Graduates from one of the Top 15 Cheap Educational Leadership Master’s Online Degree Programs in 2020 look forward to superior returns on investment and opportunities to positively impact the educational system. Any teacher with more than a few months’ of experience knows how many factors go into building an effective educational institution: proper pay and management of staff, in-house policies that serve both students and teachers, and effective communication with parents and other community members. 
A Master’s degree in Educational Leadership is the perfect fit for teachers who want to implement significant change in these areas or make greater use of their leadership skills. Educational Leadership programs train teachers in the basics of educational law, staff management, public communications, curriculum development and feedback, school budgeting, and more. They lead to careers such as public or private school principals or headmasters, university provosts, district superintendents, human resource managers, and postsecondary education administrators.
Pursuing a Master’s degree to move up the ranks at work can be intimidating, but the effort does not need to be impossible. According to U.S. News & World Report, online M.Ed. in Educational Leadership programs are a popular choice for many teachers because many are offered at an accelerated pace and most require just 30-40 credits. Many programs require a minimum of 150 hours of practicum experience, but they can usually be completed in a student’s home district, and sometimes during school breaks. Some options for students not seeking additional state licensure don’t require a practicum piece.
Additionally, the payoff can be huge. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, while the median annual wage for teachers with Bachelor’s degrees is around $40-$60,000, median salaries for principals are almost double, while those for college-level administrators don’t trail far behind. Additionally, PayScale reports how instructional coordinators earn nearly $60,000 on average, while assistant principals make over $71,000. Most of these jobs are growing at an average to a faster-than-average pace.
Most of the programs on our list meet national standards for educational leaders, but not every online program is compatible with regulations in every state. Additionally, some programs include training and practicum experience required for building-level or district-level licensure (needed to become a public school principal or district superintendent), while others grant just the M.Ed. itself and students are responsible for pursuing licensure in their home state. Either way, not all leadership positions require state licensure, including some positions at private schools.
Whatever your intended path, our ranking offers many affordable and convenient options for hard-working teachers who want to make a greater impact than they already are!
Selection Criteria
Contents
Colleges Rank publishes college degree rankings with the belief of how one’s higher education should be, both, affordable and an investment of continued value for the students who pursue them. The staff of BVS collects data from reputable sources in order to calculate Net Price and the short and long-term value of every ranked degree. Collected data is simplified into weighted categories before scoring and then scaled through a BVS Score up to 100. The weighted categories are:
- Degree Investment Return (25%)
- Student & Alumni Evaluation (25%)
- Cost Value (25%)
- Matriculation (10%)
- Academic Success (15%)
No matter what degree you decide on, we hope our research and support has made the selection process easier. There are numerous resources BVS utilizes to collect information on degrees, and we encourage you to check them out for yourself!
Here are the Top Cheap Educational Leadership Master’s Online Degree Programs for 2020!
15. Arizona State University – Tempe, AZ
Master of Education in Educational Leadership (Principalship)
Website
The Master of Education in Educational Leadership (Principalship) program from Arizona State University is designed for graduate student certification toward becoming a school principal. While the program aims to prepare students for principalship in Arizona, candidates from other states can also apply so long as they are prepared to meet additional criteria. The program consists of 36 credits, or 11 classes, each of which are taught in about eight-week increments. Courses include titles such as School, Family, and Community Connections, School Finance and Human Resources, Leadership in Curriculum and Assessment, and more. Students must complete a supervised internship and an applied project before graduation.
Application standards include a minimum 3.00 GPA during the last two years of a candidate’s Bachelor’s program, but submission of GRE scores is not required. Candidates must also submit official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a resume. ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, which hosts the M.Ed., is ranked No. 16 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 Top Education Schools ranking. MLFTC faculty conduct research in inequality in education throughout the world, which they aim to translate to ASU’s online classroom, and come from high-profile institutions such as Stanford University, Carnegie-Mellon University, and Rutgers University.
