The University of Wisconsin-Superior opens Wisconsin's list with an online Master of Science in Education, school counseling track, followed by Stevens Point, Viterbo University in La Crosse, Stout and Whitewater. Most of the remaining spots go to other University of Wisconsin campuses, with Wisconsin Lutheran College and Concordia University Wisconsin on the private side.
Because so many programs share one public system, price differences are small and the real decision is subject. Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction issues licenses by tier and by role, and a surprising number of these degrees are built for counselor or administrator licenses, which require a master's. That makes this list more license-oriented than most.
Source: IPEDS, read October 6, 2026. Tuition is the 2023-24 in-state rate.
top score, University of Wisconsin-Superior
89.3
median in-state tuition and fees across the 10 listed, 2023-24
$10,085
schools in Wisconsin with a ranked fully online master's in education
12
ranked programs in Wisconsin that lead to a license
17
This list covers fully online master's programs at universities located in Wisconsin, one per school.
The 10 Best Online Master's in Education Programs in Wisconsin
The 10 programs below are at schools in Wisconsin, scored at the in-state price and listed one per school.
1
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Master of Science in Education, Counseling - School Counseling Track
Superior, Wisconsin
89.3- Public
- Leads to a license
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
- Degrees awarded
- 57 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,301
- In-state rate
- $9,301, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $18,432
Superior is the home of a counseling degree with three tracks. Alongside Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Marriage & Family Therapy, the School Counseling Track of the Master of Science in Education points a student toward K-12 buildings. Residents paid $9,301 in 2023-24 at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, a public campus that awarded 57 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
The credit load is 60 hours, and supervised hours add up quickly: 100 at the practicum stage and 600 in the internship, of which at least 240 involve direct service. Enrollment does not hinge on a teaching license. Wisconsin school counselor licenses come through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and candidates must pass Praxis 5422.
2
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Master of Science in Education
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
88.1- Public
- Leads to a license
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 60 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,951
- In-state rate
- $9,951, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $19,976
Add-on licenses are the draw at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, whose Master of Science in Education lets currently licensed teachers pick up early childhood special education, cross-categorical special education, gifted and talented education, health education, adapted physical education, family and consumer sciences, or reading while finishing the degree. Unlicensed students can pair it with accelerated licensure programs in special education, elementary education, or family and consumer science.
The degree takes at least 30 credits across 10 courses, ends in a comprehensive portfolio with a thesis option, and is usually completed in about 2 years part-time. Add-on options align with requirements of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Wisconsin residents paid $9,951 for 2023-24, and Stevens Point awarded 60 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
3
Viterbo University
Master of Arts in Education
La Crosse, Wisconsin
87.5- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other
- Degrees awarded
- 77 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,080
- In-state rate
- $10,080, 2023-24
La Crosse's Viterbo University is a private nonprofit that charged every graduate student $10,080 in 2023-24 for its online Master of Arts in Education. A generalist emphasis of 30 credits sits beside a 36-credit administrator track, and the administrator track carries the licensing weight: it follows Iowa's PK-12 Principal/Supervisor of Special Education endorsement (#189), and the administrator tracks also name the Wisconsin principal license.
Work stretches over six semesters, two years in all, and each semester brings an internship supervised by an approved mentor. Candidates in Wisconsin should confirm requirements with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The university awarded 77 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
4
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Master of Science in Education
Menomonie, Wisconsin
82.4- Public
- Leads to a license
- Education, General
- Degrees awarded
- 39 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,282
- In-state rate
- $9,282, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $18,344
Twelve of the 30 credits in the University of Wisconsin-Stout's Master of Science in Education come from graduate certificates, chosen from Autism Spectrum Disorder Specialist, Blended and Online Teaching & Training, Career & Technical Education Leadership, Instructional Design, Math Specialist, Reading Specialist, Reading Teacher, and Teaching Adult Learners. Two required research courses carry an action research project in place of a thesis.
The customized-instruction model is designed for adult learners, typically over 5 to 6 terms. Reading Teacher and Reading Specialist certification options are available, and a current National Board Certification can apply up to 9 credits toward electives. Wisconsin teachers still go to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for licenses. Residents paid $9,282 for 2023-24 in Menomonie, and the public university awarded 39 master's degrees.
5
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Master of Science in Education in Special Education
Whitewater, Wisconsin
81.6- Public
- Leads to a license
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 43 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,090
- In-state rate
- $10,090, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $20,673
Applied Behavior Analysis is one of four emphases in the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Master of Science in Education in Special Education, along with Adaptive Education to Cross Categorical, Cross Categorical Special Education, and Evidence Based Practice. The Association for Behavior Analysis International verifies the ABA emphasis toward coursework requirements for the BCBA exam.
