In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a rate module implemented in at least one of a memory or a processing device that can be operatively coupled to a set of rate counters. Each rate counter is associated with a different network device associated with a level within the hierarchy of a network. The rate module can receive from a schedule module a signal to begin execution of a first page of a first rate program and can send during a first time period transmission credits to a first subset of rate counters. The rate module can send during a second time period transmission credits to a second subset of rate counters based on the execution of a page of a second rate program where the priority of the second rate program is no lower than a priority of the first rate program.