School administration shapes Oklahoma's list more than any other field. East Central University, the University of Central Oklahoma, Northeastern State University, Oklahoma State University and Mid-America Christian University all run leadership or administration master's degrees online, and they sit beside curriculum, classroom teaching and counseling programs.
That mix suits a state where many teachers move into building leadership from the classroom. The sections below explain which programs lead to a certificate, how a master's can change the subject area exam, and what an Oklahoma resident should confirm with the State Department of Education.
Source: IPEDS, read October 6, 2026. Tuition is the 2023-24 in-state rate.
top score, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
94.8
median in-state tuition and fees across the 9 listed, 2023-24
$7,915
schools in Oklahoma with a ranked fully online master's in education
9
ranked programs in Oklahoma that lead to a license
11
This list covers fully online master's programs at universities located in Oklahoma, one per school.
The 9 Best Online Master's in Education Programs in Oklahoma
The 9 programs below are at schools in Oklahoma, scored at the in-state price and listed one per school.
1
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction, General
Durant, Oklahoma
94.8- Public
- Leads to a license
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Degrees awarded
- 202 a year
- Yearly cost
- $5,220
- In-state rate
- $5,220, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $11,772
Durant, Oklahoma, is where Southeastern Oklahoma State University sets tuition at $5,220 a year for residents in 2023-24 and $11,772 for nonresidents, billed pay-as-you-go. The Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction, General totals 30 credit hours, can wrap up within 12 months, and needs no GRE. Students may start at several points in the year and can add an emphasis such as English, Reading or Science.
The General track does not issue an initial license. What it does is satisfy Oklahoma's Classroom Behavioral Management & Pedagogy requirement for teachers who hold alternative certification and are currently employed. Anyone coming from another state should confirm reciprocity with their home state. The school's latest federal count shows 202 master's degrees awarded, and CAEP is its accreditor for education.
2
East Central University
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Ada, Oklahoma
94.5- Public
- No license involved
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 59 a year
- Yearly cost
- $5,898
- In-state rate
- $5,898, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $11,973
Ada, Oklahoma, is the home campus of East Central University, which charges $5,898 a year in-state for 2023-24 and $11,973 out of state. Its online M.Ed. in Educational Leadership runs on 8-week terms and totals 32 hours: 29 required and 3 elective. Fieldwork totals 146 hours, every candidate assembles a portfolio, and the school takes up to 9 transferred credits from other graduate work.
Graduates move toward posts as principal or assistant principal, though according to the school the degree alone does not guarantee certification, which is decided by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. East Central awarded 59 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
3
University of Central Oklahoma
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Edmond, Oklahoma
90.4- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 54 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,616
- In-state rate
- $8,616, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $18,624
For Oklahoma teachers heading toward the principal's role, the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond offers a 34-credit-hour Master of Education in Educational Leadership built on a site-based cohort model, and districts can partner with the university to form their own cohorts. Clinical internship tasks and field experiences sit alongside the coursework, and the curriculum is organized around the Oklahoma State Department of Education Principal Standard Certificate requirements.
Graduates who pass the principal common core and grade-level curriculum exams become eligible for Oklahoma School Principal Certification, which the Oklahoma State Department of Education issues. In-state tuition for 2023-24 is $8,616 a year, and out-of-state students pay $18,624. UCO awarded 54 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
4
Northeastern State University
Master of Education in School Administration
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
84.7- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 32 a year
- Yearly cost
- $5,552
- In-state rate
- $5,552, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $11,537
Tahlequah is home to Northeastern State University, where the online Master of Education in School Administration splits into two certification paths, one toward Oklahoma principal certification and the other toward superintendent certification. Courses follow a structured rotating schedule, and applicants choose whichever path matches the role they want. People who already hold a master's degree can use the program as an alternative certification route.
Certification itself is issued by the Oklahoma State Department of Education, and Oklahoma educators sit the Certification Examinations for Oklahoma Educators. For 2023-24 residents pay $5,552 a year, and students from outside the state pay $11,537. The university awarded 32 master's degrees in the latest federal count. The degree is delivered entirely online.
5
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Master of Education in Classroom Teaching
Weatherford, Oklahoma
83.6- Public
- No license involved
- Secondary Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 34 a year
- Yearly cost
- $7,915
- In-state rate
- $7,915, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $7,939
Weatherford's Southwestern Oklahoma State University prices the Master of Education in Classroom Teaching almost identically for everyone, $7,915 a year for Oklahoma residents and $7,939 for others in 2023-24. Teachers pick the Elementary Teaching track (PreK-5/6) or the Secondary Teaching track (grades 6-12). Advisors guide each student individually, and no cohort schedule applies.
