Educational/Instructional Technology.
Data details: Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity, and summary are for this specific degree (6-digit CIP) from IPEDS. Salary, debt, and related financial outcomes are based on the degree category (4-digit CIP) from the College Scorecard API. ← Back to search
All data shown below (except Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity) is based on the category, not just this specific degree.
Please use your own discretion when interpreting these results. For certain degrees, a limited number of institutions report to the government's College Scorecard API, which may cause the data to be skewed or less representative of national trends. Consider these figures as informative but not definitive, and consult additional sources or advisors for important decisions.
Debt to Income Ratio
Debt-to-income analysis for Educational/Instructional Technology.: The DTI for this program is 57.8%, which is within the generally accepted range for higher education. While not as low as some top-performing degrees, this ratio suggests that most graduates can manage their student loan payments, especially if they secure employment in related fields. If you are considering Educational/Instructional Technology., compare your expected starting salary (currently $55060) to the average debt ($31848) to ensure it fits your financial goals in .
Degrees with a DTI between 0.5 and 0.8 are common, but it's wise to plan your budget and consider loan repayment options.
Important financial note for Educational/Instructional Technology.: The debt-to-income ratio for this program is 57.8%, which is above the recommended maximum of 80%. This means that, on average, graduates may need to dedicate a significant portion of their first-year earnings to student loan payments. If you are considering Educational/Instructional Technology., be sure to weigh the average starting salary ($55060) against the typical student debt ($31848), and explore scholarships, grants, or alternative funding sources to reduce your financial burden in and beyond.
Key Insights
If you’re thinking about Educational/Instructional Technology., you’re looking at a field that’s both challenging and rewarding. Typical starting salaries are around $55060, with grads carrying about $31848 in student loans and a debt-to-income ratio of 0.58—which is manageable for most.
Each year, over 8912 students complete this major, so you’ll have plenty of peers to connect with. Popular career outcomes include Training and Development Specialists, a field with a projected growth of 11.0% in the near future. Whether you’re motivated by salary, job outlook, or the chance to build something meaningful, Educational/Instructional Technology. can help you get there. Make the most of your college years by seeking out hands-on experiences and building your network.
Degree Overview
Educational and Instructional Technology (CIP 13.0501) is a field that sits at the intersection of learning science and digital innovation. It is focused on how to use hardware, software, and instructional theory to improve the way people learn and process information. Rather than just "using computers in a classroom," this field examines the psychology of how humans interact with technology to ensure that digital tools actually lead to better educational outcomes.
This degree is ideal for tech-savvy individuals who are passionate about education but are also drawn to design, media, and software. It is a path for the "architects of learning" who want to build the future of education—whether that is through virtual reality simulations, mobile learning apps, or sophisticated online university platforms.
What Is an Educational/Instructional Technology Degree?
An Educational/Instructional Technology degree prepares students to design, develop, and evaluate digital learning experiences. This includes everything from training corporate employees on new software to helping K–12 teachers integrate tablets into their curriculum. The field is deeply rooted in "Instructional Design," which is the systematic process of creating educational materials that make the acquisition of knowledge more efficient and engaging.
Schools offer this degree to:
- Train specialists who can manage school-wide or district-wide technology systems
- Prepare designers to create interactive digital content and multimedia
- Develop leaders who can implement "blended" and fully online learning models
- Research the effectiveness of emerging technologies like AI and Gamification in education
This structure emphasizes creativity, technical proficiency, and a deep understanding of cognitive learning theories.
What Will You Learn?
Students in these programs learn to balance the "human" side of learning with the "technical" side of digital tools.
Core Skills You’ll Build
Most students learn to:
- Use "Authoring Tools" to build interactive online lessons and modules
- Apply learning theories (like Constructivism or Cognitivism) to digital design
- Manage Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Canvas, Blackboard, or Moodle
- Edit video, audio, and graphics for educational purposes
- Conduct "needs assessments" to determine what a group of learners actually needs
- Evaluate the accessibility of technology for students with disabilities
These skills are highly transferable across schools, government agencies, and private corporations.
