North Dakota's online education master's are offered by small campuses in Valley City, Grand Forks, Mayville, Jamestown, Minot, Dickinson and Bismarck, and that smallness is the point for a rural state. A teacher in a distant district can earn a graduate degree from a school that serves the same region, in the same state system, without relocating.
Technology education, special education and general teaching degrees dominate, with two private schools adding curriculum and reading. The sections below sort which degrees lead to a North Dakota license, which are for teachers already licensed, and what the Education Standards and Practices Board expects.
Source: IPEDS, read October 6, 2026. Tuition is the 2023-24 in-state rate.
top score, Valley City State University
83.5
median in-state tuition and fees across the 7 listed, 2023-24
$10,817
schools in North Dakota with a ranked fully online master's in education
7
ranked programs in North Dakota that lead to a license
9
This list covers fully online master's programs at universities located in North Dakota, one per school.
The 7 Best Online Master's in Education Programs in North Dakota
The 7 programs below are at schools in North Dakota, scored at the in-state price and listed one per school.
1
Valley City State University
Master of Education, concentration in Technology Education
Valley City, North Dakota
83.5- Public
- No license involved
- Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education
- Degrees awarded
- 34 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,026
- In-state rate
- $8,026, 2023-24
Valley City State University's Master of Education with a concentration in Technology Education offers focus areas in Secondary STEM Education, Elementary STEM Education, Career and Technical Education, and AI in Education. The 36 credit hours finish in two years over six semesters, ending in an action research report and an oral defense of a comprehensive portfolio.
The curriculum aligns with the Standards for Technological Literacy from ITEEA and with North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education standards. The degree leads to no license and does not replace the Educator's Professional License from the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board. This public university charges $8,026 a year for 2023-24, the same in state and out of state, and it awarded 34 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
2
University of North Dakota
Master of Education in Special Education (also offered as a Master of Science)
Grand Forks, North Dakota
77.9- Public
- Leads to a license
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 81 a year
- Yearly cost
- $13,677
- In-state rate
- $13,677, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $19,658
Ten specializations are on offer in the University of North Dakota's Master of Education in Special Education, also awarded as a Master of Science: Applied Behavior Analysis, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Behavior Intervention Specialist, Early Childhood Special Education, Emotional Behavioral Disorders, General Special Education, Intellectual Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, Special Education Specialist and Visual Impairment. No entrance exams are required, and a Resident Teachers program offers on-the-job fieldwork.
The coursework can fulfill requirements for North Dakota special education teacher licensure, and CAEP, the state board and the Higher Learning Commission all stand behind it. Candidates should verify other states' requirements before moving, and licenses are issued by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board. Grand Forks residents and other North Dakotans pay $13,677 a year for 2023-24, and nonresidents pay $19,658. The university awarded 81 master's degrees.
3
Mayville State University
Master of Education
Mayville, North Dakota
73.8- Public
- Leads to a license
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 22 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,946
- In-state rate
- $8,946, 2023-24
Mayville State University organizes its Master of Education around a shared 6-course graduate core, then branches into tracks in Adult Teaching and Learning, Special Education, and teaching practices. Courses arrive in 8-week blocks, so a student can finish in as little as one year.
The degree serves licensed teachers as well as professionals outside K-12 teaching, and specific licensure outcomes vary by track, so check the track with the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board. The board and the Higher Learning Commission both approved the program in 2021. This public university charges $8,946 a year for 2023-24, with no difference between residents and nonresidents. It awarded 22 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
4
University of Jamestown
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
Jamestown, North Dakota
68.5- Private nonprofit
- No license involved
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Degrees awarded
- 23 a year
- Yearly cost
- $11,500
- In-state rate
- $11,500, 2023-24
The University of Jamestown measures its Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction against NBPTS Teacher Leadership competencies, the InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards, the NEA Teacher Leader Model Standards and Learning Forward Standards. Thirty credit hours take about 2 years.
Admission requires a current teaching license, and the program does not state that it leads to a new license, so it builds on the Educator's Professional License from the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board rather than replacing it. Jamestown is a private nonprofit, and the regionally accredited school charges $11,500 a year for 2023-24, one rate for North Dakota residents and everyone else. It awarded 23 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
5
Minot State University
Master of Science in Special Education
Minot, North Dakota
64.8- Public
- Leads to a license
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 17 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,817
- In-state rate
- $10,817, 2023-24
Four concentrations define the Master of Science in Special Education at Minot State University: Deaf or Hard of Hearing Education, Special Education Strategist, Special Education Leadership, and Behavior Specialist. Depending on the concentration, the degree runs 33 to 40 credit hours, and exit requirements include a capstone thesis or research project plus the Praxis II content exam. Continuing students must hold a 3.0 GPA.
Admission requires current teaching licensure in special and general education. The Behavior Specialist concentration aligns with the North Dakota Special Education Behavior Specialist endorsement from the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board. The curriculum follows Council for Exceptional Children standards. Minot charges $10,817 a year for 2023-24 to everyone and awarded 17 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
6
University of Mary
Master of Education in Reading
Bismarck, North Dakota
58.5- Private nonprofit
- No license involved
- Reading Teacher Education
- Degrees awarded
- 14 a year
- Yearly cost
- $11,692
- In-state rate
- $11,692, 2023-24
Bismarck is home to the University of Mary, a private nonprofit that offers the Master of Education in Reading with Benedictine, Catholic and Christian values at its core. The degree can wrap up in two years for people holding jobs. The state's education standards govern its accreditation.
