2027 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Master’s Degree Schools
[Curriculum & Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/curriculum-and-instruction/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong curriculum & instruction education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 244 schools to find the best return on investment for curriculum & instruction students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in curriculum & instruction, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools
For return on investment in curriculum & instruction, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,323. That is a strong return on a $17,669 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Northridge earned it the #2 place for curriculum & instruction. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,458 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $16,202. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $48,437. That is a strong return on a $16,202 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M International University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in curriculum & instruction, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,894 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,454 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,095 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Texas A And M International University generally make around $63,281. That is a strong return on a $15,095 median debt. The acceptance rate is 44%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University East Bay earned it the #4 place for curriculum & instruction. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,583, while out-of-state students pay about $20,183. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $18,073. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $58,951. Set against $18,073 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University East Bay admits about 97% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in curriculum & instruction will find it at The University Of Texas Pan American, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $14,694 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $59,119. That is a strong return on a $14,694 median debt. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
California State University San Marcos ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,082, while out-of-state students pay about $20,682. Students borrow a median of $17,527 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from California State University San Marcos generally make around $48,726. Set against $17,527 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University San Marcos admits about 95% of applicants.
Utah Valley University earned the #7 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $16,478. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $65,419. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida International University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Students borrow a median of $19,349 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $60,563 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,349 median debt. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
San Francisco State University came in at #9 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,846, compared with $20,446 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $17,020. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $49,716 early in their careers. Set against $17,020 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. San Francisco State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Portland State University placed #10 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Located in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,136. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $26,475 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $64,503. Set against $26,475 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Portland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas placed #11 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Set in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,748 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,411. Students borrow a median of $21,181 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from University Of Nevada Las Vegas generally make around $58,692. Set against $21,181 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Florida Atlantic University came in at #12 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,212 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $49,340. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
University Of Houston Victoria earned the #13 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. University Of Houston Victoria is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Victoria. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,149, compared with $16,941 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,081 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of University Of Houston Victoria earn a median of $47,345 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,081 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The University Of West Florida came in at #14 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,776, with out-of-state students paying around $18,658. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $19,677. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of The University Of West Florida earn a median of $54,063 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,677 median debt. The University Of West Florida admits about 58% of applicants.
Suny Empire State College placed #15 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,648 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,558. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $23,693. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $53,832. That is a strong return on a $23,693 median debt.
Florida State University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $50,839. Set against $20,488 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Louisiana State University Shreveport ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Louisiana State University Shreveport is a large public school located in the city of Shreveport. Students from in state pay about $7,327 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $28,907. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Louisiana State University Shreveport earn a median of $45,300 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #18 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $21,829 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $48,079 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,829 median debt. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Western Governors University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Western Governors University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. In-state tuition and fees average $8,658. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $23,277. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $62,910. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Durant. Students from in state pay about $7,200 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,410. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $18,660 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $51,797. That is a strong return on a $18,660 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of North Georgia earned the #21 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the town of Dahlonega, University Of North Georgia is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,444, compared with $16,956 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $21,439. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of University Of North Georgia earn a median of $43,714 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
University Of Colorado Denver came in at #22 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. Students from in state pay about $10,383 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $26,582. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $61,095 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
National Louis University earned the #23 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,245. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $29,242 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from National Louis University generally make around $61,839. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned the #24 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,326, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $23,312 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $59,223 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,312 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Florida placed #25 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,964, compared with $19,407 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $18,523. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $49,208. That is a strong return on a $18,523 median debt. University Of North Florida admits about 53% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s curriculum & instruction value ranking:
Other Curriculum & Instruction Degree Levels
Explore the best-value curriculum & instruction schools at other degree levels:
View All Curriculum & Instruction Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 244 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 244 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
