The online education specialist degree at Wayne State College is among the lowest priced in the nation. Online tuition is a flat rate, regardless of residency.
Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S.)
Advance your career with our online education specialist degree in school administration.
What is an Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S.)?
An education specialist degree (Ed.S.) is an advanced degree for teachers beyond the level of a master's degree, but requires less time and money than pursuing a doctoral degree in education (Ed.D.). After years of teaching, you might be thinking about taking that next step in your career. Perhaps you're interested in a leadership position, such as principal or superintendent. Or, perhaps you're looking for the higher salary that comes with career advancement. The Ed.S. degree offers exactly that - a chance become more proficient in a particular field, like school administration, while advancing your career and enhancing your credentials. The education specialist degree can also serve as a stepping stone toward getting your Ed.D. or Ph.D. in education, as some of the credits you earn in an online Ed.S. degree may be transferrable to your doctoral program.
Online Ed.S. degree from Wayne State
If you're looking to qualify for a leadership role in education, enhance your credentials and salary, or become specialized in the field of educational administraton, our online education specialist degree in school administration can help you achieve these goals. The convenience of our online Ed.S. degree allows you to continue working as a teacher while balancing the demands of your busy life, and at less time and cost than other institutions. While doctoral degrees in education can typically require 60-90 credits to completion, the online Ed.S. degree from Wayne State requires only 30 credits for completion, and it's at an affordable price. What's more, our online education degrees are consistently ranked near the top for their value, quality, and successful graduate outcomes.
*Wayne State College accepts up to 18 credit hours from other Nebraska state colleges or universities and nine hours from other accredited graduate institutions.
Online Ed.S. Degree Admission Criteria
You must have a master's degree or endorsement in school administration from an accredited institution. If you hold a graduate degree in another field and have at least two years of teaching experience, you may begin the online education specialist degree program while completing masters-level, school administration deficiency hours (usually 24 credit hours).
Education Specialist Certification
Completing the online Ed.S. degree in school administration from Wayne State College may certify you to work as a school administrator at any level in in a P-12 school system. Upon degree completion, you should contact the WSC Director of Education and Counseling Services, Brook Jech, at 402-375-7373 to process the administrative endorsement to your teaching certificate. The Nebraska Department of Education requires successful completion of the Praxis II School Superintendent Assessment. Our program of study is designed to prepare you for such a test, but your performance may depend on many issues beyond the control of our department, including prior educational knowledge, teaching and administrative experiences, test-taking skills, and your retention of course material.
Questions? Contact:
Michael Sieh
Assistant Professor of Education
Benthack Hall 205A
Phone: 402-375-7185
Email: [email protected]
Online Ed.S. Degree Fast Facts
- 30 Credit Hours
- $392 Per Credit Hour ($11,760 for 30 credit hours, based on 2023-24 tuition rates)
- Fully online
- Up to 18 transferrable credits*
Next start dates
- Jan. 8, 2024 (16 weeks, spring term)
- May 13, 2024 (3, 8, and 13-week sessions. Registration opens Mar. 25, 2024)
- June 3, 2024 (5 and 10-week sessions. Registration opens Mar. 25, 2024)
- July 8, 2024 (5-week session. Registration opens Mar. 25, 2024)
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Accreditation: Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), Nebraska Department of Education
Licensing and Certification: Wayne State academic programs are designed to prepare students for licensure or certification in Nebraska. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Nebraska, please check that state's licensing board to determine their licensing requirements. Authorization may be required from them prior to beginning a clinical or field experience in that state. Learn more.
Top Educational Administration Degree Programs
Wayne State College is continually recognized for incredible value, successful graduates, and innovative learning.
No. 1 in Nebraska, No. 9 in the U.S.
Best College for School Administration/Principalship, 2023
College Factual
Best College for School Administration/Principalship, 2023
No. 1 in Nebraska, No. 9 in the U.S.
College Factual
Wayne State College has been ranked at No.1 in Nebraska and No. 9 in the U.S. for having the Best Master's Program in School Administration/Principalship. For its 2023 ranking, College Factual looked at accredited colleges and universities in the United States to determine which ones were the best for secondary school administration/principalship students pursuing a degree. Factors included in the rank included program quality, caliber of the student body, program demand, educational resources, degree completion rate, student debt, and post-graduate earnings.
No. 1 in Nebraska; No. 11 in the U.S.
Most Affordable Online School, 2023
Intelligent.com
Most Affordable Online School, 2023
No. 1 in Nebraska; No. 11 in the U.S.
Intelligent.com
Intelligent.com ranked Wayne State College as No. 11 in the U.S. in the category of cheapest online colleges and universities for 2022. For their 2022 online degree report, Intelligent.com reviewed over 250 institutions to determine which schools were the most affordable based on the cost-per-credit tuition rates. Tuition rates vary based on degree level, and not all schools offer all types of degrees. The list includes community colleges, which only offer associate degrees, as well as four-year institutions that grant bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees. Schools on the list also have regional accreditation, which assures a high standard of quality.
In addition to cost, they evaluated these colleges on the basis of reputation, faculty, flexibility, and course strength. They then calculated the Intelligent Score for each school on a scale from 0 to 100.
Learn more about our online degree programs.
No. 5 in the U.S.
Most Affordable Online Master's Degrees
Great Value Colleges
Most Affordable Online Master's Degrees
No. 5 in the U.S.
Great Value Colleges
A master’s degree can mean as much as $400,000 in extra earnings over the course of a career compared to holders of bachelor’s degrees. Being able to earn that degree on a budget and at your own schedule while continuing to meet personal and professional responsibilities is a marvel of the modern era. These rankings were based on tuition, student-to-faculty ratio, and national recognition. View our online master's degrees.
Take the Next Step!
Courses for the online education specialist degree are available throughout the summer, fall, and spring. Advance your career and get started today!