Marshall University in Huntington heads West Virginia's list with a Master of Arts in Counseling that includes a school counseling emphasis, and Fairmont State University follows with an online Master of Arts in Teaching. West Virginia University in Morgantown offers a physical education teacher education master's, and the rest of the list is a patchwork of small colleges and two for-profit universities.
That variety is useful for a resident, because West Virginia certification can start from a first-license degree like the Fairmont MAT or from an advancement degree that builds on a certificate you already hold. The State Department of Education, not the university, certifies you, and its rules for master's holders include a few exemptions worth knowing.
Source: IPEDS, read October 6, 2026. Tuition is the 2023-24 in-state rate.
top score, Marshall University
89.5
median in-state tuition and fees across the 9 listed, 2023-24
$10,160
schools in West Virginia with a ranked fully online master's in education
9
ranked programs in West Virginia that lead to a license
11
This list covers fully online master's programs at universities located in West Virginia, one per school.
The 9 Best Online Master's in Education Programs in West Virginia
The 9 programs below are at schools in West Virginia, scored at the in-state price and listed one per school.
1
Marshall University
Master of Arts in Counseling
Huntington, West Virginia
89.5- Public
- Leads to a license
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
- Degrees awarded
- 74 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,160
- In-state rate
- $9,160, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $22,024
Marshall University's Master of Arts in Counseling is a fully online, 60-credit program combining asynchronous and synchronous coursework. Students choose Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling as an emphasis area, with 45 core credits plus 15 emphasis credits. Fall, spring and summer starts are offered year-round, and a student can finish in as little as 18 months. CACREP accredits the School Counseling emphasis.
This program leads toward a credential other than a teaching certificate. It satisfies curricular requirements for professional counselor licensure (LPC) in West Virginia, and school counselor licensure is the aim of the School Counseling emphasis. West Virginia also participates in the National Counseling Compact for practice privileges across participating states. Tuition in Huntington is $9,160 a year for state residents in 2023-24, against $22,024 for nonresidents. Marshall awarded 74 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
2
Fairmont State University
Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
Fairmont, West Virginia
88.7- Public
- Leads to a license
- Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching
- Degrees awarded
- 57 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,744
- In-state rate
- $9,744, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $20,860
Fairmont State University's Master of Arts in Teaching is for career changers who already hold a bachelor's degree and want a West Virginia teaching license. Content-area tracks run across PreK to adult, 5 to adult and 9 to adult grade bands, including a Mathematics 5-9 middle-level track and secondary areas such as English, Social Studies, Biology, Chemistry and General Science. Applicants need a passing Praxis II content test result for admission.
Undergraduate content coursework is waived, except methods, for applicants whose bachelor's degree is in the subject area. Full-time student teaching and clinical field experiences are part of the plan, and admission is rolling. The graduate education program holds NCATE accreditation, and the license is issued by the West Virginia Department of Education. Resident tuition is $9,744 a year for 2023-24, versus $20,860 for nonresidents. Fairmont awarded 57 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
3
West Virginia University
Physical Education Teacher Education, M.S.
Morgantown, West Virginia
85.1- Public
- No license involved
- Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
- Degrees awarded
- 127 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,908
- In-state rate
- $10,908, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $28,260
Morgantown is the home base for WVU's online physical education teacher M.S., which serves West Virginians who teach physical education or coach. Students pick a focus of sport administration, models-based teaching or instruction. Lab work applies skills in school settings across 30 credit hours. Current kinesiology majors can take a combined 138-hour B.S./M.S. route.
This is explicitly not an initial licensure program. The West Virginia Department of Education still issues the Professional Teaching Certificate, and Praxis is the exam system there. Tuition for 2023-24 is $10,908 a year in state and $28,260 out of state. West Virginia University conferred 127 master's degrees in the latest federal count, and West Virginia joined SARA in October 2014.
4
American Public University System
Master of Education in Teaching
Charles Town, West Virginia
82.7- Private for-profit
- No license involved
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 33 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,160
- In-state rate
- $8,160, 2023-24
American Public University System operates from Charles Town, and its Master of Education in Teaching is a 36 semester-hour program of 12 online courses. EDUC503, The Professional Educator, is the required first course, and a capstone action research project at a school or pre-approved professional site closes it. Concentrations are Autism Spectrum Disorder, Curriculum and Instruction for Elementary Teachers, Elementary Reading, English Language Learners, Instructional Leadership, Online Learning, Special Education and STEAM.
