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MASTER'S DEGREE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 1303

Curriculum and Instruction: is this master's degree worth it?

National picture across 198 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$60,655 in median year-4 earnings

A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.

$60,655Median year-4 earnings

$18,538Average institution net-price context

Not availableMedian federal debt

Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$60,655Median reported earnings · year 4

$60,323Average reported earnings · year 5

Not availableMedian federal debt

18thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

198Reporting programs

198With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

The same field can produce a different equation.

Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.

OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $46,713
Federal debt: $27,000
Reporting programs: 4

4 report earnings →CURRENT VIEW

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $60,655
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 198

198 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Doctoral Degree

Year-4 earnings: $83,569
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 24

24 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

First Professional Degree

Year-4 earnings: $68,838
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 2

2 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Graduate/Professional Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $68,198
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 6

6 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)

Year-4 earnings: $71,589
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

Where the middle half of programs lands

Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.

Median

25th percentile$56,695National median$60,65575th percentile$65,713

198 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1California State University, Long Beach$100,111 2Concordia University-Irvine$100,038 3University of Redlands$95,860 4Wilmington University$95,071 5Teachers College at Columbia University$86,945 6Alverno College$86,166 7California State University, Fresno$86,139 8University of Minnesota-Twin Cities$82,925 9Utah Valley University$80,763 10City University of Seattle$80,194

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Education Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1081 · 1 crosswalk linksInstructional CoordinatorsSOC 25-9031 · 1 crosswalk links

BEST COLLEGES FOR CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

Same degree, different outcomes

Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.

#	College	Location	Earnings, year 4	Federal debt	ROI status	Cost context
1	California State University, Long BeachMaster's Degree	Long Beach, CA	$100,111	Not available	Baseline needed	$10,440
2	Concordia University-IrvineMaster's Degree	Irvine, CA	$100,038	Not available	Baseline needed	$28,115
3	University of RedlandsMaster's Degree	Redlands, CA	$95,860	Not available	Baseline needed	$30,031
4	Wilmington UniversityMaster's Degree	New Castle, DE	$95,071	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,644
5	Teachers College at Columbia UniversityMaster's Degree	New York, NY	$86,945	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
6	Alverno CollegeMaster's Degree	Milwaukee, WI	$86,166	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,540
7	California State University, FresnoMaster's Degree	Fresno, CA	$86,139	Not available	Baseline needed	$7,000
8	University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMaster's Degree	Minneapolis, MN	$82,925	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,778
9	Utah Valley UniversityMaster's Degree	Orem, UT	$80,763	Not available	Baseline needed	$6,376
10	City University of SeattleMaster's Degree	Seattle, WA	$80,194	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
11	Walden UniversityMaster's Degree	Minneapolis, MN	$80,064	Not available	Baseline needed	$33,817
12	Boston UniversityMaster's Degree	Boston, MA	$78,782	Not available	Baseline needed	$24,402
13	La Sierra UniversityMaster's Degree	Riverside, CA	$77,289	Not available	Baseline needed	$45,566
14	McDaniel CollegeMaster's Degree	Westminster, MD	$76,616	Not available	Baseline needed	$21,916
15	Portland State UniversityMaster's Degree	Portland, OR	$76,554	Not available	Baseline needed	$9,552
16	Piedmont UniversityMaster's Degree	Demorest, GA	$75,565	Not available	Baseline needed	$20,599
17	University of St FrancisMaster's Degree	Joliet, IL	$73,452	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,006
18	University of Hawaii at ManoaMaster's Degree	Honolulu, HI	$73,195	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,664
19	Fitchburg State UniversityMaster's Degree	Fitchburg, MA	$72,362	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,262
20	University of Maryland-College ParkMaster's Degree	College Park, MD	$71,793	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,678
21	Boston CollegeMaster's Degree	Chestnut Hill, MA	$71,427	Not available	Baseline needed	$41,704
22	McKendree UniversityMaster's Degree	Lebanon, IL	$71,192	Not available	Baseline needed	$24,717
23	University of the PacificMaster's Degree	Stockton, CA	$71,126	Not available	Baseline needed	$25,447
24	Arizona State University Campus ImmersionMaster's Degree	Tempe, AZ	$71,074	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,967
25	Arizona State University Digital ImmersionMaster's Degree	Scottsdale, AZ	$71,074	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
26	National Louis UniversityMaster's Degree	Chicago, IL	$70,926	Not available	Baseline needed	$12,641
27	Hood CollegeMaster's Degree	Frederick, MD	$70,544	Not available	Baseline needed	$20,873
28	Capella UniversityMaster's Degree	Minneapolis, MN	$70,537	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,956
29	Thomas UniversityMaster's Degree	Thomasville, GA	$70,189	Not available	Baseline needed	$18,499
30	Western Governors UniversityMaster's Degree	Salt Lake City, UT	$69,935	Not available	Baseline needed	$12,548
31	Olivet Nazarene UniversityMaster's Degree	Bourbonnais, IL	$69,690	Not available	Baseline needed	$20,729
32	Plymouth State UniversityMaster's Degree	Plymouth, NH	$69,403	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,216
33	University of Virginia-Main CampusMaster's Degree	Charlottesville, VA	$68,978	Not available	Baseline needed	$21,565
34	Lewis UniversityMaster's Degree	Romeoville, IL	$68,917	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,028
35	Concordia University-ChicagoMaster's Degree	River Forest, IL	$68,826	Not available	Baseline needed	$18,436
36	Buena Vista UniversityMaster's Degree	Storm Lake, IA	$68,691	Not available	Baseline needed	$18,846
37	University of San DiegoMaster's Degree	San Diego, CA	$68,584	Not available	Baseline needed	$30,365
38	University of Nevada-Las VegasMaster's Degree	Las Vegas, NV	$67,951	Not available	Baseline needed	$10,359
39	Texas A&M International UniversityMaster's Degree	Laredo, TX	$67,935	Not available	Baseline needed	$3,637
40	Point Park UniversityMaster's Degree	Pittsburgh, PA	$67,919	Not available	Baseline needed	$25,942
41	New Mexico Highlands UniversityMaster's Degree	Las Vegas, NM	$67,891	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,838
42	Ball State UniversityMaster's Degree	Muncie, IN	$67,573	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,940
43	University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusMaster's Degree	Denver, CO	$67,259	Not available	Baseline needed	$11,900
44	Moravian UniversityMaster's Degree	Bethlehem, PA	$66,462	Not available	Baseline needed	$30,670
45	Lesley UniversityMaster's Degree	Cambridge, MA	$66,404	Not available	Baseline needed	$31,152
46	University of Massachusetts-LowellMaster's Degree	Lowell, MA	$66,277	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,163
47	Florida International UniversityMaster's Degree	Miami, FL	$66,189	Not available	Baseline needed	$9,288
48	University at AlbanyMaster's Degree	Albany, NY	$66,047	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,167
49	University of FloridaMaster's Degree	Gainesville, FL	$66,003	Not available	Baseline needed	$6,541
50	University of Houston-Clear LakeMaster's Degree	Houston, TX	$65,747	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,563
51	George Mason UniversityMaster's Degree	Fairfax, VA	$65,713	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,915
52	Chadron State CollegeMaster's Degree	Chadron, NE	$65,644	Not available	Baseline needed	$12,549
53	University of IdahoMaster's Degree	Moscow, ID	$65,519	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,831
54	Minnesota State University MoorheadMaster's Degree	Moorhead, MN	$65,104	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,997
55	Texas Tech UniversityMaster's Degree	Lubbock, TX	$65,068	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,070
56	Augusta UniversityMaster's Degree	Augusta, GA	$65,017	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,787
57	The University of Texas at ArlingtonMaster's Degree	Arlington, TX	$64,929	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,951
58	The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyMaster's Degree	Edinburg, TX	$64,700	Not available	Baseline needed	$4,831
59	University of Washington-Seattle CampusMaster's Degree	Seattle, WA	$64,672	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,091
60	University of Cincinnati-Main CampusMaster's Degree	Cincinnati, OH	$64,542	Not available	Baseline needed	$25,648
61	Gordon CollegeMaster's Degree	Wenham, MA	$64,429	Not available	Baseline needed	$24,883
62	University of HoustonMaster's Degree	Houston, TX	$64,349	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,276
63	Wayne State CollegeMaster's Degree	Wayne, NE	$64,269	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,360
64	University of North Carolina at CharlotteMaster's Degree	Charlotte, NC	$63,987	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,435
65	Vanderbilt UniversityMaster's Degree	Nashville, TN	$63,959	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,846
66	California State University, Los AngelesMaster's Degree	Los Angeles, CA	$63,878	Not available	Baseline needed	$3,967
67	University of Phoenix-ArizonaMaster's Degree	Phoenix, AZ	$63,742	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,520
68	Ashland UniversityMaster's Degree	Ashland, OH	$63,212	Not available	Baseline needed	$21,988
69	The University of Texas at AustinMaster's Degree	Austin, TX	$63,172	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,857
70	University of VermontMaster's Degree	Burlington, VT	$63,106	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,343
71	University of Houston-DowntownMaster's Degree	Houston, TX	$63,052	Not available	Baseline needed	$10,542
72	Montana State UniversityMaster's Degree	Bozeman, MT	$62,976	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,499
73	The University of Texas at El PasoMaster's Degree	El Paso, TX	$62,807	Not available	Baseline needed	$9,403
74	Drake UniversityMaster's Degree	Des Moines, IA	$62,724	Not available	Baseline needed	$29,127
75	Southern New Hampshire UniversityMaster's Degree	Manchester, NH	$62,675	Not available	Baseline needed	$36,708
76	East Texas A&M UniversityMaster's Degree	Commerce, TX	$62,644	Not available	Baseline needed	$11,841
77	Sam Houston State UniversityMaster's Degree	Huntsville, TX	$62,520	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,404
78	Empire State UniversityMaster's Degree	Saratoga Springs, NY	$62,453	Not available	Baseline needed	$11,676
79	University of DenverMaster's Degree	Denver, CO	$62,426	Not available	Baseline needed	$36,131
80	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgMaster's Degree	Middletown, PA	$62,403	Not available	Baseline needed	$23,330
81	Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusMaster's Degree	University Park, PA	$62,403	Not available	Baseline needed	$32,875
82	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State YorkMaster's Degree	York, PA	$62,403	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,047
83	Pennsylvania State University-World CampusMaster's Degree	University Park, PA	$62,403	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,550
84	Curry CollegeMaster's Degree	Milton, MA	$62,372	Not available	Baseline needed	$29,207
85	Wayland Baptist UniversityMaster's Degree	Plainview, TX	$62,364	Not available	Baseline needed	$20,590
86	Concordia University-NebraskaMaster's Degree	Seward, NE	$62,319	Not available	Baseline needed	$23,965
87	Florida Atlantic UniversityMaster's Degree	Boca Raton, FL	$62,090	Not available	Baseline needed	$8,752
88	Texas Christian UniversityMaster's Degree	Fort Worth, TX	$61,906	Not available	Baseline needed	$36,660
89	Concordia University Ann ArborMaster's Degree	Ann Arbor, MI	$61,853	Not available	Baseline needed	$32,811
90	Concordia University-WisconsinMaster's Degree	Mequon, WI	$61,853	Not available	Baseline needed	$36,201
91	Illinois State UniversityMaster's Degree	Normal, IL	$61,775	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,398
92	Florida Gulf Coast UniversityMaster's Degree	Fort Myers, FL	$61,774	Not available	Baseline needed	$12,568
93	Michigan State UniversityMaster's Degree	East Lansing, MI	$61,650	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,680
94	University of ScrantonMaster's Degree	Scranton, PA	$61,487	Not available	Baseline needed	$32,568
95	Gardner-Webb UniversityMaster's Degree	Boiling Springs, NC	$60,926	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,674
96	Regent UniversityMaster's Degree	Virginia Beach, VA	$60,876	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,923
97	Houston Christian UniversityMaster's Degree	Houston, TX	$60,834	Not available	Baseline needed	$20,629
98	Robert Morris UniversityMaster's Degree	Moon Township, PA	$60,779	Not available	Baseline needed	$23,003
99	University of Colorado Colorado SpringsMaster's Degree	Colorado Springs, CO	$60,531	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,788
100	University of West FloridaMaster's Degree	Pensacola, FL	$60,517	Not available	Baseline needed	$9,364

This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.