Educational technology market seen topping $415B by 2030

The Business Research Company forecasts the global educational technology market will reach $415 billion by 2030, driven by faster adoption of digital learning, AI tools and online training. North America and the U.S. are expected to lead the market, while software remains the largest segment.

Why it matters: - Educational technology is moving from a niche category to a major slice of the broader IT market, with the sector projected to reach nearly 3% of total IT value by 2030. - The forecast points to continued demand for digital learning tools in schools, universities and workplaces. - The growth outlook also signals where vendors, educators and training providers may concentrate spending over the next five years.

What happened: - The Business Research Company projected the global educational technology market will surpass $415 billion in 2030. - The market is expected to grow at a 17% compound annual growth rate from 2025 to 2030. - North America is forecast to be the largest region in 2030, with a market value of $142 billion. - The U.S. is projected to be the largest country market in 2030, worth $126 billion. - The software segment is expected to be the largest product category, at 47% of the market, or $194 billion, in 2030. - The report covers hardware, software and content segments, plus preschool, K-12, higher education and other sectors, and business and consumer end users. - The company published the forecast in its Educational Technology Market Report 2026.

The details: - North America is projected to grow from $67 billion in 2025 to $142 billion in 2030, a 16% CAGR. - The U.S. market is projected to rise from $59 billion in 2025 to $126 billion in 2030, a 17% CAGR. - Software growth is expected to be supported by learning management systems, virtual classroom platforms, AI-driven learning applications, data management tools and cloud collaboration. - The software market is projected to add $109 billion in value from 2025 to 2030. - The hardware market is projected to add $88 billion over the same period. - The content market is projected to add $31 billion over the same period. - Together, the software, hardware and content markets are expected to contribute more than $228 billion in value by 2030. - The forecast highlights rising demand for cloud-based learning platforms, connected educational devices, interactive content and AI in learning environments. - The report says personalized and adaptive learning is expected to contribute about 3.0% annual growth to the market. - Rising internet penetration and smart device usage are projected to contribute around 2.7% annual growth. - Increasing adoption of online learning and corporate training is projected to contribute about 2.0% annual growth. - The report also cites digital learning platforms, AI and adaptive learning technologies, remote and hybrid learning, workforce upskilling and collaboration between schools and technology providers as growth drivers. - It says cloud-based educational solutions, augmented and virtual reality, data analytics, digital credentialing and certification platforms, and student engagement tools are helping drive U.S. growth.

Between the lines: - The forecast suggests educational technology is being shaped by two overlapping markets: formal education and corporate training. - Software appears to be capturing the most value because institutions are buying platforms, analytics and cloud services rather than standalone tools. - The regional and country concentration in North America and the U.S. suggests mature digital infrastructure is still a major advantage in this market. - The report frames AI, personalization and connectivity as the main forces expanding access and raising usage, not just as feature upgrades.

What's next: - The market is expected to keep expanding through 2030 as schools and employers invest in digital learning systems. - Vendors focused on software, AI-enabled learning and cloud delivery appear positioned to capture the largest share of growth. - Continued adoption of online learning and workforce training should keep demand elevated across education and enterprise settings. - The Business Research Company says its 2026 reports include market attractiveness scoring, TAM analysis, company scoring matrix graphics, Excel-based forecasting dashboards and trend analysis.

The bottom line: - Educational technology is on track for rapid, software-led growth, with North America and the U.S. expected to remain the largest markets by 2030.