2026 Best Value Educational/Instructional Technology Schools in California
[Educational/Instructional Technology](/majors/education/instructional-media-design/educational-instructional-technology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 27 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for educational/instructional technology students.
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2026 Best Value Educational/Instructional Technology Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the educational/instructional technology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Educational/Instructional Technology Schools
Leading the list is California State University Los Angeles, our #1 best value for educational/instructional technology in California. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Educational/instructional Technology graduates carry a median of $14,430 in student loans. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $48,403. Set against $14,430 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Fullerton earned it the #2 place for educational/instructional technology. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Educational/instructional Technology graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. Soon after graduation, educational/instructional technology degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $78,229. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Students looking for strong value in educational/instructional technology will find it at California State University San Bernardino, which ranked #3. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,088, while out-of-state students pay about $20,688. Students borrow a median of $15,149 to complete the educational/instructional technology program here. Educational/instructional Technology graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $42,421 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Long Beach earned it the #4 place for educational/instructional technology. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Educational/instructional Technology graduates carry a median of $15,671 in student loans. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $80,952. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
A rank of #5 makes Foothill College one of the best values for educational/instructional technology. Located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,565, compared with $12,590 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $11,595. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $94,152. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University East Bay ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value educational/instructional technology schools. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,583, while out-of-state students pay about $20,183. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $18,073. Soon after graduation, educational/instructional technology degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $74,406. That is a strong return on a $18,073 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Monterey Bay ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value educational/instructional technology schools. Set in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,779, with out-of-state students paying around $20,379. Students borrow a median of $14,622 to complete the educational/instructional technology program here. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $89,180. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
San Diego State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value educational/instructional technology schools. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,728, while out-of-state students pay about $21,328. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $16,417. Soon after graduation, educational/instructional technology degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $51,162. Set against $16,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
Concordia University Irvine ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value educational/instructional technology schools. Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Irvine. Students from in state pay about $43,480 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $26,085. Soon after graduation, educational/instructional technology degree recipients from Concordia University Irvine generally make around $86,662. That is a strong return on a $26,085 median debt. Concordia University Irvine admits about 66% of applicants.
Ashford University came in at #10 for value in educational/instructional technology this year. Ashford University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Students from in state pay about $11,960 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $37,758. Soon after graduation, educational/instructional technology degree recipients from Ashford University generally make around $48,441. Set against $37,758 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
National University landed the #11 spot for educational/instructional technology value this year. Located in the city of San Diego, National University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,284. Students borrow a median of $30,426 to complete the educational/instructional technology program here. Educational/instructional Technology graduates of National University earn a median of $82,830 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of San Diego placed #12 among the best values for educational/instructional technology. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,486. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete the educational/instructional technology program here. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $68,281. Set against $23,795 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of San Diego admits about 52% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
