Master's in Curriculum & Instruction

A master's in curriculum and instruction trains teachers to design courses, build assessments, and lead instructional work across a grade band or department. Annual graduate tuition among the programs here starts near $4,783 and runs past $7,900, and early-career earnings cluster around $63,000 at schools that publish program-level figures.

What matters most is what the credential actually does for you. It is an advanced credential, not an initial teaching license: most states still require you to hold or earn licensure separately before you run a classroom. What the degree does reliably is move you to a higher lane on a district salary schedule and qualify you for instructional coach and curriculum coordinator postings.

That payoff depends less on the degree title than on your district's pay structure.

The 10 Best Master's in Curriculum & Instruction Programs, Ranked

These ten programs range from a flat-rate, term-based online model to small campus cohorts that require fingerprint clearance before enrollment. Each entry notes how the degree is delivered alongside the concentration or design detail that sets it apart, so you can match a format to the classroom you already teach in.

Rank	School	Location	Net price	Best for
#1	Western Governors University	Salt Lake City, UT	~$9,000/yr (est.)	Working teachers juggling full-time classroom schedules
Western Governors University runs its curriculum and instruction master's entirely online, with monthly start dates and a flat rate per six-month term rather than per credit. Most students finish in about 18 months. Graduates of this program reported median earnings of $62,910 one year after completion (2022 cohort), with median graduate debt of $9,341. The schools offering this program have graduation rates of 46%. Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction — Online Military benefitsFully online option 10 courses; most students finish in about 18 months Flat $5,450 per six-month term, not per credit Monthly start dates with asynchronous online coursework Requires access to at least 15 K-12 learners or educators Capstone required; aligned to National Board Teaching Standards $0 application fee; federal aid and military benefits accepted Reported average salary increase of $10,525 after completion Visit Website
#2	Park University	Parkville, MO	under $5,000/yr (est.)	Educators who prefer campus-based evening classes
Park University teaches its curriculum and instruction master's on campus as a 30-credit M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership with a 12-credit curriculum and instruction core. Admission runs through a felony background check and FBI fingerprinting, a requirement that reflects how closely the degree sits to K-12 licensure work. A 4+1 option lets undergraduates begin graduate coursework early, and applicants with a 2.75 to 3.0 GPA may be considered provisionally. The schools offering this program have graduation rates of 38%. Master of Education, Instructional Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction Concentration — On-Campus 30 credit hours; 12-credit curriculum and instruction core Core covers curriculum theory, assessment methods, and differentiation 3.0 GPA required; 2.75 to 3.0 may qualify for provisional admission FBI fingerprint and felony background check required 4+1 undergraduate-to-graduate option available No more than two C grades allowed toward the degree Visit Website
#3	Southwest Baptist University	Bolivar, MO	~$8,000/yr (est.)	Christian educators seeking values-integrated coursework
Southwest Baptist University offers its curriculum and instruction master's online and in hybrid formats, aimed squarely at practicing classroom teachers who want to apply new strategies immediately. Faculty are former teachers, principals, and superintendents, and coursework integrates a Christian perspective across curriculum design, educational research, and assessment. Multiple start dates each year keep the program workable for educators who cannot pause their careers. The schools offering this program have graduation rates of 55%. Master of Science in Education in Curriculum and Instruction — Hybrid Online and hybrid course formats Coursework in curriculum design, educational research, and assessment Faculty include former teachers, principals, and superintendents Christian perspective integrated across the curriculum Multiple start dates each year Visit Website
#4	Corban University	Salem, OR	~$10,000/yr (est.)
Corban University delivers a 30-credit Master of Science in Education with a curriculum and instruction concentration entirely online at $750 per credit, spread across five semesters. Students complete a research-based thesis on a real classroom problem, and a biblical worldview runs through the coursework. Full-time and part-time pacing, plus synchronous and asynchronous options, accommodate teachers who are still in the classroom. The schools offering this program have graduation rates of 61%. Master of Science in Education, Curriculum and Instruction Concentration — Online Military benefits 30 credit hours completed over five semesters $750 per credit hour Research-based thesis required Synchronous and asynchronous options; full-time or part-time Three concentration options within the M.S.Ed. Biblical worldview integrated with professional practice Military scholarships and benefits accepted Visit Website
#5	Schreiner University	Kerrville, TX	~$10,000/yr (est.)
Schreiner University runs a 36-credit M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction online in about nine months at $300 per credit, with no entrance exam required. Cohorts stay small, and the curriculum leans on trauma-informed pedagogy, arts integration, and digital literacy alongside standard assessment and curriculum design coursework. Educators who later want administrator credentials can add principal certification in two more semesters. The schools offering this program have graduation rates of 43%. Master of Education, Curriculum and Instruction — Online 36 credit hours completed in about nine months $300 per credit hour; no entrance exam required Coursework in trauma-informed pedagogy, arts integration, and digital literacy Three start dates per year: fall, spring, and summer Principal certification available in two additional semesters Alternative route to teacher certification offered $25 application fee; limited class sizes Visit Website