Tuition (In-state/Out-of-state): $10,792 / $27,372
14. Indiana University Bloomington – Bloomington, IN
Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership
Website
Experienced teachers who understand the challenges facing students and school systems today will find that the Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership from Indiana University Bloomington is designed just for them. The fully-online 36-credit program trains students to become administrators, superintendents, and educational directors and includes Indiana principal licensure. Students without a minimum of two years’ teaching or licensed counseling experience may still be considered for admission if they submit a compelling personal statement, but will not be eligible for principal licensure. Course titles include Legal Perspectives on Education, Data-Informed Decision Making for School Leaders, Public School Budgeting and Accounting, and more.
The School of Education offers graduate students a variety of scholarships, including for members of underrepresented populations. The return on investment at IU is high: 96% of graduate survey respondents said they would recommend their Education program to others, and 94.9% of students are employed following graduation. Additionally, 23 Indiana Teacher of the Year awards have gone to IU Education graduates. U.S. News & World Report ranked IU Bloomington No. 28 in its 2020 Top Education Schools ranking.
Tuition (In-state/Out-of-state): $10,533 / $34,845
13. Kansas State University – Manhattan, KS
Master of Science in Educational Leadership
Website
Graduate students with teaching experience and a desire to explore a broader understanding of educational leadership besides roles limited to principals or superintendents will appreciate the curriculum and methods of the Master of Science in Educational Leadership at Kansas State University. Online courses include both self-led components and synchronous components in which students engage in discussion via video chat at preset days and times. Course options include Administrative Leadership in Curriculum, Research Methods for School Leaders, Ethical Dimensions of Educational Leadership, and more. While the 36-credit program consists of the Kansas Building Leadership initial license, those not pursuing principal licensure can complete the MS program with 30 credits.
Application criteria include an application and fee, official transcripts, a statement of goals and work experience, two letters of recommendation, and completion of required survey forms. The university offers a variety of in-house scholarships, as well as a limited number of graduate assistantships every year. Kansas State’s education programs work with several local and national partners to develop curriculum, provide teachers with further professional development opportunities, and improving access to academic advising. Kansas State tied for No. 14 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 Top Online Graduate Education Programs for Veterans ranking, and No. 118 in Top Education Schools.
Tuition (In-state/Out-of-state): $10,135 / $25,492
12. University of Northern Colorado – Greeley, CO
Master of Arts in Educational Leadership
Website
The online Master of Arts in Educational Leadership program from the University of Northern Colorado is a 30-credit non-licensure program intended to introduce students to aspects of leadership in P–12, community college, or higher education environments. Students learn about interacting as a leader with outside entities affecting schools, organizational management, professional staff development, and contemporary understanding of various issues influencing education at all levels. Students may complete their MA while concurrently working on a separate principal licensure program.
Students can choose to concentrate either in P–12 education, which focuses on skills relevant to principals or build a customized concentration with a choice of three English Language Proficiency Standard (ELPS) or Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) courses. The program admits students throughout the year, but criteria are relatively strict: candidates must have a cumulative Bachelor’s GPA of at least 3.0, have a valid teaching license with two years’ experience, and submit a personal statement of goals. GRE scores are not required for admission. UNC’s School of Education tied for No. 118 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 Top Education Schools ranking, and almost 60% of UNC’s student population is made up of Master’s students.
Tuition (In-state/Out-of-state): $9,546 / $21,132
11. University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, AR
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Website
The Master of Education in Educational Leadership program from the University of Arkansas prepares students for building-level licensure with research-supported instruction on educational leadership methods. The 33-credit program requires an internship for licensure and usually takes students two years to complete. Graduates from the program pass the School Leaders Licensure Assessment—a test used to license P–12 school administrators in several states—at a rate of 100%. The M.Ed. accepts students on a rolling basis, and candidates with a minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA do not need to submit GRE scores. A valid teaching license is required for consideration.
