Master’s in Education Programs in Michigan
There’s never been a better time to teach in Michigan!
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Michigan teachers earn, on average, about $2,200 more than the national average. At the same time, Michigan enjoys the seventh lowest cost of living in the country. On top of these positive numbers, the state is in the midst of a teacher crisis that’s being compounded by a severe drop-off in students within the state’s teacher prep programs – some 70% in the eight years leading to 2017. In terms of numbers, this means 16,000 fewer aspiring teachers coming through the pipeline during this time.
While the teacher shortage remains a clear challenge in Michigan, it translates into exceptional opportunities for both aspiring and current educators here. With a master’s in education on your resume, you can increase both your earning potential and your professional opportunities and become one of the state’s most valued educators!
Keep reading to learn more about the opportunities available to you with a master’s in education in Michigan and how this graduate-level degree can either kickstart or advance your teaching career!
Earning Your Master’s in Education in Michigan – Why Get a Master’s Degree?
A bachelor’s degree within an initial teaching certification program built in is the minimum education required to earn a teaching certificate in Michigan. However, a master’s in education is a great way to not only increase your earning potential and career opportunities but to satisfy the credits required to renew a Standard Teaching Certificate and to also transition to an optional Professional Teaching Certificate.
Master’s in education programs are designed to accommodate both aspiring and currently practicing educators in Michigan. Depending on the structure of the degree program, you may pursue your initial teaching certificationthrough a master’s in education; you may add another endorsement to your teaching certificate; or you may pursue advanced study in areas like teaching leadership, administration, educational policy, gifted education, and more.
A growing number of colleges and universities also offer specialized master’s in education programs that are designed for career changers who hold a bachelor’s degree in another field and are pursuing an initial Michigan teacher certificate.
Types of Education Master’s Degrees
In general, there are two main types of master’s degrees. A Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree focuses on developing teaching skills in specific subjects and grade levels. A Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree focuses on educational theory and leadership skills. Note that there is no standard system for naming degrees — different institutions may use different designations
Online Master of Education (MEd) and MAT Programs in Michigan
While traditional, campus-based master’s in education programs remain widely available, a growing number of hybrid and online programs are taking shape in Michigan’s colleges and universities.
These programs feature either a partial or fully online curriculum that provides students with the convenience and flexibility of earning their master’s in education from the comfort of their homes.
Public colleges and universities in Michigan offering hybrid and/or online master’s in education programs include:
- Michigan State University
- Western Michigan University
- Oakland University
- Grand Valley State University
- Wayne State University
- University of Michigan Flint
- Central Michigan University
- University of Michigan Dearborn
Michigan is also home to a nice selection of private colleges and universities that offer hybrid and/or online master’s in education programs:
- Madonna University
- Davenport University
- Concordia University Ann Arbor
- Adrian College
- Spring Arbor University
- Cornerstone University
- Calvin University
Jobs and Salary Benefits with a Master’s in Education Degree in Michigan
The Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget projects steady growth for K-12 teachers in Michigan in the coming years. During the ten-year period from 2018 to 2028, jobs among the state’s teachers are projected to increase about 3.6%, putting the state’s growth rate in line with the projected national growth rate in this profession during this time.
Job openings for Michigan’s elementary school teachers are expected to number about 2,910 annually during this period ending in 2028, while about 1,740 annual job openings are expected for secondary school teachers. A blend of new job growth, retirements, and natural job turnover will account for job openings among Michigan’s educators during this time.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), elementary school teachers in Michigan earned a median salary of $66,260 and secondary school teachers earned a median salary of $62,210, as of May 2020.
The top earners among Michigan’s educators (those in the 75th – 90th percentile), which represent those with extensive experience and/or advanced degrees like the master’s in education, earned $83,740 – $100,730 at the elementary level and $77,310 – $88,390, according to the BLS.
In many of Michigan’s school districts, a master’s degree in education equates to significantly more earning power. For example, according to the National Council on Teacher Quality, the difference between a bachelor’s educator and a master’s educator in the Detroit Public Schools averages about $7,480 annually, which totals $224,399 over the course of a teacher’s career.
May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job growth data for kindergarten and elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, and high school teachers. Figures represent national data, not school specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed April 2021.
Job growth projections sourced from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget and reported in the U.S. Department of Labor-funded Long Term Occupational Projections (2018-2028) database – https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm.
Masters in Education Programs in Nearby Sates
