One of the largest expenses you'll encounter while pursuing your master's degree in education is tuition. Schools generally charge a set rate per credit hour, such as North Central University in Arizona which charges $320 per credit hour. However other schools including the University of Texas have a sliding scale. That means that the more credit hours you take in a semester, the less you pay for each one. With most master's degrees in education requiring 36 credit hours, you can expect to spend $15,000 to $20,000 just on tuition.
Along with paying tuition you can also expect to pay fees based on the number of credit hours in which you are enrolled. These fees pay for the services available to you as a graduate student in the education department. The library, student union, career center and recreation center are a few of the things you are paying for.
Not every class you take while pursuing your master's degree in education will require a book, especially if you are using six hours of the overall 36 to complete your thesis. Most colleges and universities recommend students budget about $500 per semester to cover the cost of books.
Room and board and transportation are two of the major costs you need to consider when thinking about whether you can afford to get your master's degree.
While the cost of obtaining a master's degree in education seems overwhelming, financial assistance is available for prospective students. Many schools award graduate assistantships in teaching or research. Those may cover the cost of tuition and provide a stipend. In addition you may qualify for fellowships, scholarships or other financial aid.