Fitchburg State University leads the Massachusetts list with a Master of Education in Curriculum and Teaching, and the program name says plainly that it is a non-licensure degree. That is the right signal for a teacher who already holds a license and wants coursework rather than a credential. Behind it come licensure-focused degrees from Bridgewater State, Salem State, Gordon College and others, all of them at campuses inside the Commonwealth.
Massachusetts leans public here. State universities and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts supply most of the list, and private options come from Gordon, Endicott, American International College and Assumption University. The fields run from moderate disabilities and early childhood to TESOL, elementary education and school counseling, so a career changer and an experienced teacher will find different doors.
Source: IPEDS, read October 6, 2026. Tuition is the 2023-24 in-state rate.
top score, Fitchburg State University
94.6
median in-state tuition and fees across the 10 listed, 2023-24
$9,065
schools in Massachusetts with a ranked fully online master's in education
17
ranked programs in Massachusetts that lead to a license
24
This list covers fully online master's programs at universities located in Massachusetts, one per school.
The 10 Best Online Master's in Education Programs in Massachusetts
The 10 programs below are at schools in Massachusetts, scored at the in-state price and listed one per school.
1
Fitchburg State University
Master of Education in Curriculum and Teaching (Non-Licensure)
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
94.6- Public
- No license involved
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Degrees awarded
- 201 a year
- Yearly cost
- $6,246
- In-state rate
- $6,246, 2023-24
Fitchburg State University sets one price for 2023-24, $6,246 a year, whether a student lives in Massachusetts or not. The Master of Education in Curriculum and Teaching has no licensing requirement for entry, and it ends with a capstone reflective seminar as the terminal course. Tuition is charged course by course, and the New England Commission of Higher Education accredits the institution.
Because it is a non-licensure degree, it builds professional skill for people already working in schools and does not replace the Initial License from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Completion in as few as 12 months is possible through the accelerated format, which is entirely online. Fitchburg State awarded 201 master's degrees in the latest federal count, and the school is public.
2
Bridgewater State University
Master of Education in Special Education, Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities
Bridgewater, Massachusetts
89.8- Public
- Leads to a license
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 67 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,041
- In-state rate
- $9,041, 2023-24
Bridgewater State University charges $9,041 a year for 2023-24, with one rate for residents and out-of-state students alike. The Master of Education in Special Education prepares Teachers of Students with Moderate Disabilities, and the license levels run PreK-8, PreK-2 and 5-12. A candidate may be licensed while the degree is still under way, and the university awarded 67 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
A non-licensure version needs 34 credits at minimum, made up of 10 credits of required courses and 24 credits of electives, for educators who want the advanced study without the credential. Licenses themselves come from the Office of Educator Licensure at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and testing runs through the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure. The school is public and sits in Bridgewater.
3
Salem State University
Master of Education in Early Childhood Education
Salem, Massachusetts
85.0- Public
- Leads to a license
- Early Childhood Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 49 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,088
- In-state rate
- $9,088, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $10,747
In Salem, the public Salem State University asks $9,088 a year of Massachusetts residents for 2023-24, while out-of-state students pay $10,747. The Master of Education in Early Childhood Education moves cohorts toward an initial license for PreK-2 classrooms, and a supervised practicum takes fewer hours for teachers who already lead a class.
Finishing takes 1 year on the accelerated schedule, 2 years on the standard one, or whatever time a student sets on the self-paced plan. Teachers already licensed can take a licensure-only option without the degree. Salem State awarded 49 master's degrees in the latest federal count, and the preparation program holds approval from the state's education department.
4
Gordon College
Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Early Childhood Education
Wenham, Massachusetts
75.5- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Early Childhood Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 21 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,113
- In-state rate
- $8,113, 2023-24
Wenham, Massachusetts, is home to Gordon College, a private nonprofit school that charges $8,113 a year for 2023-24, one rate for residents and out-of-state students alike. Its Master of Education in Early Childhood Education prepares certified teachers for pre-kindergarten through grade 2, with an Initial Licensure track and a Professional Licensure track to match where a teacher stands in the state's system.
A Montessori Education concentration covers ages 3 to 6. Coursework is online, offered in the evenings and on weekends, in small classes. Licenses are issued by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and its Tests for Educator Licensure are the state's exam system. The college awarded 21 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
5
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Master of Education
North Adams, Massachusetts
71.0- Public
- Leads to a license
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 16 a year
- Yearly cost
- $7,853
- In-state rate
- $7,853, 2023-24
North Adams is the setting for the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Master of Education, which carries candidates to Massachusetts Initial licensure through 14 pathways: Early Childhood (PreK-2), Elementary (1-6), Mathematics, Mathematics & Science, General Science, Biology/Chemistry/Physics, English, History, Humanities and Moderate Disabilities. An Individualized Plan of Study is available without licensure, and a professional-licensure track is also offered.
