As our world continues to digitize, the need to collect, analyze, interpret, store and use data increases. In the education world, for better or worse, testing and data are driving decisions more and more as schools seek to be evidence-driven and governing bodies seek accountability.

The master’s degree (M.Ed., MA or MS) in educational assessment, measurement and evaluation (EAME) focuses on the application of data analysis, assessment tools, qualitative and quantitative research, psychometrics, statistics and evaluation in educational settings for the purpose of improving student learning and institutional effectiveness.

To help those seeking a career in this field and attain the education that best prepares them, Top Master’s in Education compiled new rankings of the 20 Best Master’s and the 20 Best Online Master’s in Educational Assessment, Measurement and Evaluation Degrees for 2017.

The rankings used data from U.S. News & World Report, the National Center for Education Statistics, college websites and the National Council for Teacher Quality (NCTQ). Three categories were scored: reputation, affordability, and specific program ratings.

The 20 Best Master’s in Educational Assessment, Measurement and Evaluation finds University of California-Berkeley in first place, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign in second and University of Iowa occupying third.

The 20 Best Online Master’s in Educational Assessment, Measurement and Evaluation finds University of Florida in first place, University of Illinois-Chicago in second and Georgia State University occupying third.

Organizations such as the American Statistical Association and the National Science Foundation report jobs in the field are plentiful and satisfying. The field of statistical analysis, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), will grow by 27 percent in the next five years.

“Growth is expected to result from the more widespread use of statistical analysis to make informed business, healthcare, and policy decisions,” notes the BLS.

Graduate work in EAME can prepare a person for a job as a researcher and analyst in several fields, including academic institutions, state and federal agencies, school districts, the testing and evaluation industry, marketing research, and large-scale test management, and more.

Possible jobs and median salaries, according to Payscale, include:

• Research analyst, staff members in research and evaluation divisions in public schools, government agencies, and private corporations and foundations: $51,754.

• College and university professors: $84,632.

• Directors of institutional research: $79,480.

• Directors of assessment: $73,099.

• Psychometricians: $78,603.

• Educational diagnostician: $57,857.

For further insights and to see the complete lists, visit topmastersineducation.com/best-masters-educational-assessment-measurement and topmastersineducation.com/best-online-masters-in-educational-assessment-measurement-and-evaluation-degrees.