[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 70 schools to find the best return on investment for instructional media design students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in instructional media design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Suny Empire State College earned the #1 spot for value among instructional media design schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Suny Empire State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,648, with out-of-state students paying around $17,558. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $23,693 in student loans. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Suny Empire State College generally make around $58,140. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Essex County College one of the best values for instructional media design. Essex County College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Newark. In-state tuition and fees average $5,415, while out-of-state students pay about $9,523. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $12,472. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Essex County College generally make around $37,915. That is a strong return on a $12,472 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in instructional media design will find it at New Jersey City University, which ranked #3. New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Jersey City. Students from in state pay about $14,460 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,107 to complete the instructional media design program here. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $70,914. That is a strong return on a $22,107 median debt. New Jersey City University admits about 98% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Towson University one of the best values for instructional media design. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,728, while out-of-state students pay about $29,820. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $21,241. Instructional Media Design graduates of Towson University earn a median of $65,061 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Towson University admits about 82% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Maryland University College one of the best values for instructional media design. Located in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,136, while out-of-state students pay about $12,336. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $23,276. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from University Of Maryland University College generally make around $68,382. Set against $23,276 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wilmington University placed #6 among the best values for instructional media design. Located in the suburb of New Castle, Wilmington University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,630. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $26,054. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $67,014. Set against $26,054 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Johns Hopkins University earned the #7 position for value in instructional media design this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Instructional Media Design graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $78,058 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Suny College At Brockport placed #8 among the best values for instructional media design. Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Brockport. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,752, while out-of-state students pay about $15,822. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $24,757 in student loans. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Suny College At Brockport generally make around $39,724. Set against $24,757 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College At Brockport admits about 71% of applicants.
Suny College At Oneonta earned the #9 position for value in instructional media design this year. Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Oneonta. Students from in state pay about $8,831 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,781. Students borrow a median of $22,046 to complete the instructional media design program here. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Suny College At Oneonta generally make around $69,962. That is a strong return on a $22,046 median debt. Suny College At Oneonta admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value instructional media design schools. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,256, compared with $31,225 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $21,331. Instructional Media Design graduates of University Of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of $49,179 early in their careers. Set against $21,331 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maryland Baltimore County admits about 72% of applicants.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earned the #11 position for value in instructional media design this year. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Indiana. In-state tuition and fees average $11,380, compared with $16,297 for out-of-state students. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $26,513 in student loans. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $42,972. That is a strong return on a $26,513 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania came in at #12 for value in instructional media design this year. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the town of Bloomsburg. In-state tuition and fees average $11,046, with out-of-state students paying around $22,870. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $52,416. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Suny At Albany earned the #13 position for value in instructional media design this year. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,601, with out-of-state students paying around $30,991. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the instructional media design program here. Instructional Media Design graduates of Suny At Albany earn a median of $44,736 early in their careers. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania landed the #14 spot for instructional media design value this year. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,568, compared with $14,676 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $26,330. Instructional Media Design graduates of Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $44,294 early in their careers. Set against $26,330 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus placed #15 among the best values for instructional media design. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,356. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entry. Pennsylvania State University World Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania placed #16 among the best values for instructional media design. Set in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,206 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,330. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $26,867. Instructional Media Design graduates of Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $63,439 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Rowan University came in at #17 for value in instructional media design this year. Rowan University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glassboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,574, while out-of-state students pay about $26,932. Students borrow a median of $24,488 to complete the instructional media design program here. Instructional Media Design graduates of Rowan University earn a median of $52,031 early in their careers. Set against $24,488 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rowan University admits about 78% of applicants.
Wilson College placed #18 among the best values for instructional media design. Located in the city of Chambersburg, Wilson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,100. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $34,814. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Wilson College generally make around $64,016. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Point Park University landed the #19 spot for instructional media design value this year. Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. In-state tuition and fees average $39,570. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $28,323. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Point Park University generally make around $40,759. Set against $28,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Touro College landed the #20 spot for instructional media design value this year. Touro College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $20,052. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $20,285 in student loans. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Touro College generally make around $60,520. Set against $20,285 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Touro College admits about 61% of applicants.
Molloy College earned the #21 position for value in instructional media design this year. Molloy College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rockville Centre. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,790. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $27,420. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $65,544. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Wilkes University landed the #22 spot for instructional media design value this year. Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Wilkes-Barre. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,496. Students borrow a median of $26,601 to complete the instructional media design program here. Instructional Media Design graduates of Wilkes University earn a median of $64,004 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Adelphi University came in at #23 for value in instructional media design this year. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,775. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $25,487. Instructional Media Design graduates of Adelphi University earn a median of $51,037 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,487 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #24 position for value in instructional media design this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $16,155. Instructional Media Design graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Lehigh University placed #25 among the best values for instructional media design. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $64,980. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete the instructional media design program here. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $70,321. Set against $23,008 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 26%.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s instructional media design value ranking:
Narrow Instructional Media Design Schools by State
More Instructional Media Design Rankings
View All Instructional Media Design Rankings >
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 · 70 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
