30 Best Master’s in Education Degree Programs of 2021

M.Ed. programs in adult learning, curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, and special education offer concentrations so that students may specialize their degree even further. For those interested in a business pairing with education, the school offers a dual-degree M.Ed. and MBA program. Virginia Commonwealth is a nationally ranked institution by major publications like U.S. News and World Report. Also, the education school ranks #33 among the best graduate education schools in the country.

• Graduation rate: 65%
• Estimated years of completion: 1-2 years
• Admissions requirements: Bachelor’s degree, three letters of recommendation, statement of intent
• Program website

A teacher leadership M.Ed. program is also available with various sub-specializations like elementary/middle school, English, social studies, and special studies. Graduate students receive rigorous study with research opportunities woven into their classroom experiences. The education college is ranked by major publications like U.S. News and World Report as the 26th best graduate education school in the nation–tied only with University of Connecticut's Naeg School of Education.

• Average tuition cost: $34,440 - $$61,260, depending on residency
• Graduation rate: 82%
• Estimated years of completion: 2 years
• Admissions requirements: Bachelor’s degree, GPA of 3.0, statement of purpose, resume, letters of recommendation
• Program website

Master's in education degrees are offered in numerous specialties like adult learning, curriculum and instruction, and special education. Graduate certificates and teacher certification programs are also available. Also, many of the programs are designed to meet the needs of working students who do not want to give up valuable work experience to attend classes. Hybrid and summer programs, or sixth-year degree options are available. In the most recent edition of Best Graduate Education Schools published by U.S. News and World Report, University of Connecticut ranks #26–tied with Indiana University or University of Maryland.

• Graduation rate: 82%
• Estimated years of completion: 1-2 years
• Admissions requirements: Bachelor’s degree, GPA of 3.0, statement of purpose, GRE and GMAT score
• Program website

University of Oregon's College of Education offers several master's in education programs that emphasize areas of focus like curriculum and teaching, educational leadership, prevention science, and special education. Most programs take between 14 months and two years to complete. Since the university is a research institution, the master's in education programs prepare students for careers through research-based study. Licensure and endorsement preparation is also offered so that students may earn K-12 Oregon teacher licensure in specific areas like reading endorsement or special ed. Oregon's College of Education ranks #12 in the most recent edition of U.S. News and World Report's Best Graduate Education Schools, tied only with University of Michigan.

• Graduation rate: 72%
• Estimated years of completion: 1-2 years
• Admissions requirements: Bachelor’s degree, copy of active teacher license, professional references, resume, statement of purpose
• Program website

Michigan State University's master of education program is well known for its research with children and its contributions to policy development. The MEd degree here is perfect for people who want to be involved in the research end of education. This university is large with more than 30,000 attendees, although graduate education classes tend to favor a low student-to-faculty ratio. Courses often taken for the graduate degree include: concept of a learning society, curriculum in its social context, elementary reading assessment, psychology of classroom discipline, and technology and leadership. Michigan State is a nationally ranked public institution. In fact, major publications like U.S. News and World Report rank the graduate education school #15 in the nation.

• Graduation rate: 80%
• Estimated years of completion: 1-2 years
• Admissions requirements: Bachelor’s degree, GPA of 3.0, professional essay, teaching and professional experience, three letters of recommendation
• Program website

The College of Education at University of Washington offers a number of specialized graduate programs that focus on research and field study. Five specialized areas of focus include curriculum and instruction, education and equity, educational policy, educational psychology, and special education. There are also teacher preparation programs designed to allow teacher candidates to work in a variety of field-based learning opportunities, including elementary teacher prep and secondary teacher experience. University of Washington's College of Education is highly ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the 8th best education school in the country–tied only with Northwestern University.

• Average tuition cost: $6,174 - $11,128 per quarter, depending on residency
• Graduation rate: 83%
• Estimated years of completion: 2-3 years
• Admissions requirements: Bachelor’s degree, GPA of 3.0, GRE score, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, resume, writing samples
• Program website

University of Virginia's Curry School of Education is ranked among the top graduate schools of education in the nation. In fact, U.S. News and World Report ranks Curry #21, tied only with USC. The school prides itself on offering rigorous yet practical education research that supports both the quality of teaching and clinical practices in the state. There are over 15 master's of education degree programs, including administration and supervision, curriculum instruction, educational psychology, higher education, and speech communications. Many of the M.Ed. programs are designed to prepare students for doctoral admissions.

