You have known it for some time: you have the essential soft skills and drive required to be a leader. Maybe you have effectively communicated in teams, been the person to see outside of the box and create innovative solution. You’re calm under pressure and find purpose in fulfilling your organization’s broader goals. Now is the time to leverage your natural leadership style unique to you and learn those more technical skills required to get the job done. We understand that for educators taking that next leap up is a huge risk. More than most professions, educators are often time-starved and concerned with financing education. We completely understand. Which is why we have designed these rankings specifically tailored to focus on the following: affordable tuition and high percentages of students receiving financial aid. With these two metrics, at the very least we can help you take the pressure off of the financial front. Your time will always be precious, which is why it makes sense to find something online. Many of these programs can be completed in as little as 1-2 years. So, are you ready to take the plunge and become the leader you know you already are? We recommend you take a look at our Top 10 Most Affordable Master’s Degrees in Education Leadership below.
1.) Southern Wesleyan University
Southern Wesleyan University (SWU) is a private nonprofit university located in Central, South Carolina. There are 1,880 students enrolled and the student-to-faculty ratio is 18:1. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits SWU to award associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. According to Niche.com SWU ranks highly for its diversity, safely, and value. When it comes to academics, SWU offers a number of affordable programs that span the arts and sciences including business, journalism, education, consumer sciences, health and much more. Their online programs focus on non-traditional learners pursuing advanced degrees and professional certifications. We particularly like their affordable educational leadership program, but they also offer online degrees in human services, computer information sciences and more.
Southern Wesleyan University offers a M.Ed. in Classroom Leadership. This program was selected for its affordable online tuition rate as well as for the high percentage of students who receive financial aid which is 100%. This fully online course provides professionals with the information required to upgrade their performance in the field of education. In addition to affordable tuition and high levels of financial assistance this program also affords candidates with a few content area electives options in literacy, exceptional learning, gifted and talented, early childhood special education, and something known as “project read.” The required courses include among them Philosophy of Education, Instructional Technologies, Action Research, Behavior and Classroom Management and more. This 36-credit-hour program costs just $425 per credit hour.
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- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $425
2.) Saint Leo University
Saint Leo University is a private Roman Catholic liberal arts university located in Saint Leo, Florida. Founded in 1889, Saint Leo is now one of the largest Roman Catholic universities in the United States. There are 14,649 students enrolled who benefit from small classes and a student to faculty ratio of just 15:1. The Southern Association of College and Schools accredits SLU to award comprehensive degree programming and professional certifications. According to U.S. News SLU ranks as the 62nd best school in the South, 26th best value school, and highly for both their online bachelor’s programs and online graduate education offerings. In addition to a vast array of degree offerings ranging from accounting to social work, SLU has robust online learning opportunities. In fact, there are over 50 courses available completely online from the associate to doctoral level. Criminal justice, business administration, and educational leadership are among the most popular online degree programs. SLU is also a military-friendly university.
Saint Leo University offers a Master of Education with a Concentration in Educational Leadership. We selected this program for its affordable online tuition rate as well as for the high percentage of students receiving financial aid which is 100%. This program is perfect for any educator who is ready to step into a leadership role and includes course material that focuses on data driven instructional design, leading curriculum for special populations, school management, and culminates with and educational leadership practicum. The cost of this program is $465 and requires 36 credit hours for completion.
3.) Western New Mexico University
Western New Mexico University (WNMU) is a public 4-year institution located in Silver City, New Mexico. There are 3,427 students enrolled, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 10:1. The Higher Learning Commission accredits WNMU to award associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees as well as post baccalaureate certificates. When it comes to academic programming, WNMU offers a wide range of programs that work well for both traditional and non traditional learners. Students may select from a vast number of degree programs including Hispanic-American studies, botany, E-Commerce, nursing and much more. For online education, there are over 20 affordable online degree and certification options in fields like psychology, liberal arts, health, and education.
Western New Mexico University offer a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Educational Leadership and is designed for any individual who is ready to step into a leadership role. We selected this program for its affordable tuition rates as well as for the high percentage of students who receive financial aid which is 96%. This M.A. requires 30-36 credit hours for completion which is determined by your previous education. The three component parts are: educational leadership core, educational leadership electives, and an internship. The core components examine curriculum, instruction and program leadership, professional development and assessment, characteristics of effective leadership and more. Students will also be required to complete an internship. The cost of this program is $300 per credit hour.
