What Can I Do with an Education Degree? Explore 10 Careers Outside of the Classroom
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Published on: 06/22/2025
Last Updated: 06/22/2025
5 minute read
The state of work and workforces today is unlike anything seen before.1 Yet, despite cross-industry concerns about artificial intelligence (AI), the world still needs leaders and communicators.
These high-demand, human-centric skills are the cornerstone of an education degree. While an education degree may have once been a direct path to the classroom, it can now open doors far beyond it. Holding a degree in education means bringing strategic thinking and emotional intelligence to roles across corporate training, nonprofits, curriculum development, and more.
If you are wondering, “What can I do with an education degree?” this guide explores many different careers you can pursue and available programs to get you started.
What Can You Do With an Education Degree?
An education degree helps build essential, cross-sector skills that many employers value, including:
- Communication: Learning to engage in meaningful conversation with an audience by actively listening.
- Leadership: Managing individuals and teams toward shared goals for growth.
- Curriculum design: Creating effective, engaging learner experiences for every student.
- Behavioral science: Understanding people’s attitudes and actions to help them learn and grow.
This versatility makes an education degree a powerful asset in many ways. First, it may open doors to classrooms, whether you aim to:
- Shape students from early childhood through high school as a K–12 teacher
- Specialize in early childhood or elementary education during crucial developmental years
- Step into higher education with a passion for guiding adult learners
If you have been exploring reasons to be a teacher, these roles can offer purpose-driven careers that leave a lasting impact.
More importantly, the teaching degree can give you transferable skills for consulting, training, and instructional design.
Schools also need licensed teachers to help solve new-age educational challenges. To become a licensed school teacher, you typically need a bachelor’s degree, a completed teacher preparation program.
Non-Teaching Career Paths for Education Graduates
If a traditional teaching job does not interest you, don’t worry. Your education degree can also lead to other, non-teaching positions that support learning, shape strategy, and create better learner outcomes.
#1 Educational Consultant
As experts on how people learn, educational consultants work with schools, districts, and even families to drive better learning outcomes. They might:
- Advise on curriculum updates
- Implement new technology
- Support special-ed programs
Education programs that focus on hands-on learning may best equip graduates for this role.
#2 Curriculum Developer
Curriculum developers design grade-appropriate lessons and assignments—the basic tools of teaching. For example, they might design digital literacy modules for a statewide online learning platform.
Degrees like the online EdD in Educational Leadership and Management that Alliant offers can be a direct pathway to leading such impactful work.
#3 School Administrator or Principal
Setting the vision for broader academic success, school administrators manage staff, oversee budgets, and build a culture where students and teachers can thrive. For budding administrators, the Administrative Services Credential program by Alliant may open the door to these types of leadership roles.
#4 Education Policy Analyst
Education analysts base policy recommendations on research and data. They mostly work with government agencies or think tanks to improve schools.2 For this profession, advanced research skills and systems-level thinking are key. Doctoral programs in Education at Alliant can help prepare graduates to lead policy change in this way.
#5 Instructional Coordinator
Simply put, instructional coordinators support teachers in doing their best work. They design and refine educational materials to ensure lessons are clear and engaging. They also help guide schools on adopting the latest standards and technology, so every classroom benefits.
#6 EdTech Specialist
EdTech specialists work at the intersection of education and innovation to help make learning more interactive through:
- Learning management systems (LMS)
- Gamified apps
- Virtual lessons
If students engage with technology, chances are an EdTech specialist made it happen.
#7 Corporate Trainer
Corporate trainers bring the classroom into the workplace. From onboarding to leadership development, they equip employees with on-the-job training to help promote competency and confidence.
#8 Employee Development Specialist
These professionals design and deliver learning experiences to support a company’s growth. They assess gaps in workflow, build learning opportunities, and connect individual growth to business success.
Alliant courses, like an MAE or PhD in Organizational Development, can be a smart way to start your path toward this role.
#9 Program Director for Educational Nonprofits
At education-related nonprofits, directors are usually part strategist and part operations lead. They manage grants, oversee programs, and ensure that every dollar has a measurable impact.
#10 Community Educator
Local community educators bring learning directly to the people. They conduct adult classes, GED prep sessions, and job readiness training in their local communities. They may also help create programs to address local skill needs and roles well-suited to those with an associate's or bachelor in education.
Who Should Consider an Education Degree?
Why are teachers important, and why should you get an education degree? An education degree is not just for aspiring K–12 teachers. It is a strong fit for those who are passionate about communication, leadership, and lifelong learning. Whether you want to work directly with learners or design the systems that support them, an education program can help you build the foundation you need.
It is also an ideal path for professionals looking to earn credentials that can transfer across industries—from training and development to nonprofit work, policy, and even tech. If you are interested in helping others grow and want to make a lasting impact, this field could be the right fit for you.
Unlock Your Future with an Education Degree
What can you do with an education degree? You can lead classrooms, shape policy, design curriculum, build training programs, drive community-wide change, and more.
Ultimately, a degree in education helps you build a strong foundation in leadership and gain valuable knowledge across different roles.
At Alliant International University, you can turn that foundation into a future-ready career path through flexible, mission-driven programs. Whether you are pivoting careers or aiming to advance your current one, the degrees and certifications offered by Alliant can help you take the next step. Apply today!
Sources:
- Jared Spataro. "Microsoft and LinkedIn release the 2024 Work Trend Index on the state of AI at work". Official Microsoft Blog. May 8, 2024. https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2024/05/08/microsoft-and-linkedin-rele…. Accessed May 15, 2025.
- OECD. "Who Really Cares about Using Education Research in Policy and Practice?: Developing a Culture of Research
Engagement". Educational Research and Innovation, OECD Publishing. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1787/bc641427-en. Accessed May 15, 2025.
