30 Most Affordable Private Colleges for Online Master’s in Educational Leadership or Administration Degrees in 2021

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Updated June 28, 2021

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In this article, we list the 30 most affordable private colleges for online master's in educational leadership or educational administration degree programs for 2020

Educational leaders, whether administrators in elementary schools or secondary educational settings, hold a master's degree in education. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, administrators, such as school principals, should have a favorable job outlook of 6% over the next seven years. The benefits of earning a master's in educational leadership include pay increase and favorable job growth. Now, online options from private and affordable colleges are available for those who want to return to school to earn a master's in educational administration or leadership.

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These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online graduate degree programs. Figuring out where to apply? Consider one of these online Master’s or PhD programs.

Most Affordable Private Colleges for Online Master's in Educational Leadership in 2021

  1. Northwestern College
    Location

    Orange City, IA

    Tuition

    $5105

    The master's in educational leadership online program at Northwestern College is a teacher leadership program designed for working educators. The program is accredited and affordable, with classes delivered entirely online and taught by industry experts. Students take one class at a time over an eight-week period, which allows for a completion time of just two years. All courses are delivered online and include curriculum and assessment for student learning, educational research methods and design, peer assessment and instructional coaching, professional learning communities for school improvement, and teacher as leader. Northwestern is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the 6th best regional college in the Midwest and offers the most affordable program on our list.

  2. Dordt College
    Location

    Sioux Center, IA

    Tuition

    $5430

    One of the most affordable online educational leadership degrees for graduate level students is the online master's in teacher leadership at Dordt College. This online degree requires a total of 30 credits to complete the concentration in teacher leadership. The program is designed to meet the needs of working teachers who live far from campus. Some of the classes offered for the teacher leadership track include best practices in instructional strategies, curriculum development and evaluation, education in the inclusive classroom, interpreting and applying educational research, and learner development and principles of learning. Dordt is a top-ranked institution by major publications like U.S. News and World Report. In fact, U.S. News ranks the school as the 8th best regional college in the Midwest and 10th best value school.

  3. Columbia College
    Location

    Columbia, MO

    Tuition

    $6585

    Columbia College's online master's in educational administration or leadership degree program is one of the most affordable on our list. A total of 36 credit hours are required with classes delivered entirely online and taught by the same professors who instruct on campus. These courses include classroom management, curriculum design and evaluation, data-based instructional decision making, foundations and psychology of educational leadership, management of the classroom environment, perspectives on parental and community involvement in schools, and research design. Admission requires an earned bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Columbia is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as a top regional university in the Midwest.

  4. Aspen University
    Location

    Denver, CO

    Tuition

    $7125

    One of the most affordable online educational leadership degrees on our list is the Master in Education – Transformational Leadership program at Aspen University. Admission to the program requires an earned bachelor's degree, official transcripts from an accredited college or university, and a complete application. Classes are delivered online and taught by industry experts. A total of 36 credits are required for completion of the program, with classes in classroom environments and management, communicating and framing leadership issues and decisions, ethics and educational law, integrating technologies across the curriculum, multidisciplinary foundations of education, and research on effective teaching. A final proctored examination is required for the completion of the program.

  5. Evangel University
    Location

    Springfield, MO

    Tuition

    $7596

    Evangel University is a private, Christian institution that offers online educational leadership degrees at the graduate level. The online master's in educational leadership program prepares students to become school building administrators and provides eligibility for principal certification. All courses are taught online by the same professors who instruct on campus. These courses include administration of special programs, human relations and collaborative process, leadership internship/capstone, and school supervision and improvement. Admission requires teacher certification, two years of teaching experience, and official Praxis or GRE scores. Evangel is ranked by major publications like U.S. News and World Report as a top regional university in the Midwest and is one of the most affordable schools on our list.

  6. Wilmington University
    Location

    New Castle, DE

    Tuition

    $8240

    Wilmington University's online educational leadership degrees, including the master's in school leadership, are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation under NCATE standards. The program is entirely online and offers classes taught by the same university professors who instruct on campus. These courses include curriculum leadership, fiscal operations and resources, school and community, school leadership – theory and practice, and the principalship (both preK-8 and 9-12). Admission to the program includes official transcripts that verify the completion of an earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university and an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher for the most recent two years of post-secondary education. Wilmington is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as a top institution.

  7. Liberty University
    Location

    Lynchburg, VA

    Tuition

    $8430

    Liberty University's master's in educational leadership online degree is designed as a non-licensure program for those seeking K-12 school administration and leadership positions. The program is accredited under the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) Standards and is ideal for individuals who do not want to complete a practicum. The program is 100% online and offers classes taught by the same professors who instruct on campus. These classes include contemporary issues in education policy, elementary curriculum and methods, foundations in education, leadership and supervision in education, leadership in educational technology, and school leadership in diverse settings. Liberty is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as a top national university, and its online graduate education programs are ranked #174 out of more than 1,200 surveyed programs.

  8. Marygrove College
    Location

    Detroit, MI

    Tuition

    $8520

    Marygrove College offers online educational leadership degrees, including the master's in educational leadership. This state-approved program is for individuals with the desire to become administrative leaders in education. Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree with a 3.0 cumulative GPA and teaching certificate. All classes are delivered online and include courses like curriculum theory and development, executive leadership and decision-making, introduction to management and leadership, legal issues in education, management in computer information systems, organizational theory and management, and supervision of staff and staff development. Marygrove is ranked by major publications like U.S. News and World Report as a top regional university in the Midwest.

  9. Howard Payne University
    Location

    Brownwood, TX

    Tuition

    $9180

    Howard Payne University offers an online master's in educational leadership degree program that is both affordable and accredited. This completely online non-thesis degree offers course curriculum that is aligned with the state standards for principal certification. There is also an internship requirement that will fulfill state requirements for a principal certification. All courses are taught by Howard Payne instructors and industry experts. These classes include building management and design, curriculum alignment and management procedures, instructional leadership, school law and ethics, and student success through communication and collaboration. Admission requires a complete essay and application, official transcripts, and school district endorsement. Howard Payne is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the 7th best regional college in the West and 3rd best value school in the country.

  10. Bethel University
    Location

    Saint Paul, MN

    Tuition

    $9630

    Bethel University offers online educational leadership degrees that can be completed 100% online. The master's in educational leadership is a 33-credit hour program designed to be completed in just 17 months. The program includes a thesis component and offers online courses taught by university professors. These courses include curriculum and instructional management and student development, educational research, improving instruction, introduction to differentiation and responsive teaching, preparing the thesis – action research project, and teacher as leader. Admission to the program requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, one year of teaching experience, and a valid teaching license. Bethel University is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the 22nd best regional university in the Midwest and 28th best value school.

Our Methodology, Explained

Grad School Hub compiles rankings based on public data released from educational, commercial, and government databases. Sources such as the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics play a significant role in how we source our educational data. After collecting insight for each institution, we organize information into five weighted categories.
Metric Data Used Percentage
Academic Quality Full-time faculty percentage, student-to-faculty ratio, student retention and graduation rates 30%
Affordability Tuition rates, median student debt, and financial aid 10%
Reputation Admission and enrollment rates 30%
Program Offerings Number of program options 20%
Online Enrollment Score Portion of learners taking at least one online course 10%
A more comprehensive evaluation of how each category is determined and scored is accessible on our Ranking Methodology page.

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This concludes our list of the 30 most affordable private colleges for online master's in educational leadership or educational administration degree programs

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GradSchoolHub.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

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