Several in-house scholarships are available to M.Ed. students and teachers currently practicing in Arkansas and pursuing graduate work can apply for the Teacher Opportunity Program. Teachers of underprivileged students in Arkansas may be able to get their M.Ed. completely free of cost: through the IMPACT Arkansas Fellowship, practicing teachers with three years’ experience in a low-income district can complete their coursework online for free in 15 months, thanks to funding from the Walton Family Foundation. U of A ties for No. 53 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 Top Education Schools ranking, as well as No. 46 in Top Online Graduate Education Programs.
Tuition (In-state/Out-of-state): $9,062 / $24,308
10. The University of Iowa – Iowa City, IA
Master of Arts in Educational Leadership
Website
The University of Iowa’s Master of Arts in Educational Leadership program, offered with or without licensure, is one of the more thorough programs on our list. In addition to 24 hours of fully-online academic coursework, students must complete 12 hours of clinical coursework, which includes visiting local schools of varying levels and documenting learning experiences and take a comprehensive exam before graduation. Students seeking building-level licensure will be qualified to serve as principals of P–12 schools and supervisors of staff and program development of special education programs for students up to age 21.
Because UI is part of the Big Ten Research Consortium, students in the College of Education have access to professors with ground-breaking research experience and who specialize in a variety of perspectives on effective education of all levels. The college is also the first permanent department of education in the U.S. and ultimately helped to create the ACT. The National Council on Teacher Quality ranks UI’s secondary education programs in the top two percent in the nation, and U.S. News & World Report ranks the college No. 50 in its 2020 list of Top Education Schools, as well as No. 5 in Top Online Graduate Education Programs. UI as a whole is ranked No. 84 in National Universities.
Tuition (In-state/Out-of-state): $8,965 / $30,609
9. Arkansas State University – Jonesboro, AR
Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership
Website
Teachers with a passion for specific age ranges in elementary and secondary education will appreciate the Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University. In the latter half of their program, students can choose to specialize in elementary, middle, or high school curriculum development, in which they not only learn how to choose and when to revise curriculum but also how to deal with various issues that can affect curriculum in schools. The 36-hour program can be completed in as few as 20 months and includes core courses such as School Law, Ethical Leadership, Administration and Supervision of Special Education, and more. All students must complete a capstone involving field experience before graduation.
A-State welcomes teachers from every state to apply to the program, but those seeking building-level licensure in Arkansas need to complete additional requirements, and those from outside the state are responsible for learning their home state’s licensure criteria. Conditional and unconditional admissions requirements include minimum undergraduate GPAs, a valid teaching certificate, and one year of experience, official transcripts, an essay, and an application fee. A-State online programs emphasize accessibility, with multiple start dates throughout the year and both time-flexible and accelerated course work available. U.S. News & World Report ranks A-State No. 115 in its list of Top Online Graduate Education Programs.
Tuition (In-state/Out-of-state): $8,478 / $14,778
8. University of Louisiana Monroe – Monroe, LA
Master of Education, Educational Leadership
Website
The Master of Education, Educational Leadership program from the University of Louisiana Monroe takes students on a deep dive into the ever-changing and challenging climate of education and prepares graduates for work as principals, instructional coordinators, deans of students, etc. The accelerated degree can be completed in as little as 15 months, but a field internship consisting of at least 120 clocked hours in a classroom setting must be completed before graduation. Courses include titles such as School Community Relations, Organizational Theory & Practice, Managing School and District Resources, and more.
ULM offers 10 M.Ed. programs fully-online, and teachers wanting a flexible environment in which to continue their education and earn certificates can join one of ULM’s eTeach programs. The College of Education also provides an online Literacy Lab, open to any teachers looking to develop their lessons further and who need access to additional classroom media. For those that live nearby and want to participate in spirited campus activities, ULM’s football team is in the NCAA Division 1 and ULM has a particularly successful waterski team, which won its 28th national championship in 2017.
