2026 Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in California
Curriculum & Instruction is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their curriculum & instruction programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools to find the best for curriculum & instruction students.
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Best Schools for Curriculum & Instruction in California
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the curriculum & instruction degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Curriculum & Instruction
Concordia University Irvine tops our 2026 ranking of the best curriculum & instruction schools. Located in the city of Irvine, Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. 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. Concordia University Irvine graduates carry a median of $26,085 in student loans.
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. Located in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 91 curriculum & instruction students who graduated with this degree at University Of The Pacific 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. Typical student debt for the program is $23,514.
Read more about the curriculum & instruction program at 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%. There were roughly 29 curriculum & instruction students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $50,955. Students borrow a median of $17,024 to complete this degree.
See the full curriculum & instruction program report for San Francisco State University
University Of San Diego came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best curriculum & instruction schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. University Of San Diego graduates 84% of students within six years. University Of San Diego awarded about 41 curriculum & instruction degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their curriculum & instruction degree from University Of San Diego earn around $57,559 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete this degree.
Get the full curriculum & instruction details for University Of San Diego
California State University East Bay came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best curriculum & instruction schools. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. There were roughly 13 curriculum & instruction students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $58,951 early in their careers. California State University East Bay graduates carry a median of $18,073 in student loans.
Get the full curriculum & instruction details for California State University East Bay
California State University Long Beach came in at #6 for curriculum & instruction this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Long Beach awarded about 22 curriculum & instruction degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their curriculum & instruction degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $81,909 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $15,671 in student loans.
See the full curriculum & instruction program report for California State University Long Beach
California State University San Marcos placed #7 among the best curriculum & instruction schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of San Marcos. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 19 curriculum & instruction degrees were awarded at California State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Students who receive their curriculum & instruction degree from California State University San Marcos earn around $48,726 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,527.
Get the full curriculum & instruction details for 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. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 21 curriculum & instruction degrees were awarded at Chapman University in the most recent year. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $50,947 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,657.
See the full curriculum & instruction program report for Chapman University
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #9 position for curriculum & instruction this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 15 curriculum & instruction degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $61,010. Typical student debt for the program is $19,273.
Get the full curriculum & instruction details for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
California State University Northridge ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best curriculum & instruction schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Northridge. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 11 curriculum & instruction degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $48,437. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $16,202 in student loans.
See the full curriculum & instruction program report for California State University Northridge
Vanguard University Of Southern California landed the #11 spot for curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Vanguard University Of Southern California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Vanguard University Of Southern California graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 curriculum & instruction students who graduated with this degree at Vanguard University Of Southern California in the most recent data 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.
Get the full curriculum & instruction details for Vanguard University Of Southern California
La Sierra University landed the #12 spot for curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the city of Riverside, La Sierra University is a small private not-for-profit institution. La Sierra University graduates 58% of students within six years. About 33 curriculum & instruction degrees were awarded at La Sierra University in the most recent year. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of La Sierra University earn a median of $62,077 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,507 to complete this degree.
Get the full curriculum & instruction details for La Sierra University
More Curriculum & Instruction Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, 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.
