AcademicJobs.com is the premier job board for academic, faculty, research, and higher education positions worldwide. This dedicated profile showcases Ascend Learning as a leading employer on our platform, highlighting its commitment to excellence in teaching, innovation, and scholarly achievement. Discover the university’s vibrant community, world-class facilities, and diverse career opportunities designed to attract top talent from around the globe. Whether you are an aspiring academic or an experienced professional, explore what makes Ascend Learning an exceptional place to advance your career.
Ascend Learning Jobs offer a distinctive pathway for educators, researchers, and learning professionals who want to shape academic outcomes from inside a leading education technology organization. Headquartered in Leawood, Kansas, Ascend Learning works with universities, healthcare systems, and workforce training providers, creating diverse opportunities in curriculum design, educational research, simulation-based learning, and certification science. This profile explores salary ranges, career progression, and professor ratings relevant to Ascend Learning's ecosystem. Rate My Professor on AcademicJobs.com helps learners identify top educators and trainers connected to Ascend Learning programs.
Ascend Learning is a Kansas City-area education technology and workforce training company, not a traditional degree-granting university. The organization builds learning and assessment solutions that help students, clinicians, and professionals enter and advance in high-demand careers, particularly in healthcare, fitness, safety, and public health. Ascend Learning is headquartered in Leawood, Kansas, and operates through a portfolio of specialized brands including ATI Nursing Education, National Healthcareer Association, Jones & Bartlett Learning, Kognito, BoardVitals, ClickSafety, and eLearning Brothers. Through these brands, Ascend Learning serves higher education institutions, employers, and government agencies throughout the United States and internationally.
Since its founding in 2008, Ascend Learning has become an important partner for universities and professional schools. Jones & Bartlett Learning publishes educational resources used in nursing, public health, and emergency services programs, while ATI Nursing Education supports nursing schools with assessments, learning modules, and NCLEX preparation. Kognito develops role-play simulations for mental health, patient communication, and interpersonal skills training. This broad footprint means academic careers at Ascend Learning often sit at the intersection of education, technology, clinical practice, and assessment science.
Although Ascend Learning does not employ tenure-track professors, its teams include former faculty members, subject matter experts, educational researchers, instructional designers, and assessment specialists. These professionals help shape curricula, evaluation methods, and learning technologies used by universities across the country. For academics seeking a non-faculty pathway or a role that influences higher education at scale, Ascend Learning offers a compelling environment. Visit the official Ascend Learning Website for more information.
While Ascend Learning is not a university, it hires for roles that align closely with faculty work: designing courses, developing assessments, teaching in clinical or professional settings, and conducting educational research. Professionals exploring professor positions or academic careers at Ascend Learning will find titles such as Curriculum Developer, Instructional Designer, Nursing Education Consultant, Learning Experience Designer, Medical Writer, and Subject Matter Expert. Many roles are located in the Kansas City area, with remote and hybrid options available across the United States.
Designs online and blended learning modules for nursing, allied health, and public safety programs. Responsibilities include curriculum mapping, assessment alignment, and collaboration with university faculty partners. Typical salary range: $72,000–$95,000.
Develops engaging digital learning experiences using adaptive learning platforms, simulations, and multimedia. Requires strong pedagogical knowledge and experience with learning management systems. Typical salary range: $75,000–$100,000.
Provides domain expertise for curriculum development, test item writing, and content review across healthcare, public safety, and wellness brands. Often project-based or contract work. Typical compensation range: $65,000–$100,000.
Supports nursing schools and clinical partners with curriculum adoption, faculty training, and assessment strategy. RN licensure and graduate nursing education are common requirements. Typical salary range: $80,000–$120,000.
Analyzes learning outcomes, assessment performance, and program effectiveness. Backgrounds in psychometrics, educational measurement, or data science are valued. Typical salary range: $75,000–$110,000.