The degree does not itself license anyone. Oklahoma certification comes from the Oklahoma State Department of Education, and teachers there sit the Certification Examinations for Oklahoma Educators. Some coursework can support a route to certification, so candidates should check their own route first. Southwestern is a public university, and federal data for the latest year show 34 master's degrees awarded in this field.
6
Oklahoma State University
Master of Science in Educational Leadership Studies, Option in School Administration
Stillwater, Oklahoma
75.3- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 25 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,092
- In-state rate
- $9,092, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $24,595
Stillwater's Oklahoma State University offers a Master of Science in Educational Leadership Studies with an option in School Administration, for professionals who hold a teaching certification and want to complete the degree and the requirements for Oklahoma Principal Certification together. It is one of several Educational Leadership Studies options, alongside Higher Education, Workforce and Adult Education, and Curriculum and Leadership.
Delivery is fully online, on a suggested two-year accelerated sequence of two courses each fall, spring and summer term. The principal credential itself comes from the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Oklahoma residents pay $9,092 a year for 2023-24, while out-of-state students pay $24,595. The university awarded 25 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
7
Oklahoma Christian University
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
Edmond, Oklahoma
71.2- Private nonprofit
- No license involved
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 23 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,440
- In-state rate
- $10,440, 2023-24
Oklahoma Christian University, a private nonprofit school in Edmond, charges $10,440 a year for 2023-24 whether a student lives in Oklahoma or elsewhere. Its Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction offers emphases in English Language Arts, Teaching English Learners, Teaching Students with Disabilities and Math, and the coursework is self-paced and centered on the classroom.
Study ends with a three-course Capstone sequence in which each educator names a problem of practice and carries out action research on it. All of the emphases are non-licensure, so the degree deepens the work of teachers already holding a certificate and does not replace the credential issued by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. The university awarded 23 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
8
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Master of Education in School Counseling
Alva, Oklahoma
50.7- Public
- Leads to a license
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
- Degrees awarded
- 5 a year
- Yearly cost
- $5,320
- In-state rate
- $5,320, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $10,324
Alva, Oklahoma, hosts Northwestern Oklahoma State University, where certified teachers move into counseling through the Master of Education in School Counseling. An existing elementary or secondary teaching certificate is a prerequisite. The curriculum is 34 credit hours with 700 hours of pre-clinical experience aligned with American School Counselor Association standards. A thesis or comprehensive exam is replaced by an Action Research Project, and a portfolio called the Graduate Candidate File is checked at three milestones.
Finishing the degree requires passing the Oklahoma Subject Area Test for certification, and credentials are issued by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Tuition for 2023-24 is $5,320 a year for Oklahoma residents and $10,324 for nonresidents. Northwestern awarded 5 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
9
Mid-America Christian University
Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
27.8- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 5 a year
- Yearly cost
- $15,930
- In-state rate
- $15,930, 2023-24
In Oklahoma City, Mid-America Christian University teaches its Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration from a Christian perspective, one course at a time in six-week blocks, 33 credit hours in all. No GMAT is required, and Oklahoma school employees receive a 10% tuition discount.
The degree prepares candidates for roles as department chair, school administrator, principal and superintendent, with administrator certification handled by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Anyone who already holds a principal-level master's can add an 18-hour superintendent certificate designed to meet national NELP requirements. The private nonprofit school charges $15,930 a year for 2023-24, the same for Oklahomans and everyone else, and it awarded 5 master's degrees in the latest federal count. The Higher Learning Commission is the university's regional accrediting body.
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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma Lead to a License?
5 ranked programs at schools in Oklahoma lead to a license, certificate or endorsement, scored the same way as the list above, one program per school. The Oklahoma 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 | Southeastern Oklahoma State University | Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction, General | Oklahoma alternative teacher certification (coursework route only) | $5,220 |
| 2 | University of Central Oklahoma | Master of Education in Educational Leadership | Oklahoma principal certification | $8,616 |
| 3 | Northeastern State University | Master of Education in School Administration | Educator license | $5,552 |
| 4 | Oklahoma State University | Master of Science in Educational Leadership Studies, Option in School Administration | Educator license | $9,092 |
| 5 | East Central University | Master of Education in Special Education | Educator license | $5,898 |
What Does an Online Master's in Education Cost in Oklahoma?