• Graduation rate: 93%
• Estimated years of completion: 1-2 years
• Admissions requirements: Bachelor’s degree, goal statement, recommendations, resume
• Program website

University of Minnesota's College of Education and Human Development offers several accredited master's in education degree programs that provide students with cutting-edge research and practical applications designed to help them become teachers. Many of the graduate programs also have certificates or teacher licensure available. Admissions can be competitive, as the school is known for being a world-renowned research university. In fact, the graduate education programs are well respected in Minnesota school districts. University of Minnesota's College of Education is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the 20th best graduate education school in the country, according to the most recent edition of Best Colleges.

• Graduation rate: 78%
• Estimated years of completion: 1-2 years
• Admissions requirements: Bachelor’s degree, GPA of 2.8, resume, essay, letter of recommendation, diversity statement
• Program website

University of Illinois' College of Education is a top-ranked graduate school that offers programs designed to equip students for careers as educators and administrators. Students benefit from being part of a research university while developing their own interests. Four areas of concentration include curriculum and instruction, educational psychology, education policy and organization and leadership, and special education. University of Illinois' College of Education is ranked by major publications like U.S. News and World Report as the 23rd best graduate education school in the nation–tied with Boston College's Lynch School of Education.

• Graduation rate: 86%
• Estimated years of completion: 2 years
• Admissions requirements: Bachelor’s degree, GPA of 3.0, personal statement, resume, letters of recommendation, GRE score
• Program website

All graduate education programs are customizable and allow students the flexibility of probing areas of specialized interest tailored towards career goals. University of Michigan is a top-ranked public institution. In fact, U.S. News and World Report's most recent edition of Best Graduate Education Schools ranks the institution as having the 12th best education school in the nation–tied only with University of Oregon.

• Graduation rate: 55%
• Estimated years of completion: 102 years
• Admissions requirements: Bachelor’s degree, statement of purpose, personal statement, three letters of recommendation, resume, GRE score
• Program website

University of Pittsburgh's School of Education is ranked by major publications like U.S. News and World Report as the 30th best graduate education school in the country. Master's in education degrees include a full range of specialty programs like early childhood education, elementary education, education leadership, and secondary education. Students benefit world-renowned faculty, an extended alumni network, and inquiry-based curriculum. Programs are designed to prepare the next generation of teachers, researchers, and administrators.

• Graduation rate: 80%
• Estimated years of completion: 2 years
• Admissions requirements: Bachelor’s degree, goal statement resume, three professional references
• Program website

Students are required to possess a strong background in their content area, and a bachelor's degree is needed. The programs emphasize foundational and professional courses and practicum experiences. Lynch is ranked by major publications like U.S. News and World Report as the 23rd best graduate education school in the country–tied only with University of Illinois.

• Graduation rate: 92%
• Estimated years of completion: 1-1.5 years
• Admissions requirements: Bachelor’s degree, resume, personal statement, letters of recommendation, standardized test scores, writing sample
• Program website

Ranked by major publications like U.S. News and World Report, Penn's School of Education is listed as the 6th best graduate education school. Penn offers master's in education degrees with various concentrations and specialties like education entrepreneurship, education policy, and higher education. Penn's School of Education is ranked #6 in the country for best education graduate schools, according to U.S. News and World Report.

• Graduation rate: 96%
• Estimated years of completion: 1-2 years
• Admissions requirements: Bachelor’s degree, statement of purpose, resume, letters of recommendation
• Program website

New York University's Steinhardt School of Education offers one of the top-ranked master's in education programs in the country. Elementary, secondary, and educational leadership programs are available. Depending on the chosen major, students may take classes that cover diverse learners, gifted education, and teacher leadership in the classroom. NYU's Steinhardt School is ranked by major publications like U.S. News and World Report as the 15th best graduate education school in the nation–tied with Michigan State University and the University of Kansas.

