The pandemic forced classrooms to embrace new technology, and that growth doesn't need to stop. Educational technology can improve learning and teaching outcomes in schools and the corporate world. It can aid the instructional process and improve equity.
Earning a master's in educational technology degree prepares you to become a modern educator who can implement new technologies to benefit diverse learning communities.
Debating a new career or how to upgrade your current job? This degree can prepare you to pursue careers as a teacher, consultant, instructional designer, or learning technologist.
Continue reading to see what education technology master's programs offer in terms of coursework and job outcomes for graduates.
Popular Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Top Affordable Online Education Technology Master's Degrees
Getting Into an Online Master's in Educational Technology Program
Ready to apply to an online master's in educational technology program? You can streamline the process by gathering common materials and keeping a record of upcoming deadlines.
Start early, gathering letters of recommendation and transcripts — delays can cost you to miss admission deadlines. Make sure you understand the general graduate admission requirements and any specific program requirements, such as an admittance interview or GRE scores.
Application
A lot of time and effort goes into a college application. Your online master's in educational technology application showcases your academic, personal, professional, and leadership talents.
Test Scores
Admissions may require GRE or GMAT scores, especially if your GPA does not meet requirements. Check to see if your prospective schools have standardized test requirements or list minimum test scores. Additionally, international students often need to submit English language proficiency scores.
Official Transcripts
Education technology master's programs require candidates to hold a bachelor's degree. Expect to submit official transcripts of your undergraduate studies. This shows proof that you meet the GPA requirements.
You'll need to contact your former college, pay a fee, and order them by mail or electronically. Do it early to avoid missing any deadlines.
Personal Essays
A personal essay allows you to shine, adding context to your resume and transcripts. Colleges may ask for a short personal essay (300-500 words), or a statement about your interest in pursuing an online master's in educational technology degree.
Letters of Recommendation
Submitting 2-3 letters of recommendation from professional references helps give colleges a more robust picture of you. Ask your former professors, managers, or religious or volunteer leaders to vouch for your character and/or work ethic. Word of advice: Give your reference enough time to draft a letter or complete a recommendation form before the deadline.
Resume and Work Experiences
Take time to update your resume with volunteer or internship experiences relevant to your major. Work experiences enhance your application, showing admissions your accomplishments outside of college. If you need help to edit or format your resume, go to your undergraduate career center or an online resume resource.
Paying for an Online Master's in Educational Technology
Colleges may charge online degree-seekers a lower tuition rate than traditional colleges. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), enrollees in master's in education technology programs paid an average of $8,537 in 2020 to study online, versus $15,409 on campus. Online learners can pay less, but sometimes colleges tack on a technology fee.
Graduate degree-holders often outperform bachelor's degree-holders when it comes to compensation, particularly in areas such as education. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that master's degree-holders earn a median of $1,661 per week, while bachelor's degree-holders make a median of $1,432 weekly.
Average Annual Cost of a Master's in Educational Technology
Online
$8,537 for tuition and fees in 2020
In-Person
$15,409 for tuition and fees in 2020
Source: National Center for Education Statistics
| Payment Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Loans | Private and federal loans help you pay college-related expenses. Money goes directly to your school to cover tuition. Anything extra goes to you. | Repaying loans can cost more when you factor in any interest rates. Defaulting on loans can result in costly fines. |
| Scholarships | When you get awarded merit-based or financial-need scholarships, you keep the money. Your school, state, or outside nonprofits may offer varying award amounts. | You need to meet academic and financial requirements to apply for scholarships. |
| Grants | Grants offer another financial aid source that does not require repayment. Need extra cash for college? You can get federal grants such as Pell Grants based on your financial need. TEACH Grants offer additional aid for future educators who make a commitment to serve in a high need area. | Read the fine print. Because grants often require a commitment. If you fail to honor that, grants could become loans you owe back. |
| Work study | Work-study programs allow you to earn cash while you go to school. Colleges place you in positions on and off campus. | Working may not fit into your schedule. |
| Upfront | Paying upfront, by semester or for all four years, allows you to save money. | Most students and their families lack the cash reserves to pay upfront for their college education. |
Source: NCES
Tips for Making an Online Master's More Affordable
Do not take more courses than you need. Check with your academic advisor on the recommended course load.
