Ohio's online education master's come in unusually specialized forms. Besides curriculum and instruction at Youngstown State University and Ohio University, the list includes a Montessori degree at Xavier University, an intervention specialist license at Muskingum University and an educational technology degree at Kent State University.
Principal-track programs at Ashland University, Bowling Green State University, Cleveland State University and the University of Cincinnati fill much of the rest of the page. Both public and private schools make the page, so the sections below weigh what each kind is good for and explain how Ohio's license system treats a master's.
Source: IPEDS, read October 6, 2026. Tuition is the 2023-24 in-state rate.
top score, Youngstown State University
93.7
median in-state tuition and fees across the 10 listed, 2023-24
$10,411
schools in Ohio with a ranked fully online master's in education
26
ranked programs in Ohio that lead to a license
32
This list covers fully online master's programs at universities located in Ohio, one per school.
The 10 Best Online Master's in Education Programs in Ohio
The 10 programs below are at schools in Ohio, scored at the in-state price and listed one per school.
1
Youngstown State University
Master of Science in Education, Curriculum and Instruction
Youngstown, Ohio
93.7- Public
- No license involved
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Degrees awarded
- 70 a year
- Yearly cost
- $6,615
- In-state rate
- $6,615, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $6,795
Tuition at Youngstown State University is $6,615 a year for 2023-24, with out-of-state students paying $6,795. The curriculum and instruction degree covers 30 credit hours and can be done in as few as 12 months, with a focus in Literacy, Teacher Leadership, Digital Teaching and Learning or General Studies. Each candidate buys a TaskStream account for the portfolio assessment.
It is meant for teachers already in classrooms. They keep the Resident Educator License from the State Board of Education of Ohio and use the master's to build advanced skills, so the OAE exams are not part of this path. The public university awarded 70 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
2
Ashland University
Master of Education in Educational Leadership with Administrative Licensure
Ashland, Ohio
93.0- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 63 a year
- Yearly cost
- $7,776
- In-state rate
- $7,776, 2023-24
Ohio principals, superintendents and curriculum leaders all pass through Ashland University's Master of Education in Educational Leadership with Administrative Licensure, which asks each candidate to choose one licensure pathway at entry. Thirty credit hours include a year-long, 3-credit capstone internship, and up to 12 graduate credit hours can transfer in.
Before licensing, candidates clear the OAE exams along with prerequisites for the chosen pathway. The Ohio Principal Standards guide the curriculum, and the State Board of Education of Ohio issues the license. Ohio joined SARA in March 2015 through MHEC. Ashland is a private nonprofit with one tuition rate for all, $7,776 a year for 2023-24, and it awarded 63 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
3
Bluffton University
Master of Arts in Education
Bluffton, Ohio
81.1- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 37 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,790
- In-state rate
- $9,790, 2023-24
Bluffton University's Master of Arts in Education spans 30 to 41 credit hours depending on the concentration, with embedded field work of 20 to 30 hours per course and a culminating Action Research Symposium. Concentrations are Intervention Specialist for K-12 mild and moderate licensure, Leadership, Reading and a Reading Endorsement.
The Intervention Specialist concentration leads to Ohio Department of Education licensure, and the Reading concentration requires candidates to pass Ohio Assessments for Educators subtests. The State Board of Education of Ohio sets those licensure rules. Bluffton is a private nonprofit in a small northwest Ohio village, and its tuition is $9,790 a year for 2023-24, with no separate rate for nonresidents. It awarded 37 master's degrees in the latest federal count, so classes tend to be personal.
4
Ohio University
Master's in Curriculum and Instruction
Athens, Ohio
79.4- Public
- No license involved
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Degrees awarded
- 33 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,720
- In-state rate
- $9,720, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $17,712
Athens-based Ohio University runs a fully online Master's in Curriculum and Instruction with no thesis and no GRE. Courses last 15 weeks, and an accelerated option allows completion in as few as three semesters. The coursework is aligned with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and graduates are prepared to sit for the NBPTS exam and submit at least one certification portfolio.
Ohio teachers need a valid license to apply, because the degree grants no initial licensure and does not stand in for the Resident Educator License from the State Board of Education of Ohio. What it offers is advanced classroom practice and a path toward National Board certification. Tuition for 2023-24 is $9,720 a year for Ohio residents and $17,712 for nonresidents. The public university awarded 33 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
5
Bowling Green State University
Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Leadership
Bowling Green, Ohio
77.9- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 33 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,291
- In-state rate
- $10,291, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $16,283
Bowling Green State University's online Master of Education in Educational Leadership centers on a Principal track for building-level leadership, with central-office and superintendent preparation available through further Ed.S. study. A leadership practicum and internship stretch across three semesters, and the plan allows completion in as few as four semesters, about two years including summers.
