Most Affordable Online Master's in Literacy Education

Bowling Green State University provides an online master of education in reading that also includes an Ohio Reading Endorsement for PreK-12. Upon graduation, alumni go on to positions as reading specialists and literacy coaches in public and private settings. An accelerated degree, full-time learners begin in June and graduate the following May. The program is divided into three phases: completing endorsement requirements (15 credits), developing tools for engagement (12 credits) and engaging as a reading specialist through a supervised practicum in a school. Applicants must provide PRAXIS, Ohio Assessment for Educators, or GRE scores.

Located just over an hour north of Houston, Sam Houston State University provides a distance education M.Ed. in reading/language arts with the option of adding a reading specialist certification. This master's in reading and literacy online exists for classroom teachers who want to strengthen their skills in this area and for those who want to earn a Texas Reading Specialist Certification. Within the required 36 hours, learners take classes in the politics of literacy, second language literacy, and digital literacies. It also includes 190 hours of field experience. Learners can start in July, November, or May. Applicants with 3.0 GPAs can bypass GRE requirements.

As one of the top online master's degree programs in reading and literacy, Nova Southeastern University in Florida caters to students at the brick-and-mortar campus and online. The program exists for current reading/language arts teachers who want a graduate degree and individuals with bachelor's degrees in generic education topics who want to specialize. The curriculum requires 36 credits and includes a practicum in individual remediation. Applicants must have an undergraduate GPA of 2.5 to receive consideration and enrolled students must keep a cumulative GPA of 3.0 throughout the program. NSU learners pay $995 per credit but the school offers a significant number of scholarships.

Westminster College in Pennsylvania is a Presbyterian-affiliated, small private school that maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of 12-1. Students seeking a unique program can enroll in the M.Ed in special education with a reading specialist PreK-8 certification. Delivered in a cohort format, learners move through 36 credits together in topics such as preschool/elementary language and literacy, behavior management, and leadership in school literacy programs. Students also develop a practitioner research report about a specific aspect of the field. At the end of the program, students with GPAs of 3.0 or higher graduate and qualify to sit for the PRAXIS reading specialist exam.

Located in Mississippi's capital city, Jackson State University is a historically black university serving nearly 8,000 students. The online master of science in reading education provides an accelerated path that allows learners to finish the 30 required credits in just 12 months. By offering eight-week classes, degree seekers can focus on topics more intently without sacrificing quality. Standout courses include using literature to teach literacy, the psychology of literacy, and current issues in literacy instruction. Two supervised practicums are also included. Applicants must hold a 2.5 undergraduate GPA, proof of passing PRAXIS scores, and a Class A educator's license.

Slippery Rock University operates as a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and offers an online M.E. in elementary education with a K-12 reading specialist add-on. The program is designed to serve both classroom teachers and instructional coaches by providing actionable knowledge and skills throughout the curriculum. The degree requires 30 credits, 21 of which relate to reading and literacy core courses. The final nine focus on educational foundations and research topics. Individuals looking for certification only (not a master's degree) only take the core courses. Applicants must hold a current teaching license to be admitted.

Available exclusively through the Northern Michigan University Global Campus, this M.A.E. in reading (K-8) prepares existing certified teachers to move into roles as reading specialists. Upon graduation, learners are prepared to sit for the Michigan teaching certificate examination. The program requires 34 credits in educational foundations, research topics, the concentration area, and electives. Core topics include trends in teaching language arts and foundations of reading instruction. Students only seeing the reading endorsement complete 18 credits. Regardless of residence, all online students pay $542 per credit and are eligible to compete for some institutional scholarships.

Ohio University maintains the distinction of being the first college chartered by Congress and first opened its doors in 1787. Today the school educates students at both the Athens campus and online. The M.Ed. in reading exists as a 31-credit distance learning program that full-time learners complete in three semesters. Degree seekers can start the program in the summer or fall. After completing nine credits in core topics, students move into reading subjects. Some of these include phonics and the structure of language, coaching classroom teachers in reading/literacy, and diagnosing issues in reading/language arts.

Though South Dakota does not possess a dense population, Black Hills State University in Spearfish maintains an enrollment of nearly 4,500 learners thanks to significant distance learning options. The online M.Ed. in reading focuses on preparing K-12 reading specialists by offering a curriculum aligned to International Reading Association standards. The degree requires 34 credits in areas of action research, 7-12 reading and content literacy, and teaching English as a second language. It meets requirements for both South Dakota and Wyoming certification standards. During their first semester of enrollment, students apply to move into candidacy status. To do this, they need to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.

Located approximately 1.5 hours from the Twin cities, Minnesota State University in Mankato is the second largest school in the state. As part of online offerings, the school provides a online master's program in reading and literacy for current classroom teachers who want to gain a K-12 reading specialist certification. Learners can start the program in summer, fall, or spring; those enrolled on a full-time basis finish the 30 required credits in one year. Because so many enrollees continue teaching while in the program, all classes exist asynchronously and allow students to work at their own pace within the semester-based structure.

The College of Education at Michigan's Grand Valley State University offers a fully online M.Ed. in literary studies with an emphasis in reading/language arts. Designed for existing elementary/secondary classroom teachers looking to build their literacy skills, the program exists in full- and part-time learning formats and takes 33 credits total. Upon graduation and passing of the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification for Reading, graduates can work with K-5 students. Aside from completing practicum hours, learners must also complete a project or thesis. The project requires them to apply theories to a literacy problem they identify and offer actionable plans based on what they learned in the program.

Known nationally as a school focused on service learning, experiential education, and social justice, Hamline University in Minnesota provides one of the best online master's degree programs in reading and literacy in the nation. The curriculum is based off the belief that when children can read well, many doors open for them the rest of their lives. Students can start at three different times per academic year and spent approximately 24 months moving through requirements of the 34 credits. All learners pay $480 per credit but the School of Education offers several merit- and need-based scholarships.

Operating as part of the large State University of New York System, the University at Albany campus serves nearly 20,000 learners annually from its three campus locations and online. The M.S. in reading is unique in that it caters to individuals already working in literacy initiatives rather than current classroom teachers. The program focuses on helping literacy professionals gain the certification needed to enter a B-12 classroom. Learners take 15 credits of required courses in areas of classroom literacy instruction and children's literature before taking 15 credits of electives in areas of media literacy and language acquisition They finish the program by submitting a final culminating project.

East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina makes available a fully online M.A.E. in reading education for educators looking to earn a K-12 reading specialist certification. The program requires 39 credits and exists in part- and full-time formats. Learners can devote up to nine hours to mini-concentrations in areas of digital literacy, ESL, library science, or gifted education. ECU's College of Education provides four different start dates each year. The school sets no GPA requirements but does mandate GRE or MAT scores from all applicants. Once enrolled, North Carolinians pay $232.79 while those outside state lines pay $877.35.

Located in the heart of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lesley University focuses on providing educations in areas of writing, counseling, arts, education, and therapy. The M.Ed. in language and literacy exists fully online and helps graduates build literacy skills across the lifespan. 33 credits are taught in accelerated terms lasting eight weeks each, meaning part-time students typically need six semesters to graduate. Accepted students can begin studies in the fall, spring, or summer, so long as they can provide evidence of a teaching license or education-related experience. Lesley charges $22,225 in tuition and fees per academic year but several institutional scholarships exist to which online learners can apply.