by our College Data Analytics Team
[Curriculum & Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/curriculum-and-instruction/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 29 schools to find the best return on investment for curriculum & instruction students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the curriculum & instruction degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in curriculum & instruction, no school beat Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania this year. Located in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,046 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,870 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,416 ten years after entry. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in curriculum & instruction, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,356. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entry. Pennsylvania State University World Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Carlow University earned it the #3 place for curriculum & instruction. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carlow University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,874. Students borrow a median of $30,222 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $66,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Carlow University admits about 87% of applicants.
Kings College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Set in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Kings College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,100. Students borrow a median of $26,980 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Kings College earn a median of $45,414 early in their careers. Set against $26,980 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Students looking for strong value in curriculum & instruction will find it at Gannon University, which ranked #5. Gannon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Erie. Students from in state pay about $40,656 in tuition and fees. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $26,934 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $53,000. That is a strong return on a $26,934 median debt. Gannon University admits about 74% of applicants.
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Saint Vincent College placed #6 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Located in the suburb of Latrobe, Saint Vincent College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,396. Students borrow a median of $26,986 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Saint Vincent College earn a median of $49,291 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,986 median debt. Saint Vincent College admits about 62% of applicants.
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Shippensburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,570, with out-of-state students paying around $15,824. Students borrow a median of $26,307 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $58,124 early in their careers. Set against $26,307 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania admits about 86% of applicants.
Robert Morris University earned the #8 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Robert Morris University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moon Township. Students from in state pay about $35,770 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $26,748. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Robert Morris University earn a median of $67,924 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Robert Morris University admits about 90% of applicants.
Eastern University placed #9 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Davids. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,400. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $28,584. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $50,474. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Wilkes University came in at #10 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,496. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $26,601 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $64,004. Set against $26,601 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary came in at #11 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,500. Students borrow a median of $26,857 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary earn a median of $48,472 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,857 median debt. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #12 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $56,926 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,958 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of Pennsylvania placed #13 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $99,682. Set against $16,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.