Find your perfect college degree
Earning a master’s in assessment, measurement, and evaluation program prepares students for a dynamic and rewarding career in numerous fields. This graduate degree teaches them to learn how to evaluate and compare people and processes, allowing them to help organizations in data-driven decision-making.
Some online programs in assessment and measurement allow students to specialize to help them better align their pursuit of higher education with their professional goals. This includes specializations such as educational assessments, curriculum design, and operations research, among others.
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Overview
Students who successfully earn the online master’s in assessment and measurement can acquire advanced training that gives way to leadership positions in education and business.
It is an ideal choice for students pursuing data-driven business professions. If you want to enhance your professional credentials and boost your earning potential, this master’s degree is for you.
Methodology
The professional practice of Assessment & Measurement is a crucial field that sees applicability in a wide range of fields. This is a rigorous, research-driven field, and students who look to enter or progress in this field are well-served to choose the best, advanced training & graduate-level education they can get.
We’ve got you covered! We’ve put together a list of graduate schools that offer the best online Master’s in Assessment and Measurement! Each of these programs was selected with these characteristics in mind:
- Offers their programs and coursework primarily online, ideal for professionals who can benefit from the minimal disruption,
- Feature curriculum designs that develop students’ skills in conducting various appropriate research & assessment methods,
- Emphasizes the teaching of concepts, theories, and applications that align with relevant Assessment & Measurement standards and current best practices,
- Developed and taught by faculty with extensive expertise in the Assessment & Measurement field,
- Produces competent professionals who excel in their careers,
- Prepares students for doctorate programs in Assessment & Measurement,
- Features competitive tuition rates along with a range of financial aid options,
- Holds the appropriate accreditation credentials, ensuring that it meets academic standards.
Visit our Methodology page.
Best Online Master’s in Assessment and Measurement
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Master of Education in Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment (MESA)
Founded in 1982, the University of Illinois Chicago is a public research university that is one of the largest and most diverse in Chicago. This acclaimed research institution houses 16 colleges that offer high-quality academic programs valued by employers. It is currently serving more than 34,000 students.
- The Master of Education in MESA is 100% available online.
- This online program equips students with a blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on application of new skills to help them determine the best methods when it comes to collecting data.
- Online learners will also learn how to consider multiple avenues in data analysis and effectively interpret and communicate the said data.
- The online master’s program can be earned on either a full-time or part-time basis, with full-time students usually completing the degree in 24 months.
- To earn the program, students must complete a total of 32 credits, with courses including Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment.
Standout Features:
The master’s degree provides students with hands-on experience with major computer programs involving quantitative and qualitative analyses and measurement construction, including Parscale, GENOVA, SPSS, and SAS, among others.
Did You Know?
Accredited by the Higher Learning Institution, the University of Illinois Chicago is committed to diversity. As one of the most diverse campuses in the country, this university provides access to underrepresented students. It is understandable that its mission is focused on efforts to eliminate disparities in health, education, and economic opportunity.
University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut
Master’s in Research Methods, Measurement, and Evaluation
The University of Connecticut offers more than 115 academic majors across 14 schools. Since its foundation in 1880, the university has been helping students find their passion and purpose to succeed in life. It has since become one of the top public universities in the country.
- The Master’s in Research Methods, Measurement, and Evaluation program offered at the University of Connecticut is designed to help students formulate concrete research and evaluation questions as well as select appropriate research design and evaluation methods.
- This fully online master’s degree requires the completion of 30 credits, including 6 core courses and 4 objectives.
- The program puts emphasis on research methods, techniques, and practices as well as educational measurement, quantitative data analysis, and program evaluation.
- This master’s program is designed for educators and various practitioners, from corporate training to sales force management who want to acquire program evaluation expertise.
Standout Features:
The research methods, measurement, and evaluation master’s degree offers asynchronous online coursework with a focus on current and emerging topics such as educational statistics, instrument development, classical and modern measurement theory and applications, and quantitative research methods.
Did You Know?
The University of Connecticut is home to more than 80 research centers and institutes, along with 100 state-of-the-art research facilities. Moreover, it has partnered with 150 institutions worldwide, providing its students with the opportunities to pursue their research and interests on a global scale. The university has received more than $300 million in annual research awards.
Kent State University
Kent, Ohio
Master of Education in Research, Measurement, and Statistics
Starting as a teacher-training school in 1910, Kent State University is one of Ohio’s premier universities. The university boasts world-class faculty, serving as both researchers and mentors. Every year, Kent State produces more than 10,000 career-ready graduates. Many of these graduates are leaders in various fields, including business, education, healthcare, and more.
- One of the online programs offered at Kent State University is the Master of Education in Research, Measurement, and Statistics, with a total of 30 credits.
- This master’s degree trains graduate students in the essential areas of measurement, assessment, research design, and program evaluation.
- Online students are expected to apply the knowledge and skills they acquired in research and measurement in a variety of settings.
