Instructional Media Design degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 5 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 Illinois.
Leading the list is Concordia University Chicago, our #1 school for instructional media design. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. Concordia University Chicago awarded about 27 instructional media design degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the instructional media design program make about $68,606 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,956.
Read more about the instructional media design program at Concordia University Chicago
Northern Illinois University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in instructional media design, ranking #2. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northern Illinois University awarded about 21 instructional media design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $68,913. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $25,209 in student loans.
See the full instructional media design program report for Northern Illinois University
A rank of #3 makes Aurora University one of the top schools for instructional media design. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 instructional media design degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Instructional Media Design graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $63,938 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,507 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in instructional media design from Aurora University
A rank of #4 makes Southern Illinois University Carbondale one of the top schools for instructional media design. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 52 instructional media design students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent data year. Instructional Media Design graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $46,566 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,730 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in instructional media design from Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Students looking for a strong instructional media design program will find one at Western Illinois University, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. There were roughly 20 instructional media design students who graduated with this degree at Western Illinois University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their instructional media design degree from Western Illinois University earn around $60,911 in the first couple years of their career. Western Illinois University graduates carry a median of $27,639 in student loans.
More information about a degree in instructional media design from Western Illinois University
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 5 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.
