2026 Best Value Educational/Instructional Technology Schools in the Southwest Region
[Educational/Instructional Technology](/majors/education/instructional-media-design/educational-instructional-technology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 36 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 Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in educational/instructional technology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Educational/Instructional Technology Schools
The University Of Texas Pan American tops our 2026 list of the best value educational/instructional technology schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $14,694. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $58,960. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lone Star College System earned it the #2 place for educational/instructional technology. Lone Star College System is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands. In-state tuition and fees average $2,664, with out-of-state students paying around $7,512. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $10,425. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $24,321. That is a strong return on a $10,425 median debt.
Sul Ross State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in educational/instructional technology, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Alpine, Sul Ross State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,592 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,672 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $18,951. Educational/instructional Technology graduates of Sul Ross State University earn a median of $44,296 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Sul Ross State University admits about 99% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned it the #4 place for educational/instructional technology. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,326, compared with $22,249 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,312 to complete the educational/instructional technology program here. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $49,955. Set against $23,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Students looking for strong value in educational/instructional technology will find it at Lamar University, which ranked #5. Lamar University is a very large public school located in the city of Beaumont. Students from in state pay about $8,905 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,745. Students borrow a median of $26,988 to complete the educational/instructional technology program here. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $64,005. That is a strong return on a $26,988 median debt. Lamar University admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of North Texas placed #6 among the best values for educational/instructional technology. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Students borrow a median of $21,817 to complete the educational/instructional technology program here. Educational/instructional Technology graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $62,520 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,817 median debt. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
Northern Arizona University landed the #7 spot for educational/instructional technology value this year. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $21,645. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $47,056. Set against $21,645 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Arizona University admits about 90% of applicants.
American Intercontinental University Online placed #8 among the best values for educational/instructional technology. American Intercontinental University Online is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Chandler. In-state tuition and fees average $12,397. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $39,107. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $55,027. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sam Houston State University came in at #9 for value in educational/instructional technology this year. Sam Houston State University is a very large public school located in the town of Huntsville. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,068 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $24,850. Soon after graduation, educational/instructional technology degree recipients from Sam Houston State University generally make around $46,365. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Sam Houston State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Texas State University San Marcos earned the #10 position for value in educational/instructional technology this year. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Educational/instructional Technology graduates carry a median of $23,659 in student loans. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $47,456. Set against $23,659 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus came in at #11 for value in educational/instructional technology this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,140, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,738 to complete the educational/instructional technology program here. Educational/instructional Technology graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $49,983 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Houston Baptist University landed the #12 spot for educational/instructional technology value this year. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $39,430 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,601 to complete the educational/instructional technology program here. Educational/instructional Technology graduates of Houston Baptist University earn a median of $57,088 early in their careers. Set against $25,601 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Houston Baptist University admits about 84% of applicants.
West Texas A And M University landed the #13 spot for educational/instructional technology value this year. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,101, compared with $10,996 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $22,333. Early-career educational/instructional technology graduates make about $43,515. Set against $22,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #14 spot for educational/instructional technology value this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Typical student debt for educational/instructional technology graduates is $20,031. Soon after graduation, educational/instructional technology degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $65,086. That is a strong return on a $20,031 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Canyon University came in at #15 for value in educational/instructional technology this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,508. Educational/instructional Technology graduates carry a median of $30,027 in student loans. Educational/instructional Technology graduates of Grand Canyon University earn a median of $66,830 early in their careers. Set against $30,027 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
