You know how to keep things in order. Perhaps you are the school administrator in all but name only, yet you are probably getting paid less than everyone around you. With an advanced degree, you can move up and apply your intensity and charm and finally earn the matching salary. As you consider being a faculty member or faculty-adjacent member of an administrative committee, you need to be well-trained to best help administer departments of all shapes and sizes. These expectations make proof of educational background more crucial than ever. If you have weighed your options and see how an online master’s degree in educational leadership will be your clear next step, this is the list for you. Expectations for your application materials will include significant experience, particularly teaching, but often also comparable professional experience. To make your experience a shared one, you should note that distance learners have a well-developed cohort system so you can have entering and graduating classes, typically with fewer than twenty fellow students. Out of this experience, you will be ready to facilitate organizational structures in positions such as assistant or head principal. Leadership, or leadership support, in government, private schools, or the private sector will also likely be much more open to you if you have an MA in educational leadership on your resume–which will not indicate that it is an online degree. Functionally parallel with the residence-based degrees, online leadership likely focuses on the technology of administration with which you will likely need to be familiar. As much as curriculum and legal study, educational technology and statistical assessment are each part of the thorough grounding you will get in the degrees listed below. The figures for median earnings six years after graduation come from Niche.com. For comparison, the national median earnings per year six years after graduation is $33,028.
Regional Accreditation: 3 points
CAEP Accreditation (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation: 5 pts
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation:
- $60,000 and Above – 5 points
- $50,000 and Above – 4
- $40,000 and Above – 3
- $30,000 and Above – 2
- $20,000 and Above – 1
Student to Faculty Ratio:
- 10 and below – 5 points
- 15 and below – 4
- 20 and below – 3
- 25 and below – 2
- 30 and below – 1
Hourly Tuition Rate:
- $400 and Under – 5 points
- $600 and Under – 4
- $800 and Under – 3
- $1,000 and Under – 2
- $1,200 and Under – 1
#20 – University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida
Online MA in Educational Leadership
Regional Accreditation: Yes
CAEP Accreditation: No
Student to Faculty Ratio: 30:1
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation: $45,400
Hourly Tuition Rate: $1,151.72
Points: 8
The University of Central Florida features a 30-credit online master’s degree in the Community Innovation and Education College that is designed to prepare you for not only schools but also other areas of leadership, including museums, human resources, and alternative settings for learning. The positions the MAEd makes possible will be a career as provost, dean, coordinator, administrator, as well as principal. It should be noted that the rapidly growing University of Central Florida has been featured on numerous lists, with a 2020 place among the most innovative schools in the online marketplace.
#19 – Chadron State College
Chadron, Nebraska
MAE in Educational Administration Online
Regional Accreditation: Yes
CAEP Accreditation: No
Student to Faculty Ratio: 18:1
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation: $38,200
Hourly Tuition Rate: $454
Points: 12
Chadron State College Master of Arts in Education – Educational Administration breaks down into two primary career directions: administration of PK-12; and administration of special education birth-12th grade. The latter includes coursework particular to special needs, including assessing individuals with mild/moderate disabilities, language and learning disorders, and coursework related to determining emotional and behavioral disabilities. To apply for entry into the Chadron State College MAE in educational administration program, you need a baccalaureate degree, current teaching certification, as well as relevant professional experience and coursework.
#18 – Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa
Online MEd in Educational Administration
Regional Accreditation: Yes
CAEP Accreditation: No
Student to Faculty Ratio: 19:1
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation: $50,700
Hourly Tuition Rate: $543
Points: 14
If you are considering online study at Iowa State University’s online master’s in educational administration, you may be surprised at the affordability and value. Dedication to the needs of distance learners means that the courses have additional sessions to supplement lectures. Also available are a peer tutoring service and a writing center that are there to meet any level of communication needs. Further, the library at Iowa State University has specific help for distance learners in the MEd in educational administration online, including an accelerated interlibrary loan service to get materials directly to you.