The college reports a 98% pass rate on the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure and gives enrolled candidates free test vouchers. Undergraduates can take the accelerated 4+1 route from bachelor's degree to M.Ed. The educator preparation program is approved by the state's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the institution is accredited by NECHE. Tuition is $7,853 a year for 2023-24, the same for every student, and 16 master's degrees were awarded in the latest federal count.
6
Endicott College
Special Education: Moderate Disabilities Master's Program
Beverly, Massachusetts
70.7- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities
- Degrees awarded
- 36 a year
- Yearly cost
- $13,370
- In-state rate
- $13,370, 2023-24
Beverly is the home of Endicott College, a private nonprofit school that charges $13,370 a year for 2023-24 to residents and nonresidents alike. The 36-credit Special Education: Moderate Disabilities Master's Program is fully online yet built around a 300-hour practicum, including at least 100 hours of full teaching responsibility in the role and grade level of the license sought.
The core track leads to initial or professional Massachusetts licensure in Moderate Disabilities for PreK-8 and 5-12, and the initial route requires the Communication and Literacy Test from the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure. Endicott also offers non-licensure concentrations in Social Emotional Learning and Social Justice. The college awarded 36 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
7
Framingham State University
Master of Education, concentration in Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Framingham, Massachusetts
70.1- Public
- Leads to a license
- Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor
- Degrees awarded
- 23 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,820
- In-state rate
- $10,820, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $13,325
Framingham State University, a public school in Framingham, charges Massachusetts residents $10,820 a year for 2023-24 and out-of-state students $13,325. Its M.Ed. with a TESOL concentration carries state approval from the Massachusetts DESE, and graduates seeking an ESL teaching license can choose PreK-6 or Grades 5-12.
Licensing takes state tests in Communication & Literacy Skills and in ESL Subject Matter. The practicum runs 300 hours. At least 10 courses come first, and the last semester ends with a comprehensive exam, not a thesis. Teachers should pick the grade band that matches the classrooms they work in. Federal data for the latest year show 23 master's degrees awarded.
8
Worcester State University
Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Elementary Education
Worcester, Massachusetts
66.7- Public
- Elementary Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 12 a year
- Yearly cost
- $6,093
- In-state rate
- $6,093, 2023-24
Tuition at Worcester State University works out to $409 per credit hour, and the annual figure for 2023-24 is $6,093 for every student, in-state or not. The Master of Education in Elementary Education comes to 34 credits, every one of them taken over the internet, with no classroom placement to arrange.
Applicants do not need a teaching license to begin, and finishing does not produce one. A teacher who holds an initial license from Massachusetts may petition on their own for the professional license, citing the degree, through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Worcester State, a public university, shows 12 master's degrees awarded in federal data for the latest year.
9
American International College
Master of Education (or CAGS) in Early Childhood Education
Springfield, Massachusetts
62.0- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Early Childhood Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 15 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,983
- In-state rate
- $10,983, 2023-24
Springfield's American International College, a private nonprofit school, charges $10,983 a year for 2023-24, with no difference between Massachusetts residents and others. The school awards either an M.Ed. or a CAGS in Early Childhood Education, and students meet their instructors in real time over video.
The 33-credit route readies teachers of children from PreK through Grade 2 for the Initial License from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which uses the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure. Licensure candidates also work in classrooms at two age bands before finishing. A 30-credit route stops at the degree and carries no license. An elective on Sheltered English Immersion is open to either group. The college awarded 15 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
10
Assumption University
Master of Arts in School Counseling
Worcester, Massachusetts
58.8- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
- Degrees awarded
- 21 a year
- Yearly cost
- $14,866
- In-state rate
- $14,866, 2023-24
School counselors in Worcester train at Assumption University, a private nonprofit school whose Master of Arts in School Counseling runs 60 credits over Zoom, one session a week. Concentrations are School Counselor for all levels and School Adjustment Counselor/School Social Worker for all levels. Candidates complete 100 hours of pre-practicum and 600 to 900 hours of practicum exclusively in Massachusetts schools, in small sections of 6 to 10 students.
The degree meets the Massachusetts initial licensure requirements for School (Guidance) Counselor at PreK-8 or 5-12, or for School Social Worker/Adjustment Counselor, and the state's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved it with distinction. The charge is $14,866 a year for 2023-24, the same for residents and nonresidents. Assumption awarded 21 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts Lead to a License?
