[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 8 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.
Leading the list is University Of South Florida Main Campus, our #1 best value for instructional media design in Florida. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Students borrow a median of $21,829 to complete the instructional media design program here. Instructional Media Design graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $52,885 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
The University Of West Florida came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value instructional media design schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $18,658. Students borrow a median of $19,677 to complete the instructional media design program here. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $54,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of West Florida admits about 58% of applicants.
University Of Central Florida came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value instructional media design schools. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $21,620. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $62,483. That is a strong return on a $21,620 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
A rank of #4 makes Florida State University one of the best values for instructional media design. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans. Instructional Media Design graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $62,599 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida Gulf Coast University earned it the #5 place for instructional media design. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,118, while out-of-state students pay about $25,162. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $20,015 in student loans. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $50,726. Set against $20,015 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Thomas University placed #6 among the best values for instructional media design. Set in the suburb of Miami Gardens, Saint Thomas University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,770. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $24,955 in student loans. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Saint Thomas University generally make around $55,292. Set against $24,955 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Thomas University admits about 98% of applicants.
The University Of Tampa landed the #7 spot for instructional media design value this year. Set in the city of Tampa, The University Of Tampa is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,408 in tuition and fees. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $25,191 in student loans. Instructional Media Design graduates of The University Of Tampa earn a median of $45,401 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tampa admits about 40% of applicants.
Full Sail University came in at #8 for value in instructional media design this year. Set in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $26,906. Students borrow a median of $30,000 to complete the instructional media design program here. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $58,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
More Instructional Media Design Rankings
View All Instructional Media Design Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
