Spring Arbor University leads the Michigan list with its Master of Special Education, a degree that leads to a Michigan teaching credential, at the lowest resident price among the ten. Northern Michigan University follows with an early childhood master's, then Eastern Michigan with a K-12 administration degree. Every school on the page sits inside Michigan, from Marquette in the Upper Peninsula to Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids.
Michigan is a state of big public universities, and the list shows it. Michigan State, Eastern, Central, Western and Northern Michigan and the Dearborn campus of the University of Michigan appear beside Calvin, Cornerstone, Concordia Ann Arbor and Spring Arbor. Their prices spread widely, so the public flagship and the small Christian colleges give a Michigan resident very different bills for similar-sounding degrees.
Source: IPEDS, read October 6, 2026. Tuition is the 2023-24 in-state rate.
top score, Spring Arbor University
81.7
median in-state tuition and fees across the 10 listed, 2023-24
$15,433
schools in Michigan with a ranked fully online master's in education
16
ranked programs in Michigan that lead to a license
21
This list covers fully online master's programs at universities located in Michigan, one per school.
The 10 Best Online Master's in Education Programs in Michigan
The 10 programs below are at schools in Michigan, scored at the in-state price and listed one per school.
1
Spring Arbor University
Master of Special Education
Spring Arbor, Michigan
81.7- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Degrees awarded
- 31 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,194
- In-state rate
- $8,194, 2023-24
Spring Arbor University offers its online Master of Special Education to working professionals from its campus in Spring Arbor. Certified teachers who want an endorsement to work with students with disabilities are the intended candidates, and applicants without teaching certification can still earn the degree, only without the endorsement.
Michigan's Standard Teaching Certificate comes from the Michigan Department of Education, and the state's certification exams are the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification. This private nonprofit school awarded 31 master's degrees in the latest federal count. The online format is built for working professionals, so coursework can fit around a school schedule. Tuition is $8,194 a year for 2023-24, and Michigan residents and out-of-state students are charged that same amount.
2
Northern Michigan University
Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education
Marquette, Michigan
64.0- Public
- No license involved
- Early Childhood Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 18 a year
- Yearly cost
- $11,600
- In-state rate
- $11,600, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $15,056
Northern Michigan University in Marquette charges Michigan residents $11,600 a year for 2023-24 for its Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education, and out-of-state students pay $15,056. Professionals already employed in Head Start programs are among the intended audience, and nothing in the degree grants a license.
Michigan's Standard Teaching Certificate is a separate matter handled by the Michigan Department of Education, and a ZS endorsement for primary teachers is pursued separately. Delivery is fully online across 35 credits, and each candidate picks the internship pathway that fits the job held. NMU awarded 18 master's degrees in the latest federal count. Because classes are archived, a Michigan educator can work through them after a school day.
3
Eastern Michigan University
Educational Leadership, K-12 Administration, M.A.
Ypsilanti, Michigan
63.8- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 48 a year
- Yearly cost
- $17,441
- In-state rate
- $17,441, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $30,072
Ypsilanti's Eastern Michigan University prepares principals through its online Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, K-12 Administration track, aimed at the building-level principal license in Michigan. Coursework aligns with NELP standards, and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation accredits it.
The Michigan Department of Education has approved the program for administrative certification and a central office endorsement. Some candidates finish in as few as 18 months, a pace that suits teachers already working in Michigan schools. Related M.A. tracks cover Higher Education and Student Affairs and Curriculum and Instruction Leadership. The university awarded 48 master's degrees in the latest federal count. Michigan residents pay $17,441 a year for 2023-24, and out-of-state students pay $30,072.
4
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Master of Arts in Education
Dearborn, Michigan
59.9- Public
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 28 a year
- Yearly cost
- $15,956
- In-state rate
- $15,956, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $28,560
The University of Michigan-Dearborn moved its Master of Arts in Education fully online starting Fall 2025. Thirty credits can be taken with no endorsement or with a TESOL, English as a Second Language or Reading Specialist K-12 endorsement, and further concentrations point toward Educational Leadership and Instructional Design and Learning Technologies.
Endorsements add to an existing teaching certificate and do not grant initial licensure, which remains with the Michigan Department of Education. Non-resident online students get a reduced rate about 30% lower than the standard non-resident rate. The Michigan Department of Education and CAEP approve the department. Dearborn awarded 28 master's degrees in the latest federal count. Michigan residents pay $15,956 a year for 2023-24, and the standard out-of-state figure is $28,560.
