2026 Best Value Educational/Instructional Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Educational/Instructional Technology](/majors/education/instructional-media-design/educational-instructional-technology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong educational/instructional technology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 51 schools to find the best return on investment for educational/instructional technology students.
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2026 Best Value Educational/Instructional Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in educational/instructional technology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Educational/Instructional Technology Schools
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #1 spot for value among educational/instructional technology schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Educational/instructional Technology graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $66,254. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Students looking for strong value in educational/instructional technology will find it at Northern Illinois University, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $25,209. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $68,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Western Illinois University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value educational/instructional technology schools. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. 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. Soon after graduation, educational/instructional technology degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $60,911. Set against $27,639 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
A rank of #4 makes Purdue University Global one of the best values for educational/instructional technology. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $10,101 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $36,778 to complete the educational/instructional technology program here. Educational/instructional Technology graduates of Purdue University Global earn a median of $68,411 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $36,778 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earned it the #5 place for educational/instructional technology. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, compared with $18,716 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $25,306. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $45,767. Set against $25,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater admits about 86% of applicants.
Wayne State University earned the #6 position for value in educational/instructional technology this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Educational/instructional Technology graduates carry a median of $26,689 in student loans. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $56,855. That is a strong return on a $26,689 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #7 for value in educational/instructional technology this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Educational/instructional Technology graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans. Educational/instructional Technology graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $52,123 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Wright State University Main Campus earned the #8 position for value in educational/instructional technology this year. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,991, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,836 to complete the educational/instructional technology program here. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $65,469. That is a strong return on a $25,836 median debt. Wright State University Main Campus admits about 96% of applicants.
Central Michigan University placed #9 among the best values for educational/instructional technology. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,480 in tuition and fees. Educational/instructional Technology graduates carry a median of $27,857 in student loans. Educational/instructional Technology graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $50,688 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,857 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
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. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $26,956. Educational/instructional Technology graduates of Concordia University Chicago earn a median of $68,606 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,956 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #11 among the best values for educational/instructional technology. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Students borrow a median of $23,730 to complete the educational/instructional technology program here. Soon after graduation, educational/instructional technology degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $46,566. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Aurora University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value educational/instructional technology schools. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #13 position for value in educational/instructional technology this year. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,174 to complete the educational/instructional technology program here. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $55,527. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University earned the #14 position for value in educational/instructional technology this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. 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. That is a strong return on a $25,213 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value educational/instructional technology schools. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Students borrow a median of $19,294 to complete the educational/instructional technology program here. Educational/instructional Technology graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $57,194 early in their careers. 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 ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value educational/instructional technology schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. 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. Soon after graduation, educational/instructional technology degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $58,659. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford placed #17 among the best values for educational/instructional technology. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Educational/instructional Technology graduates carry a median of $24,177 in student loans. Educational/instructional Technology graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $57,999 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,177 median debt. Miami University Oxford admits about 75% 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 · 51 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.
