Wisconsin’s state motto is “Forward” — an appropriate message to goal-oriented students who want to receive a Master of Education (MEd). And as it turns out, teachers in Wisconsin are in high demand. Recent teacher pay hikes and attractive incentives for in-state educators, including loan forgiveness and state grants, are helping to address a shortage of qualified teachers.
Perhaps you’re also interested in pursuing your graduate degree online. While you’ll find many standout online MEd programs across the country, this guide will introduce you to your best options for earning an online Master of Education in Wisconsin, providing insight into available specializations, program costs, and other answers to your top-of-mind questions.
Ready to follow the state motto and earn that degree? Keep reading to go “Forward” — toward your future online education master’s degree in Wisconsin.
Diving Into WI’s Top Online Education Master’s
As you begin your search for the best Wisconsin online Master of Education program for you, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. You’ll have many options in front of you, each with its own admissions process, pathways, and student resources. Below, you’ll find three school spotlights detailing what you can expect from a future Wisconsin graduate school experience in education. Explore these programs to help you make an informed choice.
Concordia University Wisconsin
If you’re looking for an accelerated online Master of Education in Wisconsin, Concordia University Wisconsin has many options. You’ll find six Master of Science in Education (MSEd) programs available in an accelerated online format, including Instructional Leadership, Literacy, and Teaching and Learning among others, and three additional education graduate degrees. You’ll pay $715 per credit in each program, and financial aid is available.
Concordia University Wisconsin is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is a Lutheran higher education community. Forty percent of its student population identifies as Lutheran, and a Christ-centered approach to education is the standard in its classrooms.
If you’re hoping to try a class before committing, Concordia offers a free, three-week preview of a Concordia Core course. No textbooks, no homework, just a free trial to see if the online format fits your life. After completion, you’ll get a waiver code for a free application.
Marian University Wisconsin
At the Catholic Marian University Wisconsin, you can choose from three areas of focus for your online Master of Arts in Education (MAEd): Special Education or Teacher Education, both of which are offered in a series of flexible four-week courses, or At Risk and Alternative Education, which is offered in seven-week courses. While your coursework can be completed online using Marian’s proprietary MPath schedule — mostly non-sequential classes with few prerequisites — you’ll still be expected to complete field work and student teaching.
You’ll pay $698 per credit, and you can earn your degree on a full- or part-time schedule. The school notes that 100% of students receive some sort of financial aid, with scholarships, grants, loans, and student employment as options. As a graduate of this HLC-accredited school, you’ll have access to an extensive network of school districts and experienced teachers for assistance with job placement.
Universities of Wisconsin Online
The Universities of Wisconsin Online offer about 25 different master’s degrees in education. You can choose from specializations like Special Education, Business Education, Instruction, Music Education, and more, all in an online format. All programs are semester-based, except for the Master of Science in Educational Leadership & Policy, which can be taken in an accelerated format.
Each of the 13 schools in the Universities of Wisconsin network is accredited by the HLC and offers its own unique standout support options, including wellbeing resources, access to digital libraries, career planning, and academic support. And check out UW Online’s interactive time management calculator designed to help you achieve balance based on your credit load and lifestyle goals. There are different tuition rates and financial aid options based on your campus, but all online students have access to grants, scholarships, and loans.
Popular Education Specializations in Wisconsin
While you’ll have many types of master’s degrees in education to choose from, including a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), the Master of Education and beyond, you’ll also be able to customize your degree with a specialization that speaks to your interests. Learn about the following five options, which are popular choices in Wisconsin.
Elementary Education
Many students who see themselves teaching young children or even serving in elementary school leadership positions are interested in receiving a master’s degree in elementary education. Because this is a broad-stroke degree that covers many audiences and content areas, you’ll be exposed to curriculum related to social sciences, mathematics, writing, and child development. You’ll gain in-depth knowledge of learning styles and communication techniques to employ with students and their families.
Instructional Design
A common theme throughout education classes is how students learn best. A valuable degree that investigates this topic in depth is an MEd in Instructional Design. Coursework explores teaching methods and strategies that maximize learning potential for students, with emerging technologies and digital learning often in focus. You may also learn about the value of instructional games and simulations and adapt your knowledge to evaluate curricula and programs.
