Pennsylvania's list is a map of its state-owned universities and private colleges, from Pennsylvania Western University in California, Pennsylvania, to Slippery Rock, Millersville, Kutztown, West Chester and Commonwealth University, with York College, Wilson College, Eastern University and Point Park University as the private schools.
Instructional technology is the standout subject, with several programs, and general education, special education and secondary teaching fill the rest. Because the school and the certifying agency share a state, a Pennsylvania resident has a placement advantage worth understanding, and the sections below cover that, the certificate ladder and the exams.
Source: IPEDS, read October 6, 2026. Tuition is the 2023-24 in-state rate.
top score, Pennsylvania Western University
84.2
median in-state tuition and fees across the 10 listed, 2023-24
$12,192
schools in Pennsylvania with a ranked fully online master's in education
47
ranked programs in Pennsylvania that lead to a license
65
This list covers fully online master's programs at universities located in Pennsylvania, one per school.
The 10 Best Online Master's in Education Programs in Pennsylvania
The 10 programs below are at schools in Pennsylvania, scored at the in-state price and listed one per school.
1
Pennsylvania Western University
Master of Education in Advanced Study in Education
California, Pennsylvania
84.2- Public
- No license involved
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 103 a year
- Yearly cost
- $11,261
- In-state rate
- $11,261, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $12,386
Pennsylvania Western University in California, Pennsylvania, requires applicants to be Pennsylvania-certified teachers already, and its Master of Education in Advanced Study in Education advances them rather than granting initial licensure. Concentrations include Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Leadership, Early Childhood, Educational Technology and Online Teaching, Mathematics, STEM Education, Teaching English as a Second Language and Technology Education.
Thirty credits make up the degree, and a Pennsylvania State Education Association partnership offers tuition savings to members who complete designated NEA micro-credentials. The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation accredits the program, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education approves it. PennWest awarded 103 master's degrees in the latest federal count. Pennsylvania residents pay $11,261 a year for 2023-24, and out-of-state students pay $12,386.
2
York College of Pennsylvania
Master of Education in Effective Teaching
York, Pennsylvania
81.3- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 60 a year
- Yearly cost
- $12,240
- In-state rate
- $12,240, 2023-24
York College of Pennsylvania centers its Master of Education in Effective Teaching on a 33-credit plan with an Innovation Practicum and a design-based capstone project. Synchronous class sessions are required up to eight times per semester. Tracks are Literacy, Technology, Teacher Leadership and Youth Resilience.
The Teacher Leadership track can lead to the Skills for Teacher Leaders Endorsement, and the Youth Resilience track to the Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Wellness Endorsement, both from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The degree itself leads to no initial license. York, a private nonprofit college, awarded 60 master's degrees in the latest federal count and charges $12,240 a year for 2023-24, the same for Pennsylvania residents and everyone else.
3
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Master of Education in Special Education, PK-12 Concentration
Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
80.0- Public
- Leads to a license
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 88 a year
- Yearly cost
- $12,659
- In-state rate
- $12,659, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $18,216
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania offers a Master of Education in Special Education, PK-12 Concentration that leads to Pennsylvania teaching certification in Special Education PK-12, covering learning support, emotional support, life skills and autism support endorsement areas. Coursework is primarily asynchronous online with strategic synchronous sessions, and neither the GRE nor the MAT is required.
Completion takes between 18 and 72 months depending on prior credentials. The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation accredits the program, and certification is issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Autism, Applied Behavior Analysis and School Supervision are separate concentrations in the department. Slippery Rock awarded 88 master's degrees in the latest federal count. Pennsylvania residents pay $12,659 a year for 2023-24, and out-of-state students pay $18,216.
4
Wilson College
Master of Educational Technology
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
78.9- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Educational/Instructional Technology
- Degrees awarded
- 31 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,450
- In-state rate
- $9,450, 2023-24
Chambersburg's Wilson College charges $9,450 a year for 2023-24 for its Master of Educational Technology, and Pennsylvania residents and out-of-state students pay the same. The 30 credits divide into 8 electives chosen from over 40 technology courses and 2 required capstone courses. With continuous enrollment, finishing takes anywhere from 1.5 to 6 years or more.
Pennsylvania teachers wanting a state credential can pursue the Instructional Technology Specialist certification, approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, on its own or together with the degree. Course fees are waived, and the credential is abbreviated M.E.T. As a private nonprofit college in Chambersburg, Wilson awarded 31 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
5
Eastern University
Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction
Saint Davids, Pennsylvania
75.6- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Degrees awarded
- 66 a year
- Yearly cost
- $14,724
- In-state rate
- $14,724, 2023-24
Eastern University, a private school in Saint Davids, combines the Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction with initial Pennsylvania teaching certification in a single program of about 12 to 18 months. Grade-band cohorts serve PK-4, Middle Level and Secondary, and the areas of study run from General and Special Education to World Languages, Health and Physical Education, Early Childhood Education, and Middle-Level Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies.