The degree fulfills requirements for Ohio's initial administrative principal license, and graduates must pass the OAE Administrator Exam (015). The curriculum is aligned with NPBEA and NELP standards, is recognized by the Educational Leadership Constituent Council, and carries accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. As a public university in Bowling Green, BGSU charges Ohio residents $10,291 a year for 2023-24, versus $16,283 for others. Its latest federal count shows 33 master's degrees conferred.
6
Muskingum University
Master of Arts in Education with Intervention Specialist Licensure (Mild/Moderate)
New Concord, Ohio
76.5- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 32 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,530
- In-state rate
- $10,530, 2023-24
Candidates in Ohio who already teach can add special education to their credentials at Muskingum University in New Concord. The intervention specialist master's requires at least 35 credit hours, blending methodology, reading instruction and clinical practice.
The student may take the license alone, or add 5 courses to earn the master's too. Graduates receive the Mild/Moderate intervention specialist license for K-12, issued through the State Board of Education of Ohio after the OAE exams. A summer Jumpstart pathway speeds the start. The private nonprofit charges $10,530 a year for 2023-24 to all students, and Ohio has belonged to SARA since March 2015. Muskingum awarded 32 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
7
Xavier University
Master of Education in Montessori Education
Cincinnati, Ohio
71.6- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Montessori Teacher Education
- Degrees awarded
- 33 a year
- Yearly cost
- $12,396
- In-state rate
- $12,396, 2023-24
Montessori training is the focus of Xavier University's Master of Education in Montessori Education, which the school describes as the nation's first graduate Montessori teacher education program, established in 1965. Thirty credits cover an integrated Montessori curriculum spanning practical life, math, science, history and art, with no separate tracks. Students can enter in summer, fall or spring.
For teachers who are already licensed, it leads to Ohio Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten-to-Grade-3 licensure, along with an American Montessori Society credential. The State Board of Education of Ohio issues the license. Xavier, a private nonprofit in Cincinnati, charges $12,396 a year for 2023-24, with the same rate whether or not a student lives in Ohio. Federal data for the latest year show 33 master's degrees awarded.
8
Kent State University at Kent
Master of Education in Educational Technology
Kent, Ohio
71.5- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational/Instructional Technology
- Degrees awarded
- 34 a year
- Yearly cost
- $12,483
- In-state rate
- $12,483, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $23,352
Kent State University offers its Master of Education in Educational Technology at 30 to 33 credit hours, with rolling admissions that allow a start in any semester. Candidates finish with a Practicum and Portfolio requirement, course ETEC 67492. Tracks cover Computer Science Endorsement Preparation and Computer Technology Endorsement Preparation, and a dual M.Ed./M.L.I.S. option opens the path to School Library Media K-12.
The endorsement preparation requires a valid Resident Educator or Professional State of Ohio teaching license, so this is for Ohio teachers adding a credential in addition to one they already hold, with the State Board of Education of Ohio as the issuer. Kent State is a public university, and 2023-24 tuition is $12,483 a year for residents and $23,352 for nonresidents. It awarded 34 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
9
Cleveland State University
Master of Education in Educational Leadership (Cohort Track / Principal Licensure Program)
Cleveland, Ohio
70.8- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 25 a year
- Yearly cost
- $11,118
- In-state rate
- $11,118, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $18,821
Cleveland State University offers two routes into Ohio school leadership. The Cohort Track combines the master's degree with the initial principal license, while a separate Principal License Program serves people who already hold a master's. The Master of Education in Educational Leadership moves through 5 semesters and 10 courses, 30 credit hours, taught by practicing scholar practitioner school leaders. The university reports that over 70% of graduates are hired into new administration or leadership roles.
Graduates seek the Ohio principal's license, and applicants need a teaching or pupil-services license plus at least two years of relevant experience for the grade band sought. The university calls the program nationally accredited and standards-based. Tuition for 2023-24 is $11,118 a year for Ohioans and $18,821 for nonresidents. Cleveland State awarded 25 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
10
University of Cincinnati
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Cincinnati, Ohio
69.6- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 46 a year
- Yearly cost
- $14,902
- In-state rate
- $14,902, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $26,674
The University of Cincinnati's Master of Education in Educational Leadership has three concentrations: Principal Leadership, Special Education Leadership, and General Administration and Policy, which does not lead to licensure. Thirty credit hours break into 18 core and 12 concentration credits, and the two licensure tracks embed Principal Internship I and II. Candidates for those tracks need an active teaching license and two years of teaching experience.
They become eligible for the Ohio Assessment for Educators licensure exam, which is the step toward an Ohio administrative license. The program carries Ohio Department of Education program approval and accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, with the Higher Learning Commission accrediting the institution. Cincinnati is a public university, charging Ohio residents $14,902 a year for 2023-24 and nonresidents $26,674. It awarded 46 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 Ohio 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 Ohio Lead to a License?
