by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 428 U.S. colleges awarded 23,141 degrees and certificates in Curriculum & Instruction. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 91% of graduates. College Factual ranks 266 schools in its 2027 Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $58,713 one year after completing, rising to $65,760 after four years.
A major in Curriculum & Instruction will give you the tools required to become a Curriculum Specialist. Students will focus on material currently being taught in schools, how it should be taught, and how it aligns to state standards. You will learn the most effective methods of tailoring learning to make it more effective for various subjects, grade levels, and ability levels. You will also learn how to measure the success of curriculums and how they can be improved.
Along with core courses and some education courses, you may take curriculum application, curriculum planning, curriculum evaluation, and curriculum design.
Studying Curriculum & Instruction covers Curriculum And Instruction.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, curriculum & instruction is a widely-pursued major, with 23,141 degrees awarded annually. 428 colleges award curriculum & instruction degrees, an average of 54 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 6,352.
By level, the 23,141 awards include 9 certificates, 14 bachelor’s degrees, 21,172 master’s degrees and 1,946 doctorates.
Women earned 82% of curriculum & instruction degrees and certificates in the latest year (18,926 of 23,141). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (14,836) and Hispanic or Latino (2,475), and international students earned 519.
College Factual ranks 266 schools in its 2027 Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools ranking, including 244 for master’s degrees and 50 for doctorates. It also ranks curriculum & instruction schools within 45 states. In all, 428 colleges offer curriculum & instruction programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common curriculum & instruction credential is the master’s degree: 21,172 of the 23,141 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to curriculum & instruction call most for Speaking, Learning Strategies and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Administration and Management, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Those interested in developing curriculum and instruction should be up to date on current teaching strategies and the constantly changing classroom environment. This is so that you can enhance curriculum with your educational expertise and content knowledge.
To be successful in this field, organization, time management and multi-tasking are important qualities. Part of the job includes arranging professional development opportunities for teachers. It will also be your task to train teachers to adjust to the latest technology in their classroom and help them learn how to implement new teaching strategies. You will be a key support in many teachers' lives and will be responsible to help them improve their skills. You cannot be easily intimidated by headstrong teachers; instead you need to be flexible and creative in order to appeal to even the most seasoned teacher. Another task you will manage is the evaluation of the curriculum and teaching methods based on analyzing student test data.
This major appeals to those passionate about learning and education, but who want to take a behind-the-scenes position. As a Curriculum & Instruction major, you will stay up to date with the latest state standards and learn methods of teaching the new standards to those in the education field.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a curriculum & instruction degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 9 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 14 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 21,172 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,946 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to curriculum & instruction, at 44.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 44.0% |
| Master’s degree | 35.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 13.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 5.6% |
| First professional degree | 2.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Curriculum & Instruction, with an average median salary of $69,632; the strongest outlook belongs to Education Teachers, Postsecondary, at 2.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Program Administrator, Curriculum Director, Curriculum Coordinator and Trainer and Curriculum Specialist.
A Curriculum Coordinator will work in a school district and may be hired for specific grade levels or subjects. This will allow you to tailor professional development classes for your particular area. Most school districts will require at least a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction and some may require a master's degree in your content area. Also, many districts require a minimum number of years as a classroom teacher before becoming a curriculum coordinator.
The occupation related to curriculum & instruction with the most projected jobs is Instructional Coordinators, at 1,448,345.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Instructional Coordinators | 1,448,345 | -1.3% |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
Curriculum & Instruction graduates earn a median $58,713 one year after completing their program, $65,760 after four years and $63,105 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $58,713 |
| 4 years | $65,760 |
| 5 years | $63,105 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to curriculum & instruction, with a median salary of $98,329.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Instructional Coordinators | $40,936 |
Curriculum & Instruction includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Curriculum and Instruction (23,141). It has 14 similar majors in the Education field, which together award 302,693 degrees a year; the largest are Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (108,824), Educational Administration and Supervision (44,746) and Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (40,395). Browse all Education majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and Instruction | 23,141 |
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