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Instructional services specialist education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an instructional services specialist. Instructional services specialists usually study business, elementary education, or educational technology. 53% of instructional services specialists hold a bachelor's degree, and 27% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 38 real instructional services specialist resumes to see exactly what instructional services specialist education sections show.

The most common colleges for instructional services specialists are the Western Washington University and the Western Washington University.

There are also many online instructional services specialist courses to help get the education required to be an instructional services specialist.

What education do you need to become an instructional services specialist?

What degree do you need to be an instructional services specialist?

The most common degree for instructional services specialists is bachelor's degree, with 53% of instructional services specialists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 27% and associate degree degree at 17%.
  • Bachelor's, 53%
  • Associate, 27%
  • Master's, 17%
  • Doctorate, 3%

What should I major in to become an instructional services specialist?

You should major in business to become an instructional services specialist. 10% of instructional services specialists major in business. Other common majors for an instructional services specialist include elementary education and educational technology.

Most common colleges for instructional services specialists

Instructional services specialists often get their degrees at Western Washington University, Ohio State University, and Brown University. Here are the most common colleges for instructional services specialists in the US based on their resumes.
Instructional services specialist common collegePercentages
Western Washington University9.09%
Ohio State University9.09%
Brown University4.55%
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff4.55%
Park University4.55%

Best majors for instructional services specialists

Best colleges for instructional services specialists

The best colleges for instructional services specialists are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.

An instructional services specialist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for instructional services specialists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become instructional services specialists.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

3. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

4. SUNY at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,099

Enrollment

21,404

5. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

6. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

7. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

8. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

9. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

10. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

20 best online courses for instructional services specialists

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1. Instructional Methods in Health Professions Education

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20. Fundamentals of Data Analysis for Big Data

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Top 10 most affordable universities for instructional services specialists

The most affordable schools for instructional services specialists are California State University - Long Beach, california state university - bakersfield, and florida state university.

If the best universities for instructional services specialists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for instructional services specialists.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

3. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

4. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

5. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

6. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

7. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

8. University of Houston - Victoria

Victoria, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$6,491

Cost of attendance

19,075

9. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

10. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for instructional services specialists

The hardest universities for instructional services specialists to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.

Some great schools for instructional services specialists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for instructional services specialists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

4. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

6. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

8. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,398

10. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for instructional services specialists

The easiest schools for instructional services specialists to get into are Barry University, notre dame de namur university, and mount saint mary's university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an instructional services specialist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for instructional services specialists.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

3. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

4. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

5. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

6. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

7. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

8. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

9. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

10. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,046

Average instructional services specialist salary by education level

According to our data, instructional services specialists with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $56,921 annually. Instructional services specialists with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $55,434.
Instructional services specialist education levelInstructional services specialist salary
Master's Degree$55,434
Bachelor's Degree$50,379
Doctorate Degree$56,921

Instructional services specialist education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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