[Instructional Media Design](/majors/education/instructional-media-design/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 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.
For return on investment in instructional media design, no school beat American Intercontinental University Online this year. Located in the city of Chandler, American Intercontinental University Online is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,397. Students borrow a median of $39,107 to complete the instructional media design program here. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $55,027. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Grand Canyon University one of the best values for instructional media design. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,508. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $30,027. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $66,830. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
Ashford University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value instructional media design schools. Set in the city of Chandler, Ashford University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,960 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $37,758. Instructional Media Design graduates of Ashford University earn a median of $48,441 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
More Instructional Media Design Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
