U.S. News: Purdue’s Education online master’s degree programs rank among top 7% nationally

About This Series: This story is part of an ongoing Purdue Today series highlighting programs ranked in the Top 10 or Top 10th percentile among our peers nationally, demonstrating the university’s persistent pursuit of excellence, innovation and transformative learning. 

Megan Isle is excited about the impact she is having for her clients as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at Circle City ABA’s office in Lafayette, which offers services for children with autism. And she points to the rigorous preparation she gained through Purdue’s College of Education online master’s degree programs, ranked among the top 7% nationally.

“Purdue has done an excellent job preparing me for my career as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. I now have a career that I love and where I can make a difference,” Isle says.

The 2023 rankings, by U.S. News & World Report in January, position Purdue’s College of Education online graduate programs at No. 23 overall, with two other programs inside the top 20: instructional media design (learning design and technology) at No. 8, and curriculum and instruction at No. 19. A total of 338 programs were included in the 2023 survey.

“These high national rankings of our online graduate programs are a testament to our award-winning faculty and dedicated staff,” says Wayne E. Wright, associate dean for research, graduate programs and faculty development in the College of Education. “They are fully committed to ensuring our students receive the highest quality of instruction in a meaningful, engaging and interactive online learning environment.”

Online Boilermaker students appreciate the flexibility of being able to earn a graduate degree while working full time and they feel well-prepared by the Purdue program for the real world.\“I especially love the focus that Purdue education has with equality and civil issues. It really helped educate me on how to adjust to students’ needs these days,” says English teacher Layne Kirchoff, Batesville Community School Corp. in Batesville, Indiana.

Ryan Freeman, also an English teacher at Lake Central High School in St. John, Indiana, chose Purdue’s online Transition to Teaching program because of its asynchronous schedule and remote coursework. “It allowed me to continue working full time as a substitute teacher,” he says. “My course assignments often paired well with what I encountered firsthand in a school environment.”

Adds Sarah Gaulke, who teaches special education in Pendleton, Oregon, “The Purdue program was the only master’s program I could find that was set up to prepare me for initial licensure while working full time, fully online for this rural Oregonian, and with a reputation of a high-quality program.

Wright emphasizes that each year, Purdue’s College of Education strives to continually improve its programs and relies on the rankings to help promote and serve as a recruiting tool for prospective students seeking a quality online educational experience.

• Doctoral degrees are available in educational leadership and policy studies and higher education (both hybrid).
• Teachers can earn licensures in educational leadership building level, English language learning, high ability, special education (licensure only), and Transition to Teaching.
• Graduate certificates are available in applied behavior analysis; dual language bilingual education; gifted, creative, and talented studies; K-12 integrated STEM education; and teaching English language learners. This summer, the college also launched certificate programs in instructional design and leadership development for career and technical education.

Megan Engelberth, a seventh grade English teacher in the Whitley County Consolidated Schools in Columbia City, Indiana, says the online master’s program through Purdue’s College of Education challenged the misconceptions she had toward gifted learners. “I was able to learn strategies and techniques to put to use in my classroom to create valuable learning opportunities for these students and push them to reach their potential,” she says.

Related: “Purdue’s College of Education is a leader in online education,” hosted by Phillip J. VanFossen, interim dean of the College of Education, at https://youtu.be/BUnoVtAD3bI