2027 Accredited Online Instructional Design Degree Programs With No GRE or GMAT Requirements
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Choosing an online instructional design degree is easier when standardized testing is not standing between you and the application deadline. Many accredited programs now waive or omit the GRE and GMAT, which matters for working adults, teachers, trainers, and career changers who need a faster path into learning design.
The U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 12% growth for training and development specialists from 2023 to 2033, signaling strong demand for professionals who can design effective digital learning. This guide helps you compare no-test programs, admissions standards, costs, accreditation, and career value.
Key Things You Should Know
- Many accredited online instructional design master's programs are now test-free or test-optional, but applicants are still evaluated on GPA, transcripts, résumé, recommendations, writing ability, and fit with the program.
- Skipping the GRE or GMAT can save time and application costs; the GRE General Test is listed at $220 in the U.S., while GMAT exam fees are commonly higher depending on format and location.
- Career demand is favorable: BLS data places the 2024 median pay for training and development specialists at $65,850, while advancement into management, learning technology, or higher education roles usually depends on experience and portfolio quality.
Which Accredited Online Instructional Design Degree Programs Do Not Require the GRE or GMAT?
Accredited online instructional design degree programs without GRE or GMAT requirements are most often master's programs in instructional design, learning design, educational technology, learning experience design, or workplace learning. "Accredited" usually means the institution is approved by a recognized regional or national accreditor; most instructional design programs do not have a separate programmatic accreditor, so institutional accreditation is the baseline quality check.
The programs below are examples of U.S. online graduate options that publicly position themselves as not requiring the GRE or GMAT for standard admission. Policies can change by term, concentration, applicant background, and international status, so verify the current graduate catalog before applying.
| Institution | Online degree or closely related program | GRE or GMAT status | Best fit |
| Boise State University | MS in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning | No GRE or GMAT commonly required for standard admission | Corporate training, performance improvement, workplace learning |
| Purdue University Online | MS in Education in Learning Design and Technology | No GRE commonly required | Educators and professionals seeking a research-informed design degree |
| Arizona State University Online | MEd in Learning Design and Technologies | GRE generally not required | Students interested in digital learning, educational technology, and online course design |
| University of North Dakota | MS in Instructional Design and Technology | No GRE commonly required | Students seeking a flexible public-university online option |
| Emporia State University | MS in Instructional Design and Technology | No GRE commonly required | Teachers, trainers, and early-career learning designers |
| Western Governors University | MEd in Learning Experience Design and Educational Technology | No GRE or GMAT required | Self-paced learners who want competency-based progress |
| American College of Education | MEd in Instructional Design and Technology | No GRE or GMAT required | Working educators and professionals seeking affordability and flexibility |
| University of Central Florida | MA in Instructional Design and Technology | GRE commonly not required for many applicants | Students interested in e-learning, simulations, and instructional systems design |
A no-GRE or no-GMAT policy should be a starting filter, not the final decision. After confirming accreditation, compare curriculum depth, online format, faculty expertise, portfolio opportunities, tuition, and whether the program teaches tools and methods employers actually request.
Why Have Accredited Online Instructional Design Degree Programs Eliminated GRE and GMAT Requirements?
Instructional design programs have moved away from standardized testing because GRE and GMAT scores are often less useful than evidence of writing skill, teaching or training experience, technology fluency, and design thinking. Graduate admissions teams can usually evaluate readiness through transcripts, a statement of purpose, professional experience, recommendations, and sample work.
It also reflects a broader shift in online graduate education. Many working adults are not applying directly from undergraduate study, and requiring an exam can delay enrollment without clearly improving the match between the student and the program.
