The master’s is where this field actually lives. It is the level most programs are offered at, the credential most postings name, and the point at which the coursework stops being an introduction and starts being a design practice with a portfolio attached. Titles vary: MEd or MS in Instructional Design and Technology, MS in Learning Design and Technology, MA in Educational Technology, MS in Learning Experience Design. Programs are commonly 30 to 36 credits. Doctoral options, usually an EdD or PhD, exist for people aiming at faculty positions, research, or senior leadership in a university.
This page explains how these programs are structured, how the MEd and MS versions differ in practice, what to compare across schools, and what admissions actually weighs.
Quick answers
What is an online master’s in instructional design?
It is a graduate degree in designing, building, and evaluating instruction. You learn a design process, apply learning theory to production decisions, build in authoring tools, and finish with a portfolio or capstone project. Delivery is typically asynchronous, with project deadlines rather than live lectures.
What is the difference between an MEd and an MS?
Less than the letters suggest, and it varies more by department than by degree code. In general, an MEd version is housed in a college of education and leans toward K-12 and higher-education settings, with more coursework in curriculum and assessment. An MS version often sits closer to technology or performance improvement and leans corporate, with more production and analytics. Read the required course list.
Do I need a teaching background to be admitted?
No. Most programs admit from any undergraduate field and enroll a mix of teachers, corporate trainers, technical writers, and career changers. What programs weigh is a bachelor’s degree, a statement explaining what you want to build, and sometimes work samples. Standardized test scores are frequently optional.
How long does it take?
Programs are commonly 30 to 36 credits. Full-time students often finish in about two years, and part-time students take longer. Confirm the credit total, the term calendar, and whether the capstone occupies its own term rather than assuming a national timeline.
Is a master’s required to work as an instructional designer?
Not by law – nothing in this field is licensed except the K-12 curriculum roles that sit on top of a teaching credential. In practice the master’s is the common entry credential, and it is close to a floor in higher education. Corporate teams hire on portfolio more readily, so a strong portfolio can substitute for the degree in that sector and rarely does in schools.
What is a graduate certificate, and when does it make more sense?
A graduate certificate is typically 12 to 18 credits covering the design core without the full degree. It makes sense if you already hold a master’s in another field, if your employer needs you credentialed quickly, or if you want to test the field before committing. Many schools let certificate credits stack into the master’s later. Ask whether that stacking is guaranteed in writing.
At a Glance
- Degree type: MEd, MS, or MA in Instructional Design, Learning Design and Technology, or Educational Technology
- Typical size: Commonly 30-36 credits; graduate certificates run 12-18 credits
- Admissions: Bachelor’s degree in any field; teaching experience not required
- Capstone: Portfolio of built artifacts, or a thesis in research-track programs
- Accreditation: No programmatic accreditor for instructional design; verify institutional accreditation
Schools to compare
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most
recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS).
To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked
against schools at the same credential level:
BOCSCORE
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Graduation rate
94%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$83,648
Avg net price
$13,138/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 98%
- Programs offered: 206
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
91%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$72,200
Avg net price
$11,655/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 97%
- Programs offered: 117
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
98%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$101,817
Avg net price
$19,066/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 98%
- Programs offered: 174
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
85%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$75,790
Avg net price
$15,564/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 90%
- Programs offered: 193
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
61%
Graduation rate
86%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$63,435
Avg net price
$32,875/yr
TuitionIn‑state$20,644
Out‑of‑state$41,790
Key stats
- Retention rate: 92%
- Programs offered: 214
Source:Accreditor: Middle States Commission on Higher Education · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
74%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$59,982
Avg net price
$23,510/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 84%
- Programs offered: 60
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
66%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$64,506
Avg net price
$24,488/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 74%
- Programs offered: 81
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
27%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$22,842
Avg net price
$5,235/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 67%
- Programs offered: 11
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Typical topics in a master’s program
| Course Topic |
What You Learn |
| Instructional Design Models |
ADDIE, backward design, successive approximation, and when each fits |
| Learning Theory and Cognition |
Cognitive load, multimedia learning principles, motivation, retrieval and spacing |
| Needs and Task Analysis |
Determining whether instruction is the right intervention, and what the job actually requires |
| Assessment and Evaluation |
Objective writing, item construction, and evaluation models such as Kirkpatrick’s four levels |
| Multimedia Development |
Storyboarding, authoring tools, video and audio, accessibility to WCAG standards |
| Learning Technologies |
Learning management systems, SCORM and xAPI packaging, learning record stores |
| Learning Analytics |
Reading course and platform data without over-claiming what it proves |
| Project Management and Consulting |
Scoping, timelines, and negotiating with subject-matter experts and sponsors |
| Portfolio or capstone |
A client-facing project you can show in interviews |
MEd, MS, and the sector question
Choose based on where you want to work, not on the degree abbreviation. A program housed in a college of education will give you curriculum theory, K-12 context, and colleagues who teach. A program attached to technology, communication, or performance improvement will give you more production, analytics, and corporate vocabulary. Both teach the same design core.
