by our College Data Analytics Team
[Instructional Media Design](/majors/education/instructional-media-design/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their instructional media design graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying instructional media design schools.
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If you want to know which schools send instructional media design graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is Concordia University Chicago, our #1 for instructional media design graduate salaries in the Great Lakes Region. Concordia University Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. Students who complete the instructional media design program here go on to a median salary of roughly $81,395.
Northern Illinois University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying instructional media design schools. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a public institution. Students who complete the instructional media design program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,761.
Students chasing top earnings in instructional media design will find them at Wright State University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Wright State University Main Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Dayton. Students who complete the instructional media design program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,469.
Strong graduate earnings at Purdue University Global earned it the #4 place for instructional media design. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a public institution. Students who complete the instructional media design program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,046.
Aurora University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying instructional media design schools. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, instructional media design degree recipients from Aurora University typically earn about $63,501 annually.
Wayne State University earned the #6 position for instructional media design graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a public institution. Instructional Media Design graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of about $71,420 a year early in their careers.
Michigan State University landed the #7 spot for instructional media design salaries this year. Michigan State University is a public school located in the city of East Lansing. After graduating, instructional media design degree recipients from Michigan State University typically earn about $66,982 annually.
Western Illinois University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for instructional media design. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a public institution. Instructional Media Design graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of about $62,091 a year early in their careers.
Miami University Oxford ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying instructional media design schools. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. After graduating, instructional media design degree recipients from Miami University Oxford typically earn about $57,999 annually.
Grand Valley State University landed the #10 spot for instructional media design salaries this year. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a public institution. After graduating, instructional media design degree recipients from Grand Valley State University typically earn about $57,018 annually.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #11 spot for instructional media design salaries this year. Kent State University At Kent is a public school located in the suburb of Kent. Early-career instructional media design graduates from Kent State University At Kent make a median of around $55,527 per 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 · 11 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.