Lander University in Greenwood heads South Carolina's list, ahead of Columbia International University and Clemson. Most of the programs are broad degrees in teaching and learning or curriculum, which suit people already in classrooms, and a smaller group is built around a specific role: instructional technology at Coastal Carolina, educational leadership at the Citadel, trauma-informed practice at Columbia College.
Because every school here is in South Carolina, a resident pays the in-state rate and does fieldwork in a South Carolina school. A degree alone does not certify you. The state's Department of Education does that, on its own timetable and with its own clearance steps.
Source: IPEDS, read October 6, 2026. Tuition is the 2023-24 in-state rate.
top score, Lander University
88.8
median in-state tuition and fees across the 10 listed, 2023-24
$12,668
schools in South Carolina with a ranked fully online master's in education
22
ranked programs in South Carolina that lead to a license
19
This list covers fully online master's programs at universities located in South Carolina, one per school.
The 10 Best Online Master's in Education Programs in South Carolina
The 10 programs below are at schools in South Carolina, scored at the in-state price and listed one per school.
1
Lander University
Master of Education in Teaching and Learning
Greenwood, South Carolina
88.8- Public
- No license involved
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other
- Degrees awarded
- 65 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,810
- In-state rate
- $9,810, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $9,910
Lander University in Greenwood charges South Carolina residents $9,810 a year for 2023-24 and out-of-state students $9,910. The online Master of Education in Teaching and Learning gives a classroom teacher a focus to match the students in the room, with concentrations in Montessori Education, Instructional Technology and Diverse Learners. CAEP accredits the college that houses the degree.
This degree stands apart from general licensure, so it adds depth for educators and does not stand in for the certificate from the South Carolina Department of Education. South Carolina uses the Praxis Series for its educator exams, and the coursework at this public university is delivered online. Lander awarded 65 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
2
Columbia International University
Master of Education in Instruction & Learning
Columbia, South Carolina
83.2- Private nonprofit
- No license involved
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Degrees awarded
- 99 a year
- Yearly cost
- $11,640
- In-state rate
- $11,640, 2023-24
A private nonprofit in the state capital, Columbia International University bills $11,640 a year for 2023-24, the same figure whether or not the student lives in South Carolina. Its Master of Education in Instruction & Learning is built around designing and supervising instruction, with Christian faith integrated into the coursework, and it is delivered fully online.
Because the degree is not set up as a certification route, a South Carolina teacher who still needs the Initial Certificate meets that requirement separately through the South Carolina Department of Education. Teachers already certified in the state use it to move toward instructional design, coaching and curriculum work in their schools. The university conferred 99 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
3
Clemson University
Master of Education in Teaching and Learning
Clemson, South Carolina
80.4- Public
- Leads to a license
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 109 a year
- Yearly cost
- $12,646
- In-state rate
- $12,646, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $24,798
Clemson University gives South Carolina K-12 teachers a 10% tuition reduction on its Master of Education in Teaching and Learning, in addition to an in-state rate of $12,646 a year for 2023-24 (out-of-state students pay $24,798). The 30 credit hours run over 18 months and five semesters as paired eight-week asynchronous courses, and the field component requires access to learners in an educational setting.
Concentrations are Effective and Reflective Teaching, Experiential Learning for Early Childhood, Instructional Coaching, STEAM, and Self-Designed. The degree does not lead to initial teacher certification. Instructional Coaching completers may apply for the South Carolina Teacher Leader endorsement and STEAM completers for the South Carolina STEAM endorsement, both through the state's Office of Educator Certification. Clemson awarded 109 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
4
University of South Carolina-Upstate
Master of Education in Applied Learning and Instruction
Spartanburg, South Carolina
76.7- Public
- Leads to a license
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other
- Degrees awarded
- 193 a year
- Yearly cost
- $14,109
- In-state rate
- $14,109, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $30,135
Spartanburg's University of South Carolina Upstate packs its 36-credit Master of Education in Applied Learning and Instruction into accelerated 7.5-week courses, and the in-person practicum happens at the student's own workplace. Concentrations are Early Childhood, Elementary, Literacy, TESOL and Research in Practice Education.
A valid teaching certificate is required for admission. The degree leads to add-on certifications and endorsements in South Carolina, including Gifted and Talented and Project-Based Learning, which come in addition to the certificate from the South Carolina Department of Education. The in-state rate is $14,109 a year for 2023-24, and out-of-state students pay $30,135. Upstate awarded 193 master's degrees in the latest federal count, and Upstate is a public university in the state.