Supports scenario-based learning and simulation products used in nursing, mental health, and safety training. Typical salary range: $70,000–$98,000.
Search current openings on Higher Ed Jobs and Lecturer Jobs to identify positions at Ascend Learning and similar employers. For academics who want a more traditional faculty path, explore Adjunct Professor Jobs and Professor Jobs across Kansas and the United States.
Academic careers at Ascend Learning appeal to professionals who want to move beyond a single classroom and influence learning outcomes at scale. The organization combines educational mission with technology innovation, giving team members a chance to improve nursing education, allied health certification, and public safety training nationwide. Employees often cite the diversity of projects, access to university and clinical partners, and the practical impact of certification and licensure products as key rewards.
Ascend Learning also values research-informed practice. Teams use learning analytics, item response theory, simulation science, and user experience research to refine products. This creates opportunities for former faculty and doctoral-level researchers to apply rigorous academic methods in an applied setting. Compared with traditional faculty roles, corporate education positions at Ascend Learning often offer more predictable advancement, flexible work arrangements, and exposure to product development cycles.
The company's Leawood headquarters and distributed workforce support hybrid collaboration. While some roles require periodic travel to nursing schools or industry conferences, many positions offer remote flexibility. Explore Higher Ed Jobs on AcademicJobs.com to find roles aligned with your skills, and use Rate My Professor to understand the teaching landscape you may be joining.
Ascend Learning does not publish a traditional university faculty salary schedule because it is not a degree-granting institution. However, learning and academic roles in the Kansas City metropolitan area, where Ascend Learning is headquartered, can be benchmarked against public industry data and higher education salary trends. Estimated annual base salaries for academic-related positions at Ascend Learning brands typically range from $65,000 to $120,000, depending on role, experience, department, and specific brand. Use Professor Salaries on AcademicJobs.com to compare these figures with traditional university faculty pay.
| Role | Entry Level | Mid-Career | Senior / Expert | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instructional Designer | $65,000 | $80,000 | $95,000+ | Corporate education and curriculum design |
| Curriculum Developer | $70,000 | $88,000 | $105,000+ | Healthcare and public safety content |
| Nursing Education Consultant | $80,000 | $98,000 | $120,000+ | Requires RN licensure and clinical background |
| Educational Research Analyst | $72,000 | $90,000 | $110,000+ | Psychometrics, statistics, or data science |
| Learning Experience Designer | $70,000 | $88,000 | $102,000+ | Digital learning and adaptive platforms |
| Subject Matter Expert | $65,000 | $80,000 | $100,000+ | Project or contract-based roles |
Several factors affect pay in academic roles at Ascend Learning. Experience in nursing education, psychometrics, simulation, or public health often commands premium compensation. Location also matters: Kansas City-area salaries may be slightly lower than coastal markets but typically offer strong purchasing power. Department or brand alignment matters too. Roles supporting high-stakes licensure, such as NCLEX preparation through ATI Nursing Education or allied health certification through NHA, often pay more than general content roles. For more detailed comparisons, visit University Salaries on AcademicJobs.com.
AcademicJobs.com's Rate My Professor platform helps students and professionals evaluate educators and trainers connected to Ascend Learning programs. While Ascend Learning itself is not a university, many instructors and content experts who teach through its certification courses, continuing education modules, and university partnerships can be reviewed. Ratings from real learners provide insight into teaching clarity, engagement, and course quality.
Senior Nursing Education Specialist, ATI Nursing Education
⭐ 4.8 rating · 127 reviews
Recognized for clear NCLEX readiness strategies and supportive online instruction.
Medical Content Lead, BoardVitals
⭐ 4.7 rating · 98 reviews
Valued for concise explanations in board exam prep and clinical scenario reviews.
Public Health Curriculum Consultant, Jones & Bartlett Learning
⭐ 4.9 rating · 86 reviews
Praised for connecting public health theory to real-world practice in university programs.
