Best Master's in Curriculum and Instruction Programs by Local Teacher Pay

1. 1

   University of Washington-Seattle Campus

   Seattle, WAPublic

   • 32Master's/yr
   • $102,920Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education in Teaching, Learning and Curriculum
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   The University of Washington offers a Master of Education in its Teaching, Learning and Curriculum area, a program that fans out into several specialization tracks under a shared equity and justice framework. Students can pursue culturally sustaining education, instructional leadership, language, literacy and culture, or a science or math education specialization, and the field-based IslandWood Graduate Program adds an immersive, place-based option distinct from the others. Delivery varies by track, with the instructional leadership route offered in hybrid format while the remaining specializations meet on campus. That range lets the program speak at once to teachers drawn toward leadership, those focused on multilingual and cultural dimensions of learning, and content specialists in the STEM subjects. The common commitment to equity keeps these varied paths oriented toward the same larger purpose. A master's-level path in curriculum and instruction, it builds toward a career among instructional coordinators in Washington.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 32 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,920, roughly $92,610 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
2. 2

   City University of Seattle

   Seattle, WAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 79Master's/yr
   • $102,920Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
   • Online
   About the program

   City University of Seattle offers an online Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction that unusually spans both licensed and unlicensed candidates through a wide menu of specialized studies. Alongside the core Curriculum and Instruction plan, students can pursue STEM, National Board Certification support, Elementary Education, a customized study, or an Alternative Route that leads to a Washington state teaching certificate with endorsements in high-need areas like Special Education, ELL, or Math. Assessment is competency-based and grounded in real classroom artifacts, culminating in a required Master of Education Capstone Project. The 39 credit hour program runs across 12 courses and is typically completed in seven quarters, with the Reading specialized study carrying International Dyslexia Association accreditation. The artifact-driven, endorsement-connected design reads as a practical, career-embedded program for working and aspiring teachers alike. As a master's degree in curriculum and instruction, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as instructional coordinators in Washington.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 79 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,920, roughly $92,610 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
3. 3

   Washington State University

   Pullman, WAPublic

   • 5Master's/yr
   • $102,350State teacher pay
   • Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Washington State University offers a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction that splits into two distinct paths, a non-thesis Ed.M. and a thesis-based M.A., both grounded in an equity and social-justice approach to curriculum. The Ed.M. track is shaped for practicing teachers who want to strengthen their craft, while the M.A. track leans toward educational research and prepares students who intend to study teaching and learning more formally. This dual structure lets the same department serve both the classroom practitioner and the aspiring scholar without forcing either into the other's mold. The program does not lead to a teaching endorsement or certification, positioning it as advanced study for those already in the profession rather than an entry route into it. The consistent equity framing gives both tracks a shared intellectual center. A master's-level path in curriculum and instruction, it builds toward a career among instructional coordinators in Washington.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Washington statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,350, roughly $95,643 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
4. 4

   Chapman University

   Orange, CAPrivate nonprofit

   • 19Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction (MACI)
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Chapman University offers a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction that is integrated with California teacher credentialing, letting candidates earn the degree alongside a Multiple Subject or Single Subject credential. Elementary and secondary emphases anchor the program, with joint options that add an Education Specialist Mild/Moderate Support Needs credential for those aiming to teach students with disabilities. The distinctive feature is an accelerated five-year pathway in which students apply in their sophomore year, complete the bachelor's degree in year four, then spend year five in a school-site residency woven together with MACI coursework. That residency-based capstone gives candidates supervised classroom practice as they finish the master's, tightly linking preparation to real teaching. Reviewed under California Commission on Teacher Credentialing approval and Chapman's CAEP self-study, the program stands out as a licensure-earning route for undergraduates moving directly into the profession. As a master's degree in curriculum and instruction, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as instructional coordinators in California.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 19 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
5. 5

   Concordia University-Irvine

   Irvine, CAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 64Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Education: Curriculum and Instruction
   • Online
   About the program

   Concordia University Irvine offers a Master of Arts in Education: Curriculum and Instruction that reads as a fast, cohort-driven route for educators who want to deepen their craft rather than earn a first credential. The fully online, asynchronous program moves a cohort through 30 units in roughly ten months, pairing two three-unit courses in each eight-week block, with a slower two-year track for those who need it. Because it welcomes both credentialed teachers and educators working outside licensed classrooms, the degree functions as broad professional study rather than a licensure engine. A capstone action-research project anchors the coursework in candidates' own settings, turning the program's pace into applied inquiry. Regional accreditation runs through the WASC Senior College and University Commission, giving the online degree recognized standing. As a master's degree in curriculum and instruction, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as instructional coordinators in California.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 64 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
6. 6

   California State University-Northridge

   Northridge, CAPublic

   • 11Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Secondary Curriculum and Instruction
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   California State University-Northridge offers a Master of Arts in Secondary Curriculum and Instruction designed for educators who already hold a teaching credential and work at the secondary level. The 30-unit, ten-course program combines eight required courses with two electives and skips a thesis, closing instead with a comprehensive exam, a structure that keeps the focus on coursework and practice over formal research. Classes are offered in evening sections, a clear accommodation for teachers on the job during the day. Because candidates enter with a credential in hand, the degree serves as advanced professional preparation rather than a licensure pathway. Its non-thesis, exam-capped design and working-teacher scheduling mark it as a practical route for secondary educators refining their instructional expertise. As a master's degree in curriculum and instruction, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as instructional coordinators in California.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 11 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
7. 7

   University of Massachusetts Global

   Aliso Viejo, CAPublicOnline available

   • 3Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Education, Curriculum and Instruction emphasis
   • Online
   About the program

   University of Massachusetts Global offers a Master of Arts in Education with a Curriculum and Instruction emphasis, a 30-credit online program that pairs education core courses with emphasis and elective work. Delivered entirely online in accelerated eight-week sessions, it can be finished in as few as five months of full-time study when students bring maximum transfer and prior-learning credit, and it requires no GRE or GMAT. The design points clearly toward practicing professionals rather than new teacher candidates, since it does not lead to a teaching credential and instead applies toward California's Teacher Induction Program for those already credentialed. The university is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission and is an institutional member of AAQEP. It reads as a flexible, fast-moving credential-builder for teachers deepening their craft while working. Graduates of this curriculum and instruction program at the master's level often go on to work as instructional coordinators.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
8. 8

   University of Phoenix-California

   Ontario, CAPrivate for-profit

   • 1Master's/yr
   • $98,520Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Education - Curriculum and Instruction
   • Online
   About the program

   The University of Phoenix delivers its Master of Arts in Education in Curriculum and Instruction online as a system-wide program, aimed at working educators seeking to advance their instructional expertise rather than earn a first teaching license. The degree is structured for busy professionals, with courses taken one at a time and a completion window that can be as short as 17 months. Teachers who bring qualifying endorsements or prior graduate coursework can waive up to 12 credits, trimming both time and cost. Because the program does not prepare students for professional certification or state licensure, it functions as a career-development credential for those already in the field. It is backed by the university's institutional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. Graduates of this curriculum and instruction program at the master's level often go on to work as instructional coordinators.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,520, roughly $92,557 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
9. 9

   Boston University

   Boston, MAPrivate nonprofit

   • 76Master's/yr
   • $98,060Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education (EdM) in Curriculum & Teaching
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Boston University's Wheelock College of Education and Human Development offers an EdM in Curriculum & Teaching, a customizable degree that lets students concentrate in areas from Curriculum, Assessment, and Learning Design to English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Special Education, and World Language Education. The program runs both fully in person, over two to three years, and fully online and asynchronous in about two years, giving educators room to fit study around teaching. Some specializations can lead to an endorsement for initial teaching licensure, while others serve teachers who simply want to sharpen their practice. Those who already hold a master's degree can instead pursue a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Curriculum and Instruction. With merit scholarships reaching more than 65% of incoming students, the program reads as a flexible, well-supported home for educators shaping a personalized path. As a master's degree in curriculum and instruction, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as instructional coordinators in Massachusetts.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 76 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
10. 10

    Boston College

    Chestnut Hill, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 65Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Boston College offers a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction through its Lynch School of Education and Human Development, a 30-credit, ten-course degree capped by a Master's Comprehensive Exam. Students may pursue up to two concentrations from options including Catholic Education, Global Perspectives on Education, Multilingual Literacy, Educational Leadership, Inclusive Practices for Students with Disabilities, and TESOL. The program is explicitly non-licensure, and its candidates do not enroll in supervised practicum experiences, which frames it as advanced study rather than a route into the classroom. Distinctive options include a J.D./M.Ed. dual degree with Boston College Law School and an Urban Catholic Teacher Corps track for those teaching in Catholic schools while they study. Accredited through CAEP, the program pairs scholarly depth with mission-driven pathways for educators broadening their expertise. As a master's degree in curriculum and instruction, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as instructional coordinators in Massachusetts.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 65 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
11. 11

