New Jersey is a state of public colleges, and its online education master's reflect that. Most of the ranked schools are state universities in Wayne, Ewing, Galloway, Glassboro, Jersey City, Trenton and New Brunswick, and the leaders are educational leadership degrees built around New Jersey certifications.
Every program here sits at a school located in New Jersey, so a resident pays the in-state rate and does fieldwork in a district close to home. Below you will find what each school's degree is for, how the Department of Education's certificates fit a master's, and what to confirm before you apply.
Source: IPEDS, read October 6, 2026. Tuition is the 2023-24 in-state rate.
top score, William Paterson University of New Jersey
70.0
median in-state tuition and fees across the 10 listed, 2023-24
$17,075
schools in New Jersey with a ranked fully online master's in education
12
ranked programs in New Jersey that lead to a license
16
This list covers fully online master's programs at universities located in New Jersey, one per school.
The 10 Best Online Master's in Education Programs in New Jersey
The 10 programs below are at schools in New Jersey, scored at the in-state price and listed one per school.
1
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Master of Education in Educational Leadership (With New Jersey Certifications)
Wayne, New Jersey
70.0- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 79 a year
- Yearly cost
- $16,408
- In-state rate
- $16,408, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $23,410
Endorsement 0200 and Endorsement 0106 anchor William Paterson University's Master of Education in Educational Leadership. The first is the New Jersey Principal Certificate of Eligibility, which requires 5 years of experience, and the second is the Supervisor Standard Certificate, which requires 3 years. Passing the School Leaders Licensure Assessment is required, and the New Jersey Department of Education issues both.
A continuous 300-hour internship runs in four 75-hour segments across the 34 credits, which can be completed in as few as 12 months. Three integrated modules, Leadership, Curriculum and Supervision, and Internship, are taught by practitioners and aligned to NELP. AAQEP accreditation runs through June 30, 2032. Residents pay $16,408 a year in 2023-24, and nonresidents pay $23,410. The Wayne campus awarded 79 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
2
The College of New Jersey
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Ewing, New Jersey
68.3- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 57 a year
- Yearly cost
- $17,643
- In-state rate
- $17,643, 2023-24
New Jersey School Principal (initial) certification and Supervisor certification are what The College of New Jersey's Master of Education in Educational Leadership leads to. The 33-credit, 12-course degree is part-time, taking 18 months to 4 years, and pairs online coursework with a hands-on administrative internship and professional portfolio assessment. Synchronous video meetings build cohort community, and a related variant, Educational Leadership: Instruction, is also offered.
The School of Education is an AAQEP member in good standing, and the credentials are issued by the New Jersey Department of Education. The public college in Ewing charges $17,643 a year to every student in 2023-24, residents and nonresidents alike. It awarded 57 master's degrees in the latest federal count, a sign that working teachers in New Jersey pursue it steadily.
3
Stockton University
Master of Arts in Education
Galloway, New Jersey
64.8- Public
- Leads to a license
- Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
- Degrees awarded
- 47 a year
- Yearly cost
- $16,506
- In-state rate
- $16,506, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $23,202
Stockton University in Galloway offers its 36-credit Master of Arts in Education with stackable endorsements: ESL/Bilingual/Bicultural Education, Teacher of Students with Disabilities, Reading Specialist, Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant, Supervisor, Principal, and Content Instruction and Assessment. Most candidates already hold a New Jersey Standard, CEAS or Provisional certificate. Those entering through the Alternate Route Certificate of Eligibility can earn initial certification, the degree and endorsements concurrently, with up to 6 years to finish.
Everything is 100% online, in accelerated 7-week or full 15-week semesters. AAQEP and CAEP (2020-2027) accreditation apply, and the New Jersey Department of Education approves the program. Residents pay $16,506 a year in 2023-24, and nonresidents pay $23,202. The public university awarded 47 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
4
Rowan University
Master of Arts in Special Education and Inclusive Practices
Glassboro, New Jersey
63.3- Public
- Leads to a license
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 48 a year
- Yearly cost
- $17,645
- In-state rate
- $17,645, 2023-24
Weekly access to a P-12 classroom of students with IEPs is a condition of Rowan University's Master of Arts in Special Education and Inclusive Practices. Candidates also hold a CEAS or Standard Certification in an initial instructional area, so teachers, aides and para-educators affiliated with a school district fit. The 100% online, asynchronous degree runs 30 to 36 credits across 10 to 12 courses in about 16 months and includes a Practicum: Inquiry in Special Education Settings course.
Concentrations are Learning Disabilities, Early Childhood Special Education, ESL, Foundations of Special Education, and a Graduate Endorsement track, with certification matters handled by the New Jersey Department of Education. The public university in Glassboro charges $17,645 a year to all students in 2023-24, in state or not, and it awarded 48 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
5
New Jersey City University
Elementary Education Teacher Certification, Master of Arts in Teaching
Jersey City, New Jersey
60.3- Public
- Leads to a license
- Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
- Degrees awarded
- 23 a year
- Yearly cost
- $14,854
- In-state rate
- $14,854, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $23,635
As of July 2026, New Jersey City University has merged into Kean University as Kean Jersey City, and the Elementary Education Teacher Certification Master of Arts in Teaching now falls under Kean's College of Education. The 35 credits are fully online apart from required clinical experiences, which include a full-time student teaching placement in the final semester. The goal is the New Jersey K-6 Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing, an instructional license from the New Jersey Department of Education.
Supplementary endorsements in ESL, Bilingual Education or Middle School (6-8) come through additional coursework and Praxis exams. New Jersey residents pay $14,854 a year in 2023-24, against $23,635 for nonresidents. The Jersey City campus awarded 23 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
6
Thomas Edison State University
Master of Arts in Educational Leadership
Trenton, New Jersey
52.6- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 11 a year
- Yearly cost
- $12,150
- In-state rate
- $12,150, 2023-24
Building Leadership at 36 credits, District Leadership at 42 and School Business Administration at 36 are the three areas of focus in Thomas Edison State University's online Master of Arts in Educational Leadership. The curriculum aligns with the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders and prepares candidates for New Jersey Principal, Supervisor and School Administrator endorsements.
A field-based internship of at least 100 hours takes place under a New Jersey standard-certified site supervisor, and the Ed Leadership Network brings SchoolSims simulations into the coursework. Terms last 8 weeks, and CAEP accredits the program. The New Jersey Department of Education handles the endorsements. Trenton's public university charges $12,150 a year to all students in 2023-24. It awarded 11 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
7
Rider University
Master of Arts in Special Education
Lawrenceville, New Jersey
34.3- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 11 a year
- Yearly cost
- $19,061
- In-state rate
- $19,061, 2023-24
A current NJ instructional elementary, secondary or P-3 certificate is required to apply to Rider University's online Master of Arts in Special Education, which prepares certified teachers for Teacher of Students with Disabilities certification. The degree totals 30 credits, with field work for certification embedded in each course so candidates keep teaching while they complete it. Optional add-on certificates cover Reading Specialist, Life Coach and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The credential itself comes through the New Jersey Department of Education. Rider, a private nonprofit in Lawrenceville, charges $19,061 a year, the same for in-state and out-of-state students, in 2023-24. Rider conferred 11 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
8
Saint Peter's University
Master of Arts in Education: Higher Education (General Administration)
Jersey City, New Jersey
30.2- Private nonprofit
- No license involved
- Higher Education/Higher Education Administration
- Degrees awarded
- 5 a year
- Yearly cost
- $15,260
- In-state rate
- $15,260, 2023-24
Admissions, student affairs, enrollment management, institutional research and diversity initiatives at two-year and four-year institutions are the roles Saint Peter's University prepares for in its Master of Arts in Education with a Higher Education concentration. The General Administration focus covers 33 credits fully online, and a comprehensive examination replaces a thesis.
This is not a K-12 licensure program, so it adds postsecondary expertise for a professional in New Jersey and does not replace a certificate from the New Jersey Department of Education. The Jersey City private nonprofit charges one rate, $15,260 a year in 2023-24, for New Jersey residents and everyone else. It awarded 5 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
9
Centenary University
Master of Arts in Special Education
Hackettstown, New Jersey
27.2- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 8 a year
- Yearly cost
- $19,350
- In-state rate
- $19,350, 2023-24
Four options make up the Centenary University Master of Arts in Special Education. A 42-credit route carries both the TOSD and LDT-C endorsements, a 39-credit route carries TOSD only, and the remaining 36-credit routes serve teachers who already hold TOSD, one completing the degree and one adding LDT-C. TOSD is the New Jersey Teacher of Students with Disabilities endorsement, and LDT-C is the Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant endorsement, both issued through the New Jersey Department of Education.
Delivery is fully online, with coursework on assessing children with special needs and the social and communication challenges they face. Centenary, a private nonprofit in Hackettstown, charges $19,350 a year to all students in 2023-24, in state or out. It awarded 8 master's degrees in the latest federal count, and the stackable design lets teachers add endorsements in sequence.
10
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Ed.M. in Educational Administration and Supervision with Advanced Certification: Principalship and Supervision (Option A)
New Brunswick, New Jersey
26.6- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 10 a year
- Yearly cost
- $22,348
- In-state rate
- $22,348, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $36,244
Option A of the Ed.M. in Educational Administration and Supervision at Rutgers University-New Brunswick covers 33 credits and prepares candidates for New Jersey supervisor, principal and superintendent certification. Principal candidates must pass the School Leaders Licensure Assessment, and superintendent candidates the School Superintendents Assessment. Option B is 30 credits for principal and superintendent certification, and Option C is 30 credits without certification.
Instruction is fully online, both synchronous and asynchronous, with 1 to 4 classes per semester and completion times from 1 to 2.5 years. CAEP accredits the program, and the New Jersey Department of Education issues the credentials. New Jersey residents pay $22,348 a year in 2023-24, against $36,244 out of state. Rutgers awarded 10 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey Lead to a License?
5 ranked programs at schools in New Jersey lead to a license, certificate or endorsement, scored the same way as the list above, one program per school. The New Jersey 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 | William Paterson University of New Jersey | Master of Education in Educational Leadership (With New Jersey Certifications) | Educator license | $16,408 |
| 2 | The College of New Jersey | Master of Education in Educational Leadership | Educator license | $17,643 |
| 3 | Stockton University | Master of Arts in Education | Educator license | $16,506 |
| 4 | Rowan University | Master of Arts in Special Education and Inclusive Practices | Educator license | $17,645 |
| 5 | New Jersey City University | Elementary Education Teacher Certification, Master of Arts in Teaching | Educator license | $14,854 |
What Does an Online Master's in Education Cost in New Jersey?
An online master's in education at a school in New Jersey costs a resident from $12,150 to $22,348 a year in graduate tuition and fees across these 10 programs, with a median of $17,075, 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 New Jersey Universities Offer Online Master's Programs in Education?
New Jersey universities offering online master's programs in education are mostly public, and the page opens with William Paterson University in Wayne, whose Master of Education in Educational Leadership is written to include New Jersey certifications. The College of New Jersey in Ewing and Thomas Edison State University in Trenton also have leadership degrees, while Rutgers in New Brunswick pairs an Ed.M. with advanced certification for the principalship.
Teaching degrees come from Stockton University, which runs a Master of Arts in Education, Rowan University, with a special education and inclusive practices master's, and New Jersey City University, whose elementary Master of Arts in Teaching is a certification program. The private schools bring narrower choices: Rider University and Centenary University in special education, and Saint Peter's University in higher education administration.
How Does a New Jersey Master's in Education Connect to Certification?
A New Jersey master's in education connects to certification through the Department of Education's Office of Certification and Induction, which issues the Standard Instructional Certificate after a provisional period in a district. A master's that includes a completed teacher preparation program can lead to the Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing, while one that does not leaves you with the more limited Certificate of Eligibility.
Most of these programs lead to a New Jersey certificate, so ask each school which one. For the leadership degrees, the principal certificate also asks for a supervised internship and the School Leaders Licensure Assessment, as the state's licensure guide for New Jersey walks through. Saint Peter's higher education degree is the one here that does not point to a teaching or administrator certificate.
Does a New Jersey Online Master's in Education Require Praxis?
A New Jersey online master's in education does not itself require Praxis, but the state certificate behind it usually does: New Jersey uses the Praxis subject tests for most teaching endorsements, and principals sit the School Leaders assessment. The basic skills test was dropped in 2025 for nearly every instructional certificate, so you can plan around subject knowledge alone.
Ask your program which subject test it prepares you for and whether passing is built into the sequence. A school that delivers certification inside the degree, as William Paterson's does for leadership, usually schedules those steps for you, while for a general degree such as Stockton's you should ask how the endorsement route works.
What Does Studying Online at a New Jersey School Mean for Residents?
Studying online at a New Jersey school means you pay a New Jersey resident's price, which the cost section below charts, and you arrange clinical practice or an internship in a school near your home rather than near campus. Because the university and the Department of Education are in the same state, the school can usually recommend you for a certificate directly.
If you move later, New Jersey's NC-SARA membership eases enrollment across state lines but does not carry a teaching certificate with you, so each new state decides on its own. Federal rules under 34 CFR 668.43 require a school that advertises licensure preparation to disclose where its program qualifies, which is worth requesting in writing.
Questions About Online Master's in Education Programs in New Jersey
What Is the Cheapest Online Master's in Education in New Jersey?
How Are Online Master's in Education Programs in New Jersey Ranked?
Which New Jersey Online Master's Programs Suit a Principal in Training?
Principal candidates in New Jersey should look at the leadership degrees from William Paterson University, The College of New Jersey, Thomas Edison State University and Rutgers, because the state asks principals for a master's, a supervised internship and the School Leaders assessment. Confirm each school's internship arrangement before you apply.
Can a New Jersey Online Master's in Special Education Lead to a Certificate?
A New Jersey online master's in special education can lead to a teaching certificate when the program includes supervised clinical practice. The special education master's at Rowan University, Rider University and Centenary University each lead to New Jersey certification, so ask each one how the endorsement is earned and who arranges your placement.
Does the Saint Peter's Higher Education Master's Give a Teaching Certificate?
The Saint Peter's University Master of Arts in Education in Higher Education (General Administration) is aimed at college administration roles, not classroom teaching, so it is not a route to a New Jersey teaching certificate. Choose it for advising, student affairs or administrative work on a campus.
Where Do I Confirm New Jersey Certification Rules?
New Jersey certification rules are confirmed with the Office of Certification and Induction, which publishes the certificate types, testing requirements and out-of-state options. Pair that with our New Jersey licensure guide for plain-language steps.
Where Do the Figures for New Jersey 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
William Paterson University of New Jersey The College of New Jersey Stockton University Rowan University New Jersey City University Thomas Edison State University Rider University Saint Peter's University Centenary University Rutgers University-New Brunswick