Music Education
If you have a musical background and are also interested in pursuing work as a teacher, then a master’s degree in music education may be right up your alley. Most programs offer online coursework, but because of the performative nature of this degree program, you’ll likely have in-person requirements. Common course topics include music theory, music history, orchestration, and a deep dive into understanding music education techniques.
Reading & Literacy
Reading challenges are common for children, which is one reason why an online master’s degree in reading & literacy is a popular choice for graduate degree seekers. In this program, you’ll learn diagnostic assessments for students in kindergarten through high school. You’ll also analyze reading and writing strategies, explore concepts related to digital literacy, and learn about the cultural foundations of language development.
Special Education
When you choose to pursue a master’s degree in special education, you’re exploring how students with a range of disabilities can learn best. In this area of focus, you’ll take courses covering learning development, teaching strategies, and curriculum design. Communication and collaboration are also hallmarks of this degree, as you’ll be working with students, families, and administrators throughout your career.
Popular Education Careers in Wisconsin
With the potential of a master’s degree in education before you, you may be wondering: Will the effort and investment of time and money translate to a rewarding career? You’re smart to wonder, which is why it’s important to consider the specific career and its income potential in the state you’ll be working in before you choose an education master’s program or specialty. Explore a few promising education career options for master’s degree holders in Wisconsin below.
| Career | WI 10th Percentile Pay | WI Median Pay | WI 90th Percentile Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $101,250 | $129,340 | $180,450 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $47,730 | $75,380 | $127,000 |
| Training and Development Managers | $77,880 | $118,680 | $183,700 |
Source: The Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023
Postsecondary Education Administrators
If you have an interest in overseeing a college or university department such as student services, academics, admissions, financial aid, or faculty research, you may have a future as a postsecondary education administrator. In this role, you’ll likely represent an academic administrative office such as the registrar or an academic dean. Or you may specialize in an area such as student activities, housing and residential life, or diversity, equity, and inclusion. Your goal will be to provide support resources for students and faculty, specific to the department in which you work.
Postsecondary Teacher
Perhaps you’re less interested in overseeing a campus department and are more intrigued by the idea of teaching college classes. If so, you may be a future postsecondary teacher, instructing at the college, university, community college, or professional school level. Your role is certainly an educational one, but you’ll also be charged with building healthy relationships between you and your students. While college professors often need a doctorate, some schools allow you to teach and begin research with a master’s degree.
Training and Development Manager
Many graduates of a master’s program in education consider using their leadership skills to become a principal, though another option — especially if you specialized in Educational Leadership or Curriculum and Instruction — is a training and development manager. You’ll use the communication, instructional design, and program development skills you learned in your graduate study to oversee training programs, staff, and budgets. You’ll also work with executive leadership to identify training priorities to match business goals.
Steps to Becoming a Wisconsin Educator
Step 1: Choose a Specialization
Some students wish to enter their teaching profession with a specialty. Whether it’s teaching music, special education, physical education, or something else, you’d prefer in-depth knowledge of a niche. Others want to approach the profession as a generalist, earning a general MEd or MSEd. You get to decide, as Wisconsin’s requirements do not include specific course or credit hour requirements.
Step 2: Gain Field Experience in Your Program
Teacher preparation programs in WI, including predominantly online programs, typically involve a combination of coursework and fieldwork. The fieldwork component often includes classroom observation, graduate/teaching assistantships, student teaching, or internships. The University of Wisconsin-Madison offers a guide to “Preparing for Field Experiences,” and many schools offer similar resources specific to their program. Be sure to inquire as early as possible in your education about your field experience requirement so you can know what to expect.
Step 3: Earn Your Online Master's Degree
Earning your degree will take some time, though the exact duration depends on the program (and its associated requirements) as well as whether you’re going to school on a full- or part-time basis. Regardless, you’ll be learning foundational skills in your degree program, which you’ll be able to apply throughout your career. If you’re planning to teach in Wisconsin, a bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement, and you’ll want to ensure your program is part of the state’s approved educator preparation programs.