The table below explains the main admissions-policy terms you will see. Understanding these differences helps you decide whether you should still submit a score when a school allows it.
| Admissions policy | What it means | How applicants should respond |
| Test-free | The program does not consider GRE or GMAT scores. | Focus entirely on GPA, résumé, statement, recommendations, and portfolio evidence. |
| Test-optional | You may submit scores, but they are not required. | Submit only if the score strengthens a weaker part of the application. |
| Test waiver | The program normally requires a test but waives it for applicants who meet certain criteria. | Confirm the waiver rules before applying, especially GPA, prior graduate credit, or work-experience requirements. |
| Test-required | The GRE or GMAT is part of the standard application. | Budget time and money for testing, or choose a different program if speed matters. |
The practical benefit is clear: students can spend more time building a stronger application and less time preparing for a general test that may not measure instructional design potential.
What Admissions Criteria Matter Most Without GRE or GMAT Scores?
Without GRE or GMAT scores, admissions committees look more closely at whether you can succeed in graduate-level coursework and contribute to a learning-design community. The strongest applications connect academic readiness with real evidence of communication, problem-solving, and technology use.
Most no-test programs weigh several materials together rather than relying on one deciding factor. Pay close attention to these areas because they often matter more than applicants expect:
- Undergraduate GPA and transcript pattern: A strong GPA helps, but schools may also notice improvement over time, relevant coursework, and prior graduate credits.
- Statement of purpose: This should explain why instructional design fits your goals, what learners you want to serve, and why the specific program is a good match.
- Professional résumé: Teaching, training, curriculum writing, LMS administration, coaching, HR development, or multimedia work can all support your case.
- Recommendations: Choose recommenders who can discuss your writing, collaboration, reliability, and ability to learn new technologies.
- Portfolio or work samples: If optional, a short sample course module, training outline, needs analysis, video lesson, or e-learning prototype can help distinguish you.
Applicants coming from education, training, HR, psychology, communications, or technology backgrounds often have relevant experience. Those comparing instructional design with broader management or business degrees online should decide whether they want to specialize in learning systems or pursue a wider business credential.
No-GRE and no-GMAT programs are not automatically easier to get into. They are easier to apply to because they remove one barrier, but reputable programs still evaluate readiness, writing ability, academic history, and fit. In some cases, test-free admissions can make the rest of the application more important because there is no exam score to offset a weak statement or thin résumé.
The right interpretation depends on the school's policy and applicant pool. Use the comparison below to understand what "easier" may mean in practice.
| Question | No-test program reality | What it means for you |
| Is the application faster? | Usually yes, because you do not need to schedule, prepare for, or report a standardized test. | You can apply sooner, especially if transcripts and recommendations are ready. |
| Is admission less selective? | Not necessarily; selectivity depends on institutional standards and available seats. | Do not assume a waiver means automatic admission. |
| Can work experience matter more? | Often yes, especially in applied programs serving adult learners. | Show measurable training, teaching, design, or technology contributions. |
| Should optional scores be submitted? | Only if they add value to your profile. | A strong score may help if your GPA is low, but an average score may not improve the file. |
If you are applying with a lower GPA, ask whether the program offers conditional admission, a probationary first term, or an opportunity to submit additional writing or portfolio evidence. That conversation is often more useful than trying to guess the hidden importance of a test score.
Skipping the GRE or GMAT does not reduce academic quality by itself. Accreditation is tied to institutional review, faculty qualifications, student support, governance, and academic standards, not to whether a program requires a standardized test. Employers generally care more about the institution, the degree's relevance, your portfolio, and your ability to design effective learning experiences.
For instructional design, quality is easier to evaluate through curriculum and outcomes than through admissions testing. A strong program should include learning theory, instructional systems design, needs assessment, accessibility, assessment design, project management, multimedia learning, and applied portfolio work.
Before enrolling, verify these quality indicators:
- Confirm the institution is accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
- Review the curriculum for applied design projects, not only theory courses.
- Look for portfolio-building assignments that can be shown to employers after graduation.
- Ask whether courses teach current tools such as learning management systems, authoring tools, video-based learning, analytics, and accessibility practices.
- Check student support, faculty access, library resources, career services, and technology help for online learners.
The main red flag is not the absence of a test requirement. The bigger concern is a program that lacks recognized accreditation, publishes vague curriculum information, or makes unrealistic employment claims.
