ESL Master’s Degree Online & On-Campus

The English language has great depths and mystery, even to many of us who may be native English speakers. Almost 30 percent of English words aren’t even actually English… they are derived from languages as diverse as Sanskrit, Japanese, and Latin.

Partly because of that, it’s a language that is constantly growing, and at a break-neck pace. According to Merriam Webster, a 1,000 or more words per year are routinely added to the dictionary, and many others that may be in specialized or localized usage don’t make the cut. Further, many existing words have their meaning shifted over time.

The end result is a deeply rich linguistic tapestry, with synonyms and methods of expression unavailable in most global languages… but terrifyingly complex to learn.

A master’s in ESL gives you the background and the tools to help any student master English – not only the linguistic touchstone or wordsmiths from the Bard to Kendrick Lemar, but also the international language of business.

It takes a formal education in teaching English as a second language to help students unlock this world of opportunities and culture, and a master’s degree in ESL will give you everything you need to do it.

What Is a Master’s Degree in ESL Teaching?

You can find ESL master’s degrees offered as both Master of Education (MEd) and Master of Arts (MA) programs. An MEd is mostly oriented toward the practical teaching applications of ESL knowledge, with a greater emphasis on educational leadership, curriculum development, and instructional strategies.

An MA, on the other hand, will still build up your teaching qualifications, but may have more emphasis on research, educational theory, policy, or language theory. An MA is likely to have more research-oriented coursework, while your time in an MEd is likely to involve more time spent in internships or practical capstone projects.

There are also MAT, or Master of Arts in Teaching, degrees with ESL concentrations. These programs are more likely to come with the core coursework required by states in order to become licensed as a teacher. Other degree types may offer this as well, or they may expect that you already hold a license prior to admission.

Master’s degrees breach the barrier between studying new material and creating it.

In every case, you’re going to be studying English language acquisition and teaching theory at a very high level. You can expect to engage in active research projects, either on your own or under the direction of your professors, unlocking even more information about how best to teach ESL today.

Master’s in ESL Curriculum is Built to Make You an Expert in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

The basics of teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) are straightforward enough that thousands of excited young people can pick up a certificate and venture overseas each year to land jobs doing exactly that. Even a bachelor’s degree isn’t strictly required.

On the other hand, merely being adequate isn’t quite the same thing as being good at teaching English. A bachelor’s in ESL teaching probably can get people to the level of good. But a master’s goes beyond that to excellence.

That means it comes stacked with much more advanced coursework. You can expect to study in-depth topics in an ESL master’s degree such as:

• Speech and Language Development Across Cultures
• Linguistics for ESL Teachers
• Second Language Acquisition Research and Theory
• Assessing and Teaching ELL Students with Disabilities
• Managing Instruction of ESL
• Language Production and Development
• Language in Culture and Identity

These are classes that open up aspects of language learning and teaching that bachelor’s degrees only hint at. You’ll learn more about how the subtle elements of pronunciation enhance perceptions of fluency, and how the brain deals with language learning at different developmental levels. You’ll probably also have advanced training in listening and assessing various obstacles in language acquisition, from speech impediments to sound production problems.

Field Experience Can Be an Important Part of ESL Degrees Even at the Master’s Level

Although master’s-level programs in ESL prep you for high-level administrative and curriculum development positions that may not always involve working directly with students in the classroom, it’s fairly common for them to involve some field experience. This is particularly true, and even required, for degrees that lead to licensure.

But even if you’re already licensed or heading for positions that don’t require credentials, this kind of experience is valuable in exercising your new and more advanced teaching skills. There’s no substitute for actually engaging with the complexity of real students. You’ll unpack the lessons from your other courses to get a better understanding of how to use that material in real-world classroom environments.

That brings value whether you’re going to be teaching one-on-one, or leading a whole team of teachers.

Choosing the Perfect School for Your Master’s Degree in ESL

Acquiring a master’s in ESL is a significant investment in time and money. You’re going to want to do your homework well before you decide where to apply for this kind of career-changing program.

