrees in the latest federal count, and Florida residents pay $10,364 a year for 2023-24.
7
Saint Leo University
Master of Education (MEd) in Educational Leadership
Saint Leo, Florida
71.4- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 73 a year
- Yearly cost
- $15,840
- In-state rate
- $15,840, 2023-24
Saint Leo University, a private nonprofit school, splits its Master of Education in Educational Leadership into two tracks. The State-approved track is for Florida educators, who must pass the required Florida certification exam before the degree is conferred, preparing through the Florida Educational Leadership Exam or the Praxis School Leadership Licensure Assessment. The Multistate track serves people working out of state or outside K-12.
Thirty credit hours finish in 8 to 18 months, with more than 120 hours of fieldwork and leadership experience and cohort partnerships with districts and dioceses. Coursework follows Florida Educational Leadership Standards and NELP standards, and SACSCOC accredits the university. Saint Leo, which awarded 73 master's degrees in the latest federal count, charges everyone $15,840 a year for 2023-24, in state or out.
8
University of South Florida
Master of Arts in Reading Education
Tampa, Florida
68.8- Public
- Leads to a license
- Reading Teacher Education
- Degrees awarded
- 20 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,428
- In-state rate
- $10,428, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $21,126
Tampa is the base for the University of South Florida's online Master of Arts in Reading Education, which treats literacy as global, disciplinary, critical and media literacies. Live sessions meet in the evening and are paired with asynchronous coursework, and a candidate picks between a one-year fast track and a part-time schedule of 2 to 2.5 years.
The degree prepares graduates for positions that require the Florida K-12 Reading Endorsement, one piece of the educator certification system the Florida Department of Education administers. USF awarded 20 master's degrees in the latest federal count. Tuition for Florida residents is $10,428 a year for 2023-24, and out-of-state students pay $21,126.
9
Ana G. Mendez University
Master of Education with a specialization in Instructional Design and Technological Integration with E-Learning
Orlando, Florida
68.6- Private nonprofit
- No license involved
- Educational/Instructional Technology
- Degrees awarded
- 20 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,455
- In-state rate
- $10,455, 2023-24
Orlando is home to Ana G. Mendez University, a private nonprofit school whose online Master of Education sits in the Liberal Arts Division and lets a candidate lean toward either course design or e-learning technology. Accreditation comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and 20 master's degrees were awarded in the latest federal count.
The degree leads to no license, so it adds expertise rather than replacing the Professional Certificate issued by the Florida Department of Education. A Florida teacher or corporate trainer would use it to take on course design work. Ana G. Mendez charges $10,455 a year for 2023-24, and in-state and out-of-state students pay that same rate.
10
University of Central Florida
Master of Education in Reading Education
Orlando, Florida
66.5- Public
- Leads to a license
- Reading Teacher Education
- Degrees awarded
- 15 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,872
- In-state rate
- $8,872, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $28,657
Orlando's University of Central Florida built its fully online Master of Education in Reading Education for certified K-12 teachers, practicing or prospective. Thirty credit hours cover reading development, assessment, evidence-based instruction and intervention, digital and disciplinary literacies, and literacy leadership and coaching, and the coursework follows the International Literacy Association's 2017 standards.
Graduates prepare for the Reading K-12 subject area exam of the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations, and passing it earns Florida Reading Education certification from the Florida Department of Education. Admission does not call for the GRE. UCF awarded 15 master's degrees in the latest federal count, and Florida residents pay $8,872 a year for 2023-24.
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 Florida 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 Florida Lead to a License?
5 ranked programs at schools in Florida lead to a license, certificate or endorsement, scored the same way as the list above, one program per school. The Florida 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 | Florida Atlantic University | Master of Education in Educational Leadership | Florida school principal certification | $6,693 |
| 2 | Florida Gulf Coast University | Master of Education in Educational Leadership | Florida Educational Leadership / principal certification | $8,961 |
| 3 | University of West Florida | Master of Education in Educational Leadership (Certification track) | Florida educational leadership certification (school principal) | $9,062 |
| 4 | Florida State University | Master of Science / Education Specialist in Counseling and Human Systems, School Counseling major | Educator license | $11,553 |
| 5 | Saint Leo University | Master of Education (MEd) in Educational Leadership | Educator license | $15,840 |
What Does an Online Master's in Education Cost in Florida?
