55 Best Affordable Online Masters in Reading and Literacy

It's been said that reading and writing form the foundation of student success in K-12 classrooms. Practicing teachers and those interested in a career in literacy education can gain the skills and credentials needed to be effective instructors with the programs on our list of the 55 Best Affordable Online Master's Degrees in Reading and Literacy. Students who earn their graduate degrees in reading and literacy are adding to their training and preparing for careers as reading specialists, literacy coaches, instructional support teachers, curriculum specialists, and intervention specialists.

A reading or literacy instructor supports classroom teaching in literacy, assesses reading strengths and weaknesses, and designs interventions to address problems. These educators also serve as resources to fellow teachers and their schools. Nearly all the programs on our list include a classroom-based field experience or practicum and many offer options to earn state licensure or certification as a reading specialist or reading teacher.

Instructional coordinators, a career that includes reading specialists and literacy coaches, are expected to experience career growth during the decade between 2016 and 2026. The U.S. Department of Education has designated reading specialists as a high-need field and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts above-average career growth of 11% for instructional coordinators. Earning a graduate degree also increases your average annual salary. U.S. workers who hold a master's degree earn an average of 16 percent more than their equivalents who only have an undergraduate degree.

Ranking Methodology: "It's science!"

The researchers and writers at Best Master's Degrees don't make recommendations based upon preference– we back our rankings with science. Here's a quick breakdown of how we organize ranking data:

Finances (40%)
Academic Rigor (35%)
Student Gratification (25%)

Nearly half of the data used to score each ranking involves finances and are acquired from sources such as the National Center for Education Statistics, the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Education, Glassdoor, and PayScale. Financial data encompasses the cost of tuition, fees, and class supplied; the average price of living; access to financial aid and social services; and lastly, the projected annual salary acquired from degree outcomes and income for loan repayment. The second largest category of information involves the quality of education, how competitive degree applicants should be for consideration, and how exclusive a degree program is overall. The final 25 percent of collected data is dependent on student and alumni reviews from sources such as PayScale, Rate My Professor, and Students Review.

Want to Learn More?

The amount of information available for specific degrees is plentiful, and Best Master's Degrees aims to provide as many resources as we can. Check out our Methodology page for more information and resource links.

#55 – Nova Southeastern University

Master's of Science in Education with a Specialization in Reading Education

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

55 Best Affordable Online Masters in Reading and Literacy

#55 – Nova Southeastern University

#54 – Marygrove College

#53 – California State University San Marcos

#52 – Wilmington University

#51 – Western New Mexico University

#50 – Spring Arbor University

#49 – University of Houston-Victoria

#48 – Ohio University

#47 – Concordia University Chicago

#46 – Edinboro University

#45 – Rowan University

#44 – Grand Canyon University

#43 – Olivet Nazarene University

#42 – University of Cincinnati

#41 – Fresno Pacific University

#40 – East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

#39 – University of Nebraska at Kearney

#38 – University of Northern Iowa

#37 – Saint Leo University

#36 – Pittsburg State University

#35 – University of Maine

#34 – Old Dominion University

#33 – University of Arkansas at Little Rock

#32 – Western Kentucky University

#31 – Eastern Kentucky University

#30 – Concordia University-Wisconsin

#29 – Eastern New Mexico University

#28 – Belhaven University

#27 – University of Colorado Denver

#26 – Park University

#25 – University of Mississippi

#24 – University of Alabama at Birmingham

#23 – Concordia University-Nebraska

#22 – Minnesota State University, Mankato

#21 – University of North Dakota

#20 – Louisiana State University Shreveport

#19 – Black Hills State University

#18 – University of Central Arkansas

#17 – Regis University

#16 – Newman University

#15 – Jackson State University

#14 – Missouri State University-Springfield

#13 – University of the Cumberlands

#12 – Arkansas State University

#11 – West Virginia University

#10 – University of West Georgia

#9 – The University of West Florida

#8 – University of Texas at Tyler

#7 – University of North Carolina at Charlotte

#6 – Sam Houston State University

#5 – Northeastern State University

#4 – East Carolina University

#3 – University of South Florida

#2 – University of Georgia

#1 – Appalachian State University