The 36 credits can be completed in as little as three semesters full-time, fully online with no campus visits and multiple start terms. The degree leads to Wisconsin Cross-Categorical K-12 licensure (#2801) through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Wisconsin residents paid $10,090 for 2023-24 at this Whitewater public university, and it awarded 43 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
6
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Master of Science in Administrative Leadership: Educational Administration and Supervision
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
75.0- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 42 a year
- Yearly cost
- $12,266
- In-state rate
- $12,266, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $25,697
Three Wisconsin licenses shape the Master of Science in Administrative Leadership: Educational Administration and Supervision at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: Principal (5051), Director of Instruction (5010), and Director of Special Education and Pupil Services (80), with dual-licensure options for those pursuing more than one. The 33-credit degree ends with a comprehensive portfolio and an oral defense in place of a thesis.
Applicants need a 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA and a criminal background check. Graduates can seek licensure as principal and/or director of instruction from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and the program meets that agency's requirements. Wisconsin residents paid $12,266 for 2023-24 at this Milwaukee public university, and it awarded 42 master's degrees.
7
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Master of Science in Education - Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education
La Crosse, Wisconsin
73.0- Public
- No license involved
- Higher Education/Higher Education Administration
- Degrees awarded
- 25 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,373
- In-state rate
- $10,373, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $20,609
Each cohort of 10 to 14 students moves through the two-year Master of Science in Education in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. The 36 credits come with a requirement to hold a supervised position in student or academic affairs while enrolled, plus a dedicated faculty advisor and a capstone project. The curriculum aligns with ACPA and NASPA core competencies.
There are no formal tracks, only a general focus across the functional areas of the field. No state licensure is associated with the degree, so it leads outward from Wisconsin's school licensing system toward campus careers. Wisconsin residents paid $10,373 for 2023-24 at this public university in La Crosse, and it awarded 25 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
8
Wisconsin Lutheran College
Master of Arts in Education in Educational Leadership and Innovation
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
63.3- Private nonprofit
- No license involved
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 15 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,440
- In-state rate
- $10,440, 2023-24
Milwaukee's Wisconsin Lutheran College runs its Master of Arts in Education in Educational Leadership and Innovation as one unified 30-credit online track. Each student completes and presents an action research project centered on high-performance research and data-driven decision-making, so the final product is evidence gathered in a real school.
The degree does not lead to a Wisconsin license, and it does not replace the credential from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. It adds leadership and inquiry skills for teachers already working in the state. The private nonprofit charged all graduate students $10,440 for 2023-24, and it awarded 15 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
9
Concordia University-Wisconsin
Master of Science in Counseling: School Counseling
Mequon, Wisconsin
62.5- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
- Degrees awarded
- 21 a year
- Yearly cost
- $13,170
- In-state rate
- $13,170, 2023-24
Rolling admissions with multiple start dates open the door to Concordia University Wisconsin's Master of Science in Counseling: School Counseling, a K-12 track based in Mequon. Coursework is primarily online, though two courses, individual counseling and group counseling, need in-person instruction. The degree is 48 credits, or 45 for candidates who already hold a teaching license, and a 600-hour practicum is divided evenly across school levels.
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction approves the program for the School Counseling License (#7054), and graduates must pass the Praxis II exam and complete a portfolio before applying through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. This private nonprofit charged every graduate student $13,170 for 2023-24, and it awarded 21 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
10
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Master of Science, Educational Leadership and Policy
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
60.7- Public
- Leads to a license
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Degrees awarded
- 12 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,676
- In-state rate
- $9,676, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $19,560
Seven-week courses in fall and spring and eight-week courses in summer drive the asynchronous Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Thirty credits split evenly, 15 for the leadership core and 15 for an emphasis or certificate the student chooses, and district-based cohorts are available for groups from one school system.
Related licensure pathways lead to the Wisconsin K-12 Principal (5051) and Director of Instruction (5010) licenses, which the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction issues. A Wisconsin resident pays $9,676 for 2023-24 at this public university in Oshkosh, and the school awarded 12 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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Lead to a License?
