by our College Data Analytics Team
[Instructional Media Design](/majors/education/instructional-media-design/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their instructional media design graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 82 schools to find where instructional media design graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Where you study instructional media design affects what graduates go on to earn. That is why we developed our Highest Paid Instructional Media Design Graduates ranking. It looks at the median early-career salaries graduates earn, so you can find the schools whose instructional media design degrees pay off the most.
Read more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Highest Paid Instructional Media Design Graduates list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
If you want to know which schools send instructional media design graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
New York University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid instructional media design graduates in the United States. New York University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Early-career instructional media design graduates from New York University make a median of around $100,387 per year.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Massachusetts Boston one of the highest-paying schools for instructional media design. Located in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a public institution. Students who complete the instructional media design program here go on to a median salary of roughly $94,967.
A rank of #3 makes Concordia University Irvine one of the highest-paying schools for instructional media design. Concordia University Irvine is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Irvine. Instructional Media Design graduates of Concordia University Irvine earn a median of about $106,357 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Harvard University earned it the #4 place for instructional media design. Harvard University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. After graduating, instructional media design degree recipients from Harvard University typically earn about $95,957 annually.
A rank of #5 makes California State University Monterey Bay one of the highest-paying schools for instructional media design. California State University Monterey Bay is a public school located in the suburb of Seaside. Instructional Media Design graduates of California State University Monterey Bay earn a median of about $89,180 a year early in their careers.
National University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying instructional media design schools. Set in the city of San Diego, National University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the instructional media design program here go on to a median salary of roughly $85,859.
California State University Long Beach came in at #7 for instructional media design graduate earnings this year. California State University Long Beach is a public school located in the city of Long Beach. Students who complete the instructional media design program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,952.
Long Island University C W Post Campus earned the #8 position for instructional media design graduate earnings this year. Long Island University C W Post Campus is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Brookville. After graduating, instructional media design degree recipients from Long Island University C W Post Campus typically earn about $79,454 annually.
Teachers College At Columbia University landed the #9 spot for instructional media design salaries this year. Teachers College At Columbia University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. After graduating, instructional media design degree recipients from Teachers College At Columbia University typically earn about $79,326 annually.
California State University Fullerton placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for instructional media design. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a public institution. Instructional Media Design graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of about $78,229 a year early in their careers.
Johns Hopkins University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying instructional media design schools. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. After graduating, instructional media design degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University typically earn about $78,058 annually.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa earned the #12 position for instructional media design graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a public institution. Students who complete the instructional media design program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,871.
Brigham Young University Provo earned the #13 position for instructional media design graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a private not-for-profit institution. Instructional Media Design graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of about $74,972 a year early in their careers.
California State University East Bay ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying instructional media design schools. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a public institution. Early-career instructional media design graduates from California State University East Bay make a median of around $74,406 per year.
Concordia University Chicago landed the #15 spot for instructional media design salaries this year. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career instructional media design graduates from Concordia University Chicago make a median of around $81,395 per year.
New Jersey City University came in at #16 for instructional media design graduate earnings this year. New Jersey City University is a public school located in the city of Jersey City. After graduating, instructional media design degree recipients from New Jersey City University typically earn about $76,968 annually.
University Of Maryland University College came in at #17 for instructional media design graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a public institution. Instructional Media Design graduates of University Of Maryland University College earn a median of about $79,878 a year early in their careers.
Georgia State University landed the #18 spot for instructional media design salaries this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a public institution. After graduating, instructional media design degree recipients from Georgia State University typically earn about $71,679 annually.
Northern Illinois University came in at #19 for instructional media design graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a public institution. After graduating, instructional media design degree recipients from Northern Illinois University typically earn about $75,761 annually.
Utah State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying instructional media design schools. Set in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a public institution. Instructional Media Design graduates of Utah State University earn a median of about $74,277 a year early in their careers.
The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying instructional media design schools. Set in the rural area of Galloway, The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey is a public institution. Instructional Media Design graduates of The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey earn a median of about $83,403 a year early in their careers.
Capella University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying instructional media design schools. Capella University is a private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. After graduating, instructional media design degree recipients from Capella University typically earn about $72,004 annually.
Boise State University landed the #23 spot for instructional media design salaries this year. Set in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a public institution. Early-career instructional media design graduates from Boise State University make a median of around $73,157 per year.
University Of North Texas earned the #24 position for instructional media design graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a public institution. Early-career instructional media design graduates from University Of North Texas make a median of around $80,476 per year.
University Of West Georgia placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for instructional media design. University Of West Georgia is a public school located in the town of Carrollton. Early-career instructional media design graduates from University Of West Georgia make a median of around $71,372 per year.
These schools also send instructional media design graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their instructional media design graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 82 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.