Maine's online master's in education list is compact and led by a public school. The University of Southern Maine in Portland tops it with a Master of Science in Special Education for teaching students with mild to moderate disabilities, and the University of Maine in Orono offers its own special education master's further down. Saint Joseph's College of Maine, the University of New England and Thomas College supply general Master of Science in Education degrees.
Most of these degrees lead to Maine certification, which makes the Maine Department of Education's certificate rules the main thing to understand before choosing. The sections below describe each campus, explain how Maine certifies graduates, and cover what an online student should ask a home-state school.
Source: IPEDS, read October 6, 2026. Tuition is the 2023-24 in-state rate.
top score, University of Southern Maine
84.2
median in-state tuition and fees across the 5 listed, 2023-24
$10,446
schools in Maine with a ranked fully online master's in education
5
ranked programs in Maine that lead to a license
8
This list covers fully online master's programs at universities located in Maine, one per school.
The 5 Best Online Master's in Education Programs in Maine
The 5 programs below are at schools in Maine, scored at the in-state price and listed one per school.
1
University of Southern Maine
Master of Science in Special Education, Teaching Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities
Portland, Maine
84.2- Public
- Leads to a license
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 49 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,594
- In-state rate
- $9,594, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $25,884
Portland's University of Southern Maine runs its fully online Master of Science in Special Education in seven-week courses, with two paths. The 39-credit certification track, Teaching Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities, leads to Maine Teacher of Students with Disabilities certification, 282E for K-8 or 282S for 7-12, approved by the Maine Department of Education. A 30-credit Inclusive Instruction for All Students track carries no certification.
Undergraduates in any major can use the 4+1 pathway to add the degree within five years. USM awarded 49 master's degrees in the latest federal count. Maine residents pay $9,594 a year for 2023-24, against $25,884 for students from out of state.
2
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Master of Science in Education
Standish, Maine
81.5- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 38 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,630
- In-state rate
- $9,630, 2023-24
Standish, Maine, is home to Saint Joseph's College of Maine, where the online Master of Science in Education starts five times a year, in January, March, May, July and October, each term lasting 10 weeks. No on-campus residency is required. Tracks are School Educator, School Leadership, Catholic School Leadership and Health Care Educator, and School Leadership includes a school-leader internship.
The college says the coursework may meet certification and administrator requirements set by the Maine Department of Education, though it cannot promise the same in other states. A private nonprofit school, it awarded 38 master's degrees in the latest federal count and charges $9,630 a year for 2023-24, the same for in-state and out-of-state students.
3
University of Maine
Master of Education in Special Education
Orono, Maine
70.6- Public
- Leads to a license
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 22 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,446
- In-state rate
- $10,446, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $30,948
Orono's University of Maine offers its online Master of Education in Special Education in several concentration forms: Early Intervention-Early Childhood, Low Incidence Disabilities, High Incidence Disabilities, a dual concentration combining High and Low Incidence, and an individualized plan. Single concentrations mostly take 33 credits, the dual route 45 to 48, and a 42-credit 4+1 accelerated option serves UMaine undergraduates.
The degree prepares students for licensure eligibility in Maine. Those seeking initial certification apply through the transcript review process at the Maine Department of Education or in their home state, and the state's certification process draws on the Praxis Series. UMaine awarded 22 master's degrees in the latest federal count. Maine residents pay $10,446 a year for 2023-24, and out-of-state students pay $30,948.
4
University of New England
Master of Science in Education
Biddeford, Maine
29.6- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 19 a year
- Yearly cost
- $32,175
- In-state rate
- $32,175, 2023-24
Most tracks in the University of New England's online Master of Science in Education connect to named Maine credentials. Educational Leadership is approved for the Building Administrator (040) endorsement, Reading Specialist for Literacy Specialist Certification (092), and Special Education for the Teacher of Students with Disabilities (282) endorsement. The general track is customizable and does not lead to Maine teaching certification, which the Maine Department of Education issues.
Every route ends in an action-research capstone and a reflective digital portfolio, and the degree can be finished in under two years with no GRE. The New England Commission of Higher Education accredits UNE, a private school in Biddeford that awarded 19 master's degrees in the latest federal count. It charges $32,175 a year for 2023-24, the same for in-state and out-of-state students.
5
Thomas College
Master of Science in Education
Waterville, Maine
17.2- Private nonprofit
- No license involved
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 10 a year
- Yearly cost
- $30,896
- In-state rate
- $30,896, 2023-24
Waterville's Thomas College asks applicants to hold teacher certification already, and its online Master of Science in Education builds on it. Thirty credits include Seminar in American Schools, Educational Assessment, Teacher as a Researcher and Trends in Curriculum Development.
The degree is not an initial-licensure route and does not replace the Provisional Certificate or other credentials from the Maine Department of Education. Maine teachers use it to advance in a role they already hold. The New England Commission of Higher Education accredits the college, which awarded 10 master's degrees in the latest federal count. Tuition is $30,896 a year for 2023-24, with in-state and out-of-state students charged the same amount.
