North Carolina's online education master's come almost entirely from its public university system. The University of North Carolina at Pembroke leads with a school administration degree, and campuses in Wilmington, Charlotte, Greenville, Boone, Cullowhee and Greensboro follow with curriculum, reading and teacher education programs.
Many of these degrees are advanced licensure programs for teachers who already hold a North Carolina license, which is a different thing from earning a first license. The sections below separate the principal track, the reading and curriculum track and the programs with no licensure link, then explain what an in-state student gains.
Source: IPEDS, read October 6, 2026. Tuition is the 2023-24 in-state rate.
top score, University of North Carolina at Pembroke
93.5
median in-state tuition and fees across the 10 listed, 2023-24
$7,861
schools in North Carolina with a ranked fully online master's in education
17
ranked programs in North Carolina that lead to a license
31
This list covers fully online master's programs at universities located in North Carolina, one per school.
The 10 Best Online Master's in Education Programs in North Carolina
The 10 programs below are at schools in North Carolina, scored at the in-state price and listed one per school.
1
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Master of School Administration
Pembroke, North Carolina
93.5- Public
- Leads to a license
- Secondary School Administration/Principalship
- Degrees awarded
- 59 a year
- Yearly cost
- $6,851
- In-state rate
- $6,851, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $19,910
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke teaches its Master of School Administration fully online, with a full-academic-year internship embedded in the coursework. Placements come through a partnership with 14 school districts. The 36 credit hours are made up of 11 core courses and one elective.
Graduates satisfy the North Carolina requirement for K-12 school administration licensure, issued by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Licensure Office, which also approves the program. CAEP accredits it. Pembroke is a public campus, and North Carolina residents pay $6,851 for 2023-24, while out-of-state students pay $19,910. The university awarded 59 master's degrees in the latest federal count. Aspiring principals in the southeastern part of the state get field work set up through those districts rather than having to arrange it themselves.
2
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
Wilmington, North Carolina
92.5- Public
- Leads to a license
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other
- Degrees awarded
- 50 a year
- Yearly cost
- $7,853
- In-state rate
- $7,853, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $23,029
Wilmington's University of North Carolina Wilmington packs its online Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction into 10 courses of 7 weeks each, for 30 credit hours. Full-time students can finish in as little as 12 months, and rolling admission means six start dates a year. An integrative capstone project closes the degree.
The degree itself does not grant licensure. A candidate who wants the North Carolina Curriculum-Instructional Specialist, Level I credential, the advanced license for licensed North Carolina teachers, must separately pass the state-required examination and submit paperwork to the state. CAEP accredits the program and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction approves it. Residents pay $7,853 for 2023-24, while nonresidents pay $23,029. The campus awarded 50 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
3
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Reading Education
Charlotte, North Carolina
92.3- Public
- Leads to a license
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other
- Degrees awarded
- 125 a year
- Yearly cost
- $7,869
- In-state rate
- $7,869, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $22,438
UNC Charlotte's online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Reading Education leads to a Master's-level 'M' license in K-12 reading in North Carolina. It requires an Initial License in any teaching field from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Non-licensed teachers may complete the program but will not obtain licensure.
A cohort moves through 33 credits over five semesters, about two years. LETRS training counts as credit in three courses, and clinical field experiences are embedded. An Early Entry option lets undergraduates earn up to 15 credits toward the M.Ed. through a Reading Education minor. The curriculum meets International Literacy Association standards. North Carolina residents pay $7,869 for 2023-24, while nonresidents pay $22,438. The Charlotte campus awarded 125 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
4
Greensboro College
Master of Arts in TESOL
Greensboro, North Carolina
90.8- Private nonprofit
- No license involved
- Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor
- Degrees awarded
- 49 a year
- Yearly cost
- $4,416
- In-state rate
- $4,416, 2023-24
Greensboro College, a private nonprofit in Greensboro, teaches its Master of Arts in TESOL fully online. A candidate takes 10 courses, 30 credits in all, and can pick up a graduate certificate in a specialty area of TESOL or Bilingual Education alongside it at no extra charge. Most students need between 15 and 18 months, while the fast-track version wraps up in 12.
No single state license is the goal here. Graduates aim at career qualification for English language teaching jobs, and North Carolina's Initial Professional License is issued separately by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Licensure Office. Tuition is $4,416 for 2023-24 for everyone. Master's completions numbered 49 in the latest federal count.
5
East Carolina University
Master of Arts in Reading and Literacy Education
Greenville, North Carolina
82.4- Public
- Leads to a license
- Reading Teacher Education
- Degrees awarded
- 31 a year
- Yearly cost
- $7,658
- In-state rate
- $7,658, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $20,807
Greenville's East Carolina University prepares North Carolina teachers for the Praxis #5302 Reading Specialist exam and the add-on M-level K-12 Reading license through its online Master of Arts in Reading and Literacy Education. Applicants do not have to sit for the GRE or the GMAT. A teacher currently employed can complete the final-semester practicum in their own classroom.