• Graduation rate: 85%
• Estimated years of completion: 2-3 years
• Admissions requirements: Bachelor’s degree, content core requirements, resume, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, GRE or GMAT score
• Program website

Harvard University is recognized for its prestige and reputation. It is ranked by all major publications as a top national university. Those interested in graduate education find Harvard's School of Education to provide them with rigorous master's level degree options, including the master's in school leadership and teacher education. Admission is highly selective, and the process includes test scores, letters of recommendation, and essays. According to the most recent publication of Best Graduate Education Schools by U.S. News and World Report, Harvard ranks #2 in the country–tied with Johns Hopkins University.

• Graduation rate: 98%
• Estimated years of completion: 1-2 years
• Admissions requirements: Bachelor’s degree, statement of purpose, resume, and three letters of recommendation
• Program website

Vanderbilt University's Peabody College of Education and Human Development offers master's degrees in education that include education policy, elementary education, and secondary education. Several joint degree programs and concentrations are available so that students may tailor their degree to suit career goals and personal interests. For those seeking an education career after earning a bachelor's that did not include teacher licensure, options are available in elementary and secondary education. Peabody College of Education is ranked by major publications like U.S. News and World Report as the 5th best graduate education school in the nation.

• Graduation rate: 93%
• Estimated years of completion: 1-2 years
• Admissions requirements: Bachelor’s degree, three letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, GRE score
• Program website

Admission to this prestigious program can be tough. If you are admitted to the program, you will be able to pursue a master's in education degree with a focus on a particular subject. The Teachers College consists of ten different departments comprised of more than 100 programs that are specifically designed to teach you how to teach others. Columbia's Teachers College is ranked with major publications like U.S. News and World Report as the 7th best education graduate school in the nation.

• Graduation rate: 92%
• Estimated years of completion: 1-3 years
• Admissions requirements: Bachelor’s degree, statement of purpose, resume, two letters of recommendation, GRE score
• Program website

The courses vary depending on the specialization that you choose. Students enrolled as elementary STEP candidates enjoy a small class size of around 20 people, and secondary STEP candidates will be enrolled with about 70 others. Although you will either need good financial aid or a full bank account to afford to attend this school, Stanford University's reputation alone will help you long after you obtain your master's in education. According to U.S. News and World Report's most recent publications of Best Education Schools, Stanford ranks #1.

• Graduation rate: 96%
• Estimated years of completion: 9-18 months
• Admissions requirements: Bachelor’s degree, statement of purpose, resume, three letters of recommendation, GRE score
• Program website

The School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University offers a master's in education (K-12) degree program that is designed to equip students to become teachers or leading teachers. For those interested in administration or leadership, a teaching leadership concentration is available. The K-12 teaching program prepares students for instruction roles in elementary and secondary schools. Part-time and full-time scheduling allows for flexible classes so that students can continue working and gaining valuable employment experience. Northwestern is a top-ranked institution by major publications like U.S. News and World Report. Also, the graduate education school ranks #8 in the country–tied with the University of Washington.

• Graduation rate: 94%
• Estimated years of completion: 1-2 years
• Admissions requirements: Bachelor’s degree, GPA of 3.0, statement of purpose, resume, letters of recommendation
• Program website

Johns Hopkins University is a top-ranked research school known for its academic rigor. The school offers a master's in education with concentrations in seven areas, including gifted education, reading, school administration and supervision, and technology for educators. The program requires 33 to 39 credits, depending on the selected concentration. Admissions requirements include official transcripts with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, current resume, completed essay, and two letters of recommendation. The program requires 33 to 39 credits, depending on the selected concentration. Johns Hopkins is ranked by major publications like U.S. News and World Report. In fact, the School of Education is ranked #2 in the most recent publications of Best Graduate Education Schools, tied only with Harvard.

• Graduation rate: 92%
• Estimated years of completion: 2-5 years
• Admissions requirements: Bachelor’s degree, GPA of 3.0 or higher, resume, essay, two letters of recommendation
• Program website