Is a master’s degree in teaching worth it?

By: James M. Tobin, Edited by: Gabriela Pérez Jordán

Last updated: September 10, 2025

Offering a more robust preparation for educators than an undergraduate degree, a master of arts in teaching (MAT) prepares you to become a classroom teacher. After earning a bachelor's degree in another field, students who want to gain licensure may choose to enroll in an MAT program.

Is a master's in teaching worth it? The answer depends on your career goals, your state's licensing requirements, your education budget, and your personal preferences.

Explore all the details and nuances of MAT programs with this degree guide.

What is a master of arts in teaching (MAT)?

A master of arts in teaching helps current and aspiring teachers acquire and strengthen their teaching skills. These may include:

• Assessing student growth
• Teaching literacy effectively
• Supporting diverse learning needs

Many MAT programs offer concentrations — like special education or math — so you can tailor your degree to your goals.

Most MAT programs require 30-36 credits and take about two years to complete, though some accelerated options require just one year.

If you're balancing teaching, family plans, or other commitments, part-time and flexible online formats may help you fit graduate study into your life.

MAT vs. M.Ed.: What's the difference?

A MAT focuses on classroom teaching skills, while a master of education (M.Ed.) degree prepares you for educational leadership roles. Choose the one that fits your career path.

Career paths and earning potential with an MAT

A master of arts in teaching prepares you to work as a classroom-based instructor. You can combine an MAT with your undergraduate degree to become a teacher in your undergraduate field. For example, if you hold a bachelor's degree in history and go on to earn an MAT, you could qualify for history teacher roles.

An MAT can also lead to a diversity of other roles, including opportunities in:

• Adult and continuing education
• Education consulting, leadership, and research
• Special education

You can also pursue positions in areas like early childhood education and online learning. As you gain experience, you can transition into curriculum development or mentorship roles, or continue as a classroom-based instructor. States typically use salary schedules that tie pay rates to your years of teaching experience.

Ultimately, your career options depend on your state's certification or licensing requirements for specific education roles. For an idea of your earning potential, consider these three career paths:

MAT vs. M.Ed. career outcomes

Many students consider both the MAT and M.Ed. paths when looking at graduate degrees in education. The following table offers a high-level comparison of the roles, responsibilities, and salaries associated with each path:

To summarize: an MAT degree prepares graduates for instruction-focused careers while an M.Ed. often leads to administrative and leadership positions. Career paths aligned with the M.Ed. credential offer higher average salaries with more responsibilities.

Meanwhile, the MAT may help job-seekers qualify for roles with more openings. For example, BLS data from May 2024 tracked nearly 3.3 million K-12 teaching jobs not including special education, while K-12 school principals and administrators combined to account for just over 367,000 positions.

How much does an MAT degree cost?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average tuition and fees for a graduate degree was $20,513 for the 2021-22 academic year. However, costs can vary significantly between private and public institutions. Per NCES, the average private school charged $28,017, while public schools charged an average of $12,596 in the same year.

You should also factor in other expenses not covered by tuition and fees, like textbooks, housing, transportation, and tools you might need for school. Additionally, education-related commitments like internships may impact the hours you can commit to working a job.

Financial aid, such as federal grants and school-based scholarships, are available for eligible MAT students and don't need to be paid back. You can also take out federal or private student loans, although you'll need to repay them over time.

Does an MAT offer a strong return on investment?

May 2024 BLS data lists the salary range for elementary, middle, and high school teachers as $62,340-$64,580 annually. Master's in teaching graduates qualify for other career, too, like school advisors, who made a median annual wage of $65,140 in 2024, and instructional coordinators, who made a median salary of $74,720 during the same year.

Considering that the average graduate degree costs $20,513, according to NCES, a typical two-year MAT may cost about $41,000. If you're an MAT graduate who secures a teaching position or something similar, you could earn back the cost of your degree in less than one year.

However, M.Ed. graduates may see a greater return on investment. This degree often leads to higher-paying positions, like school principals and postsecondary education administrators, who, according to the BLS, earned a median salary of $104,070 and $103,960 in 2024 respectively.

Is getting a master's of arts in teaching degree worth it?

MAT degrees offer numerous advantages, but you should also consider their limitations and the trade-offs you may need to make if you pursue one instead of an M.Ed. or another advanced credential. Key considerations include:

• Career paths
• Earning potential
• Program costs
• Employment access

Is a master's in teaching worth it? The information below can help you decide:

How to decide if an MAT is right for you

A master of arts in teaching can deliver long-term value, as it can help propel you into the higher brackets of K-12 teacher salary schedules. However, you should consider more than just the financial side of things. Evaluate these additional factors:

• Career goals: Do you want to work primarily as a classroom teacher? If so, an MAT makes an excellent match.
• Learning objectives: Are you mainly interested in pedagogy, teaching strategies, and assessment techniques? MAT programs focus heavily on these areas, while M.Ed. paths explore topics like school administration, curriculum development, and educational technology in more detail.
• Future education: MAT degrees can help you qualify for PhD and Ed.D. programs, but an M.Ed. may offer a more relevant knowledge base.

An expert's take on MAT programs

Thomas Broderick

Former English/social studies teacher at Renaissance High School

Founder of Broderick Writer LLC

Q: What should students focus on most when evaluating different MAT programs?

Accreditation and affordability are the two most important factors when evaluating different MAT programs. Proper accreditation means that your program meets your state's requirements for an initial teaching license. Without it, public school systems will not employ you, and private schools may question the quality of the education you received in your MAT program.

Just because an MAT program is expensive doesn't mean you're more likely to get a job upon graduation. Principals and hiring committees want licensed teachers with endorsements in in-demand areas, such as STEM. Where you got your degree is less important than what you offer a school.

Q: Looking back, do you feel earning an MAT was worth it?

I think the answer lies in a story I heard during my MAT program. I was in a group that included a young third-year teacher. He told us, "You can receive all the training in the world, but there will come a day when that classroom door closes, and it's just you in there."

At the end of the day, your ability to think on your feet is just as important as what you learn during an MAT program. In other words, what you learn during teacher preparation is essential, but what you learn during your first few years of teaching is more valuable. This philosophy helped me greatly during my four years teaching at an alternative high school.