Educational Leadership MA
- Graduate Educator Licensure or Endorsement
- Master's Degree
- Online
- Online
- Principal Licensure
- Administrator Licensure
- Dual Principal and Administrator Licensure
- Without Licensure
18 Months
Fall Term (Aug.)
Spring Term (Jan.)
Summer Term (May)
$722/Credit
Online Master’s for Educational Leadership and Administration
Want to become a a school or district leader? Our online Master of Arts (MA) in Educational Leadership is for you. This program prepares you to manage and lead educational programs for students from preschool to 12th grade.
Include Principal and/or Administrator Licensure
Tailor this program to your career goals and background. As part of this program you can choose principal licensure, administrator licensure, both licensures or you can take the degree without licensure.
Delivered Completely Online
You’ll complete the program online alongside other future and current educational leaders. You can keep working in your school and immediately apply what you learn.
What You’ll Learn
Our program teaches you everything you need to know to be a strong leader. You’ll take classes on a range of topics, including:
- Foundations of leadership: Understanding how to lead and manage.
- Program planning: Plan, implement and evaluate programs.
- School systems: Learning how schools and districts work.
- Budgets: How to handle money and resources.
- Policy and legal issues: The rules and laws that affect schools.
- Community engagement: How to work with parents and the community.
Career Advancement With or Without Licensure
PK12 with Principal Licensure Concentration
Prepares you for the Principal (K-12) License. Become a Principal or prepare for other school leader jobs.
This concentration requires Teacher Licensure.
PK12 with Administrator Licensure Concentration
Prepares you for an Initial Administrator License with endorsement as an Administrator (K-12). Become a District Superintendent or prepare for other district leadership positions.
This concentration requires Principal Licensure.
PK12 with Dual Principal and Administrator Licensure Concentration
Prepares you for both a Principal (K-12) License and for an Initial Administrator License with endorsement as an Administrator (K-12). Become a Principal, District Superintendent, or prepare for other school and district leadership positions.
This concentration requires Teacher Licensure.
PK12 Without Licensure
The program prepares you for educational leadership positions that do not require licensure. These roles include positions at private schools / organizations, as well as roles related to educational policy and advocacy.
Course of Study
Master’s Degree Delivered Fully Online
Attend from Anywhere
You will take your master’s coursework online and complete field-based learning experiences in your area.
Synchronous Online Sessions
Each online course will include synchronous learning sessions where the professor and students meet online at the same time. These sessions will be held one weeknight per week during the academic terms.
To see specific course offerings, visit an example current students page for this program.
Courses and Requirements
This is a 30-39 credit master’s degree program. The credit requirement depends on your chosen concentration.
PK12 with Principal Licensure Concentration – Courses and Requirement Details
PK12 with Administrator Licensure Concentration Courses and Requirement Details
PK12 with Dual Principal and Administrator Licensure Concentration – Courses and Requirement Details
PK12 Without Licensure Concentration – Courses and Requirement Details
Transfer Credit
If you have taken graduate courses that align with program courses, you can request transfer credit. Approved transfer credit can reduce the cost of completing this program. Program faculty will review your transfer credit to confirm that it matches course content and objectives. See the full graduate transfer credit policy for details.
Available as an Educational Specialist Degree
Educational Leadership EdS
If you already have a master’s degree, you may be interested in our Educational Specialist (post-master’s) version of this program.
Have Questions? Get in Touch!
Anna Taylor
Enrollment Counselor
Michael Cohen
Program Coordinator
Tuition Rate
Simple Per-Credit Tuition Rate
You pay the same rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.
Per Credit
Rate for the 2025-26 academic year (fall, spring and summer terms).*
No Student / Technology Fees
Certain courses, e.g., field experiences, may include course fees to support added services and materials.
*Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be decided mid-June 2026.
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): UNC provides a health insurance plan to all degree-seeking graduate students who are enrolled in 6 or more credits for a term. If you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage, you can opt out of this plan. Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information.
Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC’s official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.
Federal Financial Aid
Degree-seeking students are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Master’s degree students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full-time enrollment is based on 9 credits per term.
You will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNC Applying for Aid page provides important dates, including the release date and deadline for each academic year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August).
- Late FAFSA submissions are still accepted throughout the academic year, but you may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid.
- If the priority deadline has passed for the upcoming/current school year, we encourage you to apply for FAFSA consideration as soon as you enroll for your first courses.
- Depending on the time of year, you may be able to submit an application for the current academic year and an early/priority application for the following academic year.
You can also find helpful information in the Federal Student Aid Resources.
Program Eligibility
General Admission Requirements
- Possess a baccalaureate degree from an institutionally accredited college or university.
- Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better, on a 4.00 point scale, for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
- If you are in the process of completing a previous degree or have special GPA considerations, please read the specific requirements for this program type.
- Note: the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for graduate school admission.
Program-Specific Admission Requirements
- Have a valid teaching or special service provider license (school counselor or school psychologist license).
- Have completed two years of experience as a licensed teacher or special service provider.
Eligibility for Out-of-State Students
Eligibility by State
UNC can offer distance learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the major U.S. territories. We check for changes in state rules as needed. Some states may have extra rules for internships, clinical placements, and student teaching. Visit the State Authorization page to learn more.
Licensure Eligibility by State
UNC’s professional licensure programs are designed to lead to Colorado licensure. Each state sets their own requirements, so a UNC program might not lead to licensure in other states. Visit the UNC Licensure page to learn more about which states UNC programs meet educational requirements for licensure.
It’s important to understand requirements in the state where you plan to work. Visit the State Licensure Boards page to find each state’s licensing agency and contact information. Questions? Contact Licensure@unco.edu.
International Student Eligibility
You are eligible to apply: We accept international students to online UNC programs. We can’t guarantee that our programs meet distance education requirements for every country. Before you apply, check your country’s policies and regulations. You should not apply if you live in a country that is subject to U.S. sanctions.
No student visa: Students in online UNC programs do not need to come to the United States. You will not get a student visa or receive any immigration documentation. You do not need to provide financial documentation when applying.
You will need to provide proof of your English language ability or complete the UNC Intensive English Program. Please visit the International Admissions page for information about:
- Minimum English language requirements
- Applying as an international student
Meet with an Enrollment Counselor
Meet the Program Faculty
Visit the Academic Department
Are You Ready to Apply?
Thank you for your interest in this UNC program! Here are some elements you can check to be sure you are eligible and ready to apply to this program.
Program Eligibility
See the Program Eligibility section above.
Licensure Eligibility by State
This program is related to a state licensure, endorsement or other credential. If you intend to pursue a credential outside of Colorado, please check the Licensure Eligibility by State section above.
International Applicants
Please see the International Student Eligibility section above to check your eligibility for this program.
Recommended Application Deadlines
For the best possible admission, enrollment and orientation experience, we recommend that you complete your application by these dates, which are approximately 60 days before the start of each term:
- Summer term: March 15
- Fall term: June 15
- Spring term: Nov. 15
You can still apply after these dates, but if the date has passed please contact an Enrollment Counselor for support to apply and begin classes in the upcoming term. View the UNC Academic Calendar for the start dates for upcoming terms.
Application Process Details
On the application, you will choose:
- Educational Leadership: [your concentration option] (M.A.) – there are four concentration options
- Start term: Fall Term (Aug.), Spring Term (Jan.) or Summer Term (May)
View the full program-specific application details for each concentration in the UNC Graduate Catalog.
View PK12 with Principal Licensure Concentration Application Details
View PK12 with Administrator Licensure Concentration Application Details
View PK12 with Dual Principal and Administrator Licensure Concentration Application Details
View PK12 without Licensure Concentration Application Details
Apply to This Program
Register & Start Your Application
Submit a Started Application
Application Checklist & Status