[Instructional Media Design](/majors/education/instructional-media-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong instructional media design education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for instructional media design students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in instructional media design, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in instructional media design, no school beat The University Of West Florida this year. Set in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,776, compared with $18,658 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $19,677. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from The University Of West Florida generally make around $54,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of West Florida admits about 58% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned it the #2 place for instructional media design. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $23,730. Instructional Media Design graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $46,566 early in their careers. Set against $23,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
A rank of #3 makes Utah State University one of the best values for instructional media design. Located in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,560, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $16,191 in student loans. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Utah State University generally make around $69,698. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in instructional media design, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,140 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,738 to complete the instructional media design program here. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Main Campus generally make around $49,983. That is a strong return on a $19,738 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mississippi State University earned it the #5 place for instructional media design. Located in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,202, with out-of-state students paying around $27,637. Students borrow a median of $29,500 to complete the instructional media design program here. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $40,786. Set against $29,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mississippi State University admits about 78% of applicants.
Ashford University placed #6 among the best values for instructional media design. Ashford University is a very large public school located in the city of Chandler. Students from in state pay about $11,960 in tuition and fees. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $37,758 in student loans. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Ashford University generally make around $48,441. Set against $37,758 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Instructional Media Design rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