Topics You May Explore
Depending on the program focus, students may study:
- Principles of Instructional Design (e.g., the ADDIE or SAM models)
- Multimedia Development and Web Design
- Distance Learning and Synchronous/Asynchronous Instruction
- Educational Game Design and Gamification
- Emerging Technologies (AI, VR, AR) in the Classroom
- Digital Literacy and Cyber Ethics
- Project Management for Educational Development
- Learning Analytics and Data-Driven Instruction
This coursework turns students into experts who can bridge the gap between "knowing a subject" and "teaching a subject" through technology.
What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?
A degree in Educational/Instructional Technology is one of the most versatile in the education sector, leading to roles in both the public and private sectors.
Common job roles include:
- Instructional Designer
- Corporate Trainer or Learning & Development (L&D) Specialist
- Educational Technology (EdTech) Coordinator
- Director of Online Learning
- Multimedia Developer for Education
- User Experience (UX) Designer for Learning Software
- Technology Integration Specialist
- Curriculum Developer with a focus on Digital Media
As companies increasingly move their training online, the demand for "Instructional Designers" has exploded in the corporate world.
Where Can You Work?
Graduates work in environments where people need to be trained or educated efficiently, including:
- Public and Private K–12 School Districts
- Colleges and Universities (Online Education departments)
- Fortune 500 Companies (Human Resources and Training departments)
- Healthcare and Medical Centers (Staff training and simulation)
- Government and Military (Skill development and field training)
- EdTech Startups and Software Companies
- Non-profit organizations and NGOs
- Freelance or Consulting firms
These environments value the ability to turn complex information into simple, engaging digital content.
How Much Can You Earn?
Earnings in this field are generally higher than traditional classroom teaching roles, especially in corporate settings.
- K–12 Tech Coordinators typically earn between $60,000 and $85,000.
- Instructional Designers in higher education usually earn between $65,000 and $90,000.
- Corporate Learning and Development Specialists can earn between $80,000 and $115,000, plus bonuses.
- Directors of Instructional Technology can see salaries ranging from $100,000 to over $140,000.
The private sector often offers significant growth potential for those who can manage large-scale digital projects.
Is This Degree Hard?
This degree is challenging in a different way than traditional education degrees. It requires a "maker" mindset. You will need to spend many hours learning new software, troubleshooting technical bugs, and thinking logically about user flow. It is less about memorization and more about project-based learning.
Success requires a person who is comfortable with constant change, as technology updates almost every month.
Degree Levels and Learning Formats
Programs are widely available and very flexible:
- Bachelor’s degrees are often concentrations within "Education" or "Communications."
- Master’s degrees (M.S. or M.Ed.) are the industry standard for Instructional Designers.
- Doctoral degrees (Ph.D. or Ed.D.) are for those who want to lead university departments or conduct high-level research.
Because of the nature of the subject, almost all of these programs are offered in fully online or hybrid formats, allowing you to experience the very technology you are studying.
Who Should Consider This Degree?
This degree may be a good fit if you:
- Love playing with new gadgets, apps, and software
- Are interested in the "behind-the-scenes" work of how lessons are made
- Enjoy creative work like graphic design or video editing
- Want an education career that offers a high-paying corporate path
- Like solving puzzles and finding the most efficient way to explain something
- Want to work from home (many Instructional Design jobs are remote)
It is the perfect path for the creative technologist who wants to make an impact on how the world learns.
How to Prepare in High School
Students can prepare for a career in EdTech by:
- Learning basic coding (HTML/CSS) or web design
- Creating videos or podcasts for school projects
- Volunteering to help teachers or the school’s IT department with tech issues
- Taking classes in Psychology, Computer Science, and Graphic Design
- Experimenting with "no-code" tools like Canva or simple website builders
You don't need to be a computer scientist. A mix of curiosity about technology, an eye for design, and a passion for helping others learn is the ultimate recipe for success.
Personality Fit (RIASEC Profile)
Official assessment tool by the U.S. Department of Labor