The five states that comprise the New England region are well-known for their respect and achievements in public education. From the very beginning, reading and critical thinking were foundational here, and that streak still runs deep in this part of the country.
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont regularly wind up on the top of the list in the National Center for Education Statistics’ (NCES) Assessment of Educational Progress report.
Courtesy of the efforts and strong support of educators around the region, the core lessons of math, reading, writing, and science are all things that New England students absorb early and keep with them throughout their educational careers. The Census Bureau puts the graduation rate here at nearly 92 percent, higher than the national average. And the rate of those graduates that go on to earn a college degree is a full 25 percent higher than the rest of the country.
The New England Region May Be Known for Expensive Universities, but We Can Help You Find the Best Value
You won’t find anyone questioning the virtues of a quality education here in New England, and few would deny that it often comes at a premium. Data from NCES tells the story – in all New England states other than Vermont, the cost of earning a college degree is higher than the national average. On top of that, the cost of living here is considerable. A 2022 report from the Council for Community & Economic Research put these five states in the top 15 most expensive places to live and work in the country.
That’s a price we’re willing to pay here for the community and the opportunities this area has to offer. And it doesn’t mean you still can’t find an excellent value among the top-tier schools offering graduate degrees in educational leadership here. With a careful analysis of educational leadership degrees that looked at some basic pricing criteria, we identified a range of master’s programs where future principals and superintendents can earn the credentials they need at a price they can afford.
The Most Affordable Administrator Prep Master’s Programs in Educational Leadership in the New England Region
Maine
Saint Joseph’s College of Maine
Standish, ME
Website
MSEd in School Leadership (online)
MSEd in Catholic School Leadership (online)
Total Estimated Program Cost: $16,164
Total tuition for an educational leadership master’s degree comes in at $1,925 below the state average for similar programs at private universities.
- Named a Top Performer for Social Mobility by U.S. News & World Report
- Fully online course of study with no campus residency requirement
- Offered in five, ten-week terms for maximum convenience and flexibility
Priced right and designed in a fully online format for outstanding convenience and flexibility, Saint Joseph’s College of Maine’s MSEd in either School Leadership or Catholic School Leadership will propel your career from educator to school administrator! These dynamic graduate programs feature practical-based courses that allow you to immediately begin applying what you’ve learned to your work setting. You’re also sure to love the programs’ faculty, who have extensive experience in education, and the fully online format that comes complete with five, ten-week terms and no campus residency requirement.
Massachusetts
Endicott College
School of Education
Beverly, MA
Website
MEd in Administrative Leadership - option for licensure (online)
Total Estimated Program Cost: $19,908
Total tuition for an educational leadership master’s degree comes in at $18,353 below the state average for similar programs at private universities.
- Ranked among the top regional colleges in the Northeast by U.S. News & World Report
- Named a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report
- Engaging, online cohort design
- Also offers:
- MEd in Higher Education Leadership
- EdD in Educational Leadership PK-12
- EdD in Educational Leadership in Higher Education
Endicott College’s MEd in Administrative Leadership is offered at a superb price and delivered in a convenient and flexible online format that’s ideally designed for today’s busy, working educators. This exciting course of study features a cohort design and an option for licensure as a principal or superintendent. We also love this program for its rigorous and relevant coursework, its faculty of experienced school leaders and district administrators, and the practical experiences it provides to prepare graduates for today’s K-12 environments.
Cambridge College
School of Education
Boston, MA
Website
MEd in Educational Leadership (hybrid)
Total Estimated Program Cost: $19,488
Total tuition for an educational leadership master’s degree comes in at $18,773 below the state average for similar programs at private universities.