As an educator, though, you’re going to be perfectly well aware of what it is that sets schools apart from one another. So you already know to look at features such as:

• Instructors – You know yourself how much of an impact the right teacher can have when it comes to getting the vital ideas of a lesson across. So schools that have put time into getting highly qualified professors, with PhD qualifications and extensive research expertise, are likely to go right to the top of your list.
• Accreditation – Teacher education programs that are accepted for licensure are commonly awarded specialty accreditation from CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation) or NCATE (National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education). Because not all master’s in ESL are aimed to conventional educators, it may not be a dealbreaker for you if a school doesn’t hold this, but it’s definitely a sign of quality if they do.
• Research Centers and Resources – At the master’s level, you’ll be expected to do some independent research into effective ESL instruction. A school that has extensive supports for research, like well-organized research centers, easily-accessed libraries and materials, and supportive academic staff makes that obligation easier and more productive.
• Industry Connections – Whether it comes with ties to local public schools in areas that have high demand for ESL instruction, or through graduates who have gone on to important roles in private ESL tutoring companies, it’s good news for both your career and your education to have a network on tap to answer questions and open professional doors.

Ultimately, you’re looking for a school that fits your career goals, your availability, and your price range. Those are factors that are going to be different for everyone and will require your personal attention to find the right answer.

How Costs Can Impact the School You Select for Your ESL Master’s

Education is the second most popular field of study for master’s degrees in the United States according to 2022 data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). That should tell you that plenty of people are earning and paying for these degrees each year.

You may need to remind yourself of that reality when you see the sticker price for your ESL master’s degree. NCES found that the average cost of tuition and fees for graduate studies in the US as of 2022 was $20,513 per year. With a two-year degree program, that will put your price over $40,000 in total… a lot of money on a teacher’s salary.

Things start to look a little more attractive if you look at state universities, however. There, the average is only $12,596. Elite private universities, on the other hand, average $28,017 per year.

But you may find some of these costs can be covered by special financial aid for teachers, such as TEACH grants offered by the Department of Education. English language acquisition is one of the high-need fields covered by this grant, although you will also be required to serve as a full-time teacher to low-income students for at least four years within eight years of graduation.

Other federal programs offer loan forgiveness for some kinds of student loans in return for similar service obligations. Finally, there are also many privately offered scholarships designed to support educators.

Should You Earn Your ESL Master’s Degree Online?

Getting an ESL degree online is no longer something that seems that unusual. In fact, considering how few and far between these programs can be, it may be more common than not to earn a master’s in ESL online.

There are plenty of advantages that come with the format:

• Looking for a master’s degree in ESL online means you have more and more varied programs to consider than you would if you were restricted only to those close to home
• Online ESL master’s degrees often have most of their courses conducted asynchronously, which allows you to work your class schedule around your current job or personal obligations
• Since you can stay at home while you study, online ESL master’s degrees often come out cheaper than if you had to move temporarily and deal with room and board expenses

An online master’s degree in ESL with certification still needs to be from a school that is within your state, at least, in order for the coursework to automatically be accepted for licensure. But with a few extra steps, it may also be possible in your state to use an out-of-state program to get your credentials.

What Sort of Jobs Will You Be Qualified for With a Master’s Degree in Teaching ESL?

Teaching English directly is the most popular job available to master’s in ESL graduates, but it’s probably one you were already qualified for: a bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for a teaching license in most states. If teaching ESL privately or overseas is your jam, you might not even need that.

But as with any profession, there are more advanced roles that open up to those with deeper expertise.

Many graduates from master’s degree in ESL programs even go on to PhD studies and positions in research and higher education.

For starters, a master’s may get you onto the next step up in ESL education: becoming an instructor for other ESL teachers. Whether at a university or with private training programs, this is a role that makes good use of your more in-depth understanding of learning processes and language acquisition.

There’s also room to move up on the private side of ESL education. Managers and program developers at elite private language institutes, operating in countries around the world, need this same skillset to develop curriculum plans and oversee material acquisition, teacher training, and program execution.

What Kind of Money Can You Make With a Master’s Degree in ESL Teaching?

Those kinds of positions will tend to come with higher-than-average ESL teacher salaries. According to 2023 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), that average across the U.S. was $60,560.

But a graduate degree is likely to push your compensation more toward the top-end, with the highest-paid ten percent in the field earning $97,980 per year.

Of course, this is also influenced by where exactly you are working. The highest average salary rate for ESL teachers comes at local junior colleges, where they earn $73,260. Most of those positions will require a master’s degree to get into.

Finally, many ordinary ESL teachers working in American public schools will find that their own career arc either requires or strongly encourages earning a master’s at some point. To maintain licenses in every state, ongoing continuing education is needed.

For many school districts, compensation packages are tied to applying that CE toward a master’s degree. The average salary for ESL teachers in elementary and secondary schools was $62,290, so a master’s degree will typically offer a step up from that.

2023 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Adult Basic and Secondary Education and ESL Teachers reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed February 2025.