Step 4: Pass Your State Exams
To become a licensed educator in Wisconsin, you’ll need to pass specific tests. All candidates need a passing score on the computer-delivered Praxis II Core Academic Skills for Educators in the following areas:
- Reading
- Writing
- Mathematics
Then, depending on the age range you’ll be teaching or to prove your subject matter competence, you’ll need to earn passing scores on additional required tests — most often a Praxis II Subject Matter Exam, a Pearson’s National Evaluation Series Test, or an ACTFL World Language Test. The complete list is available through Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
Step 5: Become Licensed
Wisconsin uses a tier-level credentialing system. You’ll need to identify your appropriate pathway depending on your level of education and the state in which you received your degree, and then when you’ve completed all requirements of your pathway, you’ll apply for a Wisconsin Initial Educator License using the state’s Educator Licensing Online (ELO) System. You’ll also complete a Conduct and Competency questionnaire in ELO, including all required documentation and information, and be required to pass a background check before you can earn licensure.
The Price of an Education Master’s in WI
Making the decision to pursue a master’s degree in Wisconsin comes with a lot of unknowns. But one fact you should be able to nail down before you choose your program: your total financial commitment. Before you enroll, it’s essential that you have a plan for paying for your degree, and you’ll want to explore as many creative ways to budget for graduate school as possible. While you’ll find many affordable online education programs through your research, the data below paints the financial picture for three Wisconsin schools offering three different education master’s degrees.
| School | Program | No. of Credits | Est. Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concordia University Wisconsin | MSEd – Instructional Leadership | 33 | $23,595 |
| UW-Superior | MSEd – Educational Administration | 30 | $15,060 |
| UW-Stevens Point | Master of Music Education (MME) | 30 | $18,000 |
Financial Aid Options for Education Majors
You’ll find that many financial aid opportunities are available to you to help offset the cost of your degree as an online education master’s student. These often include scholarships/grants, fellowships, work-study programs, and graduate research assistantships.
In addition to identifying education-specific financial aid resources, you’ll also want to research options designed for WI students. These include, among others:
- The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction lists many grant opportunities for Wisconsin teachers.
- T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Wisconsin offers scholarships to early childhood educators, and a number of master’s degree scholarships are offered.
- There may also be funding options at your specific school. The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh has a page dedicated to scholarships, fellowships, and internships for its students.
Online Education Master’s Students FAQs
Is an online education degree a worthwhile investment in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin needs qualified educators, and the state is offering attractive benefits to its teachers. Because Wisconsin has a lower-than-average cost of living — about 2% lower than the national average, according to some analyses — your online degree can help you secure a job in a state where money can go farther than it would in more expensive states.
Are education master’s only for people who want to become teachers?
There’s a good chance you’re exploring a few different degree types as you research Wisconsin master’s degrees in education. The most common are a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and the MEd. While the MAT focuses on teaching skills and is typically favored by future teachers, the MEd is broader in scope and can apply to future educators or to people interested in policy work or a leadership position in education. Your graduate degree in education can prepare you for a variety of roles, both in and out of the classroom.
Does Wisconsin offer any regional programs for educators?
To meet employer demand and community needs throughout Wisconsin, the state has developed a 3.5-year teacher apprenticeship pilot program in conjunction with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The program will train future teachers in elementary and middle school classrooms using the Wisconsin Apprenticeship earn-while-you-learn structure. Participants complete education requirements, certifications, and licensure while learning to be a teacher in the classroom.
Can I legally work in Wisconsin if I am credentialed as an educator in another state?
The state offers various pathways for applicants who completed an out-of-state program who are seeking Wisconsin licensure as teachers, administrators, and pupil services (such as school counselor, school psychologist, school social worker). You must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited school and completed a teacher preparation program. Because of the nuances inherent to each role, you’ll find out-of-state pathway scenarios outlined for teachers, administrators, and pupil services on the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction website. There is also an out-of-state-pathway FAQ page that answers many common reciprocity questions.
Can I earn a graduate certificate in education?
Throughout your research, you’ll see many different online graduate certificate options for future educators. These allow you to drill down into content areas of interest, earning you additional skills that can make you a more competitive candidate in high-needs areas. Many of these can be completed after a limited number of credits, typically 15 to 18.