Coursework and a required student teaching seminar prepare candidates for the Instructional I Certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and Pennsylvania certification relies on the Praxis Series. Eastern awarded 66 master's degrees in the latest federal count. It charges $14,724 a year for 2023-24, the same for Pennsylvania residents and everyone else.
6
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology
Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
73.6- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational/Instructional Technology
- Degrees awarded
- 36 a year
- Yearly cost
- $12,144
- In-state rate
- $12,144, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $17,004
Bloomsburg is the home of Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania's Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology, a 33 to 36 credit degree offered 100% online with both synchronous and asynchronous courses. Candidates choose a Learning Experience Designer or Instructional Technology Specialist concentration, with stackable eLearning Specialist and Instructional Game Design certificates, and finish an internship plus an internship-or-thesis capstone. Admission asks for no GRE.
The Instructional Technology Specialist concentration lets certified K-12 teachers add a Pennsylvania Instructional Technology Specialist Endorsement through the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education accredits the university, which awarded 36 master's degrees in the latest federal count. Pennsylvania residents pay $12,144 a year for 2023-24, and out-of-state students pay $17,004.
7
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Master of Education in Assessment, Curriculum and Teaching
Millersville, Pennsylvania
72.5- Public
- Leads to a license
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 32 a year
- Yearly cost
- $11,939
- In-state rate
- $11,939, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $16,799
Millersville University gives current teachers several routes through its fully online Master of Education in Assessment, Curriculum and Teaching: Online Teaching, STEM Education, Inclusive Practices, and a Secondary Teaching certification concentration. Shared core courses in research methods, educational psychology and public policy come first, and a faculty-advised capstone experience closes the degree.
Only the Secondary Teaching certification concentration leads to Pennsylvania teaching certification, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education approves that concentration. The other concentrations add expertise without a new credential from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Millersville, a public university, awarded 32 master's degrees in the latest federal count. Pennsylvania residents pay $11,939 a year for 2023-24, and out-of-state students pay $16,799.
8
Point Park University
Master of Education in Secondary Education 7-12
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
70.6- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Secondary Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 55 a year
- Yearly cost
- $16,164
- In-state rate
- $16,164, 2023-24
Pittsburgh career-changers aiming at a middle or high school classroom can look at Point Park University's Master of Education in Secondary Education 7-12. Finishing brings the Instructional I Certificate, good for 6 years once a teaching job begins and issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
A candidate moves through 42 credits alongside a cohort on an asynchronous schedule, then teaches in person during a 60-day practicum. Pennsylvania schools hire in areas such as Citizenship and General Science, both offered here. Point Park, a private nonprofit school, awarded 55 master's degrees in the latest federal count and charges $16,164 a year for 2023-24 to every student, in state or out.
9
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Master of Education in Instructional Technology: Digital Classroom Technology
Kutztown, Pennsylvania
69.0- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational/Instructional Technology
- Degrees awarded
- 23 a year
- Yearly cost
- $11,185
- In-state rate
- $11,185, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $16,742
Kutztown University's Master of Education in Instructional Technology uses a Digital Classroom Technology track and 30 credits of stackable coursework, so candidates can work toward the degree and the Instructional Technology PK-12 Specialist Certification at the same time.
That optional certification requires an active Pennsylvania teaching certificate for admission, and it is issued through the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Kutztown, a public university, awarded 23 master's degrees in the latest federal count. Pennsylvania residents pay $11,185 a year for 2023-24, and out-of-state students pay $16,742. Teachers around Kutztown who want classroom technology skills now and a state specialist credential later can earn both from the same coursework.
10
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Master of Education in Special Education
West Chester, Pennsylvania
68.5- Public
- No license involved
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 28 a year
- Yearly cost
- $12,564
- In-state rate
- $12,564, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $17,424
West Chester University's Master of Education in Special Education has 11 required courses, usually finished in about two years, and builds in synchronous online sessions for student-to-faculty collaboration and group work. The program totals 33 or more credits, depending on the concentration chosen.
The M.Ed. alone does not lead to Pennsylvania Level I certification. A separate Post-Baccalaureate Certification in Special Education PreK-12 is required for licensure through the Pennsylvania Department of Education, so the master's suits teachers building on a credential they hold or earn elsewhere. West Chester, a public university, awarded 28 master's degrees in the latest federal count. Pennsylvania residents pay $12,564 a year for 2023-24, and out-of-state students pay $17,424.
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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania Lead to a License?