#17 – Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Online MAE in Higher Education Administration
Regional Accreditation: Yes
CAEP Accreditation: No
Student to Faculty Ratio: 20:1
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation: $50,100
Hourly Tuition Rate: $481
Points: 14
Louisiana State University has developed a master of arts with a specialization in higher education administration that focuses on working on your professional skills. In this 36-credit, 100% online program, you will build a portfolio specific to you and your abilities. Among the goals of the rigorous academic program is developing a high-level understanding of what management in higher education entails, from human resources to fundraising to alumni networking. The site for the online MAEd with a specialization in higher education administration at Louisiana State University notes that class size is crucial to your development in the online setting, thus setting a limit at twenty students per class in your cohort.
#16 – East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, Tennessee
MA in School Administration Online
Regional Accreditation: Yes
CAEP Accreditation: Yes
Student to Faculty Ratio: 16:1
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation: $35,100
Hourly Tuition Rate: $841
Points: 15
East Tennessee State University has a program explicitly designed to prepare the next leaders among school district offices, as well as the principals and vice-principals. The thirty-seven credit program features coursework that helps you gain mastery in subjects including professional needs, implementation strategies, and shaping institutions. Admission requires that you have a bachelor’s degree with an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 as well as an up-to-date resume. Once you have finished your online MA in school administration and leadership at East Tennessee State University, you will be prepared for Instructional Leadership Licensure.
#15 – Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland
Online MS in School Administration and Supervision
Regional Accreditation: Yes
CAEP Accreditation: No
Student to Faculty Ratio: 7:1
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation: $73,200
Hourly Tuition Rate: $840
Points: 15
Johns Hopkins University has a master of science in education – school administration and supervision that is 39 credit hours of fully online study. Admission requires you have appropriate certification, a current teaching position, and that you have in mind a proper mentor for your time at the university. The program is in line with the expectations of the Maryland State Department of Education and the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders. While the Johns Hopkins University’s MS in education – school administration and supervision provides significant online video supporting the program, you may opt for a more in-person focused direction through the required internship experience.
#14 – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, Illinois
Online Master’s in Diversity and Equity in Education
Regional Accreditation: Yes
CAEP Accreditation: No
Student to Faculty Ratio: 20:1
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation: $61,500
Hourly Tuition Rate: $482
Points: 15
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign now offers a notable online master’s degree in Diversity & Equity in Education with an emphasis on Human Resource Development. Your likely study plan includes core courses in diversity, leadership & policy as well as race and gender and sexuality issues. Your 32 hours will also include areas such as educational psychology electives and also an opportunity where you will learn on the job. The site notes that as a master’s student you will be expected to take at least twelve 500-level credit-hours, which means that you will be granted a range of choice but also a rigorous schedule. To support the online MA students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Diversity & Equity in Education with an emphasis on Human Resource Development program, the school has a mentoring program from which you can gain wisdom–or supply it when you have some mastery.
#13 – Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, North Carolina
Online Master’s in School Administration
Regional Accreditation: Yes
CAEP Accreditation: Yes
Student to Faculty Ratio: 17:1
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation: $37,700
Hourly Tuition Rate: $756.72
Points: 16
To get into the Western Carolina University North Carolina School Executive Leadership Program, you will need at minimum a baccalaureate degree with a 3.0 GPA, three years of teaching experience, a current license to teach in the state, and a resume tailored to demonstrate your background in leadership. To reach the end of the program successfully, you will need to have a few in-person Saturdays each semester. The school notes that the scheduling is made for those that work full time. A thorough chart explaining the expectations of part-time and full-time MSA will carefully navigate you through the online MSA Western Carolina University North Carolina School Executive Leadership Program.
#12 – Northern State University
Aberdeen, South Dakota
MSE in Leadership and Administration Online
Regional Accreditation: Yes
CAEP Accreditation: Yes
Student to Faculty Ratio: 19:1
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation: $35,300
Hourly Tuition Rate: $616
Points: 16
Applicants to the Northern State University master of science in education in leadership and administration online should be prepared to provide evidence of a 2.75 undergrad GPA, two letters of reference, and a $35 application fee for consideration for admission. Course requirements and expectations include models of educational leadership, supervision and mentoring, and school law. There is an internship component to this program that can usually be served in the student’s current place of employment. Northern State University’s online MSE in leadership and administration is a 35 credit program that can be completed in concert with full time employment. According to the school site, the next step, employment, can range from assistant principal to dean of students.