An online master's in education at a school in Florida costs a resident from $6,693 to $15,840 a year in graduate tuition and fees across these 10 programs, with a median of $10,396, 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 Florida Universities Offer an Online Master's in Educational Leadership?
The Florida universities that offer an online master's in educational leadership are Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University and Saint Leo University. Florida Atlantic's school leaders program and Florida Gulf Coast's educational leadership degree both lead to Florida's principal certification.
Saint Leo, a private nonprofit, also leads to licensure, though at a flat rate for all students. Florida requires a master's degree for the School Principal and Educational Leadership certificate subjects, so these degrees are the entry point, not an optional extra. An administrator also passes the state's leadership exam.
Which Florida Master's Programs Focus on Special Education and Reading?
The Florida master's programs that focus on special education and reading are the University of West Florida's exceptional student education degree, the University of Florida's special education master's, the University of South Florida's reading education degree and the University of Central Florida's reading education master's. The two reading programs lead to certification, while the special education programs at West Florida and Florida do not.
Florida calls special education exceptional student education, which is the term to search for in district postings. Reading for kindergarten through grade twelve is a Florida certificate subject. The University of West Florida in Pensacola awards the largest number of degrees in this group.
What Do Florida Master's Programs Offer in Curriculum, Elementary Education and Technology?
Florida master's programs in curriculum, elementary education and technology include Florida State University's Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction, the University of North Florida's elementary education degree and Ana G. Mendez University's instructional design degree with a focus on e-learning. None of them leads to a first certificate.
These fit a teacher who already holds a Florida certificate and wants a degree for advancement, or a trainer moving into digital instruction. The Orlando-based Ana G. Mendez program serves instructional designers outside school systems, which separates it from the others. Check the educational technology ranking if design work is your goal.
How Do the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations Fit a Master's in Education?
The Florida Teacher Certification Examinations fit a master's in education as a separate step: the Florida Department of Education asks for the General Knowledge Test, a subject area exam and a professional education test, and Florida uses these in place of Praxis. A master's degree on an official transcript can satisfy General Knowledge only.
The Temporary Certificate lets graduates of approved programs teach while they pass the remaining exams. Our Florida licensure guide sets out the certificate sequence and reciprocity routes.
Because the exams are Florida's own, test preparation materials and registration run through the state's FTCE site, and an online student can schedule sittings independent of the university. Passing scores count only if earned within ten years of applying, so a long break between testing and the degree can cost you a retake.
What Does Studying Online at a Florida School Mean for a Resident?
Studying online at a Florida school means the public universities charge a resident a fraction of the nonresident rate, shown in the cost chart, and clinical or internship hours happen in a local school district. Ask who arranges the placement.
Florida has belonged to NC-SARA through the Southern compact since 2017, which covers enrollment authority and not the certificate decision. The disclosure at 34 CFR 668.43 names the states a program has checked.
If you may leave Florida, ask the school for its state-by-state licensure list in writing and keep it, because reciprocity depends on the certificate you hold and the subject, not on the school.
Questions About Online Master's in Education Programs in Florida
What Is the Cheapest Online Master's in Education in Florida?
How Are Online Master's in Education Programs in Florida Ranked?
Does Florida Require a Master's Degree to Teach?
Florida does not require a master's degree to teach in most subjects, since a bachelor's degree satisfies the Professional Certificate. The master's is required for a few subjects, including school principal and school counseling.
Which Florida School Has the Lowest In-State Rate?
The lowest in-state rate belongs to Florida Atlantic University, per the cost chart. It is also one of the leadership programs that lead to principal certification.
Does Florida Use Praxis Exams?
Florida uses its own Florida Teacher Certification Examinations, not Praxis, so a teacher moving from a Praxis state should check which Florida tests apply. Scores from a prior attempt count only within a ten-year window.
Is Ana G. Mendez University in Orlando a Private School?
Ana G. Mendez University is a private nonprofit in Orlando, listed with an instructional design master's with an e-learning specialization. It charges one rate to every student.
Where Do the Figures for Florida Come From?
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, 2023-24
- Florida Department of Education, Educator Certification
- Florida Atlantic University, School Leaders master's
- Florida Gulf Coast University, Educational Leadership M.Ed.
- University of West Florida, Exceptional Student Education M.A.
- 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
Florida Atlantic University Florida Gulf Coast University University of West Florida Florida State University University of Florida University of North Florida Saint Leo University University of South Florida Ana G. Mendez University University of Central Florida