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