Curriculum & Instruction graduates earn $50,452 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $40,839 and $59,081. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.
This page covers Curriculum & Instruction as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Education and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Curriculum & Instruction is a focused area of study within Education. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $50,452 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 495 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 20,472 students complete it each year, most walking away with a master's. Coursework pairs research methods with the applied study of people and institutions.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$35,099
Median Earnings · 4yr
$50,452
Colleges Offering
495
Graduates / Year
20,472
Avg Net Price / yr
$15,973
How Much Do Curriculum & Instruction Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Curriculum & Instruction, a typical graduate earns $50,452, below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $40,839 and $59,081, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $35,099 at one year out to $50,452 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$50,452
4-Year National Median
Below average for bachelor's degree holders.
$46,712
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Curriculum & Instruction graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Degree level and sector drive the gap. Graduate-level government and research roles anchor the top; entry-level social services and nonprofit roles anchor the bottom.
$40,83925th pct.
$50,452Median
$59,08175th pct.
A Solid Financial Return
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $50,452 and an estimated $63,892 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 3.1 years.
Based on outcomes from 23 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 20,472 students who complete Curriculum & Instruction programs each year, the majority (85%) earn a master's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
85%
Master's85%
Doctorate9%
Post-Master's Cert.4%
What Can You Do With a Curriculum & Instruction Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Curriculum & Instruction graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Instructional Coordinator pays the most at $77,440/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Develop instructional material, coordinate educational content, and incorporate current technology into instruction in order to provide guidelines to educators and instructors for developing curricula and conducting courses. May train and coach teachers. Includes educational consultants and specialists, and instructional material directors.
Observe work of teaching staff to evaluate performance and to recommend changes that could strengthen teaching skills.
Plan and conduct teacher training programs and conferences dealing with new classroom procedures, instructional materials and equipment, and teaching aids.
Interpret and enforce provisions of state education codes and rules and regulations of state education boards.
Teach courses pertaining to education, such as counseling, curriculum, guidance, instruction, teacher education, and teaching English as a second language. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Top Colleges for Curriculum & Instruction
Not sure where to study Curriculum & Instruction? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Curriculum & Instruction graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Education Programs
Curriculum & Instruction is not the only path through Education: 14 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Curriculum & Instruction program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
The data on Curriculum & Instruction shows 3 measurable strengths and 3 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
PROS
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $35,099 at graduation to $50,452 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 28,400 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
Wide availabilityOffered at 495 colleges nationwide, with options at every price point and institution type.
CONS
Modest median earningsFour-year median of $50,452 lags STEM and business fields, affecting ROI at higher-cost programs.
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Slow job growthTop related careers project less than 3% growth over the next decade; limited expansion means more competition for new openings.
How much do Curriculum & Instruction graduates earn?
$50,452 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $40,839 and $59,081, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Curriculum & Instruction degree?
$35,099 in the first year out. That grows to $50,452 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Curriculum & Instruction degree?
Instructional Coordinator is one path, and it pays a median of $77,440 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Curriculum & Instruction program take?
Four years for the bachelor's, plus one to two more if you continue on to a master's, which many Curriculum & Instruction students do. Some schools shorten that with an accelerated 5-year combined program.
How many colleges offer Curriculum & Instruction?
495 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Curriculum & Instruction degree worth it?
$50,452 median earnings four years out against $15,973 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Curriculum & Instruction and Education?
Curriculum & Instruction is the narrower of the two: Education covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Curriculum & Instruction-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Curriculum & Instruction graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Curriculum & Instruction graduates consistently look for research methodology, interpersonal communication, and policy understanding. Experience with surveys, qualitative interviews, or statistical tools is often a differentiator in government, nonprofit, and research roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for Curriculum & Instruction graduates?
Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average +2.1% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Education Teachers are among the strongest-growth roles at +2.5%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
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