2026 Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in California
Curriculum & Instruction programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their curriculum & instruction programs.
College Factual analyzed 23 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best curriculum & instruction schools.
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Best Schools for Curriculum & Instruction in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall curriculum & instruction education in California.
Top Schools in Curriculum & Instruction
Concordia University Irvine tops our 2026 ranking of the best curriculum & instruction schools. Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Irvine. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 64 curriculum & instruction degrees were awarded at Concordia University Irvine in the most recent year. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Concordia University Irvine earn a median of $83,546 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,085.
More information about a degree in curriculum & instruction from Concordia University Irvine
A rank of #2 makes University Of The Pacific one of the top schools for curriculum & instruction. Set in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. University Of The Pacific awarded about 91 curriculum & instruction degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their curriculum & instruction degree from University Of The Pacific earn around $60,543 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,514 to complete this degree.
See the full curriculum & instruction program report for University Of The Pacific
Students looking for a strong curriculum & instruction program will find one at San Francisco State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 29 curriculum & instruction degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their curriculum & instruction degree from San Francisco State University earn around $50,955 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,024 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in curriculum & instruction from San Francisco State University
A rank of #4 makes University Of San Diego one of the top schools for curriculum & instruction. University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. University Of San Diego graduates 84% of students within six years. About 41 curriculum & instruction degrees were awarded at University Of San Diego in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from University Of San Diego generally make around $57,559. University Of San Diego graduates carry a median of $23,795 in student loans.
Read more about the curriculum & instruction program at University Of San Diego
California State University East Bay is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in curriculum & instruction, ranking #5. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. About 48% of students finish within six years. About 13 curriculum & instruction degrees were awarded at California State University East Bay in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $58,951. Typical student debt for the program is $18,073.
More information about a degree in curriculum & instruction from California State University East Bay
California State University Long Beach came in at #6 for curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. California State University Long Beach awarded about 22 curriculum & instruction degrees in the most recent data year. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $81,909 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,671 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in curriculum & instruction from California State University Long Beach
California State University San Marcos placed #7 among the best curriculum & instruction schools. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public university. California State University San Marcos graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 curriculum & instruction students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Marcos in the most recent data year. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of $48,726 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,527 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in curriculum & instruction from California State University San Marcos
Chapman University placed #8 among the best curriculum & instruction schools. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 21 curriculum & instruction degrees were awarded at Chapman University in the most recent year. Graduates of the curriculum & instruction program make about $50,947 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,657.
More information about a degree in curriculum & instruction from Chapman University
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #9 among the best curriculum & instruction schools. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 15 curriculum & instruction degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their curriculum & instruction degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn around $61,010 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,273.
More information about a degree in curriculum & instruction from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
California State University Northridge ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best curriculum & instruction schools. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 curriculum & instruction students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $48,437. Students borrow a median of $16,202 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in curriculum & instruction from California State University Northridge
Vanguard University Of Southern California came in at #11 for curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Vanguard University Of Southern California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Vanguard University Of Southern California graduates 57% of students within six years. About 17 curriculum & instruction degrees were awarded at Vanguard University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the curriculum & instruction program make about $80,727 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,111 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in curriculum & instruction from Vanguard University Of Southern California
La Sierra University landed the #12 spot for curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the city of Riverside, La Sierra University is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 33 curriculum & instruction degrees were awarded at La Sierra University in the most recent year. Students who receive their curriculum & instruction degree from La Sierra University earn around $62,077 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,507.
More information about a degree in curriculum & instruction from La Sierra University
More Curriculum & Instruction Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 23 schools evaluated.
- 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.