5 ranked programs at schools in Massachusetts lead to a license, certificate or endorsement, scored the same way as the list above, one program per school. The Massachusetts 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 | Fitchburg State University | Master of Education (MEd), Special Education: Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities | Massachusetts initial licensure, Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8 or 5-12) | $6,246 |
| 2 | Bridgewater State University | Master of Education in Special Education, Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities | Massachusetts initial licensure, Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8, PreK-2, 5-12) | $9,041 |
| 3 | Salem State University | Master of Education in Early Childhood Education | Educator license | $9,088 |
| 4 | Gordon College | Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Early Childhood Education | Educator license | $8,113 |
| 5 | Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | Master of Education | Educator license | $7,853 |
What Does an Online Master's in Education Cost in Massachusetts?
An online master's in education at a school in Massachusetts costs a resident from $6,093 to $14,866 a year in graduate tuition and fees across these 10 programs, with a median of $9,065, 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.
Why Does Fitchburg State Lead the Massachusetts Master's List?
Fitchburg State leads the Massachusetts master's list because its curriculum and teaching degree combines the largest graduating class in the group with one of the lowest resident rates. The program is described on the university's online degrees page as non-licensure, so it fits a classroom teacher who already has a license and wants to deepen instruction.
Worcester State University's elementary education M.Ed. also sits near the bottom of the price range, but it does not lead to a license. Teachers who need to be recommended for a license should look to Bridgewater State, whose special education degree prepares Teachers of Students with Moderate Disabilities, or to Salem State, Gordon and American International College for early childhood. Endicott offers a moderate disabilities master's of its own, and Framingham State's concentration is TESOL.
What Do Massachusetts Licensure Rules Mean for an Online Master's Student?
Massachusetts licensure rules mean an online master's student needs the right program, the right tests and, for most classroom roles, a specific endorsement. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education runs the Office of Educator Licensure, and its Initial license is the first step, awarded on a bachelor's degree, the required MTEL tests and an approved preparation route. The degree level matters later, when you move toward the Professional license.
Several of these degrees lead to a Massachusetts license, including those at Bridgewater State, Salem State, Gordon, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Endicott, Framingham State, American International College and Assumption. Teachers of core subjects should also read the department's page on the Sheltered English Immersion endorsement. Our Massachusetts licensure guide explains the tiers in more detail.
What Does It Mean to Earn an Online Master's From a Massachusetts School?
Earning an online master's from a Massachusetts school means the coursework arrives on your screen while the supervised teaching happens in a classroom near you. A licensure program asks you to arrange a practicum placement, and the school's education office is the right place to ask how it handles an applicant who lives far from campus.
These prices are in-state rates, because every school listed is a Massachusetts institution. Federal rule 34 CFR 668.43 requires a school to disclose whether its licensure program meets your state's requirements, so request the statement before you pay a deposit. If you relocate after enrolling, the compact will not carry your license with you. NC-SARA says it does not address licensing board approval, so the new state's board makes its own decision.
Questions About Online Master's in Education Programs in Massachusetts
What Is the Cheapest Online Master's in Education in Massachusetts?
How Are Online Master's in Education Programs in Massachusetts Ranked?
Does a Massachusetts Master's Replace the MTEL?
A master's in education from a Massachusetts school does not replace the MTEL. The state's license types page lists the required MTEL tests as a condition of the Initial license alongside the degree and an approved route, so plan the exams separately from the coursework.
Which Massachusetts Program Is Best for Early Childhood Teachers?
Early childhood teachers have three options in Massachusetts: Salem State University, Gordon College in Wenham, and American International College in Springfield, whose degree can also be taken as a CAGS. All three lead to a license, so compare how each handles the practicum and which age range it covers.
Is a Massachusetts School Counseling Master's Online?
Assumption University in Worcester offers a Master of Arts in School Counseling that leads to Massachusetts licensure. Because counseling licensure involves supervised fieldwork, ask Assumption how internship sites are arranged for students who live away from Worcester.
Which Massachusetts Online Master's Suits a Teacher Adding a Second Specialty?
A licensed teacher adding a specialty can look at the TESOL concentration at Framingham State University or the Master of Education at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams. Check with the school how the coursework counts toward the endorsement or license field you want before you apply.
Where Do the Figures for Massachusetts Come From?
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, 2023-24
- Massachusetts DESE, Office of Educator Licensure
- Massachusetts DESE, license types
- Massachusetts DESE, Sheltered English Immersion endorsement
- 34 CFR 668.43, Institutional and programmatic information (eCFR)
- NC-SARA, Professional Licensure
- Fitchburg State University, online Curriculum and Teaching
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
Fitchburg State University Bridgewater State University Salem State University Gordon College Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Endicott College Framingham State University Worcester State University American International College Assumption University