Tuition (In-state/Out-of-state): $8,470 / $20,570
7. West Texas A&M University – Canyon, TX
Master of Education – Educational Leadership
Website
West Texas A&M University’s nontraditional approach to its Master of Education–Educational Leadership program allows students to choose which level of educational leadership they’re ready to enter into and select a longer or shorter graduate program as a result. Because Texas does not require a Master’s degree for principal and superintendent licensure, students can choose either a 30-credit or 15-credit program, along with fieldwork and testing, to obtain their Texas Principal or Superintendent Certificate. Those that want to graduate with their M.Ed. can choose the 36-credit non-thesis program and will also be prepared to take the licensure exam. This approach allows students to save time and money and quickly convert their on-the-job experience to a leadership role.
Applicants are considered for admission to the program if they have a valid, current teaching license (those pursuing licensure will need to be licensed in Texas), two employment reviews, two letters of recommendation, transcripts, and more. GRE scores are not required for admission. WTAMU awards over four million dollars in institutional scholarships every year, many of which are available to grad students. Total enrollment at WTAMU is just over 10,000 students, more than two-thirds of whom are undergraduates, so grad students can look forward to a small cohort feel, even in online classes. The average student to faculty ratio is 18:1.
Tuition (In-state/Out-of-state): $7,846 / $9,117
6. Thomas Edison State University – Trenton, NJ
Master of Arts in Educational Leadership
Website
The Master of Arts in Educational Leadership degree from Thomas Edison State University offers extensive program options for students pursuing leadership at the school and district levels. The MAEDL program includes a 36-credit building-level option for students pursuing principal or supervisor endorsements, a 42-credit program that builds off the first option and prepares students for leadership on the district level, and a 36-credit School Business Administration program that prepares students for school business administrator endorsement. Each program meets training requirements set by the New Jersey Department of Education, and students are ready to take licensure exams at the end of their chosen programs.
Most students complete their MAEDL degree in 18 months, and each semester lasts 12 weeks. Each program requires a minimum of 150 hours of in-classroom practicum experience, which students can begin to work on with guidance before enrolling in the practicum course. Practicum activities often include conducting teacher observations, developing budgets, conducting feedback on curricula, and more. Since 2008, MAEDL students have maintained an average GPA of 3.19, and many have qualified for nation-wide Kappa Delta Pi Honors Society membership.
Tuition (In-state/Out-of-state): $7,300 / $9,820
5. Louisiana State University Shreveport – Shreveport, LA
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Website
Louisiana State University Shreveport’s Master of Education in Educational Leadership is a simple, accelerated program designed to meet the requirements of state and national standards for building-level education leaders while keeping costs low for students. The 34-credit degree can be completed in as few as 12 months and includes a one-credit internship under the supervision of a faculty member and local school district leader. Courses include an introduction to research, which prepares students to implement updated research-based techniques in future leadership roles, as well as titles such as Utilizing Data for School Improvement, Mobilizing the Community, Funding Public Education, and more.
LSUS has a liberal admissions policy with criteria for conditional and unconditional admissions, including for teachers with graduate work already under their belt. Candidates are not necessarily required to have a teaching license but will need one, along with the necessary work experience, to obtain additional licensure. GRE scores are not required. LSUS offers 12 graduate programs to a total of about 4,500 graduate students, most of whom are nontraditional students enrolled in programs part-time. For students who want to take advantage of on-campus organizations, activities, or advising, Shreveport is centrally-located between Jackson, MS, Little Rock, AR, and Dallas.
Tuition (In-state/Out-of-state): $7,166 / $20,320
4. University of Central Florida – Orlando, FL
Master of Arts in Educational Leadership
Website
The Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from the University of Central Florida considers itself to be an innovative program, emphasizing research-based practice, an understanding of the changing educational climate in the United States, and training for a variety of roles, from human resources administrator to college provost. The program is specifically designed for students who are not seeking leadership roles that require licensure, but the program does align with Interstate School Licensure Consortium standards so that students can pursue certifications in the future. The 30-credit program is designed to be completed in about two years. While no practicum is required, nine credits are devoted to research, and students are required to submit an additional three-credit research report.