5 ranked programs at schools in Wisconsin lead to a license, certificate or endorsement, scored the same way as the list above, one program per school. The Wisconsin 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 | University of Wisconsin-Superior | Master of Science in Education, Counseling - School Counseling Track | School counselor license (K-12) | $9,301 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | Master of Science in Education | Educator license | $9,951 |
| 3 | Viterbo University | Master of Arts in Education | Principal (Iowa PK-12 Principal/Supervisor of Special Education #189; Wisconsin principal) on the administrator licensure tracks | $10,080 |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Stout | Master of Science in Education | Educator license | $9,282 |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | Master of Science in Education in Special Education | Educator license | $10,090 |
What Does an Online Master's in Education Cost in Wisconsin?
An online master's in education at a school in Wisconsin costs a resident from $9,282 to $13,170 a year in graduate tuition and fees across these 10 programs, with a median of $10,085, 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 Wisconsin Universities Offer the Online Master's Programs on This List?
The Wisconsin universities that offer these online master's programs are mostly public campuses of the University of Wisconsin system. Superior, Stevens Point, Stout, Whitewater, Milwaukee, La Crosse and Oshkosh each appear. Three private nonprofits join them: Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee and Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon.
UW-Superior leads on its price and graduating class together, and its program page lists 600 internship hours in a school and a 100-hour practicum. Concordia carries the highest in-state price, while Stout and Superior sit at the low end. Within the public system the titles are similar enough that curriculum details and capstone requirements do the real separating.
Which Wisconsin Online Master's Programs Lead to Counselor or Administrator Licenses?
Several Wisconsin online master's programs lead to counselor or administrator licenses. School counseling appears at UW-Superior and Concordia University Wisconsin, and the Department of Public Instruction's pupil services paths require at least a master's with specialized coursework and a practicum or internship for a PK-12 license. Administration appears at UW-Milwaukee and UW-Oshkosh, and Viterbo University's administrator licensure tracks lead to a principal license, and the administrator paths ask for a state-approved program, a master's and six semesters of full-time classroom teaching.
Teaching-field degrees include UW-Whitewater's special education master's, and the Master of Science in Education programs at Stevens Point and Stout lead to a credential too. UW-La Crosse's student affairs degree serves higher education careers instead.
How Does the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction License Educators With a Master's?
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction licenses educators with a master's through a tiered system, and the license tiers start with the Provisional Educator License at Tier II and lead to a Lifetime Educator License at Tier III after six semesters of Wisconsin experience. A master's is not what makes a classroom teacher eligible; it matters most for pupil services and administrator licenses.
Testing depends on the license. Praxis II content tests are common, and the Foundations of Reading Test applies to a first Tier II license in several areas, including birth to grade 3, K-9 and special education. A school counselor takes Praxis 5422. A graduate of a Wisconsin program is recommended by the university, so ask the certification officer how that works. Our Wisconsin licensure guide covers out-of-state applicants and statutory stipulations.
What Does Studying Online at a Wisconsin University Mean for Residents?
Studying online at a Wisconsin university means paying in-state tuition, shown in the cost chart, and doing field requirements in a school near your home. Counseling and administration programs have fixed practicum and internship hours, so line up a site and a supervisor early and ask the program who approves them.
Wisconsin joined NC-SARA in 2016 through the Midwestern compact. For a resident who later moves, SARA does not address licensing-board approval, so a Wisconsin license does not travel with the degree. Ask the program for its licensure disclosure covering the state you are heading to.
Questions About Online Master's in Education Programs in Wisconsin
What Is the Cheapest Online Master's in Education in Wisconsin?
How Are Online Master's in Education Programs in Wisconsin Ranked?
Can I Become a Wisconsin School Counselor Through an Online Master's Without a Teaching License?
UW-Superior's page says a teaching license is not required for admission to its school counseling master's, which prepares graduates for school counseling licensure. DPI's pupil services requirements still apply, so confirm the final steps with the department.
Do Wisconsin Principals Need Classroom Teaching Experience?
The Tier II administrator license asks for six semesters of full-time classroom teaching, or pupil services experience with a set number of classroom hours, according to DPI. Treat a leadership master's as one requirement among several, not the whole path.
Which Wisconsin Online Master's Is for Higher Education Careers?
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse offers a Master of Science in Education in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education. It serves people who work in advising, residence life and student services at colleges rather than teachers seeking a K-12 license.
Does Wisconsin Require a Reading Test of New Teachers?
For some licenses it does. DPI requires the Foundations of Reading Test for a first Tier II license in areas including K-9, cross-categorical special education and birth to grade 3, so a teacher in those areas should plan to sit it. Ask your program whether coursework prepares you for it.
Where Do the Figures for Wisconsin 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
University of Wisconsin-Superior University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Viterbo University University of Wisconsin-Stout University of Wisconsin-Whitewater University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Wisconsin Lutheran College Concordia University-Wisconsin University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh