by our College Data Analytics Team
[Instructional Media Design](/majors/education/instructional-media-design/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 82 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying instructional media design schools.
What’s on this page:
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 New York University, our #1 for instructional media design graduate salaries in the United States. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, instructional media design degree recipients from New York University typically earn about $100,387 annually.
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying instructional media design schools. Located in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a public institution. Instructional Media Design graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of about $94,967 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Concordia University Irvine earned it the #3 place 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.
A rank of #4 makes Harvard University one of the highest-paying schools for instructional media design. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. 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. Located in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a public institution. Early-career instructional media design graduates from California State University Monterey Bay make a median of around $89,180 per year.
National University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying instructional media design schools. Located in the city of San Diego, National University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career instructional media design graduates from National University make a median of around $85,859 per year.
California State University Long Beach ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying instructional media design schools. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a public institution. Instructional Media Design graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of about $80,952 a year early in their careers.
Long Island University C W Post Campus came in at #8 for instructional media design graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the instructional media design program here go on to a median salary of roughly $79,454.
Teachers College At Columbia University came in at #9 for instructional media design graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of New York, Teachers College At Columbia 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 $79,326.
California State University Fullerton ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying instructional media design schools. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a public institution. Students who complete the instructional media design program here go on to a median salary of roughly $78,229.
Johns Hopkins University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying instructional media design schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. Instructional Media Design graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of about $78,058 a year early in their careers.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa landed the #12 spot for instructional media design salaries this year. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a public school located in the city of Honolulu. After graduating, instructional media design degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Manoa typically earn about $76,871 annually.
Brigham Young University Provo placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for instructional media design. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, instructional media design degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo typically earn about $74,972 annually.
California State University East Bay placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for instructional media design. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a public institution. After graduating, instructional media design degree recipients from California State University East Bay typically earn about $74,406 annually.
Concordia University Chicago placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for instructional media design. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, instructional media design degree recipients from Concordia University Chicago typically earn about $81,395 annually.
New Jersey City University came in at #16 for instructional media design graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Jersey City, New Jersey City University is a public institution. Early-career instructional media design graduates from New Jersey City University make a median of around $76,968 per year.
University Of Maryland University College landed the #17 spot for instructional media design salaries this year. University Of Maryland University College is a public school located in the suburb of Adelphi. Early-career instructional media design graduates from University Of Maryland University College make a median of around $79,878 per year.
Georgia State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying instructional media design schools. Georgia State University is a public school located in the city of Atlanta. After graduating, instructional media design degree recipients from Georgia State University typically earn about $71,679 annually.
Northern Illinois University placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for instructional media design. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a public institution. Early-career instructional media design graduates from Northern Illinois University make a median of around $75,761 per year.
Utah State University came in at #20 for instructional media design graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a public institution. After graduating, instructional media design degree recipients from Utah State University typically earn about $74,277 annually.
The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey came in at #21 for instructional media design graduate earnings this year. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey is a public school located in the rural area of Galloway. 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 came in at #22 for instructional media design graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the instructional media design program here go on to a median salary of roughly $72,004.
Boise State University placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for instructional media design. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a public institution. After graduating, instructional media design degree recipients from Boise State University typically earn about $73,157 annually.
University Of North Texas ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying instructional media design schools. University Of North Texas is a public school located in the city of Denton. 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. Set in the town of Carrollton, University Of West Georgia is a public institution. Early-career instructional media design graduates from University Of West Georgia make a median of around $71,372 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid instructional media design ranking:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Instructional Media Design rankings across degree levels:
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.