Though the online class environment may seem to isolate some students, those in UCF’s online programs work with a Success Coach who guides them through the admissions process through graduation. UCF is a large research institution that serves over 68,000 students from 14 locations across Florida and offers more than 90 degree programs of varying levels fully-online. Faculty are plugged into the College of Community Innovation and Education’s extensive research efforts, which serve to inform coursework in undergraduate and graduate programs. UCF tied for No. 78 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 Top Education Schools ranking and ranked No. 166 in the National Universities category.
Tuition (In-state/Out-of-state): $6,368 / $22,467
3. University of West Florida – Pensacola, FL
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Website
The Master of Education in Educational Leadership degree from the University of West Florida is designed for students who have at least three years of teaching experience and who are seeking principal certification. The 30-credit program includes the training needed to pass the Florida Educational Leadership Exam, which is a requirement for all students before graduating with an M.Ed.. Further qualifications for licensure in Florida or other states, such as practicum experience, will need to be met outside the M.Ed. program. Courses include Law and Education, Foundations of Measurement, Human Relations and Communication in Education, and more.
Admissions criteria are high: students must not only have a valid teaching license with three years of experience, but must submit GRE or MAT scores, provide documentation of an undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or higher, present a letter of “leadership potential” from a principal, superintendent, etc., and submit employment reviews that meet Florida Educator Accomplished Practices core standards, or equivalent reviews from other states. A range of funding opportunities is available to M.Ed. students, as well as paid graduate assistantships, though it is not clear if those are available to online-only students. UWF’s Department of Teacher Education and Educational Leadership offers teachers in the community access to its Professional Studies Library, which provides curriculum e-books and teacher and administrator resources.
Tuition (In-state/Out-of-state): $6,360 / $19,241
2. Western Governors University – Salt Lake City, UT
Master of Science in Educational Leadership
Website
The Master of Science in Educational Leadership program from Western Governors University takes a heavily research-focused approach to training new school leaders. The 39-credit program is specifically geared toward students wanting to pursue principal licensure and culminates in a senior research capstone completed in a K–12 setting. The program emphasizes progressive methods in its instruction and expects graduates to lead inclusive schools with diverse student and staff populations, and to develop a curriculum of exceptional quality. Courses include Leading Inclusive Schools, Data Literacy and Evidence-Based Practices, School Financial Leadership, and more.
WGU claims that 78% of graduates complete the program in 12–22 months, and 97% of graduates recommend WGU programs. The National Council on Teacher Quality graded WGU’s graduate education programs in the 88th percentile nationally in 2018 and ranked it the No. 1 Top Value U.S. Teaching Program in 2015. As a fully-online university, WGU can keep tuition low, and current enrollment exceeds 117,000 nation-wide. According to a 2018 Harris Poll, 97% of employers said graduates from WGU satisfied or surpassed expectations, and were qualified for their jobs. In addition, 94% of these employers said they would hire another WGU grad.
Tuition: $6,070
1. University of Wyoming – Laramie, WY
Master of Arts in Educational Leadership
Website
The University of Wyoming’s Master of Arts in Educational Leadership is a comprehensive program designed to train elementary, middle, or high school principals. At the end of the 33-credit program, which includes a 435-hour principal internship, students are prepared to apply for licensure as a principal in Wyoming. During their internship rotation students work for three weeks each with a principal at an elementary school, high school, and middle school. The internship can be completed at any point in the program. Students interested in district-level leadership can also take UW’s 26-credit online Superintendent Certificate. The program requires completion of an MA program with a minimum 3.0 average GPA.
Though many students take advantage of distance learning from UW, the university campus makes a significant impact on the small High Plains city of Laramie, WY. The university encompasses Wyoming Public Media, which hosts three radio networks covering most of the state, including a National Public Radio Station. UW students also provide the community with several arts and culture experiences. Of our entire ranking, UW has the most extensive offering of institutional scholarships available to MA students in the Education department. Awards encompass needs-based, merit-based, and location-based requirements while serving nontraditional and underrepresented students.
Tuition (In-state/Out-of-state): $5,217 / $16,827
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