Educational Evaluation and Research: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for professionals seeking to drive evidence-based improvement in educational settings, this program equips learners with advanced methodologies to assess the effectiveness of teaching practices, institutional programs, and educational policies. Through rigorous training in research and evaluation, students develop the analytical capabilities needed to design, implement, and interpret assessments that inform strategic decision-making across schools, districts, and educational organizations.
- Evaluation theory: Explores foundational frameworks that guide the purpose, design, and ethical considerations of educational assessments, from formative to summative approaches.
- Evaluation research design and planning: Focuses on constructing robust research strategies that align objectives with appropriate data collection and analysis methods.
- Data collection and administration: Covers systematic techniques for gathering reliable and valid data through surveys, observations, interviews, and performance metrics.
- Data analysis and interpretation: Develops skills in applying quantitative and qualitative analytical tools to uncover meaningful patterns and insights from complex educational datasets.
- Reporting and communication: Emphasizes clear, concise, and actionable presentation of findings to diverse stakeholders, including educators, administrators, and policymakers.
- Economic and policy implications: Examines how evaluation results influence funding decisions, program sustainability, and broader educational reform efforts.
Educational Evaluation and Research Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Educational Evaluation and Research Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Educational Evaluation and Research degrees, including Management Analysts, Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other 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 989,960 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management Analysts 13-1111 | $101,190 | $59,720 - $174,140 | 893,900 | $48.65 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other 19-3099 | $100,340 | $62,570 - $160,810 | 36,970 | $48.24 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1081 | $72,090 | $38,650 - $126,450 | 59,090 | N/A |
Educational Evaluation and Research Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $72,700 in Mississippi to $111,083 in Virginia—a 53% difference. The highest-paying states include Virginia, District of Columbia, and Maryland. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 989,960 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 Educational Evaluation and Research by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 50 institutions offering Educational Evaluation and Research 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 Educational Evaluation and Research is found at Harvard University (288 graduates), Johns Hopkins University (JHU) (59 graduates), University of California (UCI), Irvine (58 graduates), Stanford University (34 graduates), and University of Kentucky (UK) (30 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 789 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard University |
Master's
|
288 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
59 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
58 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| Stanford University |
Master's
|
34 | Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
30 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
29 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| High Point University (HPU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
23 | High Point, North Carolina | Private | highpoint.edu |
| Teachers College at Columbia University (TC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
22 | New York, New York | Private | tc.columbia.edu |
| Augusta University (AU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
19 | Augusta, Georgia | Public | augusta.edu |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
17 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Public | uccs.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Master's
|
16 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
13 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
12 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
11 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Campbellsville University (CU) |
Master's
|
10 | Campbellsville, Kentucky | Private | campbellsville.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | Boston, Massachusetts | Public | umb.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Postbac Cert.
|
9 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
|
9 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) |
Master's
|
6 | Los Angeles, California | Private | sciarc.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Wilmington, North Carolina | Public | uncw.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| Northern Illinois University (NIU) |
Master's
|
4 | Dekalb, Illinois | Public | niu.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Cleveland State University (CSU) |
Master's
|
4 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | csuohio.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | worldcampus.psu.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| Valparaiso University (Valpo) |
Master's
|
3 | Valparaiso, Indiana | Private | valpo.edu |
| Boston College (BC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts | Private | bc.edu |
| Missouri Western State University (MWSU) |
Master's
|
3 | Saint Joseph, Missouri | Public | missouriwestern.edu |
| Temple University |
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPR) |
Master's
|
3 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | uprrp.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Master's
|
1 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| University at Albany (UAlbany) |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Albany, New York | Public | albany.edu |
| Wright State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | wright.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Educational Evaluation and Research programs
How much can I earn with a Educational Evaluation and Research degree?
Salaries for Educational Evaluation and Research graduates vary by role and location. Management Analysts earn a median of $101,190 annually, while Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other earn around $100,340. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Virginia average $111,083 compared to $72,700 in Mississippi. Approximately 989,960 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 Educational Evaluation and Research programs?
Currently 50 accredited institutions offer Educational Evaluation and Research degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Harvard University (288 graduates), Johns Hopkins University (JHU) (59 graduates), and University of California (UCI), Irvine (58 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 Educational Evaluation and Research growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 92 in 2010 to 789 in 2023-24. This represents a 758% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, 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 Educational Evaluation and Research degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Management Analysts, Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other, and Education Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 989,960 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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