[Instructional Media Design](/majors/education/instructional-media-design/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong instructional media design education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 27 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value instructional media design schools.
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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.
Leading the list is California State University Los Angeles, our #1 best value for instructional media design in California. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,164, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $14,430 in student loans. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $48,403. That is a strong return on a $14,430 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in instructional media design will find it at California State University Fullerton, which ranked #2. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Students borrow a median of $15,525 to complete the instructional media design program here. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $78,229. That is a strong return on a $15,525 median debt. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University San Bernardino earned it the #3 place for instructional media design. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,088 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,688. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $15,149 in student loans. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $42,421. That is a strong return on a $15,149 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
A rank of #4 makes California State University Long Beach one of the best values for instructional media design. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,374 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $15,671. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $80,952. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Long Beach admits about 46% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Foothill College one of the best values for instructional media design. Set in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,565, with out-of-state students paying around $12,590. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $11,595 in student loans. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Foothill College generally make around $94,152. That is a strong return on a $11,595 median debt.
California State University East Bay landed the #6 spot for instructional media design value this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,583, with out-of-state students paying around $20,183. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $18,073 in student loans. Instructional Media Design graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $74,406 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Monterey Bay landed the #7 spot for instructional media design value this year. California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Seaside. In-state tuition and fees average $7,779, while out-of-state students pay about $20,379. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $14,622. Instructional Media Design graduates of California State University Monterey Bay earn a median of $89,180 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,622 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
San Diego State University came in at #8 for value in instructional media design this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,328 for out-of-state students. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $16,417 in student loans. Instructional Media Design graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $51,162 early in their careers. Set against $16,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 36%.
Concordia University Irvine earned the #9 position for value in instructional media design this year. Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Irvine. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,480. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $26,085. Instructional Media Design graduates of Concordia University Irvine earn a median of $86,662 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,085 median debt. Concordia University Irvine admits about 66% of applicants.
Ashford University earned the #10 position for value in instructional media design this year. Ashford University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Students from in state pay about $11,960 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $37,758 to complete the instructional media design program here. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $48,441. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
National University came in at #11 for value in instructional media design this year. National University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,284. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $30,426. Instructional Media Design graduates of National University earn a median of $82,830 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of San Diego ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value instructional media design schools. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,486. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $23,795. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $68,281. Set against $23,795 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 27 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.