5
Michigan State University
Master of Arts in Teaching and Curriculum (MATC)
East Lansing, Michigan
59.3- Public
- Leads to a license
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Degrees awarded
- 55 a year
- Yearly cost
- $21,148
- In-state rate
- $21,148, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $41,224
At Michigan State University in East Lansing, the Master of Arts in Teaching and Curriculum is offered only as a non-thesis Plan B. Eight specializations include Educational Technology, Educational Psychology, K-12 Educational Administration, Science and Mathematics Education, and New Teacher Induction. Up to 9 credits from an MSU teaching internship are recognized, which the university says reduces cost by roughly $13,000.
The degree does not lead to initial certification, though graduates of the Literacy and Language Instruction and K-12 ESL specializations become eligible to take the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification and earn a teaching endorsement. MSU awarded 55 master's degrees in the latest federal count. Michigan residents pay $21,148 a year for 2023-24, and out-of-state students pay $41,224.
6
Central Michigan University
Master of Arts in Education, Curriculum and Instruction concentration
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
58.4- Public
- No license involved
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Degrees awarded
- 28 a year
- Yearly cost
- $16,293
- In-state rate
- $16,293, 2023-24
At Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, the Master of Arts in Education has each candidate choose two emphasis areas from a menu that includes Contemporary Issues, Educational Technology, Reading, Social Justice, Special Education, Teaching English Learners, Physical Education and Health Education. Finishing takes a capstone project, field study or thesis, and up to 9 credits can come from prior learning or certification-to-credit conversion.
Enrollment is non-cohort, with up to six start terms a year. The degree does not result in certification for teachers or administrators, so the Standard Teaching Certificate from the Michigan Department of Education stays a separate matter. CMU awarded 28 master's degrees in the latest federal count and charges $16,293 a year for 2023-24 to all students.
7
Calvin University
Master of Education, Inclusion concentration
Grand Rapids, Michigan
51.8- Private nonprofit
- No license involved
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 9 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,909
- In-state rate
- $10,909, 2023-24
Calvin University in Grand Rapids offers a Master of Education with an Inclusion concentration for educators already in the classroom. The Inclusion concentration sits alongside Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, and Literacy. Courses are fully online, run 30 to 33 credit hours, and take about 20 months, with six start dates each year and no GRE. Equity, accessibility and differentiated instruction are central, taught from a Christian perspective.
This is not initial licensure and does not substitute for the Standard Teaching Certificate granted by the Michigan Department of Education. Calvin awarded 9 master's degrees in the latest federal count and charges $10,909 a year for 2023-24, the same for Michigan residents and everyone else.
8
Western Michigan University
M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Kalamazoo, Michigan
50.5- Public
- Leads to a license
- Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor
- Degrees awarded
- 27 a year
- Yearly cost
- $19,277
- In-state rate
- $19,277, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $28,454
Kalamazoo's Western Michigan University prices its M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages at $19,277 a year for Michigan residents in 2023-24, and $28,454 for everyone else. The capstone course TEL 6450 stands in for a thesis, and 24 of the 30 credits lead to eligibility for the ESL endorsement from the Michigan Department of Education, added to an initial teaching certificate.
The degree has a single pathway rather than formal tracks, and electives in literacy and language studies fill out the schedule. Western is a public university and awarded 27 master's degrees in the latest federal count. The first price quoted is the in-state rate, the figure a Michigan teacher would plan around.
9
Cornerstone University
Master of Arts in TESOL
Grand Rapids, Michigan
45.5- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor
- Degrees awarded
- 5 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,322
- In-state rate
- $9,322, 2023-24
Cornerstone University's Grand Rapids campus sits behind a Master of Arts in TESOL whose capstone course is coded LIN-594. The route to a Michigan ESL endorsement runs through the non-thesis option, which pairs the capstone with 60 hours of ESL or EFL teaching practicum, whereas the thesis route needs 20 hours.
Teaching credentials in Michigan come from the Michigan Department of Education, and this private nonprofit school fits the endorsement coursework inside 30 credit hours. Admission skips the GMAT, and students can finish through the thesis or the non-thesis capstone. Cornerstone awarded 5 master's degrees in the latest federal count and charges $9,322 a year for 2023-24, the same for Michigan residents and everyone else.
10
Concordia University Ann Arbor
Master of Science in Curriculum & Instruction with Teacher Certification in Secondary Education
Ann Arbor, Michigan
39.5- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Secondary Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 8 a year
- Yearly cost
- $14,910
- In-state rate
- $14,910, 2023-24
Career-changers with a bachelor's degree outside education are the audience for Concordia University Ann Arbor's Master of Science in Curriculum & Instruction with Teacher Certification in Secondary Education. Candidates pick a teachable field, English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Integrated Science or Spanish, and study in asynchronous, self-paced 8-week courses that begin on rolling Mondays.
Completing the degree leads to Michigan secondary teacher certification, the Standard Teaching Certificate from the Michigan Department of Education, and the state's certification exams are the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification. Educator preparation here is CAEP accredited. This private nonprofit school awarded 8 master's degrees in the latest federal count and charges $14,910 a year for 2023-24, in state or out.
