Affordable Online Master’s In English Language Learning Degrees

A ranking of the most affordable online master's in English language learning. Programs ranked by affordability, flexibility, and academic quality.

Updated on January 31, 2023

¿Habla inglés? Make your passion for languages a career by earning an affordable online master's in English language learning!

Did you know that over 20 percent of Americans speak a language other than English at home? For young people starting their education not knowing English, school can be a daunting task. That's why the education system needs teachers with a degree in TESOL (or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).

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What kind of online master's in English language learning should you get?

It's easy to get quickly overwhelmed at the cost of education these days. Earning – and paying for – a bachelor's degree is impressive in and of itself. But a graduate degree can sometimes simply be too much of a time and money commitment. That's why the combination of "affordable" and "online" are often a no-brainer for people. These 25 programs keep their costs low. They range from $7,000 to $20,000.

Most of these schools offer either an M.Ed. in TESOL or an MA in TESOL. Some of the specific language and acronyms vary, but each degree aims toward giving you the tools to teach English to non-English speakers. If you're looking for other related affordable graduate programs, take a look at our ranking of the Most Affordable Online Graduate Colleges.

How much money do people make with an online master's in English language learning?

You're already on the right track to earning a higher paycheck if you have a graduate degree in your 5-year plan. An advanced degree, hands down, will boost your salary just by nature of your gained experience. According to Payscale.com, ESL (English as a Second Language) Teachers can make as much as $65k per year. The average figure, however, is closer to $42k.

Here's the deal: Currently, the U.S. Department of Education predicts that by 2030, 40 percent of all school-age children in the US will speak a first language other than English. That means English as a Second Language teachers will be some of the most in-demand teachers in the nation.

What can you do with an online master's in English language learning?

A master's in English language learning doesn't mean you have to limit your skills to just the classroom. There's need for you everywhere! You could work with adults in a literacy non-profit setting. Or you could work with young adults who are trying to earn their GED. Teaching in the K-12 educational setting is great, but don't get too worried if that's not your cup of tea.

Have you ever thought about teaching English abroad? This degree could take you around the world. Regardless of where you choose to teach, this degree will deepen your knowledge of diversity in the classroom, technology integration, curriculum development, and more.

What are the requirements for an online master's in English language learning?

Even though all 25 of these programs are similar, you'll find that their requirements vary. For example, some programs require that you have an existing teaching license in your state of residence. Others let you take the program as a non-certification degree. The majority of these schools do not require you to take the GRE, but it's important to check the fine print when you apply.

Your curriculum will most likely follow a similar pattern for each school. Program lengths tend to last around two years. This varies, of course, with whether or not you're attending as a full-time or part-time student. As is common with a master's degree, most of these schools require 30-40 credit-hours, or 10-12 courses in total. You'll likely end your degree with a capstone project or practicum.

What are the best online master's in English language learning?

If you're looking for quality, affordability, and flexibility, you've come to the right place. The data team at College Choice has developed a methodology that first considers the online platforms and net cost of each program. Then they factor in essential data like graduation rates, retention rates, and the early salaries of graduates.

The final list offers you the 25 most affordable online master's in English language learning. Our facts and figures come from the university and colleges' websites, PayScale, and nationally recognized U.S. News & World Report and The National Center for Education Statistics.

Ranking

See our rankings methodology page.

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