#6	Fort Hays State University	Hays, KS	~$4,900/yr (est.)
Fort Hays State University offers its curriculum and instruction master's fully online with rolling admission and four concentrations, from STEM education to the science of language and literacy. The STEM track carries CAEP accreditation and 33 credits, with electives that prepare teachers for additional Praxis endorsements; the other concentration tracks run 30 credits and do not lead to licensure. The schools offering this program have graduation rates of 48%. MSE in Curriculum & Instruction, STEM Education, Master's — Online 33 credit hours, fully online $348.78 per credit hour CAEP accredited Three Praxis preparation courses offered as electives May support an additional STEM teaching endorsement Designed for working elementary and secondary teachers Visit Website MSE in Curriculum & Instruction, Exceptional and Diverse Learners, Master's — Online Rolling admissions 30 total credit hours Rolling admissions; apply any time Designed for licensed teachers Personal statement required Does not lead to teaching licensure Visit Website MSE in Curriculum & Instruction, The Science of Language and Literacy, Master's — Online 30 total credit hours Concentration in the science of language and literacy Fully online coursework Visit Website MSE in Curriculum & Instruction, The Effective Teacher, Master's — Online 30 total credit hours Concentration built around effective teaching practice Fully online coursework Visit Website
#7	Liberty University	Lynchburg, VA	~$9,000/yr (est.)
Liberty University's online M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction is built for flexibility: 14 specializations, 8-week asynchronous courses, eight start dates a year, and no entrance exam. Tuition runs $430 per credit, with a military rate of $290. Graduates of this program reported median earnings of $55,618 five years after completion (2022 cohort). The schools offering this program have graduation rates of 65%. Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction — Online No entrance examMilitary benefitsTest optional 14 concentration options $430 per credit; military rate of $290 per credit 100% online, 8-week asynchronous courses 8 start dates per year; no set login times No entrance exam; 2.5 GPA minimum Transfer up to 50% of the degree Visit Website Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, Leadership — Online No entrance examMilitary benefits 36 total credit hours Capstone required Christian worldview curriculum $50 application fee Visit Website Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, Elementary Education — Online No entrance examMilitary benefits 36 total credit hours Capstone required No student teaching required Prepares graduates for curriculum developer roles Visit Website Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, Student Services — Online No entrance examMilitary benefits 36 total credit hours Non-licensure student services track Prepares for education counselor and administrator roles Visit Website Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, Special Education — Online Military benefits 36 total credit hours Optional practicum or research project Coursework in learning theory alongside special education supervision Visit Website
#8	Eastern New Mexico University	Portales, NM	~$6,000/yr (est.)
Eastern New Mexico University awards a 36-credit Master of Arts in Education with a curriculum and instruction concentration and an elementary education emphasis, completed online through Canvas and Panopto. The degree splits into a 9-hour core and a 27-hour concentration heavy in bilingual education and literacy. Students finish with a thesis or comprehensive exams, defended in person, and applicants taking six or fewer hours pay in-state rates. The schools offering this program have graduation rates of 45%. Master of Arts in Education, Curriculum and Instruction (Elementary Education emphasis) — Online 36 credit hours, fully online 9-hour core plus a 27-hour concentration Concentration draws on bilingual education and literacy Thesis or comprehensive exams, defended in person Out-of-state students pay in-state rates at 6 or fewer hours Second-lowest master's tuition in New Mexico, per the university Free job placement assistance Visit Website
#9	Adams State University	Alamosa, CO	~$6,000/yr (est.)
Adams State University keeps its 30-credit Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction simple: seven core education courses plus three electives, all online, for roughly $12,000 in total program tuition. Students can start in fall, spring, or summer, with 16-week terms in the traditional semesters and 8-week summer sessions. A dedicated advisor stays with students throughout, and graduate credits earned in the last five years may transfer. The schools offering this program have graduation rates of 39%. Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction — Online 30 credit hours: 7 core courses plus 3 electives Approximately $12,000 total program tuition Fall, spring, and summer start dates 16-week fall and spring terms; 8-week summer terms Dedicated advisor assigned throughout the program Transfer graduate credits earned in the last five years Federal loan forgiveness may apply for qualified graduates Visit Website
#10	Pennsylvania Western University	California, PA	$11,000 – $12,000/yr (est.)
Pennsylvania Western University offers an M.Ed. in Advanced Study in Education with a curriculum, instruction, and teacher leadership concentration, delivered fully online through PennWest Global Online. The same degree carries six other concentrations, including early childhood, educational technology and online teaching, STEM education, and teaching English as a second language, so teachers can shift tracks without changing programs. Graduate admissions answers questions directly by email and phone. The schools offering this program have graduation rates of 52%. Advanced Study in Education, MEd - Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Leadership — Online Fully online option 100% online through PennWest Global Online 7 concentration options in the same M.Ed. Other tracks include early childhood, STEM education, and ESL Educational technology and online teaching track available Mathematics and technology education concentrations offered Visit Website