#11 – Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana
Online MAE in Educational Administration and Supervision
Regional Accreditation: Yes
CAEP Accreditation: Yes
Student to Faculty Ratio: 17:1
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation: $41,100
Hourly Tuition Rate: $651
Points: 17
The Teacher’s College at Ball State University touts the school’s long-term standing as a trainer of teachers and educational leaders that shape the now fully online master of arts in educational administration and supervision degree program. To complete your degree, you will be required to take coursework that includes human resource development and supervision of instruction. Your elective may focus on history, ethics, or multicultural education in U.S. schools. The online MAE in educational administration and supervision available at Ball State University is 36 credits regularly featured in best-of lists for affordable distance learning.
#10 – University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Online MEd in Educational Leadership
Regional Accreditation: Yes
CAEP Accreditation: Yes
Student to Faculty Ratio:19 :1
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation: $56,000
Hourly Tuition Rate: $734
Points: 18
The University of Florida’s online master’s in educational leadership blends practical experiential learning with a strong theoretical grounding in the latest theories in the field. To get in, you will need to provide a three to five page paper demonstrating your writing skill and potential for doing scholarship. To complete your 36-credit degree, two courses per semester is the expected rate. In the later semesters, you and your cohort will take a supervised practice in school administration, which is your opportunity for directly-observed practice and experience. Starting in Fall 2020, the University of Florida will no longer require GRE scores for their master’s programs, particularly the online MEd in education leadership.
#9 – University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Cincinnati, Ohio
Online MEd in Educational Leadership
Regional Accreditation: Yes
CAEP Accreditation: Yes
Student to Faculty Ratio:16 :1
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation: $42,300
Hourly Tuition Rate: $640
Points: 18
Students in the fully online master of arts in education at the University of Cincinnati-Main Campus can choose among these concentration areas: early childhood; special education; online learning and leadership; and principal leadership. Flexible scheduling is a focus also, and the program can be completed in a year if done full time, according to the site. Suggested positions once you graduate include a range of possibilities from tutor to academic director. The name of University of Cincinnati-Main Campus can be found in several significant lists of national rankings for online MEd’s in educational leadership, owing largely to special attention given to distance learners whose scheduling and academic support needs are met.
#8 – University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Master’s in Educational Administration Online
Regional Accreditation: Yes
CAEP Accreditation: Yes
Student to Faculty Ratio: 17:1
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation: $48,800
Hourly Tuition Rate: $595
Points: 18
The University of Kansas is home to one of the most valuable teaching programs, boasting internationally famous programs and a balance of necessary trend savviness with the weight of traditional institutional structures and support. What the school terms “Jayhawkville” consists of several dozen virtually-represented schools that provide the online space to explore how leadership functions and what is expected of you in a range of formats and situations. If you seek licensure, you will be on a 36-credit track that includes twelve eight-week courses that you can complete in two years. The non-licensure track for students entering the University of Kansas’s program online is meant to enhance your professional skills.
#7 – University of Nebraska Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska
MA in Educational Leadership Online
Regional Accreditation: Yes
CAEP Accreditation: Yes
Student to Faculty Ratio: 21:1
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation: $46,400
Hourly Tuition Rate: $332
Points: 18
The online University of Nebraska Lincoln master of arts in educational administration – Higher Education Administration degree has been designed with a focus on those currently working who need a program that works with students to balance work and study. The path toward graduation goes through intense introductory summer sessions, followed by the core coursework, including an equally intense summer. The necessary courses include educational finance, educational law, faculty & staff appraisal, and school culture & student behavior. The site states that the program can be completed in as few as four semesters and two summer sessions. Likely career options include advising, student affairs, and enrollment management. University of Nebraska Lincoln’s online MA in Educational Administration – Higher Education Administration degree is thirty credits.
#6 – Emporia State University
Emporia, Kansas
Online MSE in Educational Administration
Regional Accreditation: Yes
CAEP Accreditation: Yes
Student to Faculty Ratio: 17:1
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation: $37,100
Hourly Tuition Rate: $312
Points: 18
The Emporia State University online master of science degree in educational administration can be done in as little as a year. The 33 credit hours stress the necessity of coherence of curriculum achieved through interaction and dialogue among faculty and graduate students. Getting in requires at minimum a 2.75 undergraduate GPA, current licensure, three successful years of teaching experience, but no GRE. The school suggests the degree leads to positions from athletic director to lead principal. Emporia State University’s fully online MSEd in educational administration features a “building-level licensure program.”