CAEP accredits the program, and it is aligned with International Literacy Association Standards, International Dyslexia Association Standards and the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards. The license itself comes from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Licensure Office. In-state tuition is $7,658 for 2023-24, and out-of-state students pay $20,807. The public university awarded 31 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
6
Appalachian State University
Master of School Administration
Boone, North Carolina
82.0- Public
- Leads to a license
- Secondary School Administration/Principalship
- Degrees awarded
- 35 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,380
- In-state rate
- $8,380, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $24,140
Boone is home to Appalachian State University's Master of School Administration, an entry-level, site-based program of 36 semester hours that leads to North Carolina principal licensure. It is delivered through App State Online with both synchronous and asynchronous coursework. Candidates with a 3.1 or higher undergraduate GPA, or five or more years of K-12 professional experience, can waive the admissions exam.
The license itself is issued by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Licensure Office, so the degree is the step before that application. North Carolina residents pay $8,380 for 2023-24, while nonresidents pay $24,140. The public university awarded 35 master's degrees in the latest federal count. Teachers who want to lead a school from within their own district will find a program shaped around keeping a foot in the building.
7
Western Carolina University
Master of Arts in Education - Comprehensive Education
Cullowhee, North Carolina
80.6- Public
- Leads to a license
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other
- Degrees awarded
- 28 a year
- Yearly cost
- $7,778
- In-state rate
- $7,778, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $18,497
Cullowhee is the home of Western Carolina University, whose Master of Arts in Education - Comprehensive Education offers concentrations in Literacy (K-9), STEM (K-12) and English (9-12), plus Special Education options for mild to moderate disabilities, severe and profound disabilities, and gifted education, along with an educational studies choice. The program runs 30 to 33 semester hours, typically over five or six part-time semesters, and includes support for National Board Certification.
For licensed K-12 teachers, most tracks lead to a recommendation for Advanced Competencies (SP2) licensure from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The educational studies option in Special Education is non-licensure. Accreditation is through CAEP. In-state tuition is $7,778 for 2023-24, while nonresidents pay $18,497. Master's completions at this public campus numbered 28 in the latest federal count.
8
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Teacher Education
Greensboro, North Carolina
78.4- Public
- Leads to a license
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other
- Degrees awarded
- 28 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,546
- In-state rate
- $8,546, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $22,676
Teachers in Greensboro and across North Carolina can take the University of North Carolina at Greensboro's Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Teacher Education entirely online, with both synchronous and asynchronous instruction. Thirty credit hours cover Elementary Mathematics Education, K-12 Science Education, Literacy Education K-12, Middle/Secondary Mathematics Education, Middle/Secondary Social Studies Education, and TESOL.
Candidates must already hold a Standard Professional I or initial teaching license. An Advanced Competencies Portfolio makes them eligible for 'M' licensure from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and some tracks require Praxis exams. Students in the TESOL concentration can double-count up to 12 credits through an accelerated bachelor's-to-M.Ed. pathway. Residents pay $8,546 for 2023-24, while nonresidents pay $22,676. The public university awarded 28 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
9
North Carolina A & T State University
Master of Arts in Education (MAED) - Reading
Greensboro, North Carolina
77.2- Public
- Leads to a license
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other
- Degrees awarded
- 24 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,103
- In-state rate
- $8,103, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $20,903
North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro asks for a North Carolina 'A' Level Teaching License before it admits anyone to its online Master of Arts in Education (MAED) - Reading. The 30 credits take roughly two years, with embedded internship activities and a 3.0 GPA requirement throughout. Candidates are also expected to take part in scholarship and in professional groups such as the NC Reading Association.
The curriculum prepares teachers for K-12 Reading Specialist certification through the Praxis II Reading Specialist exam, and it meets licensure requirements only in North Carolina. It meets International Literacy Association standards and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction approves it. Residents pay $8,103 for 2023-24, while nonresidents pay $20,903. The public university awarded 24 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
10
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Master of Education in Adult and Community College Education
Raleigh, North Carolina
74.7- Public
- No license involved
- Adult and Continuing Education Administration
- Degrees awarded
- 38 a year
- Yearly cost
- $11,819
- In-state rate
- $11,819, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $31,793
North Carolina State University in Raleigh offers its Master of Education in Adult and Community College Education online. Concentrations center on teaching adults, whether in community colleges or health fields. A student who would rather practice than research can take EAC 651, an internship, and applicants skip the GRE.
Because teacher licensure is not an outcome here, the Initial Professional License still comes from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Licensure Office. For an adult educator in North Carolina, the degree builds advanced practice in teaching adults, and a K-12 teacher who simply wants a classroom license would look to a different kind of program. Residents pay $11,819 for 2023-24 and nonresidents pay $31,793. Master's completions on the campus numbered 38 in the latest federal count, and SACSCOC is the regional accreditor.
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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina Lead to a License?
5 ranked programs at schools in North Carolina lead to a license, certificate or endorsement, scored the same way as the list above, one program per school. The North Carolina 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 North Carolina at Pembroke | Master of School Administration | North Carolina school administrator (principal) licensure | $6,851 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction | North Carolina Curriculum-Instructional Specialist, Level I (advanced licensure for licensed NC teachers) | $7,853 |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Reading Education | North Carolina Professional Educator License in Reading Education (K-12) | $7,869 |
| 4 | East Carolina University | Master of Arts in Reading and Literacy Education | Educator license | $7,658 |
| 5 | Appalachian State University | Master of School Administration | Educator license | $8,380 |
What Does an Online Master's in Education Cost in North Carolina?
An online master's in education at a school in North Carolina costs a resident from $4,416 to $11,819 a year in graduate tuition and fees across these 10 programs, with a median of $7,861, 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 North Carolina Online Master's Programs Prepare School Principals?
North Carolina online master's programs that prepare school principals include the Master of School Administration at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, described on its online degrees page and tied to North Carolina school administrator licensure, and the same degree at Appalachian State University in Boone.
The state asks a principal to finish an approved master's-level school administration program, so the degree is the license pathway and not an add-on. Pembroke leads the list, and Appalachian State offers a second public option in the mountains, so a principal candidate in either the east or the west of the state has a school within the university system. Before enrolling, ask each program how it arranges the administrative internship in your own school or district.
What Is Advanced Licensure for North Carolina Teachers?
Advanced licensure for North Carolina teachers is a higher-level license added to a teaching license they already hold, and several programs here work that way. The University of North Carolina Wilmington's Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction leads to the Curriculum-Instructional Specialist license for licensed North Carolina teachers.
Reading is the other strong pattern. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte's online Reading Education M.Ed. aligns with a K-12 reading license, and East Carolina University and North Carolina A&T State University both have reading-focused master's degrees. Western Carolina University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro round out the teacher education choices. The North Carolina licensure guide explains how these licenses sit on top of an Initial Professional License.
Which North Carolina Master's Degrees Do Not Lead to a License?
The North Carolina master's degrees that do not lead to a license are Greensboro College's Master of Arts in TESOL and North Carolina State University's Master of Education in Adult and Community College Education. Greensboro College is private, and its TESOL program page describes teaching English to speakers of other languages.
NC State's degree points to community college and adult education roles, outside the K-12 licensure system, so a school-based license is not what it sets out to earn. Ask the community college you hope to join what credentials it expects. Choose one of these if the setting you want is a language program or a college, and choose the licensure degrees above if you want a public school classroom or office.
What Does Studying Online at a North Carolina University Mean for Residents?
Studying online at a North Carolina university means in-state tuition at a school the Department of Public Instruction already knows, and practicum or internship hours in a school near you. The cost chart below shows how the campuses compare for a resident.
The Department of Public Instruction's licensure office issues the licenses, and Praxis tests apply to some endorsements. North Carolina belongs to NC-SARA, but NC-SARA says it does not address licensing board approval, so a move out of state restarts the licensure question. Ask each school for its statement under 34 CFR 668.43.
Questions About Online Master's in Education Programs in North Carolina
What Is the Cheapest Online Master's in Education in North Carolina?
How Are Online Master's in Education Programs in North Carolina Ranked?
Which North Carolina Online Master's Adds a Reading License?
A reading license in North Carolina comes through the reading programs at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, East Carolina University and North Carolina A&T State University. Each leads to a North Carolina credential, so ask the school how it connects to your current license.
Do I Need to Be a Licensed North Carolina Teacher to Enroll in These Programs?
Several North Carolina programs are advanced licensure degrees, so enrollment can require a current North Carolina teaching license. The UNCW curriculum degree is an example. Confirm admission requirements on the program page before you apply.
Is the Master of School Administration at Pembroke the Same as at Appalachian State?
Both schools offer a North Carolina Master of School Administration aimed at principal licensure, but they are separate programs with their own courses, internships and calendars. Compare them on how each handles your internship placement.
Which North Carolina Agency Approves My Degree for Licensure?
The agency that approves your degree for licensure is the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, which runs its educator licensure office. The university recommends you, and the department decides.
Where Do the Figures for North Carolina Come From?
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, 2023-24
- North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Educator Licensure
- UNC Pembroke, Master of School Administration (online)
- UNC Wilmington, Online M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction
- UNC Charlotte, Online M.Ed. in Reading Education
- Greensboro College, M.A. in TESOL
- ETS Praxis, North Carolina 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 10 colleges ranked, in 1 state
University of North Carolina at Pembroke University of North Carolina Wilmington University of North Carolina at Charlotte Greensboro College East Carolina University Appalachian State University Western Carolina University University of North Carolina at Greensboro North Carolina A & T State University North Carolina State University at Raleigh