Completing a concentration does not confer licensure, so West Virginia teachers still go to the Office of Certification at the West Virginia Department of Education for the Professional Teaching Certificate, and applicants should verify their own state's requirements. The Higher Learning Commission accredits this private for-profit institution. Tuition is $8,160 a year for 2023-24 at one rate for everyone, and it awarded 33 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
5
Salem University
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
Salem, West Virginia
72.4- Private for-profit
- No license involved
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Degrees awarded
- 33 a year
- Yearly cost
- $12,070
- In-state rate
- $12,070, 2023-24
Salem University pairs a 30-credit Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a pace of one course per month, built for working educators and offered both online and in person. Six specialization tracks are open: Higher Education Administration, Instructional Technology, Organizational Training and Talent Development, Special Education Leadership, Teacher Leadership, and Teaching and Learning.
Applicants must hold a valid teaching certificate to be admitted, and the degree does not itself grant initial licensure. A West Virginia teacher keeps the Professional Teaching Certificate from the state Department of Education and uses the master's to deepen expertise or move into a new role. Salem is a private for-profit university, and tuition is $12,070 a year for 2023-24 at one rate for everyone. The latest federal tally is 33 master's degrees.
6
West Liberty University
Master of Arts in Education, Leadership in Education Administration
West Liberty, West Virginia
64.1- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 19 a year
- Yearly cost
- $11,880
- In-state rate
- $11,880, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $14,220
West Liberty University's Master of Arts in Education in Leadership in Education Administration has concentrations in Principal, Supervisor of General Instruction and Superintendent, and a Post-Master's Certification track exists for people who already hold the degree. An embedded internship and clinical field experience puts candidates in authentic district and school leadership work, and a required 16-week capstone course finishes the sequence.
It leads to West Virginia administrative certification, Principal PK-Adult, from the state Department of Education, and the program also outlines Ohio administrative certification categories: Principal, Superintendent and Administrative Specialist. That detail matters for the Ohio Valley counties near the border. As a public university, West Liberty charges $11,880 a year in state for 2023-24 and $14,220 out of state. It awarded 19 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
7
Concord University
Master of Education (M.Ed.)
Athens, West Virginia
60.7- Public
- No license involved
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 13 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,370
- In-state rate
- $10,370, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $17,630
Concord University, in Athens, West Virginia, delivers its Master of Education fully online in 36 hours: 12 hours of professional education coursework and 24 hours of content specialization. Two specializations are available, Educational Leadership and Supervision for PreK through adult, and Reading Specialist for PreK through adult.
The degree is designed for licensed or license-eligible teachers, and admission requires current professional teaching licensure. That makes it an advancement step for West Virginia educators who already hold their Professional Teaching Certificate from the state Department of Education's Office of Certification. In-state tuition is $10,370 a year for 2023-24 at this public university, and out-of-state students pay $17,630. Concord awarded 13 master's degrees in the latest federal count, a cohort small enough that candidates often know their instructors.
8
Wheeling University
Master of Arts in Education: Education Leadership
Wheeling, West Virginia
56.1- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 10 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,160
- In-state rate
- $10,160, 2023-24
Wheeling University's Master of Arts in Education: Education Leadership is 33 credits with multiple start dates, and it can be finished in as little as one year. It includes field-based action research and two residency components. Candidates pick School and System Leadership, which covers principal, superintendent and supervisor of instruction certification, or Instructional Leadership.
The degree prepares candidates for those West Virginia certifications, and the school notes that West Virginia licensure transfers to most other states through reciprocity. Accreditation comes from the Teacher Education Accreditation Council and the West Virginia Department of Education. Wheeling is a private nonprofit, and tuition is $10,160 a year for 2023-24, the same for residents and nonresidents. The university awarded 10 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
9
Glenville State University
Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction
Glenville, West Virginia
49.4- Public
- No license involved
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Degrees awarded
- 6 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,774
- In-state rate
- $8,774, 2023-24
Glenville State University offers a 30 semester-hour Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction entirely online. Courses are delivered in 7.5-week terms, a capstone research project completes the degree, and candidates have up to seven years to finish. For a working teacher in a rural county, that pacing leaves room around a school schedule.
Admission requires a current, valid PreK-12 teaching license or certificate of instruction, and the program itself does not confer initial licensure. The West Virginia Department of Education's Office of Certification remains the source of the Professional Teaching Certificate. Glenville State is public, and tuition is $8,774 a year for 2023-24, the same for residents and nonresidents. The university awarded 6 master's degrees in the latest federal count, the smallest total among the state's programs at this level.
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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia Lead to a License?
