The Top 10 Online Education Administration Graduate Programs

School administrators like principals and superintendents guide the overall direction of education at primary and secondary schools. Becoming a school administrator, requires extensive teaching experience, rigorous education credentials, and sometimes a state issued competency test for licensure. Graduate degree programs in education administration help prepare teaching professionals for state licensure requirements and real world success.

Ranking the Best Online Education Administration Graduate Degree Programs

When teaching professionals seek entrance and promotion within the school administration career field, they often choose online schools that allow them to continue working as teachers while they earn their graduate degrees. Here is a list of the top graduate level online educational administration programs based upon flexible curriculum format, school and program reputation, and best value for the price.

#1 University of Nebraska at Kearney – Master of Education in Education Administration

Overview: The University of Nebraska at Kearney earned this ranking because it’s Educational Administration master’s program includes a flexible curriculum, an excellent ranking, and a comparatively reasonable price. This school offers a variety of graduate Education Administration degree programs. The four main specialties include School Principals, Supervisor of Special Education, Curriculum Supervisor, and School Superintendent. These programs often require students to participate in 36 credit hours of study, mentored internships, and field studies.

Price Tag: $393 per credit hour

Unique Characteristics: University of Nebraska at Kearney’s graduate online Educational Administration degree program ranked eighth in the nation out of 143 schools meeting the criteria set by U.S. News and World Reports. This school’s online educational administration programs received top ranking for two consecutive years.

#2 University of Texas at Arlington – Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Study

Overview: The University of Texas at Arlington’s education degree program earned this ranking because of its reputation for excellence and its affordable price. For teachers desiring to advance into junior high and middle school administration careers, the University of Texas at Arlington’s Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Study has a stellar reputation for producing quality educational professionals. This program has a 95% pass rate for the state’s principal certification exam, and the school is recognized as a research center of excellence in advance teaching.

Price Tag: $273.33 per credit hour

Unique Characteristics: This program offers some amazing financial aid benefits including an $8,000 grant opportunity as well as loan forgiveness eligibility.

#3 Arizona State University – Master of Education in Educational Leadership

Overview: Arizona State University earned this ranking because of its affordable price and curriculum format that includes internships. Curriculum development and educational leadership skill are the main features of Arizona State University’s Master of Education in Educational Leadership degree program. Students complete 36 credit hours in community relations, education research and evaluation methods, and educational leadership that prepare them for state principal positions or supervision licensure.

Price Tag: $292 per credit hour

Unique Characteristics: Teaching professionals gain a real world experience through education administration internships with the schools for which they are employed.

#4 University of Cincinnati – Master of Education in Educational Leadership

Overview: The University of Cincinnati earned this ranking primarily because of the excellent reputation of its program demonstrated by its state principal licensure pass rate. The University of Cincinnati’s Master of Education in Educational Leadership program is a broad-based, comprehensive educational administration degree that includes coursework in school finance, regulatory issues, and educational innovations that serve as a benchmark for effective change in today’s educational environment.

Price Tag: $467.00 per credit hour

Unique Characteristics: Educators participating in the University of Cincinnati’s Master of Education in Educational Leadership have a 100% pass rate for their state’s principal licensure exam.

#5 American College of Education – Master of Science in Educational Leadership

Overview: American College of Education earned this ranking because it has the lowest price of all schools ranked and a dual degree opportunity. This school’s Master of Science in Educational Leadership degree program teaches the principles of leadership at the administrative, instructional, and community levels. The program prepares educators for promotion within schools and districts.

Price Tag: $215 per credit hour

Unique Characteristics: American College of Education offers a dual degree program in Curriculum and Instruction for those pursuing a Master of Science in Educational Leadership.

#6 Concordia University Portland – Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership

Overview: Concordia University Portland earned this ranking due to its flexible curriculum format. This program’s course format allows students to participate when they have time. Courses reflect issues such as education reform, human resources, financial management, and the latest techniques for educational research.

Price Tag: $620 per credit hour

Unique Characteristics: Courses in Concordia University Portland’s Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership last for only five weeks instead of the customary ten weeks. This abbreviated format allows students to finish the degree program in a year instead of two years. Additionally, students turn in class work assignments when they want without the constraints of deadlines as they pursue their degrees while maintaining their full-time teaching positions.

#7 Liberty University – Masters in Education Administration

Overview: Liberty University earned this ranking because of its comprehensive course materials and internship opportunities. While Liberty University has a variety of graduate level degree programs in teaching, the one that most appropriately prepares teaching professionals for a school administrative role is the Master of Education specializing in Administration and Supervision. This comprehensive, 36 credit hour program prepares educators for careers as principals or assistant principals by training them on topics like school financial management, leadership and community public relations, and legal issues facing schools today. While the program is mainly taught online, students must appear on campus three times for additional in person interaction with professors and classmates.

Price Tag: $535 per credit hour, $25 intensive fee

Unique Characteristics: Liberty’s M.Ed. In Administration and Education features an internship program with an approved educational institution that helps students reinforce in a live setting what they have learned in the theoretical classroom environment.

#8 Keiser University – Master of Science in Educational Administration

Overview: Keiser University earned its ranking because of its affordable price and opportunity to pursue higher education administration through specialization. Keiser’s Master of Science in Educational Administration prepares educators to use the latest technology tools and techniques to design curricula and conduct educational research. Its 36 credit hour course culminates in either an internship or a directed research project as chosen by the student. Online Education Database ranked Keiser University’s E-Campus 11th out of 44 evaluated online universities.

Price Tag: $391 per credit hour

Unique Characteristics: The private, non-profit university offers intimate class sizes ensuring adequate attention from professors. Additionally, students choose from three specializations including Teaching and Learning, Leadership, and College Administration for those with aspirations of higher education administration.

#9 Capella University – Master of Science in Leadership in Education Administration

Overview: Capella University earned this ranking because of its program’s excellent reputation. Realizing that even talented administrators do not become successful on their own, the Capella program focuses on training leadership skills needed to draw all educators into the mutual pursuit of organizational success. The program features 46 credit hours of educational management and leadership training designed to help educators cultivate motivating visions for their organizations that are shared and cultivated by all stakeholders.

Price Tag: $470 per credit hour

#10 Kaplan University – Masters in Education

Overview: Kaplan University earned this ranking because of its relatively low price. Kaplan University strives to cultivate educators interested in customizing the educational experience for their students and the teachers who will support them. The Masters in Education specializing in Educational Leadership program reflects this objective and includes courses like curriculum development, aspects of diversity, student performance assessments, and resource management.

Price Tag: $385.00 per credit hour

Unique Characteristics: Students attending today’s schools have different learning styles; some are in need of special education services and others are exceptionally gifted. This program teaches educators how to recognize and embrace those differences within their organization’s student body.