No-GRE and no-GMAT online instructional design programs are especially useful for students whose strengths are better shown through experience than test scores. This includes teachers moving into curriculum technology, corporate trainers seeking advancement, HR professionals designing onboarding, military trainers transitioning to civilian roles, and technologists who want to work closer to learning strategy.
These programs may be a strong fit if you need flexibility and can show readiness in other ways. They are less ideal if you want a highly research-intensive path that specifically requires standardized testing for doctoral preparation or funding consideration.
The students who benefit most usually fall into one of these groups:
- Working educators: They can connect classroom, curriculum, and assessment experience to online learning design.
- Corporate training professionals: They often bring practical knowledge of onboarding, compliance, sales enablement, or employee development.
- Career changers: They can use a degree and portfolio to translate communication, media, psychology, or technical skills into learning design roles.
- Applicants with test anxiety or limited testing time: They can focus on application materials that better reflect professional strengths.
- Adults returning to school: They may be years removed from undergraduate math or verbal testing but ready for applied graduate work.
Some students may find that a different education-related credential fits better. For example, those focused on behavior intervention rather than course design may want to compare instructional design with BCBA masters programs before choosing a path.
Tuition varies widely among online instructional design programs, and a no-GRE policy does not reliably predict whether a program is affordable. Public universities, private nonprofit institutions, and private for-profit institutions can all offer online options, but total cost depends on tuition per credit, number of credits, fees, transfer policies, books, technology requirements, and how long you remain enrolled.
Financial aid should be part of the comparison from the beginning. For federal loans first disbursed from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, graduate Direct Unsubsidized Loans carry an 8.08% fixed interest rate, and Grad PLUS Loans carry a 9.08% fixed interest rate. That means borrowing more than necessary can materially affect long-term repayment, even if the monthly program schedule looks convenient.
When comparing cost, ask each school for a full program estimate rather than a single per-credit figure. The most important cost questions include:
- How many credits are required to graduate, and are there extra fees for online courses, technology, graduation, or portfolio review?
- Does the program accept transfer credits, prior graduate coursework, employer training, or military education?
- Are tuition rates different for in-state, out-of-state, military, or fully online students?
- Can students use employer tuition assistance, scholarships, assistantships, payment plans, or federal aid?
- Does the course sequence allow part-time enrollment without extending the degree so long that costs rise?
Students comparing multiple helping-profession or education-adjacent paths should also note that accreditation rules differ by field. For instance, ASHA approved SLP programs online involve profession-specific standards that are different from instructional design, where institutional accreditation and portfolio quality are usually the key checks.
Graduates of online instructional design programs may pursue roles such as instructional designer, learning experience designer, e-learning developer, curriculum specialist, training and development specialist, learning technologist, LMS administrator, enablement specialist, or higher education course designer. Job titles vary by employer, and some positions emphasize analysis and strategy while others emphasize multimedia production or authoring tools.
BLS data reports a 2024 median annual wage of $65,850 for training and development specialists. That figure is a national median, not a promise for degree holders; compensation can vary based on industry, region, experience, software skills, portfolio strength, and whether the role is in K-12, higher education, government, healthcare, technology, or corporate learning.
Career value often depends on whether the program helps you graduate with evidence of skill. Employers may ask for examples of needs assessments, storyboards, accessibility improvements, course shells, learning objectives, assessment plans, and modules built in common e-learning tools.
Students who want long-term leadership roles may later consider doctoral or executive pathways, especially if they aim to lead learning strategy, organizational development, or academic innovation. An online PhD in leadership may fit that later-stage goal better than a second master's degree, depending on career direction.
The most common mistake is treating "no GRE" as the main sign of program fit. Admissions flexibility is valuable, but it does not replace evidence that the program is credible, affordable, relevant, and realistic for your schedule.
Applicants can improve their chances by avoiding mistakes that make a no-test application look generic or incomplete. These are the errors to watch for:
- Submitting a vague statement: Explain the learners, settings, and problems you want to work with rather than simply saying you like technology or education.
- Ignoring accreditation: Verify institutional accreditation before investing time in an application.