What Goes Into the Score and What It Can't Tell You

A score is a shortlisting tool, not a verdict on whether a program fits you. It is a starting filter, not a finish line.

What the score reflects

Four signals feed the number: what the program costs, how graduates fare after finishing, whether the format works for a working teacher, and the details that shape day-to-day study, from concentration options to capstone requirements. Those are the inputs that matter most when you compare curriculum and instruction master's programs side by side.

What it cannot tell you

Two limits deserve equal weight. First, institution-wide graduation rates and net price describe the whole college, not one program's cohort or one teacher's bill. Second, published earnings medians collapse a wide range of outcomes into a single figure; graduates in different districts, roles, and grade levels do not earn the same amount. A program with a strong score can still be a poor fit for your subject area, schedule, or state licensure rules.

Use the score to build a shortlist, then verify the things a number cannot: accreditation, the path to your license or endorsement, fieldwork placements, and whether the capstone matches the work you want to do. That check takes an afternoon and prevents an expensive mismatch.

What a Master's in Curriculum & Instruction Costs Across Schools

The figures below are yearly graduate tuition and fees from federal data, ordered from lowest to highest in-state cost. They run from $4,783 at Park University to $7,956 at Southwest Baptist University. The widest residency gap is at the University of Nevada-Reno ($7,032 in-state vs. $25,174 out-of-state), while Fitchburg State, Adams State and several other programs charge every student the same rate, so online students should confirm whether a school bills by residency before applying. If your program prepares you to teach a high-need field, a federal TEACH Grant can provide up to $4,000 a year, but you must teach full time for at least four years within eight years at a school serving low-income students, or the grant converts to an unsubsidized loan with interest charged from the first disbursement. Many districts offer tuition assistance or reimbursement, but amounts and caps vary, so get your district's policy in writing. Public Service Loan Forgiveness cancels remaining Direct Loan balances after 120 qualifying payments made while working full time for a public or nonprofit employer. Teacher Loan Forgiveness offers up to $17,500 after five consecutive full-time years at a low-income school, though the same teaching years cannot count toward both programs. Because new PSLF regulations took effect July 1, 2026, check studentaid.gov for how they apply to you. Practical tip: choose a flat-rate online program and claim district reimbursement before you borrow anything.

M.Ed. or M.S.? Concentrations and Capstone Options

Liberty University's M.Ed. lists 14 concentration options and Pennsylvania Western University lists seven, so the concentration you choose says more about your training than the degree abbreviation does.

