[Instructional Media Design](/majors/education/instructional-media-design/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for instructional media design students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the instructional media design degrees they offer, see the list below.
The University Of Texas Pan American tops our 2027 list of the best value instructional media design schools in Texas. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,799, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $14,694 in student loans. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $58,960. Set against $14,694 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lamar University earned it the #2 place for instructional media design. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,905 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,745. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $26,988. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $64,005. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lamar University admits about 86% of applicants.
Lone Star College System came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value instructional media design schools. Located in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, while out-of-state students pay about $7,512. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $10,425. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $24,321. That is a strong return on a $10,425 median debt.
Texas A And M University Commerce is a great value for students pursuing a degree in instructional media design, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,026 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,326 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $23,796. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Texas A And M University Commerce generally make around $54,201. That is a strong return on a $23,796 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes The University Of Texas At Arlington one of the best values for instructional media design. Located in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,950, while out-of-state students pay about $29,582. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $21,632 in student loans. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Arlington generally make around $55,304. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Arlington admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of North Texas earned the #6 position for value in instructional media design this year. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,309, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $21,817. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $62,520. That is a strong return on a $21,817 median debt. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Houston Clear Lake came in at #7 for value in instructional media design this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,346, compared with $22,290 for out-of-state students. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $21,100 in student loans. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from University Of Houston Clear Lake generally make around $57,292. That is a strong return on a $21,100 median debt. University Of Houston Clear Lake admits about 90% of applicants.
Texas Tech University landed the #8 spot for instructional media design value this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $50,332. Set against $24,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
West Texas A And M University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value instructional media design schools. Set in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,101, while out-of-state students pay about $10,996. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $22,333. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from West Texas A And M University generally make around $43,515. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Texas A And M University College Station placed #10 among the best values for instructional media design. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $20,031 in student loans. Instructional Media Design graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $65,086 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
More Instructional Media Design Rankings
View All Instructional Media Design Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
