Curriculum and Instruction: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Curriculum and Instruction is a specialized academic field dedicated to the development, implementation, and assessment of educational content and teaching strategies across diverse learning environments. This program equips students with the analytical and practical skills needed to design effective, evidence-based curricula that support student achievement at all educational levels.
- Curriculum Theory: Explores foundational principles and philosophical frameworks that shape educational goals, content selection, and instructional approaches across different contexts.
- Curriculum Design and Planning: Focuses on systematic methods for structuring learning experiences, aligning objectives with standards, and sequencing content for optimal student engagement and mastery.
- Instructional Material Design and Evaluation: Involves the creation and critical assessment of educational resources, including textbooks, digital tools, and multimedia, to ensure relevance, accessibility, and pedagogical effectiveness.
- Curriculum Evaluation: Teaches techniques for measuring the impact and quality of curricular programs, using data-driven methods to inform revisions and improvements.
- Subject-Specific and Level-Appropriate Applications: Applies curriculum principles to real-world settings, addressing unique needs in K–12, higher education, vocational training, and specialized learning environments.
Curriculum and Instruction Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Curriculum and Instruction Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Curriculum and Instruction degrees, including Instructional Coordinators and Education Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 269,940 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instructional Coordinators 25-9031 | $74,720 | $46,560 - $115,410 | 210,850 | $35.92 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1081 | $72,090 | $38,650 - $126,450 | 59,090 | N/A |
Curriculum and Instruction Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $57,205 in Hawaii to $91,760 in California—a 60% difference. The highest-paying states include California, District of Columbia, and Connecticut. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 269,940 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Curriculum and Instruction by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Curriculum and Instruction programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Curriculum and Instruction is found at Western Governors University (WGU) (5,296 graduates), American College of Education (ACE) (922 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (604 graduates), Liberty University (569 graduates), and Augusta University (AU) (342 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 16,975 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Governors University (WGU) |
Master's
|
5,296 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Private | wgu.edu |
| American College of Education (ACE) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
922 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | ace.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Master's
|
604 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| Liberty University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
569 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Augusta University (AU) |
Master's
|
342 | Augusta, Georgia | Public | augusta.edu |
| University of Phoenix (UOPX) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
267 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | phoenix.edu |
| George Mason University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
261 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Master's
|
255 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| National Louis University (NLU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
213 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | nl.edu |
| Louisiana State University (LSUS) |
Master's
|
204 | Shreveport, Louisiana | Public | lsus.edu |
| Southeastern Oklahoma State University |
Master's
|
202 | Durant, Oklahoma | Public | se.edu |
| Fitchburg State University |
Master's
|
201 | Fitchburg, Massachusetts | Public | fitchburgstate.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
195 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
186 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
180 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| Emporia State University (ESU) |
Master's
|
178 | Emporia, Kansas | Public | emporia.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
|
171 | Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Doctorate (Professional)
|
169 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| University of the Cumberlands |
Master's
|
169 | Williamsburg, Kentucky | Private | ucumberlands.edu |
| University of St Francis (USF) |
Master's
|
160 | Joliet, Illinois | Private | stfrancis.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
151 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
149 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Concordia University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
147 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | csp.edu |
| Concordia University (CUC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
146 | River Forest, Illinois | Private | cuchicago.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
145 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
| Lipscomb University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
139 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | lipscomb.edu |
| Baylor University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
133 | Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
| Tennessee Technological University (TTU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
129 | Cookeville, Tennessee | Public | tntech.edu |
| Texas A & M International University (TAMIU) |
Master's
|
128 | Laredo, Texas | Public | tamiu.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
123 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Piedmont University |
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
120 | Demorest, Georgia | Private | piedmont.edu |
| Doane University |
Master's
|
113 | Crete, Nebraska | Private | doane.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
108 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Master's
|
107 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
104 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNK) |
Master's
|
104 | Kearney, Nebraska | Public | unk.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
104 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
100 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Columbia International University (CIU) |
Master's
|
99 | Columbia, South Carolina | Private | ciu.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
97 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| Northwest Missouri State University |
Master's
|
96 | Maryville, Missouri | Public | nwmissouri.edu |
| University of the Pacific (UOP) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