Standout Features:
Educators seeking to specialize in areas related to assessment, evaluation, and measurement will find relevant courses in the rigorous curriculum, with topics including classical test theory, classroom assessment, quantitative research design and analysis, survey design, and multiple regression.
Did You Know?
Kent State University is designated as one of the top universities with the highest research activity. It is considered the birthplace of liquid crystal technology. To date, this university can count among its notable alumni more than 16 Pulitzer Prize winners and counting.
George Washington University
Washington, DC
Master’s Degree in Assessment, Testing, and Measurement in Education (ATM)
Established in 1904, George Washington University has been a leader in the field of education. It is home to the Graduate School of Education and Human Development.
The school has five departments, including Curriculum and Pedagogy, Counseling and Human Development, Human and Organizational Learning, and Special Education and Disability Studies.
- The Master’s in ATM, offered at George Washington University, is a combination of statistical analysis, the study of human behavior, testing theory, educational measurement, and evaluation.
- Designed for individuals who want to advance their careers in assessment, testing, and measurement, this degree program trains students in psychometric and statistical methods.
- Courses are scheduled once a week to accommodate the busy schedules of working professionals.
Standout Features:
To earn the program, students need to complete a total of 30 credits. This covers courses such as Item Response Theory, Educational Measurement, Assessment Engineering, and Predictive Designs and Analyses, among others. Students must also pass the written qualifying comprehensive examination.
Did You Know?
George Washington University’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development has an accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). This means the school is in compliance with all the CAEP Standards across its program offerings.
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, Illinois
Master of Science (MS) in Educational Research, Evaluation, and Assessment
Northern Illinois University features more than 100 undergraduate programs and 200 student organizations. This public institution does not only offer a wide range of academic programs. It also allows students the opportunity to customize their studies according to their professional needs and goals.
- Northern Illinois University’s Master of Science in Educational Research, Evaluation, and Assessment program is offered completely online.
- In this program, students will learn how to plan educational evaluations, interpret qualitative procedures, and relate findings to educational and social science policy.
- The rigorous curriculum features core courses such as Qualitative Research in Education, Introduction to Research Methods in Education, Proseminar in Educational Research and Evaluation, and Test Construction and Evaluation, among others.
Standout Features:
The program allows students to customize their learning according to their needs and goals. They can choose among three areas of study, including Assessment, Program Evaluation, and Advanced Quantitative Methods.
Did You Know?
Currently, the university houses 42 schools and departments across seven colleges. They can also build their skills in or outside the classroom by taking part in research and service-learning projects.
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Master of Arts (MA) in Educational Psychology, Concentration in Learning &Assessment
The University of Alabama (UA) is a public research university in the city of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It was established back in 1820, a year after Alabama was admitted into the Union as the 22nd state, making it the oldest public university in the state.
It is also Alabama’s largest public university, with a current population of over 38,300 students. It is also classified among “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity”.
- The University of Alabama offers an online MA in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Learning & Assessment. This program is focused on preparing students to use techniques in assessment, measurement, and evaluation to help optimize student learning across a range of settings.
- The program is 30 credit hours in total and is delivered fully online. It concludes with a capstone project during the final semester of the program.
- The program combines the study of human behavior with educational assessment and measurement and can lead to a wide range of careers and leadership positions in government agencies, nonprofits, corporations, and more.
- This program is not designed to lead to certification for becoming a school psychologist.
Standout Features:
As a public research university, UA is recognized as one of the country’s best online education providers. The well-designed curriculum is paired with highly affordable per-credit-hour tuition rates that are complemented by a bevy of financial aid and scholarship options.
Did You Know?
UA also offers a number of related online master’s degree programs, including the online Master of Arts in Instructional Technology. The MA in Educational Psychology is also offered with a concentration in School Psychology/School Psychometry in a hybrid format.
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Master of Arts in Evaluation, Measurement & Research
Western Michigan University (WMU) is a public research university in the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was established in 1903 as a teacher-training facility, with construction starting the year after.
After undergoing several name changes over the following decades, it gained its current name in 1957. WMU is organized into seven colleges and is classified among “R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity”. It has a population of over 16,600 students.
- Western Michigan University offers an MA in Evaluation, Measurement, and Research. This program is designed to prepare students for careers in evaluation, testing, or research units in both school and non-school settings.
- The program may be completed fully online, and online students can make use of HyFlex classrooms to participate in on-campus class meetings.
- The program has an applied structure and gives students ample opportunities to participate in evaluations and grant-funded research. Students are also encouraged to participate in one of WMU’s study abroad programs.
Standout Features:
A distinguishing feature of this and other WMU Programs is WMU Signature, a co-curricular designation consisting of a culminating integrative learning project. Signature Pathways include Health & Well Being, Teaching & Student Success, DEI & Justice, and more.
Did You Know?
Western Michigan University’s Evaluation, Measurement, & Research is the oldest graduate program in the world.