5 ranked programs at schools in West Virginia lead to a license, certificate or endorsement, scored the same way as the list above, one program per school. The West Virginia 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 | Marshall University | Master of Arts in Counseling | School counselor and professional counselor (LPC) in West Virginia | $9,160 |
| 2 | Fairmont State University | Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) | West Virginia teaching license | $9,744 |
| 3 | West Virginia University | Master of Arts in Literacy Education with Reading Specialist Certification | Educator license | $10,908 |
| 4 | West Liberty University | Master of Arts in Education, Leadership in Education Administration | Educator license | $11,880 |
| 5 | Wheeling University | Master of Arts in Education: Education Leadership | Educator license | $10,160 |
What Does an Online Master's in Education Cost in West Virginia?
An online master's in education at a school in West Virginia costs a resident from $8,160 to $12,070 a year in graduate tuition and fees across these 9 programs, with a median of $10,160, 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 West Virginia Universities Offer These Online Master's Programs?
The West Virginia universities that offer these online master's programs include public, private nonprofit and for-profit schools. Marshall, Fairmont State, West Virginia University, West Liberty, Concord and Glenville State are public. Wheeling University is a private nonprofit, while American Public University System in Charles Town and Salem University are for-profit institutions.
Marshall tops the list on the strength of a large graduating class and an in-state price below the middle of the group. The least expensive in-state option is the American Public University System's Master of Education in Teaching, and the most expensive is Salem University's Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. Price alone does not predict fit, so compare what each degree leads to.
Which West Virginia Online Master's Programs Lead to a Credential?
Several West Virginia online master's programs lead to a credential. Marshall's counseling master's, which its page says is fully online and sixty credit hours, prepares students for professional counselor licensure and has a school counseling emphasis. Fairmont State's Master of Arts in Teaching is built for people with a bachelor's in a content area who want a West Virginia teaching license, in specializations covering PreK to adult.
West Liberty's Master of Arts in Education in leadership and Wheeling University's Master of Arts in Education with an education leadership focus complete the group. West Virginia University's physical education degree, Concord's Master of Education, Glenville's curriculum degree and the two for-profit programs do not lead to a credential, so they serve people already teaching.
What Does West Virginia Require of Educators With a Master's?
West Virginia requires a state certificate and passing exam scores from educators with a master's, and the department's licensure testing directory lays out the three kinds of exam: a pre-professional skills test, a content test for each endorsement and a professional education assessment. Holding a master's from an accredited institution exempts you from the Praxis Core skills test.
A principal needs a master's in educational leadership or a post-graduate licensure program and Praxis 5412, and a counselor needs a master's in school counseling, according to the department's student support application. Elementary and early childhood candidates also pass a reading exam tied to the Third Grade Success Act. Our West Virginia licensure guide covers transfers and the Provisional certificate.
What Does Studying Online at a West Virginia School Mean for Residents?
Studying online at a West Virginia school means in-state pricing, shown in the cost chart, and fieldwork in your own county, which matters in a state where distances between campus and school can be long. For the Fairmont MAT and Marshall's counseling degree, ask who arranges student teaching or internship sites and how they are supervised at a distance.
West Virginia joined NC-SARA in 2014 through the southern compact. For a resident planning to move, SARA does not address licensing-board approval, so a West Virginia certificate does not cross state lines by membership. Request the program's licensure disclosure for the state you may move to.
Questions About Online Master's in Education Programs in West Virginia
What Is the Cheapest Online Master's in Education in West Virginia?
How Are Online Master's in Education Programs in West Virginia Ranked?
Does a West Virginia Master's Exempt Me From the Praxis Core?
Holding a master's degree from an accredited institution exempts you from the skills test, according to the department's testing directory. Content tests and the professional education assessment still apply, depending on the endorsement, so check the directory for your certificate area.
Who Is Fairmont State's Online MAT For?
The program page describes it for people with a bachelor's degree in a content area, such as the sciences or humanities, who want to become licensed teachers. It requires a transcript analysis from the Office of Certification to evaluate undergraduate courses, so start there.
Are the For-Profit Universities on West Virginia's List Approved for Certification?
Neither American Public University System nor Salem University leads to a credential. If certification matters, ask each school which West Virginia certificate areas its graduates qualify for, and confirm with the Office of Certification.
Can I Become a West Virginia School Counselor With an Online Master's?
The Student Support Certificate asks for a master's in school counseling from an accredited college whose program leads to public school licensure. Marshall's counseling degree includes a school counseling emphasis; confirm with the university that the online version meets that standard.
Where Do the Figures for West Virginia Come From?
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, 2023-24
- West Virginia Department of Education, Licensure Testing Directory
- West Virginia Department of Education, Form 20SR
- Marshall University, Counseling M.A. online
- Fairmont State University, Master of Arts in Teaching
- NC-SARA, Professional Licensure
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
Marshall University Fairmont State University West Virginia University American Public University System Salem University West Liberty University Concord University Wheeling University Glenville State University