The UW–Madison School of Education has received several top-five rankings for its online graduate degree programs in education, according to new ratings released today by U.S. News & World Report.
The publication ranked UW–Madison No. 3 in overall Best Online Master’s in Education Programs, No. 2 in the category of Best Online Master’s in Educational Administration and Supervision, and No. 1 in the category of Best Online Master’s in Education Programs for Veterans. These online-only rankings are separate from U.S. News & World Report’s overall graduate program rankings, in which the UW–Madison School of Education currently holds the No. 1 spot.
Marcelle Haddix, dean of the UW–Madison School of Education, says the high ranking of the School’s online-only offerings is another indication of its excellence across programs.
“These rankings highlight the range of high-quality experiences we offer our students,” Haddix says. “The School of Education continues to be a national leader, and we are incredibly proud of our work that prepares and supports educators across our state and beyond.”
The UW–Madison School of Education is home to four fully online master’s programs: MS in Educational Psychology: Learning Analytics; MS in Educational Psychology for Educators; Wisconsin Idea Principal Preparation; and Master’s in Sports Leadership.
- Our MS in Educational Psychology: Learning Analytics program prepares students to harness the power of data to tackle a broad range of educational challenges. Graduates are able to use data to help improve individual student learning, raise graduation rates, and address equity gaps. “Fundamentally, we’re not just creating number-crunchers,” says David Williamson Shaffer, the faculty director of the program within the highly ranked Department of Educational Psychology. “We’re teaching educators how to use powerful new tools to make a meaningful difference in students’ lives.”
- In two years, education professionals can complete the MS in Educational Psychology for Educators degree program — including an instructional coaching certificate — in one of the leading Departments of Educational Psychology in the nation. The program draws a diverse mix of teachers and education professionals who are motivated to learn and apply the best practices in education to their work in classrooms, schools, and districts. Graduates are equipped with tools and strategies to address the individual needs of students within K-12 settings.
- Our 15-month Wisconsin Idea Principal Preparation (WIPP) master’s degree program through the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis meets online on weekends and during the summer. Enrolling in cohorts, participants learn from leading scholars in the field. “Tailored for working educators, WIPP affords easy access to a top-tier, reputable educational leadership program designed to equip aspiring leaders with the knowledge and skills to tackle the complex challenges in K-12 education,” says Tina Salzman, the program’s director. Upon graduation, students earn the credentials to pursue a principal license in Wisconsin.
- The Master’s in Sports Leadership (MSL) program draws from UW–Madison’s world-leading academic and athletic resources to prepare dynamic sports leaders for positions across diverse settings in K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and beyond. Peter Miller, the program’s founder who is a professor with the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, underscores the importance of quality leadership in sports, as coaches often build relationships with students across their high school years. “That can have a significant influence on a student,” he says. “The MSL is designed to produce effective sports leaders who can help to ensure that more people will have great and impactful experiences.”
The School of Education’s distinction as the No. 1 institution for veterans to pursue an online master’s degree in education is a step up from last year’s No. 2 ranking in the category. According to U.S. News & World Report, its ranking of programs favorable to veterans weighs whether certain scholarships and other financial benefits are available to veterans, while also taking into consideration each program’s overall online ranking.
Amanda Venske, education benefits program manager at UW–Madison’s University Veteran Services, says the School of Education’s high ranking for online programs for veterans is a reflection of the School’s overall excellence, as well as the vital support and flexibility it offers.
“The online programs offered at the School of Education offer the unique experience of learning at a world-class institution while still having the flexibility to invest in other life obligations, something critically important to those with military experience looking to further their education and make a difference in the world,” says Venske, who is a 2024 graduate of the MS in Educational Psychology: Learning Analytics program. “In addition to contact with the School of Education’s highly regarded faculty, students in the online master’s programs learn in a community of peers and benefit from being able to build another community while not having to leave their own.”
UW–Madison’s No. 2 ranking in the category of Best Online Master’s in Educational Administration and Supervision programs is for the School of Education’s outstanding Wisconsin Idea Principal Preparation program and its highly regarded Master’s in Sports Leadership program. The online education specialty rankings, including for the area of Educational Administration and Supervision, are based entirely on responses to U.S. News’ peer assessment survey.
U.S. News & World Report releases its rankings of graduate programs and online graduate programs annually. The UW–Madison School of Education currently has numerous programs with top-10 rankings from the publication across its areas of study in the arts, health, and education.
More information about U.S. News & World Report’s methodology for determining its online program rankings is available here.