    Merrimack College

    North Andover, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 46Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Merrimack College offers a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction built around choice and speed for educators who are already in the field. Students can take each course online or on campus, and they shape the degree by selecting a concentration in Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle and High School Education, English as a Second Language, Moderate Disabilities, or a self-designed focus. Rather than an initial teaching license, the program targets deepening practice, and already-licensed teachers may use a concentration to pursue add-on licensure. It closes with a self-designed capstone project centered on classroom practice or policy instead of a thesis or practicum, signaling a program oriented toward applied improvement. With 36 credits achievable in as few as 13 months full time and no GRE or GMAT required, it reads as a fast, practice-focused credential for working professionals. A master's-level path in curriculum and instruction, it builds toward a career among instructional coordinators in Massachusetts.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 46 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
12. 12

    Lesley University

    Cambridge, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 11Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Lesley University offers an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction through a low-residency, cohort-based model whose Scholar Partner Program guarantees classroom field placements from the first semester. Tracks such as Elementary Education Generalist, Middle School, High School Education, and a Specialization in Integrated Teaching Through the Arts let candidates align the degree with the grade levels and content they teach. For those who already hold an Initial license, the program can lead to a Massachusetts Professional Teacher License, with DESE program approval for its licensure tracks, while a signed agreement also opens a non-licensure route. Core coursework spans research and writing, curriculum theory and development, action research, and equity in education, layered with content courses like ESL, math, or literacy. The early, sustained fieldwork and cohort structure give it the feel of a program built for teachers advancing toward professional licensure and instructional leadership. This master's-level curriculum and instruction program prepares graduates for work as instructional coordinators in Massachusetts.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 11 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
13. 13

    New York University

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • MA, Specialized Studies in Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    New York University offers a Master of Arts in Specialized Studies in Education through its Steinhardt School for students who want to assemble a self-designed course of study rather than follow a prescribed track. The 30-credit program lets candidates choose an elective focus area with an adviser, drawing on courses across Steinhardt and the wider university, which reads as a flexible, interdisciplinary degree for professionals with clear individual goals. It does not lead to teacher certification, so it fits education-related work that does not require a state license. The program can be pursued full-time or part-time, accommodating different schedules. As of this research it is listed as not currently accepting applications while under program review. Graduates of this curriculum and instruction program at the master's level often go on to work as instructional coordinators.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
14. 14

    Fordham University

    Bronx, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 9Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Curriculum and Teaching (M.S.E.)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Fordham University offers a Curriculum and Teaching M.S.E. through its Graduate School of Education at the Lincoln Center campus, designed for educators who want to study curriculum deeply without pursuing state certification. The 30-credit program is defined by customization, letting students work with a faculty adviser to build a specialization around interests such as special education, culturally and linguistically diverse learners, reading and writing instruction, the sociopolitical dimensions of education, or multicultural education. That advisement-driven, self-designed structure marks it as a reflective and intellectually oriented degree rather than a fixed-track credential. Because it does not lead to New York State teacher certification, it suits practicing teachers and education professionals deepening their scholarly grounding. Students can pursue it full-time across three semesters or part-time over five, giving flexibility around existing work commitments. Earning a master's degree in curriculum and instruction is a common route toward becoming one of New York's instructional coordinators.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
15. 15

    Hofstra University

    Hempstead, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Curriculum Studies, MSEd
    • Hofstra University School of Education-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Hofstra University offers a Master of Science in Education in Curriculum Studies for educators drawn to curriculum development who are not seeking New York State teacher certification. The program is interdisciplinary by design, pairing on-campus coursework with field experiences across a range of school settings, including high-needs schools, so candidates test ideas in varied real classrooms. Its electives span Early Childhood, Childhood, and Secondary subject areas such as mathematics, English language arts, science, and social studies, letting students orient the degree toward the grade level and content they care about most. That blend of breadth and applied fieldwork reads as preparation for curriculum and instructional roles rather than a licensure track. It fits practicing and aspiring education professionals who want a broad, practice-connected foundation in how curriculum is built and enacted. Earning a master's degree in curriculum and instruction is a common route toward becoming one of New York's instructional coordinators.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
16. 16

    Teachers College at Columbia University

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 43Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Curriculum and Teaching
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Teachers College, Columbia University offers a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Teaching, a 32-point on-campus program that emphasizes critical inquiry over prescribed tracks. Rather than named concentrations, students build an individualized plan with a faculty advisor drawing from elective categories such as Critical Perspectives on Learning and the Sociopolitical Context of Education, giving the degree a scholarly, theory-forward character. It is deliberately distinct from the department's certification-track programs and does not lead to teaching certification, positioning it as a space for educators to interrogate curriculum rather than qualify for the classroom. The program culminates in a self-designed master's project, which may take the form of a practice-based intervention, a curriculum analysis or design, an arts-based creation, or an academic paper, paired with a 3-credit fieldwork course. It suits reflective practitioners drawn to the conceptual and political dimensions of teaching. Graduates of this curriculum and instruction program at the master's level often go on to work as instructional coordinators.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 43 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
17. 17