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Master of Science – Research Methods in Education (RMinE)
The University of Kentucky is a public, land-grant, research university in the city of Lexington. It was founded in 1865 as the Agricultural & Mechanical College of Kentucky, with construction of its present campus at Lexington starting in 1882.
It was then renamed the University of Kentucky in 1916. At present, the university is organized into 16 colleges and a graduate school and has a population of over 32,700 students.
- The University of Kentucky offers an MS in Research Methods in Education, a program that prepares students for a variety of careers in academic institutions, testing organizations, school districts, and state & federal agencies.
- The program focuses on developing a foundation in research within a problem-of-practice framework.
- The program lets students choose from among the emphasis areas on Quantitative Methods, Research Design, or Evaluation.
- While the program is offered primarily on-campus, students may complete the entirety of their coursework online.
Standout Features:
The University of Kentucky, particularly the College of Education that offers this program operates a research-intensive policy, with tens of millions of dollars worth of active research programs that have a direct impact on the education and well-being of the state and feed into and inform the college’s degree programs.
Did You Know?
Students who may not need/plan to earn the Master’s Degree can instead opt for the University of Kentucky’s Graduate Certificate in Research Methods in Education, designed to develop student’s skills in conducting education research for a wide range of disciplines.
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia
Master of Science in Educational Research
Georgia State University (GSU) is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia. It was established in 1913 as the Evening School of Commerce under the Georgia School of Technology.
It became part of the University of Georgia in 1947, only becoming autonomous in 1955, and becoming Georgia State University in 1969. GSU is organized into 11 colleges and has over 52,800 students. It is classified among “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity”.
- Georgia State University offers an online MS in Educational Research. This program prepares students to use research & statistics skills in addressing educational problems, specifically, to conduct educational research/educational assessments as well as program & policy evaluation, and translate research into practical language.
- This master’s program contains a total of 36 credit hours and may be completed entirely online.
- The program’s core courses cover key topics in statistics, measurement, program evaluation, survey research, policy research, and computer applications.
Standout Features:
The program covers both qualitative and quantitative research, leading to students having a more expanded research skillset. The program is also applicable to a variety of research careers in government agencies as well as private/corporate settings.
Did You Know?
Students pursuing a terminal degree may be interested in Georgia State University’s Ph.D. in Educational Studies, a program that represents peak scholarly work in the field and can also lead to careers involving policy-making and policy examination.
Claremont Graduate University
Claremont, California
Master of Science in Evaluation & Applied Research
Claremont Graduate University (CGU) is a private research university in Claremont, California. An all-graduate university, it was established in 1925, gaining its current name in 1998.
It is one of 7 private institutions that form the Claremont Colleges consortium and is classified among “R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity”. It has a population of over 2,200 graduate students.
- Claremont Graduate University offers an online Master of Science in Evaluation & Applied Research. This program is designed to develop students’ skills in evaluation and research and in crafting a wide range of initiatives in education, health, well-being, and positive psychology.
- This online master’s program contains 32 credit hours in total and can be completed in 1-1.5 years.
- This is a rigorous and research-focused program aimed at preparing students to launch careers as professionals in program evaluation & applied research.
- The program emphasizes developing students’ foundation in mixed-method approaches to research and, in terms of crucial skills, focuses on determining and monitoring key aspects & components of evaluation/applied research studies.
Standout Feature:
Unlike most other master’s programs in this list that are focused on specific fields like education or psychology, this program has a wider scope of applicability and covers a wide range of settings. This program is also designed to be in line with the competencies set by the American Evaluation Association (AEA).
Did You Know?
Claremont Graduate University and the Claremont Colleges consortium at large are unique in their structure in that they incorporate the Oxford Model of higher education, with each member institution designed around a specific pedagogic theory. CGU is built on the principle of Transdisciplinarity, which emphasizes a research approach that incorporates knowledge from multiple disciplines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do with a Master’s in Assessment and Measurement?
This master’s program allows students to master the methods of collecting and analyzing data as well as interpreting and effectively communicating their findings. This advanced degree is ideal for those who are pursuing leadership positions in the field of research in a variety of settings.
This includes school districts, medical and healthcare organizations, government agencies, academic institutions, and more. It is also suitable for prospective students with plans of pursuing a PhD in Education.
What are the most common career paths for Master’s in Assessment and Measurement programs?
Graduates of this program often work in a variety of work settings. They pursue roles such as assessment specialists, certification program managers, test developers, institutional research directors, institutional research analysts, and evaluation consultants, among others.
Summary Points
- Master’s in Assessment & Measurement programs are rigorous, research-driven programs that are focused on drawing actionable knowledge for a number of data-driven decision-making with regard to strategies, policies, or programs.
- Master’s programs related to assessment & measurement typically come from the field of education research and/or psychology, with other programs orientated toward general program evaluation & research.
- Given the wide range of fields they come from, a common feature of these programs is their aim of developing a strong foundation in scientific research in quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods, as well as data analysis.
