2027 Best Value Educational/Instructional Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Educational/Instructional Technology](/majors/education/instructional-media-design/educational-instructional-technology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for educational/instructional technology students.
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2027 Best Value Educational/Instructional Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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 University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, our #1 best value for educational/instructional technology in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $19,137. Soon after graduation, educational/instructional technology degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in educational/instructional technology will find it at University Of Michigan Dearborn, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,640, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Educational/instructional Technology graduates carry a median of $26,516 in student loans. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $62,536. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Purdue University Global came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value educational/instructional technology schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,101, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $36,778 to complete the educational/instructional technology program here. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $68,411. Set against $36,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wayne State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value educational/instructional technology schools. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $26,689. Educational/instructional Technology graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $56,855 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,689 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in educational/instructional technology will find it at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Students borrow a median of $23,730 to complete the educational/instructional technology program here. Educational/instructional Technology graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $46,566 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Northern Illinois University earned the #6 position for value in educational/instructional technology this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $25,209. Soon after graduation, educational/instructional technology degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $68,913. That is a strong return on a $25,209 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Western Illinois University placed #7 among the best values for educational/instructional technology. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,572 in tuition and fees. Educational/instructional Technology graduates carry a median of $27,639 in student loans. Educational/instructional Technology graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $60,911 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,639 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earned the #8 position for value in educational/instructional technology this year. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, compared with $18,716 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,306 to complete the educational/instructional technology program here. Soon after graduation, educational/instructional technology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater generally make around $45,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #9 for value in educational/instructional technology this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Educational/instructional Technology graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $52,123. That is a strong return on a $20,542 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Concordia University Chicago came in at #10 for value in educational/instructional technology this year. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,488 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,956 to complete the educational/instructional technology program here. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $68,606. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Central Michigan University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value educational/instructional technology schools. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Educational/instructional Technology graduates carry a median of $27,857 in student loans. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $50,688. That is a strong return on a $27,857 median debt. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
Aurora University placed #12 among the best values for educational/instructional technology. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $29,170. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $24,507. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $63,938. Set against $24,507 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Aurora University admits about 81% of applicants.
Michigan State University earned the #13 position for value in educational/instructional technology this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $25,213. Educational/instructional Technology graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $58,981 early in their careers. Set against $25,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value educational/instructional technology schools. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Educational/instructional Technology graduates carry a median of $25,174 in student loans. Soon after graduation, educational/instructional technology degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $55,527. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value educational/instructional technology schools. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,912 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $19,294. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $57,194. Set against $19,294 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #16 for value in educational/instructional technology this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Educational/instructional Technology graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $58,659. That is a strong return on a $23,530 median debt. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.