5
Coastal Carolina University
Master of Education in Instructional Technology
Conway, South Carolina
75.4- Public
- No license involved
- Educational/Instructional Technology
- Degrees awarded
- 31 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,764
- In-state rate
- $10,764, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $21,438
Conway's Coastal Carolina University teaches its Master of Education in Instructional Technology as 10 courses and 30 credits drawn from ISTE standards, with Fall, Spring and Summer starts and about 18 months to finish. There is no thesis or practicum, and a teaching certification is not needed to enroll. Accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
South Carolina certified public school teachers can use the degree after graduating to pursue M-level pay status and an Online Teaching Endorsement through the state's Department of Education. It does not replace the Initial Certificate that the department's certification office issues. For 2023-24 the in-state price is $10,764 a year, against $21,438 out of state. Coastal Carolina awarded 31 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
6
Columbia College
Master of Education in Trauma-Informed Education
Columbia, South Carolina
73.7- Private nonprofit
- No license involved
- Education, Other
- Degrees awarded
- 116 a year
- Yearly cost
- $15,216
- In-state rate
- $15,216, 2023-24
Columbia College's Master of Education in Trauma-Informed Education blends education with social-work science and came out of the college's Center for Organization Resilience. Thirty credits are taught 100% online in 7-week courses, so a teacher can finish in under 12 months, starting in January, May or August.
Completers can go on to the Teaching Children of Poverty Endorsement through the South Carolina Department of Education, which provides recertification credit and places an endorsement on a teaching certificate. The degree itself does not lead to a license. This private nonprofit school in Columbia charges $15,216 a year for 2023-24, the same for residents of South Carolina and everyone else, and it awarded 116 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
7
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Charleston, South Carolina
69.2- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 30 a year
- Yearly cost
- $12,690
- In-state rate
- $12,690, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $18,540
Charleston is the base for The Citadel's Master of Education in Educational Leadership, which lets candidates concentrate on Elementary or Secondary School Administration and Supervision. It totals 39 semester hours, made up of 33 hours of required coursework and two internships worth 6 credit hours. Cohort registrants can attend in-person programming, and the degree page notes recognition from National Educational Leadership Preparation.
The degree prepares candidates for South Carolina building-level administrative certification, which the South Carolina Department of Education oversees, and South Carolina tests educators with the Praxis Series. Residents pay $12,690 a year for 2023-24 at this public college, and out-of-state students pay $18,540. The Citadel awarded 30 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
8
Anderson University
Master of Education (Non-Certification)
Anderson, South Carolina
67.7- Private nonprofit
- No license involved
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 47 a year
- Yearly cost
- $15,483
- In-state rate
- $15,483, 2023-24
Anderson University built its Master of Education (Non-Certification) so that South Carolina teachers can take the whole degree or just one stackable endorsement, in Online Teaching, Gifted and Talented, or Teaching Children in Poverty. The 33 credit hours can be done in 9 to 12 months, with several start dates each year.
Applicants need a bachelor's degree in Education or an existing teaching credential, because the degree does not itself confer certification and does not take the place of the Initial Certificate from the South Carolina Department of Education. The cost is $15,483 a year for 2023-24, the same for South Carolinians and out-of-state students at this private nonprofit school in Anderson. The university awarded 47 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
9
Francis Marion University
Master of Education in Teaching and Learning
Florence, South Carolina
65.6- Public
- No license involved
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Degrees awarded
- 19 a year
- Yearly cost
- $11,388
- In-state rate
- $11,388, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $22,000
Florence is home to Francis Marion University, whose School of Education holds CAEP accreditation. Its Master of Education in Teaching and Learning is 100% online and 30 credit hours, split into a 15-credit Education Foundation Core, 3 credits of Literacy Preparation and 12 credits of Pedagogical Preparation, and it can be finished in one year. A Teaching Children of Poverty track runs alongside the standard program.
The degree serves both licensed educators and people without a teaching background, and it is not described as an initial licensure route in South Carolina. Residents pay $11,388 a year for 2023-24, and out-of-state students pay $22,000. The university awarded 19 master's degrees in the latest federal count, and the South Carolina Department of Education remains the source for any certificate.
10
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Teaching, M.Ed.
Columbia, South Carolina
63.9- Public
- No license involved
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 26 a year
- Yearly cost
- $13,774
- In-state rate
- $13,774, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $30,160
The University of South Carolina in Columbia teaches its Teaching, M.Ed. online and asynchronously, with the same faculty who lead the on-campus program. Most students finish in two years by taking two courses per semester, summers included, and an individual research project is part of the work. Concentrations are Literacy and Reading, Multicultural Contexts in Education, Project-Based Learning, STEAM Education, and English for Speakers of Other Languages.
It is designed for teachers who already hold certification and does not itself confer initial licensure, so the Initial Certificate still comes from the South Carolina Department of Education. South Carolina residents pay $13,774 a year for 2023-24, while nonresidents pay $30,160. The university awarded 26 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 South 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 South Carolina Lead to a License?
5 ranked programs at schools in South Carolina lead to a license, certificate or endorsement, scored the same way as the list above, one program per school. The South 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 | Clemson University | Master of Education in Teaching and Learning | South Carolina Teacher Leader endorsement (Instructional Coaching) and STEAM endorsement | $12,646 |
| 2 | University of South Carolina-Upstate | Master of Education in Applied Learning and Instruction | Educator license | $14,109 |
| 3 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina | Master of Education in Educational Leadership | Educator license | $12,690 |
| 4 | North Greenville University | Master of Education | Educator license | $11,474 |
| 5 | Voorhees University | Master of Education in Teaching and Learning | Educator license | $11,120 |
What Does an Online Master's in Education Cost in South Carolina?