See if you can take any courses at a community college. Two-year schools often offer lower tuition rates for the same core college classes.
Find free digital textbook resources when you can, or rent or borrow books.
Work while in school and pay any loans during your studies, if you can.
Common Education Technology Master's Degree Courses
Top master's in educational technology programs teach you how to incorporate educational technologies in schools, universities, the public sector, and businesses. You'll complete about 30 credits, including 9-13 electives and core courses that cover learning theories and pedagogy. The lessons deepen your understanding of how to integrate technology into various learning environments.
You'll develop your ability to evaluate systems, implement instruction design, and optimize accessibility. The ever-changing nature of technology means students must grasp new technologies — and so must you, as their instructor. Explore a sample curriculum below.
Capstone Project
Often, final projects ask you to synthesize your learning and apply it to create professional or academic learning modules. The capstone project may also require a research project on an original topic.
Assessment and Evaluation
This course explores the various evaluation methods and ethical standards educational technologists use. These standards measure the effectiveness of educational technology.
Instructional Design
Using learning theories and research as a framework, you'll learn to plan and develop impactful instructional processes for specific settings such as schools or businesses. You'll continually adapt the instructional design based on learning goals and feedback.
Introduction to Computer Programming
Enrollees in this course gain hands-on learning in object-oriented programming using Python, HTML, Javascript, and CSS. You'll build an interactive website that also serves as a digital portfolio.
Teaching with Social Media
This elective allows you to explore how to harness social media as an educational tool. The lessons explore the pros and cons of social media and its application in a classroom setting to teach analytical thinking.
Why Get an Online Master's in Educational Technology?
An online master's in educational technology provides many benefits to people working in education and those considering switching careers to work in educational technology.
Degree-holders can pursue opportunities in a variety of settings, including specific learning communities such as learners with disabilities. Possible work settings include government, schools, colleges, and companies.
Earning an online master's in educational technology degree provides other benefits such as:
Studying online from anywhere
Keeping your job while you enroll in college
Increasing your earning potential
Allowing you to pursue a meaningful career
Enabling you to earn a graduate education for less
What Can I Do With a Master's in Educational Technology?
You can work as an educator in public school, or in the private sector as an educational technology specialist. A master's degree is the prerequisite to enroll in a doctoral program.
| Career | Description | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Instructional coordinators | These professionals, which include curriculum developers, create instructional materials and coordinate educational content and technlogies. | $74,620 |
| Educational technology specialist | Educational technology specialists provide technical support to help educators use technology in classrooms. They evaluate a school's needs and recommend devices and other technology that could improve learning. | $60,000 |
| Secondary school teacher | Secondary school teachers (typically encompassing middle and high schools) educate students and manage classrooms, including by incorporating technology. (Educational technology expertise can be relevant at all educational levels.) | $65,220 |
| Training and development specialists | Training and development specialists develop training materials, programs, online learning for staff in businesses and organizations. | $64,340 |
How Much Do Education Technology Graduates Make?
When you earn an online master's in educational technology degree, you can potentially make an average annual salary of $72,331 (Payscale 2024), as a curriculum developer or $64,340 as a training and development specialist (BLS 2023).
Salary statistics do not always reflect real-world earnings. What you end up taking home varies on your experience, degree, and the specific work setting. Job security also varies.
The BLS reports that the job growth for training and development managers will increase by 6% from 2022-2032, compared to 1% for elementary school teachers. Note that while classroom instruction is certainly an option, many people who hold EdTech degrees don't teach directly in a classroom.
More Questions About Education Technology Master's Programs
Education technology master's programs broadly teach you how to incorporate technologies into the curriculum. Programs may focus on design, or on teaching you object-oriented programming essentials.