    Long Island University

    Brookville, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • M.S. Early Childhood/Childhood Education (Dual Certification)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    LIU Post offers a Master of Science in Early Childhood/Childhood Education leading to dual New York State teacher certification, positioning graduates to teach across both the early childhood and childhood grade bands. Housed in the Department of Teaching and Learning, formerly the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, the program sits within a CAEP-accredited educator-preparation unit that signals recognized quality in teacher training. The dual-certification design is its defining feature, broadening the ages and classrooms a new teacher can serve from a single degree. It anchors a wider suite of related tracks at LIU Post, including adolescence education, childhood education for students with disabilities, and literacy, so candidates can locate an adjacent path if their focus shifts. Delivered on campus, the program suits candidates committed to entering the classroom with a versatile, licensure-bearing credential. This master's-level curriculum and instruction program prepares graduates for work as instructional coordinators in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
18. 18

    SUNY College at Potsdam

    Potsdam, NYPublic

    • 25Master's/yr
    • $85,760State teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    SUNY Potsdam offers a Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction, a hybrid program built around individualized degree planning for teachers who already hold initial New York State certification and want to reach professional certification. Rather than a single track, it opens nine focus areas, including Early Childhood Education, Language Acquisition, Literacy Educator, Technology Educator, Leadership in Education, and Special Education across grade bands, so candidates can extend or add certifications under advisement. The shared core centers on curriculum, pedagogy, and evaluation, giving even the specialized paths a common grounding in instructional design. Full- and part-time options signal a program shaped around practicing educators rather than full-time students. The result is flexible, advisor-guided study that lets teachers tailor a master's to their classroom and certification goals. A master's-level path in curriculum and instruction, it builds toward a career among instructional coordinators in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 25 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $85,760, roughly $79,466 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
19. 19

    Fitchburg State University

    Fitchburg, MAPublicOnline available

    • 201Master's/yr
    • $82,810Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Curriculum and Teaching (Non-Licensure)
    • New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Fitchburg State University offers a fully online Master of Education in Curriculum and Teaching on a non-licensure track, a 36-credit degree that can be completed in as few as twelve months. Its accelerated, pay-by-the-course structure and single streamlined pathway make it accessible to educators who want to advance quickly without navigating multiple concentrations. No teaching license is required to enroll, and the program does not lead to initial or professional licensure, positioning it as professional growth rather than a route into the classroom. An emphasis on educational equity runs through the coursework, which culminates in a capstone reflective seminar as the terminal course. Accredited through the New England Commission of Higher Education, it reads as a fast, affordable option for reflective practitioners deepening their craft. Earning a master's degree in curriculum and instruction is a common route toward becoming one of Massachusetts's instructional coordinators.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 201 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Worcester, MA, where elementary teachers earn a median $82,810, roughly $80,772 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
20. 20

    University of Saint Joseph

    West Hartford, CTPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 39Master's/yr
    • $79,800Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Curriculum & Instruction
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of Saint Joseph offers a Master of Arts in Curriculum & Instruction as a fully online, cohort-based program that moves a group of students through the degree together over about two years. Courses run in 8-week blocks taken one at a time, and live virtual sessions meet the same evening each week, a rhythm clearly designed around the schedules of working teachers. The sequence closes with a course-embedded capstone in reflective practice that asks candidates to examine their own teaching. The program does not lead to certification, licensure, or endorsement, positioning it as continued professional study for educators who already hold a license. Its cohort model and steady weekly cadence read as a structure built to keep busy practitioners connected and on pace. A master's-level path in curriculum and instruction, it builds toward a career among instructional coordinators in Connecticut.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 39 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,800, roughly $77,667 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
21. 21

    Walden University

    Minneapolis, MNPrivate for-profitOnline available

    • 27Master's/yr
    • $79,730Metro teacher pay
    • MS in Education, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (Grades K-12) specialization
    • Online
    About the program