An online master's in education at a school in Oklahoma costs a resident from $5,220 to $15,930 a year in graduate tuition and fees across these 9 programs, with a median of $7,915, 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 Oklahoma Universities Lead the Online Master's Programs in Education?
Oklahoma universities leading the online master's programs in education are Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, whose Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction comes first, and East Central University in Ada, whose Master of Education in Educational Leadership follows.
The University of Central Oklahoma's leadership program in Edmond leads to principal certification, and Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford has a Master of Education in Classroom Teaching. Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva runs a school counseling master's, and Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond a curriculum and instruction degree.
Which Oklahoma Online Master's Programs Lead to Principal Certification?
Oklahoma online master's programs that lead to principal certification include the University of Central Oklahoma's leadership degree, Northeastern State University's Master of Education in School Administration, Oklahoma State University's option in school administration and Mid-America Christian University's educational leadership degree. East Central's leadership degree does not lead to a certificate, so it suits an educator who wants leadership study without the credential.
Oklahoma asks a principal for a master's, an approved building-level program, a principal subject exam and teaching experience. The Oklahoma licensure guide gives the details, and a resident who plans to lead a school should favor a program built around that sequence.
Can an Oklahoma Master's Change the Subject Area Exam Requirement?
An Oklahoma master's can change the subject area exam requirement, because the state board can grant an exception to a candidate whose graduate degree is substantially comparable to the content tested. The Office of Educational Quality and Accountability reviews degrees for that exception, and principal, school counselor and several specialist titles are excluded because they require an advanced degree anyway.
That makes the choice of degree matter for a career changer. Southeastern Oklahoma State's general curriculum and instruction degree leads to Oklahoma alternative teacher certification through the coursework route only, so ask the school what that route covers and whether your content area test could be waived by an advanced degree.
What Does Studying Online at an Oklahoma School Mean for Residents?
Studying online at an Oklahoma school means you pay the in-state rate charted below and complete student teaching or an administrative internship in an Oklahoma school close to your home. Because the program and the agency are both in the state, your university's education department can complete the State Approved Program form the department asks for.
The Office of Teacher Certification issues the certificate, and exams are registered through the Certification Examinations for Oklahoma Educators site. Oklahoma is an NC-SARA member, but NC-SARA says it does not address licensing board approval. Ask for the school's disclosure under 34 CFR 668.43.
Questions About Online Master's in Education Programs in Oklahoma
What Is the Cheapest Online Master's in Education in Oklahoma?
How Are Online Master's in Education Programs in Oklahoma Ranked?
Which Oklahoma Online Master's Suits a School Counselor?
A school counselor in Oklahoma can choose Northwestern Oklahoma State University's Master of Education in School Counseling, which leads to a credential. Oklahoma requires a full university program for the counselor certificate, so ask how the practicum is arranged.
Does Southwestern Oklahoma State's Classroom Teaching Master's Lead to Certification?
Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Master of Education in Classroom Teaching does not lead to a certificate, so it fits teachers who already hold one. Ask the school how the degree relates to your current certification area.
Is Oklahoma State University's School Administration Option Online?
Oklahoma State University's Master of Science in Educational Leadership Studies with an option in school administration is a fully online program that leads to a credential. Check the admission and internship requirements on the school's program page.
Can I Move From the Classroom to a Principal's Office With an Oklahoma Master's?
Moving from the classroom to a principal's office is the route most Oklahoma leadership degrees are built for. The state asks for classroom teaching experience as well as the degree, so a program works best for a teacher with a few years of experience who plans to stay in Oklahoma schools.
Which Private Schools in Oklahoma Offer an Online Education Master's?
Oklahoma Christian University offers a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, and Mid-America Christian University offers a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration. Both are private nonprofit schools, and the cost section shows how their prices compare with the public campuses.
Where Do the Figures for Oklahoma Come From?
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, 2023-24
- Oklahoma State Department of Education, Office of Teacher Certification
- Southeastern Oklahoma State University, M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction
- East Central University, M.Ed. in Educational Leadership
- University of Central Oklahoma, Educational Leadership
- Southwestern Oklahoma State University, M.Ed. in Classroom Teaching
- Certification Examinations for Oklahoma Educators
- 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 9 colleges ranked, in 1 state
Southeastern Oklahoma State University East Central University University of Central Oklahoma Northeastern State University Southwestern Oklahoma State University Oklahoma State University Oklahoma Christian University Northwestern Oklahoma State University Mid-America Christian University