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 Michigan 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 Michigan Lead to a License?
5 ranked programs at schools in Michigan lead to a license, certificate or endorsement, scored the same way as the list above, one program per school. The Michigan 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 | Spring Arbor University | Master of Special Education | Educator license | $8,194 |
| 2 | Eastern Michigan University | Educational Leadership, K-12 Administration, M.A. | Educator license | $17,441 |
| 3 | Michigan State University | Master of Arts in Teaching and Curriculum (MATC) | Michigan teaching endorsement (Literacy and Language Instruction; K-12 ESL specializations) | $21,148 |
| 4 | Central Michigan University | Special Education: The Master Teacher | Educator license | $16,293 |
| 5 | Northern Michigan University | Learning Disabilities, Master of Arts in Education | Educator license | $11,600 |
What Does an Online Master's in Education Cost in Michigan?
An online master's in education at a school in Michigan costs a resident from $8,194 to $21,148 a year in graduate tuition and fees across these 10 programs, with a median of $15,433, 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 Michigan Online Master's Programs Lead to a Teaching Certificate?
The Michigan online master's programs that lead to a teaching certificate are Spring Arbor's special education degree, Eastern Michigan's educational leadership degree, Michigan State's Master of Arts in Teaching and Curriculum, the two TESOL degrees at Western Michigan and Cornerstone, and Concordia Ann Arbor's secondary education track. Concordia's degree even carries the certification in its title, a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction with Teacher Certification in Secondary Education.
Central Michigan's curriculum and instruction concentration, Northern Michigan's early childhood degree and Calvin's Inclusion concentration do not lead to a certificate. They suit people who already teach and want a deeper specialty. If you are unsure which camp a program falls in, ask the school for its licensure disclosure in writing.
How Does Michigan Certify a Teacher With an Online Master's?
Michigan certifies a teacher with an online master's through the Office of Educator Excellence at the Michigan Department of Education, which issues a Standard Teaching Certificate and later a Professional one. Michigan says certificate where many states say license, and it ties each certificate to the subject area tests of the Michigan Tests for Teacher Certification, with one test for each endorsement you want. Passing a test alone does not produce a certificate, so the program, the recommendation and the application all still have to line up.
Finishing a program at a Michigan university keeps your preparation inside the state, which avoids the individual out-of-state evaluation the department applies to programs completed elsewhere. Ask your program how it handles the recommendation step. Read our Michigan licensure guide for the exam registration steps and for what a certificate holder adds to reach the Professional level.
What Does Studying Online at a Michigan University Involve?
Studying online at a Michigan university involves remote coursework and a field experience set up in a school you can reach. Student teaching or an internship is part of any certificate program, and the best question for an admissions counselor is who finds the placement and how long that process takes.
Resident tuition applies to every program here, and Michigan State's rate shows that a flagship's online degree is not necessarily a cheap one. Federal regulation 34 CFR 668.43 requires a licensure disclosure, so ask for the statement about your own address. Michigan participates in NC-SARA, but the compact itself says licensing board approval is outside its scope, which matters if you take a job in another state after graduating.
Questions About Online Master's in Education Programs in Michigan
What Is the Cheapest Online Master's in Education in Michigan?
How Are Online Master's in Education Programs in Michigan Ranked?
Which Michigan Online Master's Prepares Special Educators?
The Master of Special Education at Spring Arbor University leads the Michigan list and leads to a Michigan credential. Calvin University also offers a master's with an Inclusion concentration, though it does not lead to certification, so confirm what it adds to a certificate you already have.
Do Michigan TESOL Degrees Lead to an ESL Endorsement?
Western Michigan University's M.A. in TESOL and Cornerstone University's Master of Arts in TESOL both lead to a Michigan credential. The endorsement itself comes from the state department after you pass the matching test, so confirm the endorsement code and test with the program before enrolling.
Can an Administrator Earn a Michigan Degree Online?
An administrator can use Eastern Michigan University's online Educational Leadership, K-12 Administration, M.A., which leads to a Michigan administrator credential. Ask the program about the internship, since administrator preparation usually requires supervised work in a school or district office.
Is the Michigan State Online Degree a Teaching Certificate Program?
Michigan State's Master of Arts in Teaching and Curriculum leads to a Michigan teaching endorsement in literacy and language instruction or K-12 ESL, and it carries the highest resident tuition of the group. It suits a teacher who already holds a certificate and wants to add an endorsement, more than a candidate who needs a first credential.
Where Do the Figures for Michigan 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
Spring Arbor University Northern Michigan University Eastern Michigan University University of Michigan-Dearborn Michigan State University Central Michigan University Calvin University Western Michigan University Cornerstone University Concordia University Ann Arbor