ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Instructional Media Design Schools in the The Plains States Region

9 Colleges in the United States
279 Instructional Media Design Degrees Awarded
$53,953 Avg Early-Career Salary

Instructional Media Design programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 52 schools to find the best for instructional media design students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/education/instructional-media-design/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/education/instructional-media-design/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/education/instructional-media-design/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/education/instructional-media-design/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/education/instructional-media-design/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/education/instructional-media-design/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/education/instructional-media-design/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 2
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 13.05), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Grad Cert - Instructional Design (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Grad Cert - Instructional Design (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MEd in Curriculum & Instruction - Technology Integration" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "MEd in Curriculum & Instruction - Technology Integration" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 2
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 1 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 1
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 0 offers with relevance >= 1.0
DEBUG: Backfilling with 1 offers with relevance >= 0.9

Best Schools for Instructional Media Design in the The Plains States Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall instructional media design education in the The Plains States Region.

Top Schools in Instructional Media Design

1
Buena Vista University crest
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, IA

Buena Vista University tops our 2026 ranking of the best instructional media design schools. Located in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Buena Vista University graduates 62% of students within six years. Buena Vista University awarded about 22 instructional media design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Buena Vista University generally make around $44,780. Buena Vista University graduates carry a median of $29,317 in student loans. See the full instructional media design program report for Buena Vista University

2

Minnesota State University Mankato is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in instructional media design, ranking #2. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 instructional media design students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $61,959. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $25,260 in student loans. More information about a degree in instructional media design from Minnesota State University Mankato

3

Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in instructional media design, landing the #3 spot this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Winona. About 66% of students finish within six years. About 30 instructional media design degrees were awarded at Saint Marys University Of Minnesota in the most recent year. Students who receive their instructional media design degree from Saint Marys University Of Minnesota earn around $59,529 in the first couple years of their career. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota graduates carry a median of $27,081 in student loans. More information about a degree in instructional media design from Saint Marys University Of Minnesota

4

Students looking for a strong instructional media design program will find one at University Of Northern Iowa, which ranked #4. This large public university is located in the city of Cedar Falls. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 instructional media design degrees were awarded at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent year. Graduates of the instructional media design program make about $46,054 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,635. See the full instructional media design program report for University Of Northern Iowa

5

Concordia University Saint Paul is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in instructional media design, landing the #5 spot this year. Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. About 45% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 instructional media design students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Saint Paul in the most recent data year. Graduates of the instructional media design program make about $54,835 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,026 to complete this degree. See the full instructional media design program report for Concordia University Saint Paul

6

Northwest Missouri State University landed the #6 spot for instructional media design this year. Northwest Missouri State University is a large public school located in the town of Maryville. About 54% of students finish within six years. Northwest Missouri State University awarded about 36 instructional media design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Northwest Missouri State University generally make around $42,939. Typical student debt for the program is $23,585. See the full instructional media design program report for Northwest Missouri State University

7

Missouri State University Springfield ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best instructional media design schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 21 instructional media design students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Instructional Media Design graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $46,503 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,408. Get the full instructional media design details for Missouri State University Springfield

8

Fort Hays State University landed the #8 spot for instructional media design this year. Located in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public university. About 46% of students finish within six years. Fort Hays State University awarded about 38 instructional media design degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the instructional media design program make about $59,495 in their early career. Fort Hays State University graduates carry a median of $25,967 in student loans. See the full instructional media design program report for Fort Hays State University

9
Capella University crest
Capella University
Minneapolis, MN

Capella University landed the #9 spot for instructional media design this year. Capella University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Roughly 20% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 instructional media design students who graduated with this degree at Capella University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Capella University generally make around $73,738. Capella University graduates carry a median of $35,998 in student loans. More information about a degree in instructional media design from Capella University

10

University Of Central Missouri placed #10 among the best instructional media design schools. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. University Of Central Missouri awarded about 19 instructional media design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their instructional media design degree from University Of Central Missouri earn around $49,628 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Central Missouri graduates carry a median of $24,304 in student loans. Read more about the instructional media design program at University Of Central Missouri

11

Pittsburg State University landed the #11 spot for instructional media design this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Pittsburg. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. Pittsburg State University awarded about 16 instructional media design degrees in the most recent data year. Instructional Media Design graduates of Pittsburg State University earn a median of $52,888 early in their careers. Pittsburg State University graduates carry a median of $22,669 in student loans. See the full instructional media design program report for Pittsburg State University

12
Park University crest
Park University
Parkville, MO

Park University placed #12 among the best instructional media design schools. Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Parkville. About 37% of students finish within six years. About 18 instructional media design degrees were awarded at Park University in the most recent year. Instructional Media Design graduates of Park University earn a median of $55,093 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,112. More information about a degree in instructional media design from Park University

ADBLOCK #173
View All Instructional Media Design Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 52 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options