91 | Stockton, California | Private | pacific.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
91 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| Peru State College |
Master's
|
91 | Peru, Nebraska | Public | peru.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
91 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
90 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
90 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Bowling Green State University (BGSU) |
Master's
Other Award
|
88 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Public | bgsu.edu |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
86 | Edinburg, Texas | Public | utrgv.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Master's
|
85 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| Spalding University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
84 | Louisville, Kentucky | Private | spalding.edu |
| Wayne State College (WSC) |
Master's
|
83 | Wayne, Nebraska | Public | wsc.edu |
| Buena Vista University (BVU) |
Master's
|
80 | Storm Lake, Iowa | Private | bvu.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
79 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
79 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| City University of Seattle (CityU) |
Master's
|
79 | Seattle, Washington | Private | cityu.edu |
| University of West Florida (UWF) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
71 | Pensacola, Florida | Public | uwf.edu |
| Boston College (BC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
71 | Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts | Private | bc.edu |
| Capella University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
71 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | capella.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
70 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| McDaniel College |
Master's
|
70 | Westminster, Maryland | Private | mcdaniel.edu |
| Youngstown State University (YSU) |
Master's
|
70 | Youngstown, Ohio | Public | ysu.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHM) |
Master's
|
67 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | manoa.hawaii.edu |
| Sam Houston State University (SHSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
67 | Huntsville, Texas | Public | shsu.edu |
| Eastern University |
Master's
|
66 | Saint Davids, Pennsylvania | Private | eastern.edu |
| Concordia University (CUI) |
Master's
|
64 | Irvine, California | Private | cui.edu |
| Thomas University (TU) |
Master's
|
64 | Thomasville, Georgia | Private | thomasu.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Master's
|
64 | Commerce, Texas | Public | tamuc.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
63 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Mississippi College (MC) |
Master's
|
62 | Clinton, Mississippi | Private | mc.edu |
| Concordia University-Nebraska |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
62 | Seward, Nebraska | Private | cune.edu |
| University of Louisiana (ULM) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
61 | Monroe, Louisiana | Public | ulm.edu |
| Empire State University |
Master's
|
58 | Saratoga Springs, New York | Public | sunyempire.edu |
| Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
56 | Harrogate, Tennessee | Private | lmunet.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
55 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| SUNY Buffalo State University |
Master's
|
52 | Buffalo, New York | Public | suny.buffalostate.edu |
| Teachers College at Columbia University (TC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
52 | New York, New York | Private | tc.columbia.edu |
| Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) |
Master's
|
52 | Fort Myers, Florida | Public | fgcu.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
51 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Wilkes University |
Master's
|
51 | Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania | Private | wilkes.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Master's
|
51 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | worldcampus.psu.edu |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
50 | Moorhead, Minnesota | Public | mnstate.edu |
| Tarleton State University (TSU) |
Master's
|
50 | Stephenville, Texas | Public | tarleton.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Master's
|
49 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
48 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
48 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
47 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| University of Indianapolis (UIndy) |
Master's
|
47 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | uindy.edu |
| Merrimack College |
Master's
|
46 | North Andover, Massachusetts | Private | merrimack.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTEP) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
46 | El Paso, Texas | Public | utep.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Master's
|
45 | Lowell, Massachusetts | Public | uml.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
45 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Master's
|
45 | Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| Eastern Illinois University (EIU) |
Master's
|
44 | Charleston, Illinois | Public | eiu.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
43 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin (CUW) |
Master's
|
43 | Mequon, Wisconsin | Private | cuw.edu |
| Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) |
Master's
|
42 | Bourbonnais, Illinois | Private | olivet.edu |
| University of San Diego (USD) |
Master's
|
41 | San Diego, California | Private | sandiego.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
41 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
|
41 | Tyler, Texas | Public | uttyler.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Curriculum and Instruction programs
How much can I earn with a Curriculum and Instruction degree?
Salaries for Curriculum and Instruction graduates vary by role and location. Instructional Coordinators earn a median of $74,720 annually, while Education Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $72,090. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $91,760 compared to $57,205 in Hawaii. Approximately 269,940 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Curriculum and Instruction programs?
Currently 418 accredited institutions offer Curriculum and Instruction degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Western Governors University (WGU) (5,296 graduates), American College of Education (ACE) (922 graduates), and Grand Canyon University (GCU) (604 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Curriculum and Instruction growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 21,778 in 2010 to 21,331 in 2023-24. This represents a 2% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Curriculum and Instruction degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Instructional Coordinators, Education Teachers, Postsecondary, . Related occupations employ approximately 269,940 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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