Instructional Media Design is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 27 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for instructional media design students pursuing a degree.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall instructional media design education in California.
Concordia University Irvine tops our 2026 ranking of the best instructional media design schools. Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Irvine. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Concordia University Irvine awarded about 43 instructional media design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their instructional media design degree from Concordia University Irvine earn around $86,662 in the first couple years of their career. Concordia University Irvine graduates carry a median of $26,085 in student loans.
Read more about the instructional media design program at Concordia University Irvine
A rank of #2 makes California State University Fullerton one of the top schools for instructional media design. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 129 instructional media design students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $78,229. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans.
More information about a degree in instructional media design from California State University Fullerton
Students looking for a strong instructional media design program will find one at California State University Long Beach, which ranked #3. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. California State University Long Beach awarded about 14 instructional media design degrees in the most recent data year. Instructional Media Design graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $80,952 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,671 to complete this degree.
Get the full instructional media design details for California State University Long Beach
California State University East Bay came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best instructional media design schools. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. About 84 instructional media design degrees were awarded at California State University East Bay in the most recent year. Students who receive their instructional media design degree from California State University East Bay earn around $74,406 in the first couple years of their career. California State University East Bay graduates carry a median of $18,073 in student loans.
See the full instructional media design program report for California State University East Bay
University Of San Diego is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in instructional media design, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. University Of San Diego awarded about 24 instructional media design degrees in the most recent data year. Instructional Media Design graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of $68,281 early in their careers. University Of San Diego graduates carry a median of $23,795 in student loans.
Read more about the instructional media design program at University Of San Diego
California State University Los Angeles placed #6 among the best instructional media design schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 26 instructional media design degrees were awarded at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent year. Graduates of the instructional media design program make about $48,403 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,430.
More information about a degree in instructional media design from California State University Los Angeles
National University earned the #7 position for instructional media design this year. National University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. National University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 instructional media design students who graduated with this degree at National University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from National University generally make around $82,830. Students borrow a median of $30,426 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in instructional media design from National University
San Diego State University landed the #8 spot for instructional media design this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 instructional media design students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their instructional media design degree from San Diego State University earn around $51,162 in the first couple years of their career. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $16,417 in student loans.
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California State University Monterey Bay ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best instructional media design schools. Located in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public university. About 59% of students finish within six years. About 21 instructional media design degrees were awarded at California State University Monterey Bay in the most recent year. Instructional Media Design graduates of California State University Monterey Bay earn a median of $89,180 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,622.
More information about a degree in instructional media design from California State University Monterey Bay
California State University San Bernardino landed the #10 spot for instructional media design this year. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 instructional media design students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent data year. Students who receive their instructional media design degree from California State University San Bernardino earn around $42,421 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,149.
More information about a degree in instructional media design from California State University San Bernardino
Foothill College came in at #11 for instructional media design this year. Located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public university. There were roughly 295 instructional media design students who graduated with this degree at Foothill College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the instructional media design program make about $94,152 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,595.
See the full instructional media design program report for Foothill College
Ashford University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best instructional media design schools. Set in the city of San Diego, Ashford University is a very large private for-profit institution. About 10% of students finish within six years. Ashford University awarded about 59 instructional media design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Ashford University generally make around $48,441. Students borrow a median of $37,758 to complete this degree.
See the full instructional media design program report for Ashford University
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 27 schools evaluated.
- 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.