- Using the same résumé for every school: Emphasize training, teaching, design, analysis, communication, technology, and project work relevant to instructional design.
- Assuming no test means no standards: Programs may still require a minimum GPA, writing sample, recommendations, or prerequisite experience.
- Overlooking total cost: A fast admissions process can still lead to unnecessary borrowing if you do not compare full program price.
- Failing to ask about portfolio outcomes: A degree without applied work may be less useful for job searches than a program that produces employer-ready samples.
Do not copy assumptions from unrelated online programs. A fast pathway such as an accelerated paralegal program may be structured around different employer expectations, credit rules, and career outcomes than instructional design.
How Should Students Compare Accredited Online Instructional Design Degree Programs Without GRE or GMAT Requirements?
The best no-GRE or no-GMAT online instructional design program is the one that matches your career goal, learning style, budget, and academic background. A cheaper program is not automatically better if it lacks portfolio work, and a highly recognizable university may not be worth the premium if the curriculum does not fit your intended role.
Use a structured comparison process before applying. This keeps you from choosing only on admissions convenience or brand recognition.
- Start with accreditation and confirm the school's current GRE or GMAT policy in the graduate catalog.
- Match the curriculum to your target role, such as corporate learning, K-12 technology, higher education course design, healthcare training, or e-learning development.
- Compare total cost, not just tuition per credit, and include fees, technology, books, and time to completion.
- Review online format, including synchronous requirements, course length, part-time options, and whether the program supports working adults.
- Look for applied assignments that produce portfolio artifacts, not only exams and discussion boards.
- Ask about faculty experience, career services, alumni outcomes, internship options, and employer partnerships.
- Decide whether optional test scores would strengthen your file or distract from stronger evidence such as experience and portfolio work.
A strong final shortlist should include three to five accredited programs that you would still consider even if every one required the same application materials. That test helps you focus on long-term value rather than the short-term convenience of skipping an exam.
Other Things You Should Know About Instructional Design
Yes. Some instructional designers enter the field through teaching, training, UX, writing, media production, or technical roles. A master's degree can help if you need structured training, a stronger portfolio, career change support, or eligibility for roles that prefer graduate education.
Many online programs take about one to two years, depending on credit load, course length, transfer credits, and whether you study full time or part time. Working adults often choose part-time pacing to balance coursework with employment.
They overlap, but they are not always identical. Instructional design often emphasizes learning objectives, assessment, and systematic course development, while learning experience design may place more emphasis on user experience, engagement, journey mapping, and digital product thinking.
Usually no. Instructional design degrees generally do not lead to teacher licensure unless a school specifically states otherwise. If you need a state teaching credential, confirm those requirements directly with the program and your state education agency.
- Associate Certificate in Instructional Design | Digital Learning Institute https://www.digitallearninginstitute.com/courses/associate-certificate-in-instructional-design
- Affordable Accredited Online Colleges https://www.onlineu.com/online-schools/low-tuition
- MA in Learning Design and Technology | The American College of Greece https://globalcampus.aug.edu/programs/graduate-programs/ma-learning-design-and-technology/
- Online Master’s Degrees in Instructional Design: Review Top Programs https://www.onlinemastersdegrees.org/best-programs/education/instructional-design/
- Instructional Design Certificate or Masters Degree - Experiencing Elearning https://christytuckerlearning.com/instructional-design-certificate-or-masters-degree/
- Master’s degree in instructional design and technology https://www.trevecca.edu/academics/program/instructional-design-technology-m.s
- Maintaining Quality Online Learning Programs - Edge, the Nation's Nonprofit Technology Consortium https://njedge.net/blog/maintaining-quality-online-learning-programs/
- Do I Need a Degree in Instructional Design? It Depends. https://www.teamedforlearning.com/do-i-need-a-degree-in-instructional-design-it-depends/
- Online College Costs: A Breakdown of Tuition and Fees | OnlineColleges.net https://www.onlinecolleges.net/for-students/online-college-costs/
- ONLINE MASTER'S INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN | edX https://www.edx.org/masters/instructional-design