5 ranked programs at schools in Ohio lead to a license, certificate or endorsement, scored the same way as the list above, one program per school. The Ohio 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 | Youngstown State University | Master of Science in Education - Educational Administration with Principal Licensure | Ohio principal license | $6,615 |
| 2 | Ashland University | Master of Education in Educational Leadership with Administrative Licensure | Ohio building principal / administrative licensure | $7,776 |
| 3 | Bluffton University | Master of Arts in Education | Educator license | $9,790 |
| 4 | Ohio University | Master of Education in Reading Education | Educator license | $9,720 |
| 5 | Bowling Green State University | Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Leadership | Educator license | $10,291 |
What Does an Online Master's in Education Cost in Ohio?
An online master's in education at a school in Ohio costs a resident from $6,615 to $14,902 a year in graduate tuition and fees across these 10 programs, with a median of $10,411, 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 Ohio Universities Have the Best Online Master's Programs in Education?
Ohio universities with the best online master's programs in education start with Youngstown State University, whose Master of Science in Education in Curriculum and Instruction leads the page, and Ashland University, whose educational leadership degree with administrative licensure leads to Ohio principal licensure.
Bluffton University in Bluffton offers a Master of Arts in Education, and Ohio University in Athens has a curriculum and instruction master's. Muskingum University in New Concord pairs its Master of Arts in Education with mild and moderate intervention specialist licensure. The remaining schools bring leadership, educational technology and Montessori work, as the next sections show.
Which Ohio Online Master's Programs Prepare Principals?
Ohio online master's programs that prepare principals are the educational leadership degrees at Ashland University, Bowling Green State University, Cleveland State University and the University of Cincinnati. Cleveland State describes its cohort track as a principal licensure program, and each leads to a credential.
The State Board of Education of Ohio sets the principal license conditions, which include a master's degree and an approved preparation program, and the Ohio licensure guide covers them. Leadership degrees at a private university, regional public schools and a research university give a resident a real choice, so compare how each arranges the internship in your district.
What Specialized Online Master's Programs Does Ohio Offer?
Specialized online master's programs in Ohio include Xavier University's Master of Education in Montessori Education in Cincinnati, Kent State University's Master of Education in Educational Technology and Muskingum University's intervention specialist degree. Each leads to a credential, which reflects Ohio's practice of attaching licenses to specific teaching fields.
These are poor fits for someone who wants a general degree and a good fit for a teacher who knows the license or method they want. Montessori study connects to a teaching method, educational technology to a classroom or district role, and the intervention specialist degree to a special education license. Ask each school what the license outcome is, in writing.
How Does Studying Online at an Ohio School Work With Ohio Licensing?
Studying online at an Ohio school fits Ohio licensing because the university, the field placement and the licensing board are all in the same state. A new teacher holds the Resident Educator License first, and the board's licensure pages list the Ohio Assessments for Educators, delivered through Pearson, as the exam system.
Residents pay the in-state rate shown in the cost section. Ohio belongs to NC-SARA, but NC-SARA says it does not address licensing board approval, so an Ohio license does not follow you across state lines. Request each school's statement under 34 CFR 668.43 if you might leave.
Questions About Online Master's in Education Programs in Ohio
What Is the Cheapest Online Master's in Education in Ohio?
How Are Online Master's in Education Programs in Ohio Ranked?
Does Ohio Require OAE Exams After an Online Master's?
Ohio licensure exams are the Ohio Assessments for Educators, and a master's does not waive them for a first license. Your school can tell you which assessment your program expects you to take and when.
Is Ashland University's Online Master's a Way to Become an Ohio Principal?
Ashland University's online Master of Education in Educational Leadership with Administrative Licensure is designed for Ohio principal licensure. Ask the school how the internship is arranged and whether the board's other requirements, such as teaching experience, apply to you.
Can Muskingum University's Online Degree Lead to an Ohio Intervention Specialist License?
Muskingum University's Master of Arts in Education with Intervention Specialist Licensure (Mild/Moderate) is aimed at that Ohio special education license. Confirm the reading and phonics coursework Ohio expects for this license with the school before you enroll.
Does Kent State's Educational Technology Master's Give an Ohio License?
Kent State University's Master of Education in Educational Technology leads to a credential. Which license it supports depends on your teaching field, so ask the college how the degree connects to the Ohio license you hold or want, and whether additional exams apply.
Which Ohio Online Master's Has No Licensure Link?
The ranked Ohio master's degrees that do not lead to a license are the curriculum and instruction programs at Youngstown State University and Ohio University. They serve teachers who already hold a license and want deeper practice.
Where Do the Figures for Ohio Come From?
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, 2023-24
- State Board of Education of Ohio, Educator Licensure
- Youngstown State University, M.S.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction
- Ashland University, Educational Leadership with Administrative Licensure
- Ohio Assessments for Educators, Pearson
- 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
Youngstown State University Ashland University Bluffton University Ohio University Bowling Green State University Muskingum University Xavier University Kent State University at Kent Cleveland State University University of Cincinnati