by our College Data Analytics Team
[Curriculum Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a curriculum instruction degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 52 schools to find where curriculum instruction graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose curriculum instruction graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in curriculum instruction, no school beat Piedmont College this year. Set in the town of Demorest, Piedmont College is a private not-for-profit institution. Curriculum Instruction graduates of Piedmont College earn a median of about $92,531 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Berry College earned it the #2 place for curriculum instruction. Located in the suburb of Mount Berry, Berry College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, curriculum instruction degree recipients from Berry College typically earn about $67,924 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Georgia Southern University earned it the #3 place for curriculum instruction. Georgia Southern University is a public school located in the town of Statesboro. Curriculum Instruction graduates of Georgia Southern University earn a median of about $86,980 a year early in their careers.
Mercer University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying curriculum instruction schools. Located in the city of Macon, Mercer University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career curriculum instruction graduates from Mercer University make a median of around $89,086 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in curriculum instruction will find them at Florida International University, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a public institution. After graduating, curriculum instruction degree recipients from Florida International University typically earn about $67,933 annually.
Augusta University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying curriculum instruction schools. Augusta University is a public school located in the city of Augusta. Curriculum Instruction graduates of Augusta University earn a median of about $67,394 a year early in their careers.
George Mason University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying curriculum instruction schools. George Mason University is a public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Curriculum Instruction graduates of George Mason University earn a median of about $67,293 a year early in their careers.
Florida Atlantic University came in at #8 for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a public institution. Curriculum Instruction graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of about $61,394 a year early in their careers.
Thomas University earned the #9 position for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Thomasville, Thomas University is a private not-for-profit institution. Curriculum Instruction graduates of Thomas University earn a median of about $61,064 a year early in their careers.
Salem International University came in at #10 for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Salem International University is a private for-profit school located in the rural area of Salem. Curriculum Instruction graduates of Salem International University earn a median of about $69,475 a year early in their careers.
University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying curriculum instruction schools. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,130.
Nova Southeastern University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for curriculum instruction. Set in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,435.
University Of Florida came in at #13 for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a public institution. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $68,237.
Georgia College And State University earned the #14 position for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia College And State University is a public institution. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,677.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #15 for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public school located in the city of Charlotte. After graduating, curriculum instruction degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte typically earn about $63,547 annually.
The University Of West Florida placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for curriculum instruction. The University Of West Florida is a public school located in the rural area of Pensacola. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $72,484.
University Of South Carolina Columbia ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying curriculum instruction schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public institution. Curriculum Instruction graduates of University Of South Carolina Columbia earn a median of about $77,432 a year early in their careers.
Regent University earned the #18 position for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Regent University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Early-career curriculum instruction graduates from Regent University make a median of around $53,860 per year.
Gardner Webb University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying curriculum instruction schools. Located in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a private not-for-profit institution. Curriculum Instruction graduates of Gardner Webb University earn a median of about $70,736 a year early in their careers.
Florida Gulf Coast University came in at #20 for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a public institution. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,602.
Lipscomb University placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for curriculum instruction. Lipscomb University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Early-career curriculum instruction graduates from Lipscomb University make a median of around $60,811 per year.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying curriculum instruction schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. Curriculum Instruction graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of about $55,091 a year early in their careers.
College Of William And Mary came in at #23 for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a public institution. After graduating, curriculum instruction degree recipients from College Of William And Mary typically earn about $53,998 annually.
Our Lady Of Holy Cross College landed the #24 spot for curriculum instruction salaries this year. Our Lady Of Holy Cross College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. Curriculum Instruction graduates of Our Lady Of Holy Cross College earn a median of about $54,899 a year early in their careers.
Vanderbilt University earned the #25 position for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,819.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid curriculum instruction ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their curriculum instruction graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 52 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.