An online master's in education at a school in South Carolina costs a resident from $9,810 to $15,483 a year in graduate tuition and fees across these 10 programs, with a median of $12,668, 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 South Carolina Universities Offer the Online Master's Programs on This List?
The South Carolina universities on this list are a mix of public campuses and private nonprofits. Public schools include Lander University, Clemson University, the University of South Carolina campuses at Upstate and Columbia, Coastal Carolina University, Francis Marion University in Florence and the Citadel Military College of South Carolina. The private nonprofits are Columbia International University, Columbia College and Anderson University.
Lander sits at the top of the list because its Master of Education in Teaching and Learning carries the lowest in-state price in the group while still graduating a steady number of students each year. Clemson offers a program with the same title, and so does Francis Marion, so the name alone will not separate them. Compare course lists and ask each department how often online sections run.
What Do These South Carolina Online Master's Degrees Prepare You to Do?
South Carolina's online master's degrees prepare you for four different jobs. The broad group, which covers Lander, Clemson, Francis Marion, Columbia International University and the University of South Carolina in Columbia, deepens classroom practice through curriculum, instruction and teaching and learning. Anderson University states in the title of its Master of Education that it is a non-certification degree, a useful honesty for someone who wants advancement and not a license.
The specialized group points elsewhere. Coastal Carolina's Master of Education in Instructional Technology serves people who design digital learning, and Columbia College's Master of Education in Trauma-Informed Education serves those working with students affected by adversity. The University of South Carolina Upstate's Master of Education in Applied Learning and Instruction and the Citadel's Master of Education in Educational Leadership lead to a credential. So does Clemson's Master of Education in Teaching and Learning, which carries the South Carolina Teacher Leader endorsement in Instructional Coaching and a STEAM endorsement.
How Does South Carolina Certify Teachers After an Online Master's?
South Carolina certifies teachers after an online master's through its Department of Education, which grants an Initial certificate to a candidate from a program it can accept, and the state's required Praxis examinations are adopted by the State Board. Pedagogy can be met with the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching or edTPA, and early childhood, elementary and special education candidates face a reading test from September 2026.
Student teaching adds a step that surprises people. A placement in a South Carolina public school needs clearance from the department, with fingerprints through the state's vendor and application deadlines in February for fall and June for spring. Leadership is stricter still: a principal needs a Professional certificate and experience, so no one reaches that role straight from a first master's.
Our South Carolina licensure guide walks through reciprocity and the counselor tests.
What Does Studying Online at a South Carolina University Mean for Residents?
Studying online at a South Carolina university means paying in-state tuition, which the cost chart shows, and finding a placement in a school near your home instead of near the campus. A program based in Greenwood can serve a teacher anywhere in the state, so ask who observes your teaching and whether the university has existing relationships with districts where you work.
South Carolina has belonged to NC-SARA since 2016 through the southern compact. If you later move, NC-SARA does not address licensing-board approval, so a South Carolina certificate will not transfer by compact membership. Ask the university for its licensure disclosure for your destination state before you pay for another term.
Questions About Online Master's in Education Programs in South Carolina
What Is the Cheapest Online Master's in Education in South Carolina?
How Are Online Master's in Education Programs in South Carolina Ranked?
Which South Carolina Online Master's Programs Are Not Meant to Lead to Certification?
Anderson University labels its Master of Education as non-certification, and several others are advancement degrees rather than preparation programs. Check each program's page for the word certification, then ask the department which South Carolina certificate areas its graduates have been recommended for.
Do South Carolina Programs Help With Student Teaching Clearance?
Clearance runs through the Department of Education, not the university, and the filing dates are early in the semester before placement. Ask the program's certification officer who files the application, and whether fingerprints taken for another purpose will be accepted. The department's student teaching page says they will not.
Can a South Carolina Master's Lead Straight to a Principal Job?
A master's in educational leadership such as the Citadel's is one requirement, not the whole path. The state's program standards and experience guidelines still apply, and leadership fields cannot be added at the Initial level of certification.
Why Do Three South Carolina Schools Share the Same Degree Title?
Master of Education in Teaching and Learning is a common title, and the content behind it differs by campus. Lander, Clemson and Francis Marion each build their own course lists and field requirements, so open each curriculum page and compare credits, electives and capstone expectations.
Where Do the Figures for South Carolina Come From?
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, 2023-24
- South Carolina Department of Education, Required Examinations
- South Carolina Department of Education, Student Teaching
- South Carolina Department of Education, Program Requirements
- NC-SARA, Professional Licensure
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
Lander University Columbia International University Clemson University University of South Carolina-Upstate Coastal Carolina University Columbia College Citadel Military College of South Carolina Anderson University Francis Marion University University of South Carolina-Columbia