5 ranked programs at schools in Pennsylvania lead to a license, certificate or endorsement, scored the same way as the list above, one program per school. The Pennsylvania 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 | York College of Pennsylvania | Master of Education in Effective Teaching | Pennsylvania Skills for Teacher Leaders Endorsement; Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Wellness Endorsement | $12,240 |
| 2 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | Master of Education in Special Education, PK-12 Concentration | Educator license | $12,659 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania Western University | Master of Education in Educational Leadership | Educator license | $11,261 |
| 4 | Wilson College | Master of Educational Technology | Educator license | $9,450 |
| 5 | Eastern University | Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction | Educator license | $14,724 |
What Does an Online Master's in Education Cost in Pennsylvania?
An online master's in education at a school in Pennsylvania costs a resident from $9,450 to $16,164 a year in graduate tuition and fees across these 10 programs, with a median of $12,192, 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 Pennsylvania Universities Offer Online Master's Programs in Education?
Pennsylvania universities offering online master's programs in education begin with Pennsylvania Western University, whose Master of Education in Advanced Study in Education leads the page, and York College of Pennsylvania, whose Master of Education in Effective Teaching is the first private college to appear. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania adds a special education master's with a PK-12 concentration.
The instructional technology programs are Wilson College's Master of Educational Technology, Commonwealth University's Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology and Kutztown University's Digital Classroom Technology option. Eastern University has curriculum and instruction, Millersville University assessment, curriculum and teaching, Point Park University a secondary education degree, and West Chester University a special education master's.
Where Does Field Experience Happen in a Pennsylvania Online Master's?
Field experience in a Pennsylvania online master's happens largely in Pennsylvania, because the Department of Education requires approved programs to place at least half of a candidate's field experience in a Pennsylvania school and to notify the department before an out-of-state placement. The rule has applied since the start of 2025.
For a resident studying at a Pennsylvania school, that is simple: your own district or a nearby one is the normal setting. It also explains why the programs here that lead to a credential are the ones to favor if you want a first certificate, namely York, Slippery Rock, Wilson, Eastern, Commonwealth, Millersville, Point Park and Kutztown. The Pennsylvania licensure guide explains the approval list.
How Do Instructional I and Level II Certificates Work in Pennsylvania?
Instructional I and Level II certificates in Pennsylvania form a two-step ladder: new teachers hold Instructional I, and the Department of Education converts it to Level II after satisfactory service, an induction program and additional graduate credits. Pennsylvania does not require a master's for Level II, but graduate credits count toward the credit requirement.
That matters for a general degree such as Pennsylvania Western's, which does not lead to a certificate, because a teacher who already holds Instructional I can use the graduate credits toward the next step while also gaining subject depth. York's Master of Education in Effective Teaching leads to endorsements, including the Skills for Teacher Leaders Endorsement, for the same kind of teacher. Ask each school which courses the department accepts for Level II.
What Does Studying Online at a Pennsylvania School Mean for Residents?
Studying online at a Pennsylvania school means you pay in-state tuition, which the cost section charts, and you complete observation hours and any student teaching near home, in a district the program already knows how to work with. Pennsylvania uses Praxis alongside a Pearson series for early grades, and the exam for your certificate area depends on the title you seek.
The state belongs to NC-SARA, but NC-SARA says it does not address licensing board approval, so a teacher who later leaves Pennsylvania faces a separate review. Ask for the school's disclosure under 34 CFR 668.43 before you enroll.
Questions About Online Master's in Education Programs in Pennsylvania
What Is the Cheapest Online Master's in Education in Pennsylvania?
How Are Online Master's in Education Programs in Pennsylvania Ranked?
Which Pennsylvania Online Master's Suits an Instructional Technology Career?
Instructional technology careers in Pennsylvania are served by Wilson College, Commonwealth University and Kutztown University, each with a technology-focused master's. Commonwealth's is in instructional design, which suits training and corporate settings as well as schools.
Can Slippery Rock's Online Special Education Master's Lead to Certification?
Slippery Rock University's Master of Education in Special Education with a PK-12 concentration leads to a credential. West Chester University's special education master's is on the page too, but it does not lead to one, so ask the school how it fits your certificate.
Does Pennsylvania Require Praxis for a First Certificate?
Pennsylvania requires exams for a first certificate, with Praxis used for areas such as special education and fundamental subjects. Check the department's testing page for the title you want.
Do Pennsylvania's State University Master's Programs Cost Less Than the Private Colleges?
Pennsylvania's state-owned universities, such as Millersville, Kutztown and Slippery Rock, are public, while York, Wilson, Eastern and Point Park are private nonprofit colleges. The cost chart shows the in-state price for each, so compare the totals instead of assuming.
Is Point Park University's Secondary Education Master's Online and in Pittsburgh?
Point Park University is in Pittsburgh, and its Master of Education in Secondary Education 7-12 is listed here as a fully online program that leads to a credential. Ask the university where a secondary classroom placement can be arranged.
Where Do the Figures for Pennsylvania 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
Pennsylvania Western University York College of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Wilson College Eastern University Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Millersville University of Pennsylvania Point Park University Kutztown University of Pennsylvania West Chester University of Pennsylvania