#5 – Fort Hays State University
Hays, Kansas
Online MS in Educational Administration – Building Principal
Regional Accreditation: Yes
CAEP Accreditation: Yes
Student to Faculty Ratio: 18:1
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation: $38,200
Hourly Tuition Rate: $287.75
Points: 18
All 36 credits of the Fort Hays State University master of science in educational administration-building principal degree are online. The school site helpfully demonstrates in chart form what you need to do to get into the program, weighing GPA in a point system with two letters of reference, an up-to-the-moment resume, your teaching license, transcripts, and a serious letter explaining your experience and related professional goals. Once admitted, you will be expected to do in-depth research as well as thoughtful application of what is studied. All candidates in your cohort will need to complete an ePortfolio practicum in leadership building. Once finished with your studies at Fort Hays State University in the MS in educational administration-building principal, you will be able to apply for the field licensure in Kansas.
#4 – Indiana Wesleyan University
Marion, Indiana
MBA in School Administration Online
Regional Accreditation: Yes
CAEP Accreditation: Yes
Student to Faculty Ratio: 14:1
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation: $49,900
Hourly Tuition Rate: $490
Points: 19
The online master of business administration degree offered by Indiana Wesleyan University features a major in school administration that seeks to cultivate strategic and organizational skills and decision-making leavened with serious ethical considerations, especially from a biblical worldview. Entry into the program requires an undergraduate degree with at least a 2.5 GPA and two years of teaching. As a student in a cohort you will take a fairly sequential set of courses from foundations to global management to global leadership. Indiana Wesleyan University’s online MBA in school administration is a cost-effective 42 credit hours.
#3 – Wayne State College
Wayne, Nebraska
MSE in School Administration Online
Regional Accreditation: Yes
CAEP Accreditation: Yes
Student to Faculty Ratio: 18:1
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation: $36,100
Hourly Tuition Rate: $370.75
Points: 19
Wayne State College’s master of science in education in school administration online degree offers four fully online options for candidates to pursue: grades 7-12 (36 hours); grades PK-8 (36 hours); grades PK-12 (45 hours); and an additional 3-6 hour focus area on athletic administration. The school will accept up to 18 credit hours in transfer from other accredited institutions of higher learning. The Wayne State College online MSE in school administration program looks for applicants that can provide a valid teaching license, have proof of an awarded bachelor’s degree, and possess a GPA of 2.75 or higher on said undergrad coursework.
#2 – Midwestern State University
Wichita Falls, Texas
Online MEd in Educational Leadership
Regional Accreditation: Yes
CAEP Accreditation: Yes
Student to Faculty Ratio: 18:1
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation: $41,100
Hourly Tuition Rate: $363.55
Points: 19
The Midwestern State University online master of education in educational leadership degree comes with three certification options: principal certification; superintendent certification; and an MEd in bilingual language learners education, for schools with a majority non-English speaking population. Each program is scheduled in a cohort of five students, so that these learners move through the course sequence at the same pace for networking and esprit de corps optimization. Midwestern State University’s MEd in educational leadership online fulfills the Texas State requirements for Principal Certification.
#1 – University of the Cumberlands
Williamsburg, Kentucky
MAE in Teacher as Leader Online
Regional Accreditation: Yes
CAEP Accreditation: Yes
Student to Faculty Ratio: 17:1
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation: $35,100
Hourly Tuition Rate: $315
Points: 19
In considering the University of the Cumberlands online master of arts education degree program, know that it offers significant concentrations such as literacy specialist, school counseling, and being a teacher leader. The first two tend to focus on individual student needs, while the latter helps you to pursue professional teaching guidance and instruction. While the school counseling option is 45 credit hours the rest are 30 credits. The education of teachers is the central aim of the University of the Cumberlands MAEd program. 30 hours are online, and the degree may lead to careers in counseling, assessment, and curriculum assessment, as well as teaching.
OCR Staff
February 2020
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