Reading expertise is what the degree adds for educators already in North Dakota schools. It does not replace the Educator's Professional License from the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board, which also sets testing through The Praxis Series. Tuition is $11,692 a year for 2023-24, identical for residents and nonresidents, and the university awarded 14 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
7
Dickinson State University
Master of Arts in Teaching
Dickinson, North Dakota
58.5- Public
- Leads to a license
- Secondary Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 8 a year
- Yearly cost
- $6,576
- In-state rate
- $6,576, 2023-24
Candidates in Dickinson State University's Master of Arts in Teaching come from outside education, since no teaching credential is required to start. The degree is a graduate pathway to secondary teacher licensure in North Dakota, expedited and primarily online, with the Higher Learning Commission accrediting the university.
The Educator's Professional License comes from the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board, which also sets testing through The Praxis Series, described on the state exam page. Tuition at this public campus in Dickinson is $6,576 a year for 2023-24, the same for North Dakota residents and nonresidents. The university awarded 8 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 North Dakota 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 Dakota Lead to a License?
4 ranked programs at schools in North Dakota lead to a license, certificate or endorsement, scored the same way as the list above, one program per school. The North Dakota 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 Dakota | Master of Education in Special Education (also offered as a Master of Science) | Educator license | $13,677 |
| 2 | Mayville State University | Master of Education | Educator license | $8,946 |
| 3 | Minot State University | Master of Science in Special Education | Educator license | $10,817 |
| 4 | Dickinson State University | Master of Arts in Teaching | Educator license | $6,576 |
What Does an Online Master's in Education Cost in North Dakota?
An online master's in education at a school in North Dakota costs a resident from $6,576 to $13,677 a year in graduate tuition and fees across these 7 programs, with a median of $10,817, 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 Dakota Universities Have Online Master's Programs in Education?
North Dakota universities with online master's programs in education are led by Valley City State University, whose Master of Education with a concentration in technology education leads the page, followed by the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, which offers a Master of Education in Special Education that it also awards as a Master of Science.
Mayville State University runs a general Master of Education, Minot State University a Master of Science in Special Education, and Dickinson State University a Master of Arts in Teaching. The private University of Jamestown has a curriculum and instruction master's, and the University of Mary in Bismarck a reading master's. Public campuses make up most of the list, and the cost section below shows the in-state prices side by side.
How Does the Education Standards and Practices Board License Teachers in North Dakota?
The Education Standards and Practices Board licenses teachers in North Dakota, and its site lists testing information and license types for new and out-of-state applicants. A new teacher receives an Initial license first, and the five-year Educator's Professional License follows after successful contracted teaching in the state.
Four programs here lead to a credential: the University of North Dakota and Minot State special education degrees, Mayville State's Master of Education and Dickinson State's Master of Arts in Teaching. Valley City's technology education degree, Jamestown's curriculum degree and Mary's reading degree serve people who already teach. The North Dakota licensure guide covers the grade bands in more detail.
What Does a Rural North Dakota Teacher Gain From an Online Master's?
A rural North Dakota teacher gains a graduate degree without a long commute to campus, because coursework arrives online and the field work is done in the district where the teacher already works. Special education is a good example, since a master's from the University of North Dakota or Minot State builds the skills a small school needs when one teacher serves students with many different needs, and the placement stays in your own building.
Residents pay the in-state rate, which the cost section charts. Ask whether supervision visits can happen by video, and whether a school administrator or mentor in your own building can supervise your practicum, since many North Dakota schools have only a few teachers per grade.
What Happens to a North Dakota Master's if I Move Away?
A North Dakota master's travels as a degree but not as a license, and what happens to it if you move depends on the next state. North Dakota belongs to NC-SARA, yet NC-SARA says it does not address licensing board approval, so each new state reviews your program on its own terms.
Federal rules in 34 CFR 668.43 require a school that markets licensure preparation to disclose where the program qualifies, and North Dakota's Praxis requirements are set by the board. Ask the school for that disclosure before you pay a deposit.
Questions About Online Master's in Education Programs in North Dakota
What Is the Cheapest Online Master's in Education in North Dakota?
How Are Online Master's in Education Programs in North Dakota Ranked?
Which North Dakota Online Master's Is Best for Special Education Teachers?
Special education teachers in North Dakota can choose between the University of North Dakota's Master of Education or Master of Science and Minot State University's Master of Science in Special Education. Both lead to a credential, so ask each school how the endorsement is earned.
Can I Earn a First North Dakota Teaching License Through an Online Master's?
A first North Dakota teaching license through a master's is possible with Dickinson State University's Master of Arts in Teaching or Mayville State University's Master of Education, both of which lead to a credential. Confirm with the school and the board which grade bands apply.
Does Valley City State's Technology Education Master's Lead to a License?
Valley City State University's technology education master's does not lead to a North Dakota license, so it fits teachers who already hold one and want subject depth. Ask the school whether it supports any endorsement.
Who Decides Whether My North Dakota Online Degree Counts for Licensure?
The Education Standards and Practices Board decides whether a degree counts for a North Dakota license, not the university. Its licensure pages explain the testing and application steps.
Where Do the Figures for North Dakota Come From?
Tuition and degree counts come from federal records each college reports about itself.
Show the federal record for all 7 colleges ranked, in 1 state
Valley City State University University of North Dakota Mayville State University University of Jamestown Minot State University University of Mary Dickinson State University