The sector difference shows up in pay and in the work. Corporate roles are counted mainly as training and development specialists, with a median annual wage of $69,280 and projected growth of 10.8 percent from 2024 to 2034 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS; BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). School and district curriculum roles are counted as instructional coordinators, with a median annual wage of $77,440 and projected change of 1.3 percent over the same period. Higher-education instructional design sits between them, in units that also employ higher education administration staff.
Skills and outcomes to compare
Outcomes vary by program, but you can compare:
- Whether the capstone is a portfolio of built artifacts or a research paper
- Which authoring tools are taught, and whether student licenses are included
- Whether accessibility is a required course or a paragraph in one syllabus
- Whether evaluation goes past satisfaction surveys into performance measures
- Whether a practicum or client project with an outside organization is required
- Whether faculty have practiced in the sector you are targeting
- How the program handles learning analytics and data, which is the fastest-changing part of the curriculum
For pacing and delivery comparisons, see: How Online Instructional Design Degrees Work
How to compare online master’s programs
- Read the required core and confirm it covers analysis, design, development, and evaluation rather than only technology tools.
- Confirm the capstone produces artifacts you can publish in a portfolio.
- Ask which tools are taught and whether licenses are provided during enrollment.
- Check whether the program includes a real client project, and whether you find the client or the school does.
- Match the department to your sector: education college for schools, technology or business for corporate.
- If you already hold a graduate degree, price the certificate against the full master’s.
- Verify recognized institutional accreditation through the U.S. Department of Education database.
No accreditor evaluates instructional design programs specifically – there is no programmatic accreditor for this field. CAEP accreditation applies to educator preparation programs and is relevant only if your degree leads to a K-12 license or endorsement. Institutional accreditation is the check that matters otherwise.
Admissions requirements
Requirements vary by school, but most programs require a completed bachelor’s degree in any field, transcripts, a statement of purpose, and a resume. Letters of recommendation are common. Standardized test scores are frequently optional or waived.
The statement matters more here than in many fields, because programs enroll career changers and want to see that you understand what the work is. Say what you want to build and for whom. If you have made anything instructional – a training deck, a job aid, a tutorial video, a course you taught – mention it, and be ready to show it. Teaching experience helps for K-12 tracks and is not required elsewhere.
Doctoral options
An EdD or PhD in instructional design, learning technologies, or educational technology exists for people who want to teach in the field, lead research, or move into senior university roles. Postsecondary education teachers had a median annual wage of $75,350 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS), and postsecondary education administrators had a median annual wage of $104,590. Neither figure is a promise, and doctoral study is a multi-year commitment that most practicing instructional designers do not need. Enter it for a specific role, not for general advancement.
Master’s versus the undergraduate route
A bachelor’s pathway into this field means majoring in something adjacent and building a portfolio on your own initiative. It can work in corporate settings. The master’s is what most postings name, what higher education expects, and what school districts pair with licensure. If you already have a bachelor’s in another field and want the fastest credible entry, the master’s or the certificate is the route.
Compare degree options:
For a value and fit discussion, see: Is an Online Instructional Design Degree Worth It. If the artifact you want to design is a product interface rather than a course, see the User Experience Program Guide instead.
Data verified: September 5, 2026.
Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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