Instructional Media Design is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their instructional media design programs.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best instructional media design schools.
What’s on this page:
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the instructional media design degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than Concordia University Chicago this year for instructional media design. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of River Forest. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 37 instructional media design degrees were awarded at Concordia University Chicago in the most recent year. Instructional Media Design graduates of Concordia University Chicago earn a median of $68,606 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,956.
Get the full instructional media design details for Concordia University Chicago
Northern Illinois University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best instructional media design schools. 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. There were roughly 26 instructional media design students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their instructional media design degree from Northern Illinois University earn around $68,913 in the first couple years of their career. 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
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best instructional media design schools. This large public university is located in the town of Carbondale. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 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.
See the full instructional media design program report for Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Students looking for a strong instructional media design program will find one at Aurora University, which ranked #4. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Aurora. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Aurora University awarded about 13 instructional media design degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the instructional media design program make about $63,938 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,507.
See the full instructional media design program report for Aurora University
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. About 45% of students finish within six years. Western Illinois University awarded about 15 instructional media design degrees in the most recent data year. Instructional Media Design graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $60,911 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,639.
More information about a degree in instructional media design from Western Illinois University
More Instructional Media Design Rankings
View All Instructional Media Design Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 12 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.
