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Learning Sciences

Types of Degrees Learning Sciences Majors Are Earning

Those studying Learning Sciences may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	2,959
Master’s Degree	991
Doctor’s Degree	94

What Learning Sciences Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Learning Sciences develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Learning Sciences graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Learning Sciences emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Education and Training — Importance 4.6 / 5; level 6.3 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.5 / 5; level 5.8 / 7.
• Psychology — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Communications and Media — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a Learning Sciences program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 4.5 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Learning Strategies — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Instructing — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Learning Sciences careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Learning Sciences graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Training and Teaching Others	4.7 / 7
Getting Information	4.7 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.4 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.4 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.3 / 7
Coaching and Developing Others	4.3 / 7
Working with Computers	4.2 / 7
Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People	4.2 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.1 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.1 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Learning Sciences professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Learning management system LMS	Computer based training software	✓
Blackboard software	Data base user interface and query software	—
SAS	Analytical or scientific software	—
Geogebra	Analytical or scientific software	—
Desmos	Analytical or scientific software	—
Calendar and scheduling software	Calendar and scheduling software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Learning Sciences graduates include:

• Lecturer
• Adjunct Lecturer
• Physical Education Instructor
• Counselor Education Professor
• Mathematics Education Professor
• Special Education Professor
• Educational Teaching Instructor
• Outdoor Education Instructor
• Associate Professor
• Music Education Professor
• Education Instructor
• Adjunct Instructor
• Education Adjunct Professor
• Professor
• Visual Education Teacher

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Learning Sciences graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Doctoral degree	68.4%
Bachelor’s degree	17.1%
Master’s degree	12.8%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.5%
Post-master’s certificate	0.1%
Post-doctoral training	0.1%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Learning Sciences?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 85.5% of Learning Sciences degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	3,457	85.5%
Men	587	14.5%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Learning Sciences graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	2,624	64.9%
Asian	110	2.7%
Hispanic or Latino	502	12.4%
Black or African American	330	8.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native	41	1.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	3	0.1%
Two or More Races	105	2.6%
Race Unknown	230	5.7%
International Students	99	2.4%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Learning Sciences Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Learning Sciences graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$62,037
4 years	$57,700
5 years	$64,541

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $64,541 — roughly 4% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Learning Sciences Programs

Fully online options is reported by IPEDS for Learning Sciences. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Bachelor’s	3	2
Master’s	14	5
Doctoral (Research)	1	2

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Learning Sciences Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Learning Sciences graduates earn a median of $57,700 four years after completion — roughly 52% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research	13.06
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research, Other	13.0699
Educational Assessment, Testing, and Measurement	13.0604
Educational Evaluation and Research	13.0601
Educational Statistics and Research Methods	13.0603
Institutional Research	13.0608

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.