Simulation Learning Architect, Kognito
⭐ 4.6 rating · 74 reviews
Known for engaging role-play simulations that build mental health communication skills.
Allied Health Certification Educator, NHA
⭐ 4.8 rating · 112 reviews
Appreciated for clear certification guidance in clinical medical assisting and pharmacy technician programs.
Learning Experience Designer, eLearning Brothers
⭐ 4.7 rating · 69 reviews
Recognized for user-friendly instructional design and effective multimedia learning.
Representative profiles shown above reflect typical roles in Ascend Learning's partner network. Actual ratings and review counts vary. Use the platform to make informed decisions about courses, instructors, and programs connected to Ascend Learning.
Career progression at Ascend Learning follows a corporate learning and development path rather than a traditional tenure-track sequence. Entry-level roles such as Instructional Designer or Content Developer typically lead to senior positions like Senior Learning Experience Designer, Curriculum Manager, or Educational Research Scientist. From there, professionals may advance into Director of Curriculum, Director of Learning Science, or Academic Partnership Lead.
Former faculty members often find that their teaching and research experience transfers well. A background in course design, assessment, and student engagement can accelerate advancement within Ascend Learning brands. Psychometricians and educational data analysts may progress from research roles into leadership positions overseeing assessment validity and learning outcomes. For academics who want to remain closer to university governance, some professionals eventually transition into academic affairs roles at partner institutions or pursue roles as University Jobs across the United States.
Professional development is central to career growth at Ascend Learning. Employees commonly participate in industry conferences, certification programs, and internal learning communities. Explore Higher Ed Career Advice on AcademicJobs.com for guidance on transitioning from faculty roles to education technology careers.
Research at Ascend Learning focuses on adaptive learning algorithms, healthcare simulation, psychometric assessment, nursing education analytics, and AI-assisted content development. Through ATI Nursing Education and National Healthcareer Association, the company examines how students learn clinical reasoning and how certification assessments can predict professional success. Kognito contributes research on role-play simulations and mental health communication, while Jones & Bartlett Learning supports scholarship in public health, nursing, and emergency services education.
Current innovation trends include personalized learning pathways that adapt to individual student performance, predictive analytics for licensure readiness, and computer-based simulations that measure high-order clinical skills. Ascend Learning also invests in assessment integrity and equitable testing practices. These research areas create opportunities for educational researchers, data scientists, and assessment specialists. Explore Research Jobs and Research Assistant Jobs on AcademicJobs.com to find related positions.
For academics interested in applied learning science, Ascend Learning offers a unique chance to move from publish-or-perish cycles to product-focused research that reaches thousands of students and clinicians each year.
Benefits at Ascend Learning commonly include health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, paid time off, professional development stipends, and hybrid or remote work arrangements for many positions. Since Ascend Learning is a company rather than a university, employees do not typically negotiate faculty tenure, sabbaticals, or academic senate responsibilities. Instead, they often gain faster decision-making cycles and clearer performance-based advancement.
For students, Ascend Learning is best understood through its learning brands. Nursing students may use ATI Nursing Education materials and assessments to prepare for the NCLEX, while allied health students pursue certifications through NHA. Medical, physician assistant, and nurse practitioner students may use BoardVitals for board exam preparation. Public health and emergency services students often learn from Jones & Bartlett Learning textbooks and digital resources.
When choosing courses or review programs, students can use Rate My Professor on AcademicJobs.com to evaluate instructors, review teaching styles, and identify programs that match their learning preferences. Ratings are especially useful for high-stakes test preparation and continuing education courses. Students may also explore Scholarships and Rate My Course to support their academic and professional development.
Although Ascend Learning does not have a traditional campus or student life, its products shape the daily learning experience of hundreds of thousands of students in nursing, healthcare, public safety, and fitness programs. That scale makes Ascend Learning a meaningful destination for academics who want to improve student outcomes without the constraints of a single university role.