M.Ed. vs. M.S.

An M.Ed. is usually practice-focused: instructional design, assessment, classroom application. An M.S. leans toward research methods and data, and suits teachers eyeing doctoral study. The labels blur, though. Corban's M.S. in Education requires a thesis, while Park, Schreiner and Liberty award M.Ed. degrees. Read the curriculum, not just the abbreviation.

Concentrations in the Ranked Programs

PennWest offers early childhood, STEM, mathematics, technology education, TESL, and educational technology and online teaching. Fort Hays State centers on STEM education. Park pairs instructional leadership with a curriculum and instruction concentration, and Schreiner offers three concentrations plus a principal certification path in two additional semesters.

Capstone Styles

• Thesis: Best for research-minded students and future doctoral applicants. Corban requires one, and Eastern New Mexico lets students choose thesis or capstone.
• Portfolio: Suits teachers who want a body of work to show for evaluations or promotion. Western Governors requires a capstone.
• Action research: Suits classroom teachers who want to study and improve their own practice. Fort Hays State lists action research opportunities.

Without Teaching Experience

The degree is not closed to career changers, but limits apply. Western Governors requires work experience, and several programs here, including Corban and Southwest Baptist, are built around working teachers. A master's alone does not license you. Schreiner mentions an alternative route to teacher certification, so confirm your state's rules first.

What Graduates Earn One Year After Finishing the Top-Paying Program

Among the programs ranked here, Fresno State posts the highest early-career earnings for curriculum and instruction master's graduates.

How Do First-Year Earnings Compare With Graduate Debt?

Western Governors University and Fitchburg State University both publish program-level figures for curriculum and instruction master's graduates, so their earnings and debt can be compared directly. Median earnings one year after completion are nearly identical, about $63,000 at each school. Median federal loan debt at WGU is $9,341, roughly half of Fitchburg State's $17,119, so first-year earnings run about 6.7 times debt at WGU and about 3.7 times debt at Fitchburg State. Fresno State reports higher first-year earnings, $71,819, but no program-level debt figure, so it is not charted.

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Admission Requirements, GRE Waivers and Application Deadlines

Admission to a curriculum and instruction master's centers on your undergraduate record and, at some schools, an active teaching license. Here is what the schools' admissions pages ask for.

• Bachelor's degree

  Every school here requires one. Newman University specifically requires an undergraduate degree in education.
• GPA minimums

  Newman asks for 3.25 and may consider lower GPAs after a transcript review and an interview with the director of graduate education. Indiana University requires a 3.00 cumulative GPA. Ohio University requires 3.0, or a combined verbal and quantitative GRE score of 290 instead. The University of Akron accepts a 2.75 overall GPA or a 3.00 over your last two years.
• GRE policy

  Newman does not require the GRE. Stanford's GRE is optional for 2027-28, and leaving it out does not count against you. Indiana requires it only if your degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution.
• Teaching license and experience

  Ohio requires licensure and employment in an educational setting during the fall and spring terms. Newman requires a current teaching license. If you are not yet licensed, Indiana and Akron are the schools to look at, because their stated requirements focus on your degree and GPA. Confirm with each admissions office before you apply.
• Deadlines and start dates

  Stanford's master's deadline for 2027-28 is January 7, 2027, and the application fee is $125. Indiana posts August 1 for fall, November 1 for spring and April 15 for summer, but check which year applies. Newman's soft deadlines are August 1 for fall and January 1 for spring, and cohorts start once enough students enroll. Akron admits on a rolling basis.
• English proficiency

  Stanford asks for a TOEFL iBT of 100 (5 on the scale used for tests taken on or after January 21, 2026) or an IELTS of 7.5. Indiana accepts a TOEFL of 79, an IELTS of 6.5 or a Duolingo score of 115.

Additional Schools Offering Curriculum & Instruction Master's Degrees

The programs below extend the directory beyond the ranked entries above. Each entry lists the degree name, delivery format and location, with published per-credit pricing noted where the program provides it. Use this list for comparison shopping: request syllabi, check your state licensure rules and confirm current tuition with each school before applying.

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