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- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $300
4.) Wilkes University
Wilkes University is a private co-educational university located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. There are 5,552 students enrolled and the student-to-faculty ratio is 14:1. The Middle State Commission on Higher Education accredits Wilkes University to award bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. According to U.S. News Wilkes ranks as the 78th top regional university in the North and the 42nd best college for veterans, as well as the 43rd best value school. The majority of classes contain fewer than 20 students- giving individuals more opportunity for specialized learning experiences. Students engage with myriad of degree options in the arts and sciences including biochemistry, accounting, digital communication, elementary education, mechanical engineering, creative writing, and more. For affordable online degree offerings, there are 13 of them- the most popular in the fields of education and literature.
Wilkes University offers a Master of Science in Educational Leadership (EDLS) with a K-12 Principal Certification (optional). We selected this program for its affordable online tuition rate as well as for the high percentage of students receiving financial aid which is 97%. This online program function much like a program would at a brick and mortar campus- in cohorts. Students looking to enroll in this program must have completed 3 years of full-time teaching and pass the prerequisite EDLS course: The Principal as Educational Leader. Once completed students will study administrative leadership and curriculum instruction, school law for principles, special education programming and administration, and others. This program includes an administrative internship as well as an applied research project. For your Master’s degree students may select the include courses on intercultural communication, education research, and technology leadership. This program requires 27 credit hours for completion or 36 credit hours for those who elect to complete the K-12 Principal Certification. The cost for this program is $454 per credit hour.
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- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $454
5.) Concordia University – Ann Arbor
Concordia University-Ann Arbor is a private not-for-profit university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. There are 1,046 students enrolled and the student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1. The Higher Learning Commission accredits CU-Ann Arbor to award associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees as well as postbaccalaureate certificates and post-master’s certifications. According to U.S. News CU- Ann Arbor ranks as the 41st best regional university in the West, 22nd best college for veterans, and the 36th best value school. Though one of Concordia’s smaller campuses by enrollment, that does not at all effect the quality and quantity of degree options. Students have their pick of a vast array of degrees available in fields like the biomedical sciences, business, and education. When it comes to affordable online options, there are 9 degrees and professional certifications offered including a bachelor’s in criminal justice, a master’s in organizational leadership, and others.
Concordia University-Ann Arbor offers a Master of Science (M.S.) in Educational Leadership. This program is a great fit for individuals who seek leadership positions in schools. We selected this program for its fantastic affordable tuition rates and for the high percentage of students receiving financial aid which is 100%. Courses are 8 weeks in length and include course material like current issues and emerging trends, funding and financing schools, personnel management, and professional development. All students are required to engage with an internship which will help you to put theory directly into practice. This course requires 32 credit hours for completion and costs $565 per credit hour. The cost for tuition is reduced by 25% for teachers/administrators working in a Christian school and reduced by 24% for teacher working in Preferred Partnership schools.
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- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $565
6.) Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw State University (KSU) is a public university located in Kennesaw and is part of the University System of Georgia. KSU currently enrolls more than 33,000 students and is fully accredited by the Southern Association of College and Schools. Among other things, KSU is known for its vast options online offering 18 degrees 6 bachelors, 11 masters and one doctoral. The bachelor’s programs available consist of a bachelor of business administration in information security and assurance, a bachelor’s in business administration management, bachelor’s in business administration marketing, Bachelor of Science in nursing, and others. The graduate level programming includes a master of business administration, masters of education in educational leadership, Master of Science in international policy management, a master of education in special education and other. Historically, Kennesaw is known as the staging ground for the Great Locomotive Chase and was cited by Family Circle magazine as one of the nations 10 best towns for families.
Kennesaw State University (KSU) offers a Master’s of Education (Ed.M.) in Educational Leadership. We selected this program of study for its affordable tuition as well as for the percentage of students receiving financial aid which is 90%. This course allows for three concentrations in the following: Ethics and Multicultural Leadership, Leading Independent & Charter Schools, and Technology Leadership. All candidates are required to select at least one concentration. The core courses focus on creating a school vision, leading curriculum instruction and assessment, leading teaching and learning in the 21st century, research in educational leadership and more. The cost of this program is $408 per credit hour and requires 30-33 credit hours for completion.
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- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $408
7.) University of Louisiana at Monroe
The University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) is a public 4-year institution located in Monroe, Louisiana. There are 9,038 students enrolled and the student-to-faculty ratio is 21:1. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits ULM to award associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees as well as postbaccalaurate certificates and post-master’s certificates. Academically, ULM has something for everyone- offering a wide array of traditional (brick and mortar) as well as non-traditional (online and evening) education in fields like finance, speech communication, social work, and music performance. Online programming is robust including nearly 40 fully online degrees and professional certifications.
The University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) offers a Master of Education in Educational Leadership. We selected this online course for its affordable tuition and for the high percentage of student who receive financial aid- 98%. The course requires 36 credit hours for completion which includes an internship. We like this program additionally for the comprehensive course material that includes teacher leaders educational research, school community relations, legal ethical and regulatory issues multiculturalism, managing, instructional supervision, further research, improving school performance and more. This rigorous online course costs just $500 per credit hour.
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- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $500
8.) Texas A&M Commerce
Texas A&M University- Commerce is a public 4-year institution located in Commerce, Texas. There are 13,514 students enrolled and the student-to-faculty ratio is 21:1. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits Texas A&M- Commerce to award bachelor’s, master’s, and doctor’s degrees.U.S. News ranks as the 156th best school for high school counselor rankings, 147th for their engineering programs and 331st for their business program. We like their affordable online degree offerings as well as the programming available to both traditional and non traditional students. Degree offerings include music, graphic design, agriculture, criminology and more. When it comes to affordable online programming, Commerce offers 14 online degrees and professional certifications for both undergraduates and graduate students.
Texas A&M- Commerce offers a Master of Education (Ed.M.) in Educational Administration (EDAD). This program is fully online and was selected for its affordable tuition rates as well as for the high percentage of students receiving financial aid which is 90%. The course follows a very specific sequence and requires 2 years to complete. Students may opt to complete the 30-hour online Master’s degree in educational administration with principal certification or the 21-hour online principal in certification only plan. The EDAD master’s course sequence includes leading effective schools, using research for best practice, using the law in educational practice, building capacity for powerful learning, designing curriculum, using evaluation and data to improve learning, facilitating learning for diverse students, and multicultural education. The cost of this program is $410 per credit hour.
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- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $410
9.) Capella University
Capella University is a private distance- learning institution headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. There are 37,569 students enrolled and the student-to-faculty ratio is 22:1. The Higher Learning Commission accredits Capella University to award bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral degrees, as well as professional certifications. As a distance learning university, Capella provides all of its education online. There are hundreds of online courses offered in career-ready fields like business, health, information technology, and education. Students may select online degrees that range from the bachelor’s to doctoral level as well as professional certifications. Its military-friendly benefits include discounted tuition, transfer credits for military training, flexible military leave of absence policy, and military spousal support. Capella offers two paths to degree completion: the FlexPath which is self-paced and the GuidedPath where the pace is set by the university.
Capella University offers a fully online Master of Science (M.S.) in Education with a specialization in Leadership in Educational Administration. The program is broken into 4 component parts: the core course, specialization courses, school leadership emphasis courses, and the final principal capstone experience. Core course include the foundation of master’s studies in education, survey of research methodology, assessment and improvement of instruction and strategies for eliminating the achievement gap. We selected this program for its affordable tuition and high percentage of students who receive financial aid which is 92%. The cost per credit hour is $444.
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- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $444
10.) Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte is a private institution that was founded in 1857 and is located in historic Charlotte, North Carolina. There are 2,330 students enrolled and the student-to-faculty ratio is 9:1. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits Queens University of Charlotte to award bachelor’s, and master’s degrees as well as post baccalaureate certificates. U.S. News ranks Queens University of Charlotte as 20th best university in the South, 12th best college for veterans, 30th best value school, and 61st for best online graduate education programs, and 119th for best online MBA programs. Their programs and majors range from music to biochemistry and affordable online degree offerings include a master’s in nursing education, MBA, and a M.Ed in educational leadership.
Queens University of Charlotte offers a fully online Master of Arts in Educational Leadership. This program was selected for its affordable tuition and high percentage of student receiving financial aid (which is 85%). This 33 credit hour program includes two 3 credit hour internships and core leadership material. In this program you will learn about curriculum and development, improving instruction using data, leading in human resources and finance, leading diversity, about global society, building community and more. Student will also receive a personal mentor to help them reach their true leadership potential. The cost of this affordable program is just $390 per credit hour.
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- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $390
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