by our College Data Analytics Team
[Curriculum Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. 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 32 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 Buena Vista University this year. Set in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $69,503.
Walden University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying curriculum instruction schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a private for-profit institution. Curriculum Instruction graduates of Walden University earn a median of about $72,080 a year early in their careers.
St Catherine University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in curriculum instruction, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, St Catherine University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, curriculum instruction degree recipients from St Catherine University typically earn about $64,014 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Lindenwood University earned it the #4 place for curriculum instruction. Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Charles. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $83,131.
Drake University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in curriculum instruction, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, curriculum instruction degree recipients from Drake University typically earn about $68,067 annually.
Southwestern College landed the #6 spot for curriculum instruction salaries this year. Located in the town of Winfield, Southwestern College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,782.
Capella University landed the #7 spot for curriculum instruction salaries this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a private for-profit institution. Curriculum Instruction graduates of Capella University earn a median of about $80,129 a year early in their careers.
Chadron State College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for curriculum instruction. Located in the town of Chadron, Chadron State College is a public institution. Early-career curriculum instruction graduates from Chadron State College make a median of around $60,127 per year.
Minnesota State University Moorhead landed the #9 spot for curriculum instruction salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public institution. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,291.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney earned the #10 position for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a public school located in the town of Kearney. Early-career curriculum instruction graduates from University Of Nebraska At Kearney make a median of around $60,832 per year.
Peru State College landed the #11 spot for curriculum instruction salaries this year. Peru State College is a public school located in the rural area of Peru. Early-career curriculum instruction graduates from Peru State College make a median of around $61,844 per year.
Jamestown College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying curriculum instruction schools. Set in the town of Jamestown, Jamestown College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, curriculum instruction degree recipients from Jamestown College typically earn about $56,836 annually.
Concordia University Seward earned the #13 position for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Seward, Concordia University Seward is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,734.
Emporia State University earned the #14 position for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Emporia State University is a public school located in the town of Emporia. Early-career curriculum instruction graduates from Emporia State University make a median of around $59,470 per year.
University Of Kansas ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying curriculum instruction schools. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a public institution. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,892.
Wayne State College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying curriculum instruction schools. Set in the town of Wayne, Wayne State College is a public institution. After graduating, curriculum instruction degree recipients from Wayne State College typically earn about $57,153 annually.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #17 for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Curriculum Instruction graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of about $54,441 a year early in their careers.
Doane College Crete placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for curriculum instruction. Set in the town of Crete, Doane College Crete is a private not-for-profit institution. Curriculum Instruction graduates of Doane College Crete earn a median of about $55,404 a year early in their careers.
Kansas State University landed the #19 spot for curriculum instruction salaries this year. Kansas State University is a public school located in the city of Manhattan. After graduating, curriculum instruction degree recipients from Kansas State University typically earn about $55,762 annually.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #20 for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public school located in the city of Lincoln. Early-career curriculum instruction graduates from University Of Nebraska Lincoln make a median of around $55,269 per year.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying curriculum instruction schools. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students who complete the curriculum instruction program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,695.
University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #22 spot for curriculum instruction salaries this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public institution. Early-career curriculum instruction graduates from University Of Missouri Kansas City make a median of around $53,421 per year.
Black Hills State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying curriculum instruction schools. Black Hills State University is a public school located in the town of Spearfish. Curriculum Instruction graduates of Black Hills State University earn a median of about $52,499 a year early in their careers.
Wichita State University came in at #24 for curriculum instruction graduate earnings this year. Wichita State University is a public school located in the city of Wichita. After graduating, curriculum instruction degree recipients from Wichita State University typically earn about $52,322 annually.
Missouri Baptist University landed the #25 spot for curriculum instruction salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Missouri Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career curriculum instruction graduates from Missouri Baptist University make a median of around $55,066 per year.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning curriculum instruction graduates:
This list is compiled 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 · 32 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.