[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.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value instructional media design schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in instructional media design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Concordia University Saint Paul tops our 2026 list of the best value instructional media design schools in Minnesota. Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,600. Students borrow a median of $29,026 to complete the instructional media design program here. Instructional Media Design graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of $54,835 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Students looking for strong value in instructional media design will find it at Capella University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $35,998. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $73,738. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in instructional media design will find it at Minnesota State University Mankato, which ranked #3. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $25,260. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $61,959. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value instructional media design schools. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,080. Students borrow a median of $27,081 to complete the instructional media design program here. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $59,529. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
