by our College Data Analytics Team
[Curriculum Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their curriculum instruction graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 29 schools to find where curriculum instruction graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send curriculum instruction graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in curriculum instruction, no school beat Franklin University this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Franklin University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $72,613.
A rank of #2 makes Concordia University Chicago one of the highest-paying schools for curriculum instruction. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Curriculum Instruction graduates of Concordia University Chicago earn a median of about $71,888 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Lewis University one of the highest-paying schools for curriculum instruction. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,197.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Cincinnati Main Campus one of the highest-paying schools for curriculum instruction. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Curriculum Instruction graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of about $70,982 a year early in their careers.
University Of Toledo produces some of the highest-paid graduates in curriculum instruction, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Toledo is a public school located in the city of Toledo. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,505.
University Of St Francis earned the #6 position for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,512.
Olivet Nazarene University earned the #7 position for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Olivet Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $66,903.
National Louis University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for curriculum instruction. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,604.
Mckendree University earned the #9 position for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Mckendree University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lebanon. Curriculum Instruction graduates of Mckendree University earn a median of about $58,314 a year early in their careers.
Ohio Dominican University came in at #10 for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio Dominican University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career curriculum instruction graduates from Ohio Dominican University make a median of around $61,239 per year.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for curriculum instruction. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a public school located in the city of Oshkosh. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $68,084.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for curriculum instruction. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public institution. Curriculum Instruction graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of about $63,763 a year early in their careers.
Carroll University came in at #13 for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Waukesha, Carroll University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, curriculum instruction degree recipients from Carroll University typically earn about $57,937 annually.
Central Michigan University came in at #14 for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Central Michigan University is a public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Curriculum Instruction graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of about $58,580 a year early in their careers.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #15 for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, curriculum instruction degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus typically earn about $57,521 annually.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying curriculum instruction schools. Set in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a private not-for-profit institution. Curriculum Instruction graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earn a median of about $58,092 a year early in their careers.
Ashland University earned the #17 position for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Ashland, Ashland University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,877.
Michigan State University came in at #18 for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,170.
Northern Michigan University placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for curriculum instruction. Set in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a public institution. Curriculum Instruction graduates of Northern Michigan University earn a median of about $57,036 a year early in their careers.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #20 for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public school located in the town of Bowling Green. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,899.
Concordia University Ann Arbor earned the #21 position for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, Concordia University Ann Arbor is a private not-for-profit institution. Curriculum Instruction graduates of Concordia University Ann Arbor earn a median of about $60,936 a year early in their careers.
Concordia University Wisconsin ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying curriculum instruction schools. Concordia University Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mequon. Early-career curriculum instruction graduates from Concordia University Wisconsin make a median of around $60,936 per year.
Grand Valley State University came in at #23 for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a public institution. Early-career curriculum instruction graduates from Grand Valley State University make a median of around $58,799 per year.
Illinois State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying curriculum instruction schools. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a public institution. Curriculum Instruction graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of about $52,475 a year early in their careers.
University Of Indianapolis ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying curriculum instruction schools. Located in the city of Indianapolis, University Of Indianapolis is a private not-for-profit institution. Curriculum Instruction graduates of University Of Indianapolis earn a median of about $54,663 a year early in their careers.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning curriculum instruction graduates:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries curriculum instruction graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 29 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.