[Instructional Media Design](/majors/education/instructional-media-design/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for instructional media design students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the instructional media design degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in instructional media design, no school beat Coastal Carolina University this year. Coastal Carolina University is a large public school located in the city of Conway. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,640, with out-of-state students paying around $29,628. Students borrow a median of $27,174 to complete the instructional media design program here. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Coastal Carolina University generally make around $50,203. That is a strong return on a $27,174 median debt. Coastal Carolina University admits about 75% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in instructional media design will find it at Winthrop University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,678, with out-of-state students paying around $28,676. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $27,040. Instructional Media Design graduates of Winthrop University earn a median of $39,378 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Winthrop University admits about 79% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Carolina Columbia earned it the #3 place for instructional media design. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,688, while out-of-state students pay about $36,298. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $24,537. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $53,623. Set against $24,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Anderson University Sc is a great value for students pursuing a degree in instructional media design, landing the #4 spot this year. Anderson University Sc is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Anderson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,970. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $28,034. Instructional Media Design graduates of Anderson University Sc earn a median of $49,036 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,034 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
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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 · 4 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.
