Why This Matters

  • EMPLOYMENT IN EDUCATION TO INCREASE BY 5%

    Rising enrollment across elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools will boost growth in employment of education-related jobs through 2028. About 513,000 new jobs are expected in that period.

  • 11K NEW INSTRUCTIONAL COORDINATORS NEEDED

    Instructional coordinators use their advance knowledge of teaching pedagogies and methods to design curriculums and teaching standards. Jobs in this field are expected to grow by 6% within the next decade.

  • INCREASE EARNING POTENTIAL WITH A MASTER’S

    According to the National Council on Teacher Quality, 88% of the largest U.S. school districts offer additional pay to teachers who hold an advanced degree. This is either in the form of a stipend or annual pay increases.

Our Research

For this list, we focused our research on master’s degrees in curriculum and instruction. The most common types of degrees available in this field are Master of Education (M.Ed), Master of Science (MS), and Master of Arts (MA).

All programs are offered by schools that have regional accreditation. Many programs also have specialized accreditations for educational programs through the Council for the Accreditation of Educational Programs (CAEP). These accreditations ensure that programs meet the high standards of quality for postsecondary education.

We specifically sought programs that can be completed entirely or primarily through online coursework. These programs are accessible to the greatest number of students regardless of geographic location or schedule.

Our researchers evaluated the programs based on their reputation, outcomes, cost, flexibility, and faculty. Using this information, we calculated the Intelligent Score of each program on a scale from 0 to 100. For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.

  • 64 hours to write this article
  • 177 universities and colleges we assessed
  • 431 education programs we compared

The Top 58 Online Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction Programs

Best Online Master's in Curriculum and Instruction Degree Programs
01
Intelligent Pick
The University of Texas at Arlington
01
Best Asynchronous Curriculum
York College
01
Best Cohort-Based Program
Florida Atlantic University
01
Best Educational Technology Focus
University of Florida
01
Best Job Placement Rate
Kansas State University
01
Best Alumni Network
University of Cincinnati
01
Best for Digital Learning Focus
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
01
Best Student Organizations
Fordham University
01
Best for Mathematics Education
Purdue University
01
Best Scholarships
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
01
Best Christian University
Mississippi College
01
Best Community College Teacher Prep
Sam Houston State University
01
Best Emphasis Options
Black Hills State University
01
Best Master of Science Degree
SUNY at Albany
01
Fast Completion Time
Arkansas State University
01
Best for Rolling Admissions
Pennsylvania State University
01
Best Doctorate Prep
University of West Florida
01
Best Master of Education Degree
The University of Texas at Tyler
01
Best Master of Arts Degree
Appalachian State University
01
Best Faith-Based Program
Concordia University, Nebraska
01
Best for Part-Time Students
Georgia Southern University
01
Easiest Registration
Indiana Wesleyan University
01
Fast Completion Time
Southern New Hampshire University
01
Best Concentration Options
University Of Connecticut
01
Best Public University
University of Massachusetts Lowell
01
Most Affordable
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
01
Best Literacy Education Focus
University of Missouri
01
Best Leadership Focus
Emporia State University
01
Best in the South
University of Houston
01
Most Customizable
Texas Tech University
01
Best Online University
Western Governors University
01
Best for Multiple Start Dates
Louisiana State University Shreveport
01
Best in the Midwest
Minnesota State University Moorhead
01
Best Concentration Options
University of Nebraska at Kearney
01
Best Elementary Education Focus
University of Southern Mississippi
01
Nationally Recognized
Ball State University
01
Best Specialization Options
South Dakota State University
01
Best Educational Research Focus
Nova Southeastern University
01
Best in the Southeast
George Mason University
01
Best in the Southwest
Arizona State University
01
Best Curriculum Develpment Focus
Florida International University
01
Most Experienced Faculty
The University of Kansas
01
Best Non-Thesis Option
The Department of Teaching, Learning & Culture at Texas A&M University
01
Best for Working Teachers
Ohio University
01
Most Transfer Friendly
Liberty University
01
Best Private University
McDaniel College
01
Best Faith-Based Institution
Regent University
01
Most Personalized
Central Michigan University
01
Best Catholic University
University of Scranton
01
Best in the West
University of Colorado Denver
01
Student Recommended
University of Mississippi
01
Most Customizable
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
01
Best Bilingual Education Focus
The University of Texas at El Paso
01
Best in the Northwest
Portland State University
01
Best Religious-Affiliated Institution
Freed-Hardeman University
01
Best Research-Focused Program
Florida State University
01
Best for Small Class Sizes
Michigan State University
01
Most Flexible
University of Virginia
01
Best for Non-Licensed Teachers
The University of Memphis
01
Best Global Learning Focus
NC State University
01
Best Instructional Technology Focus
Virginia Tech
01
Student Recommended
University of San Diego

What You Should Know About This Degree

Master’s programs in curriculum and instruction are designed to teach educators how to enhance their theoretical and practical approaches to teaching and develop curriculums that adhere to the most advanced teaching standards and practices. Generally, individuals seeking master’s in curriculum and instruction degrees are already practicing teachers.

A major consideration is whether a program leads to teaching licensure or certification. Some programs lead to professional credentials, while others are designed for teachers who already have their licensure or certification. Review the program’s eligibility requirements carefully to ensure that you select a program for which you are qualified.

Each state sets its own regulations for teaching credentials, so if you are pursuing a master’s in curriculum and instruction as a way to obtain credentials, be sure you select a program that fulfills your state’s education requirements.

Whether a program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educational Programs (CAEP) is a consideration if you are planning to pursue teaching licensure or certification. Employers and certification boards typically want candidates who graduated from an accredited program.

Depending on your career goals, there may be other master’s programs in education that are of interest to you, including a master’s of education administration, master’s of educational leadership, or master’s of higher education.

What’s Next?

Here are some questions to ask when researching Online Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction programs:

  • Does this program offer the specialization I want? Within a master’s in curriculum and instruction program, there are often opportunities to specialize in a particular area such as early childhood education, English as a second language, or special education. If you are interested in a specialization, be sure to select a program that allows you the opportunity to pursue in-depth study in that area.
  • Are there any in-person requirements? Even if all of the coursework from a program is available online, there may still be experiential learning components that require in-person attendance. Additionally, many education-related programs offer online classes during the traditional academic year, but have on-campus classes during the summer. Review the program’s curriculum carefully to identify any in-person requirements so that you can plan how you will accommodate them in your schedule.

This is also an ideal time to begin collecting your application materials as well as confirm the application deadlines and procedures for the programs that interest you. Financing your graduate degree is another important consideration. Options for financial aid include student loans, scholarships, assistantships, and employer tuition assistance if you are currently working.