- Principal/assistant principal licensure and non-licensure track
- Designed specifically for the needs of adult learners
- Outstanding convenience – day, evening, weekend, and online courses available
- Outstanding faculty of educational administration experts and practitioners
- Also offers:
- EdD in Educational Leadership
- Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Educational Leadership-School Administration
Cambridge College’s MEd in Educational Leadership boasts the affordability you’ve been looking for, along with a degree of flexibility that makes earning the degree you need for a career in administration more accessible. You’re sure to love the many course options here that include day, evening, weekend, and online courses. Whether you’re looking to earn your Principal/Assistant Principal license (PK-8 or 5-12) or just interested in furthering your education, this program has what you need to succeed! Just some of the other perks of this program include an experienced faculty who bring diverse educational leadership research experience to the program and work closely with students… exciting hands-on training that includes a 500-hour practicum, a professional seminar, and an independent learning project… and plenty of guidance and support along the way.
American International College
School of Education
Springfield, MA
Website
MEd in School Leadership (on-campus)
Total Estimated Program Cost: $19,000
Total tuition for an educational leadership master’s degree comes in at $19,261 below the state average for similar programs at private universities.
- Also offers: EdD in Educational Leadership and Supervision
- Licensure and non-licensure tracks available
- Outstanding guidance and mentorship through a graduate student-to-faculty ratio of just 8:1
The American International College MEd in School Leadership offers an outstanding price tag that places it nearly $18,000 below the state average for similar programs. It offers a clear and focused path to the Principal-Assistant Principal (PK-8 or 5-12) or Administrator of Special Education license, and represents an exceptional value. Just some of the topics explored in the MEd in School Leadership include financial and asset management, legal issues for school leaders, as well as practical applications in planning and curriculum design. This outstanding course of graduate study is designed to prepare tomorrow’s educational leaders and administrators to lead with skill and confidence.
Gordon College
School of Graduate, Professional and Extended Studies
Wenham, MA
Website
MEd in Educational Leadership (online)
Total Estimated Program Cost: $12,600
Total tuition for an educational leadership master’s degree comes in at $25,661 below the state average for similar programs at private universities.
- Also offers: EdS in Leadership
- Ranked among the Princeton Review’s Best Colleges
- Ranked among the Best National Liberal Arts Colleges by U.S. News & World Report
- Superb faculty of experienced educational administrators
With a price tag that places it more than $24,000 below the state average for similar programs, Gordon College’s MEd in Educational Leadership offers an exceptional value. And thanks to a fully online format, this program is as convenient as it is affordable. This dynamic course of study, which prepares students for special education administrator, supervisor/director, and superintendent roles, is expertly designed for both experienced teachers and current administrators looking to advance. It’s taught by experienced educational administrators who integrate the latest research into the program. Whether you’re interested in pursuing an initial Massachusetts’ license, an additional initial license, or a Professional License, this program is designed with you in mind!
New Hampshire
New England College
Graduate and Professional Studies
Manchester, NH
Website
MEd in Educational Leadership (online)
Total Estimated Program Cost: $16,320
Total tuition for an educational leadership master’s degree comes in at $4,788 below the state average for similar programs.
- Also offers: EdD in Educational Leadership; MS, EdD in Higher Education Administration; EdD in Pk-12 Leadership; Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Educational Leadership
- Principal licensure track available
- On-site program features a tightknit learning environment
The New England College’s MEd in Educational Leadership offers an affordable and convenient path to principal licensure! Site-based, data-driven, and always designed to immediately relate to real-world settings, this exciting program is everything you need to make the move from educator to school administrator and leader! We love the distinguished faculty of expert practitioners and the tightknit learning environment that encourages outstanding communication and collaboration.
Rhode Island
Providence College
Providence, RI
Website
MEd in School Leadership (on-campus)
Total Estimated Program Cost: $19,080
Only private master’s program in educational leadership in Rhode Island.
- Also offers: Graduate Certificate in Sports Administration
- Named the top school in New England for elementary and middle school administration master’s degree programs by College Factual
- Consistently ranked among the Best Regional Universities in the North by U.S. News & World Report
Providence College’s MEd in School Leadership is where committed educators become competent, ethical educational leaders. Priced right and designed to prepare students to assume assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent roles, this dynamic course of graduate study focuses on curriculum, evaluation, instruction, law, and finance. Additional courses address community concerns, technology, and research techniques for a truly well-rounded program.