by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Educational/Instructional Technology explores Educational/instructional Technology. A Program That Focuses On Integrating Technology Into Educational Curricula. Includes Instruction In Foundations Of Educational Technology, Computer Applications, Utilizing Technology For Assessment, Multimedia Instruction, Web-Based Instruction, Distance Education, And Designing And Producing Educational Software And Materials. Examples: [Advanced Learning Technologies]. Read on to learn the important information every educational/instructional technology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering educational/instructional technology programs.
In the U.S., educational/instructional technology is a widely-pursued major, with 8,879 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Educational/Instructional Technology Schools ranking analyzes these 296 schools to determine the best overall colleges for educational/instructional technology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of educational/instructional technology programs later in this article.
Studies in Educational/Instructional Technology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations educational/instructional technology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a educational/instructional technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a educational/instructional technology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several educational/instructional technology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 107 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 116 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 150 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 8,227 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 261 |
People currently working in careers related to educational/instructional technology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 45.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 7.5% |
| First professional degree | 2.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.6% |
| Some college courses | 2.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in educational/instructional technology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in educational/instructional technology opens doors to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to educational/instructional technology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to educational/instructional technology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Instructional Coordinators | 1,448,345 | -1.3% |
| Training and Development Specialists | 622,945 | 11.3% |
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | 298,768 | 9.4% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of educational/instructional technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $64,362 |
| 4 years | $60,788 |
| 5 years | $68,561 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for educational/instructional technology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers educational/instructional technology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $67,096 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $63,210 |
| Instructional Coordinators | $40,936 |
With 296 different educational/instructional technology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased educational/instructional technology school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