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 Maine 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 Maine Lead to a License?
4 ranked programs at schools in Maine lead to a license, certificate or endorsement, scored the same way as the list above, one program per school. The Maine 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 | University of Southern Maine | Master of Science in Special Education, Teaching Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities | Maine Teacher of Students with Disabilities (K-8) 282E / (7-12) 282S | $9,594 |
| 2 | Saint Joseph's College of Maine | Master of Science in Education | Educator license | $9,630 |
| 3 | University of Maine | Master of Education in Special Education | Educator license | $10,446 |
| 4 | University of New England | Master of Science in Education | Educator license | $32,175 |
What Does an Online Master's in Education Cost in Maine?
An online master's in education at a school in Maine costs a resident from $9,594 to $32,175 a year in graduate tuition and fees across these 5 programs, with a median of $10,446, 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 Maine Universities Offer the Best Online Master's in Education?
The Maine universities that offer the best online master's in education begin with the University of Southern Maine, whose special education options are all online. Its certification concentration is designed for people seeking initial certification to teach students with disabilities, and a separate concentration in inclusive instruction is a non-certification master's delivered asynchronously.
The University of Maine in Orono offers a Master of Education in Special Education. Saint Joseph's College of Maine in Standish, the University of New England in Biddeford and Thomas College in Waterville all offer a Master of Science in Education, which suits teachers who want a broad graduate degree. The Saint Joseph's and University of New England degrees lead to Maine certification, and the Thomas College degree does not. The public and private campuses are priced far apart, and the cost chart shows exactly how far.
How Does Maine Certify Graduates of an Online Master's in Education?
Maine certifies graduates of an online master's in education through the Department of Education, which issues a professional teacher certificate once an approved program's institution recommends the graduate. Chapter 115 lets that approved program sit in any state, so the rule does not favor a Maine campus, though a Maine campus fits the department's process most directly.
The department's initial certification page lists the routes, including a transcript analysis for applicants with no formal program. Exams come from Chapter 13, and a 3.0 grade point average or a portfolio can stand in for the basic skills test for many endorsements. Our Maine licensure guide covers the exams, fingerprinting and renewal in more detail.
What Does a Maine Special Education Master's Lead To?
A Maine special education master's leads to one of two outcomes, depending on the concentration. At the University of Southern Maine, the certification concentration leads to Maine certification, and the program describes a route to a Maine teacher of students with disabilities endorsement for kindergarten through grade eight or grades seven through twelve.
The University of Maine's Master of Education in Special Education also leads to Maine certification, so the choice between the two public campuses comes down to format, price and location. A teacher who already holds a certificate might prefer the non-certification concentration at Southern Maine, since it adds expertise without repeating a certification step. Ask each program which endorsement code it prepares you to add.
What Does Studying Online at a Maine University Mean for Residents?
Studying online at a Maine university means the in-state rate and student teaching or practicum hours in a school near you, which matters in a state with long distances between districts. Ask each program how it approves a site and who supervises you.
Maine belongs to NC-SARA, yet SARA does not address professional licensing board approval, so the department applies its own conditions. A resident who later moves finds that the next state's board decides how the degree counts. Under 34 CFR 668.43, a school that advertises licensure must publish where it qualifies, so request that statement.
Questions About Online Master's in Education Programs in Maine
What Is the Cheapest Online Master's in Education in Maine?
How Are Online Master's in Education Programs in Maine Ranked?
Which Maine Online Master's in Education Leads to a First Teaching Certificate?
The University of Southern Maine's online Master of Science in Special Education with the certification concentration is designed for people seeking initial certification to teach students with disabilities. The University of Maine's special education master's and the Saint Joseph's and University of New England education degrees also lead to Maine certification.
Is the University of Southern Maine's Online Master's in Education Asynchronous?
The University of Southern Maine's non-certification master's in education, the Inclusive Instruction for All Students concentration, is described on its program page as online in an asynchronous format. Ask the department whether the certification concentration adds any scheduled sessions or placements.
Does Maine Require a Basic Skills Test for Certification?
Maine requires basic skills evidence for certification but accepts alternatives. Chapter 115 Part II lets many applicants use a 3.0 grade point average in required courses or a portfolio review instead of the Praxis Core test.
How Do Public and Private Maine Universities Differ on an Online Master's in Education?
Public and private Maine universities differ on an online master's in education mainly in price and focus. The University of Southern Maine and the University of Maine are public, while Saint Joseph's, the University of New England and Thomas College are private nonprofit. The cost chart shows the listed price at each, so compare it with your expected aid before applying.
Where Do the Figures for Maine Come From?
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, 2023-24
- University of Southern Maine, special education program options
- Maine Department of Education, initial certification
- Maine Chapter 115 (approved program rule)
- Maine Chapter 115 Part II (endorsement requirements)
- 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 5 colleges ranked, in 1 state
University of Southern Maine Saint Joseph's College of Maine University of Maine University of New England Thomas College