[Instructional Media Design](/majors/education/instructional-media-design/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for instructional media design students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the instructional media design degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in instructional media design, no school beat Western Illinois University this year. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. Students from in state pay about $14,572 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $27,639. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $60,911. Set against $27,639 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned it the #2 place for instructional media design. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $23,730. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $46,566. Set against $23,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Northern Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in instructional media design, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Students borrow a median of $25,209 to complete the instructional media design program here. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $68,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Concordia University Chicago came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value instructional media design schools. Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. In-state tuition and fees average $37,488. Students borrow a median of $26,956 to complete the instructional media design program here. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $68,606. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Concordia University Chicago admits about 93% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in instructional media design will find it at Aurora University, which ranked #5. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. Students from in state pay about $29,170 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,507 to complete the instructional media design program here. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $63,938. That is a strong return on a $24,507 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
More Instructional Media Design Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- 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.