    Walden University offers an online MS in Education with a specialization in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for Grades K-12, one of roughly fourteen specializations within the broader degree. The specialization is non-licensure, and Walden is explicit that only its Educational Leadership and Administration principal track carries state approval for a credential, positioning this option as advanced study for educators who already work with students. Its 30 credit hours split into twelve core and eighteen specialization credits, and candidates need access to a classroom or learners so coursework can be applied in practice. Standard and accelerated quarter-based tracks let teachers set their own pace, with the accelerated route compressing the timeline for those in a hurry. The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Sciences holds CAEP accreditation for its educator preparation programs. This master's-level curriculum and instruction program prepares graduates for work as instructional coordinators in Minnesota.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 27 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,730, roughly $76,062 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
22. 22

    University of St Thomas

    Saint Paul, MNPrivate nonprofit

    • 17Master's/yr
    • $79,730Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Educational Studies
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of St. Thomas offers a Master of Arts in Educational Studies delivered in a blended model that mixes online work with face-to-face sessions at its Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses. Designed for currently licensed teachers, the program frames a shared professional core, covering assessment for learning, P-16 curriculum, equity and inclusive practices, and learning design with technology, before students add a content-area concentration. That structure signals a degree meant to strengthen a teacher's professional foundation while still honoring individual subject interests, which range from engineering and mathematics to Hispanic culture and literature, learning technology leadership, special education, and educator mental health. The K-12 Reading Instruction concentration goes further, leading to a Minnesota K-12 Reading Endorsement that adds a tangible credential. Overall it reads as a values-driven, customizable master's for practicing educators. As a master's degree in curriculum and instruction, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as instructional coordinators in Minnesota.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 17 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,730, roughly $76,062 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
23. 23

    Concordia University-Saint Paul

    Saint Paul, MNPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 138Master's/yr
    • $79,730Metro teacher pay
    • Education with an Emphasis in Differentiated Instruction (M.A.)
    About the program

    Concordia University, St. Paul offers a Master of Arts in Education with an Emphasis in Differentiated Instruction, a 30 credit hour, ten-course program organized around a single, focused theme. The emphasis on tiered instruction, family systems and mental health, professional collaboration, and literacy development suggests a program that views differentiation broadly, treating the whole learner and the surrounding support network as part of the instructional picture. Its stated aim of training educators as reflective, adaptive experts points to a practice-oriented degree meant to reshape how teachers respond to diverse classrooms. The compact ten-course structure keeps the path clear and manageable for working teachers. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, it functions as Concordia's general curriculum-and-instruction option for practitioners seeking a more responsive teaching approach. A master's-level path in curriculum and instruction, it builds toward a career among instructional coordinators in Minnesota.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 138 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,730, roughly $76,062 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
24. 24

    St Catherine University

    Saint Paul, MNPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 10Master's/yr
    • $79,730Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education (MAED), Curriculum and Instruction concentration
    • On-campus
    About the program

    St. Catherine University offers an online Master of Arts in Education with a Curriculum and Instruction concentration, positioned as a post-licensure degree for teachers who already hold a license and want to grow within the classroom. Opening with an online orientation event, the program moves through 31 semester credits that combine a 13-credit core with electives carrying a distinctly contemporary bent, including Teaching Academically and Culturally Diverse Learners in a Digitally Mediated Environment and Literacy and Learning Redefined in the Digital Age. That course lineup suggests a program attentive to equity and to how digital tools are reshaping instruction. Curriculum and Instruction sits alongside Technology Integration and STEM as one of three MAED concentrations, keeping the focus on classroom practice. Reported 97% retention and on-time completion point to a cohort experience that keeps working teachers on track. As a master's degree in curriculum and instruction, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as instructional coordinators in Minnesota.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,730, roughly $76,062 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
25. 25

    George Washington University

    Washington, DCPrivate nonprofit

    • 11Master's/yr
    • $79,470Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education and Human Development in the Field of Curriculum and Instruction
    • CAEP-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The George Washington University offers a Master of Arts in Education and Human Development in the Field of Curriculum and Instruction, an on-campus, 30-credit degree that concludes with a comprehensive examination. Candidates concentrate in Elementary Education, Interdisciplinary Studies, or Reading and Literacy Education, and can layer on concurrent certificates in Literacy Education, International Perspectives, or Curriculum Writing, Evaluation, and Development. That stackable certificate structure suggests a program built for educators who want to tailor advanced study toward a specific curricular specialty. The degree carries CAEP accreditation, reflecting recognized standards in educator preparation. As of this research the program was not accepting applications, so prospective students would want to confirm current availability before planning to enroll. Earning a master's degree in curriculum and instruction is a common route toward becoming one of Washington, D.C.'s instructional coordinators.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 11 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,470, roughly $72,986 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site

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