Educational/Instructional Media Design programs
CIP 1305 · Education · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
86 institutions report graduate earnings for Educational/Instructional Media Design programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $71,469 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40× and 96% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 22 of the 89 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pepperdine UniversityCA · Doctoral | $133,031 n=18 | — | $111,500 | 0.84× | Above +77% | — |
| 2 | Harvard UniversityMA · Master's | $127,546 n=26 | 93% 5yr | $20,500 | 0.16× | Above +69% | Below 1/2 |
| 3 | New York UniversityNY · Master's | $117,843 n=16 | 100% 5yr | — | — | Above +66% | — |
| 4 | University of Massachusetts-BostonMA · Master's | $108,956 n=19 | 100% 5yr | — | — | Above +44% | Clears 2/2 |
| 5 | California State University-Monterey BayCA · Master's | $104,220 n=29 | 97% 1yr | $14,540 | 0.14× | Above +38% | — |
| 6 | Concordia University-IrvineCA · Master's | $102,896 n=183 | 95% 5yr | $20,500 | 0.20× | Above +37% | Clears 2/2 |
| 7 | Touro UniversityNY · Master's | $94,743 n=24 | — | — | — | Above +33% | — |
| 8 | Quinnipiac UniversityCT · Master's | $93,639 n=28 | — | — | — | Above +25% | — |
| 9 | National UniversityCA · Master's | $93,547 n=43 | 91% 5yr | $23,284 | 0.25× | Above +24% | Clears 2/2 |
| 10 | University of Phoenix-ArizonaAZ · Doctoral | $92,765 n=40 | 87% 5yr | $79,671 | 0.86× | Above +51% | Clears 2/2 |
| 11 | California State University-FullertonCA · Master's | $91,755 n=59 | 97% 1yr | $20,300 | 0.22× | Above +22% | — |
| 12 | Long Island UniversityNY · Master's | $91,452 n=37 | 100% 1yr | $31,250 | 0.34× | Above +29% | — |
| 13 | Molloy UniversityNY · Master's | $90,686 n=16 | — | — | — | Above +28% | — |
| 14 | Teachers College at Columbia UniversityNY · Master's | $90,375 n=25 | 90% 1yr | $60,962 | 0.68× | Above +27% | — |
| 15 | Capella UniversityMN · Doctoral | $89,389 n=16 | 90% 5yr | $73,237 | 0.82× | Above +31% | Clears 2/2 |
| 16 | George Mason UniversityVA · Grad cert | $88,870 n=27 | 100% 1yr | — | — | Above +25% | — |
| 17 | University of North Carolina at CharlotteNC · Grad cert | $88,054 n=20 | 94% 1yr | $21,816 | 0.25× | Above +50% | — |
| 18 | University of Hawaii at ManoaHI · Master's | $86,201 n=18 | 96% 5yr | $21,741 | 0.25× | Above +45% | Clears 2/2 |
| 19 | Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaPA · Master's | $83,710 n=46 | 100% 5yr | $25,888 | 0.31× | Above +30% | — |
| 20 | Kennesaw State UniversityGA · Doctoral | $82,741 n=29 | 99% 5yr | $40,500 | 0.49× | Above +31% | Clears 2/2 |
| 21 | University of North TexasTX · Master's | $82,284 n=54 | 97% 5yr | $27,975 | 0.34× | Above +25% | Clears 2/2 |
| 22 | Capella UniversityMN · Master's | $80,916 n=77 | 93% 5yr | $33,324 | 0.41× | Above +18% | Clears 2/2 |
| 23 | University of GeorgiaGA · Master's | $79,901 n=25 | 96% 5yr | $31,831 | 0.40× | Above +26% | Below 1/2 |
| 24 | Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaPA · Master's | $79,721 n=19 | 100% 5yr | $26,764 | 0.34× | Above +24% | Clears 2/2 |
| 25 | Northern Illinois UniversityIL · Master's | $79,429 n=35 | 97% 5yr | $23,063 | 0.29× | Above +16% | Below 1/2 |
| 26 | Southern New Hampshire UniversityNH · Master's | $78,680 n=24 | — | $45,100 | 0.57× | Above +16% | — |
| 27 | University of Central FloridaFL · Master's | $78,410 n=23 | 86% 1yr | $34,676 | 0.44× | Above +41% | — |
| 28 | California State University-Long BeachCA · Master's | $77,837 n=21 | 86% 1yr | — | — | Above +3% | — |
| 29 | Towson UniversityMD · Master's | $77,782 n=45 | 100% 5yr | — | — | Above +2% | Below 1/2 |
| 30 | West Virginia UniversityWV · Master's | $77,590 n=20 | — | — | — | Above +49% | — |
| 31 | Florida State UniversityFL · Master's | $77,041 n=31 | 93% 5yr | $20,500 | 0.27× | Above +39% | Clears 2/2 |
| 32 | University of Maryland Global CampusMD · Master's | $76,376 n=46 | 92% 5yr | $28,963 | 0.38× | Above +1% | Below 1/2 |
| 33 | Aurora UniversityIL · Master's | $76,260 n=38 | 100% 5yr | $20,505 | 0.27× | Above +11% | Below 1/2 |
| 34 | Grand Canyon UniversityAZ · Master's | $75,799 n=157 | 98% 1yr | $22,495 | 0.30× | Above +23% | — |
| 35 | Minnesota State University-MankatoMN · Master's | $75,574 n=20 | 95% 1yr | — | — | Above +10% | — |
| 36 | Boise State UniversityID · Master's | $75,451 n=154 | 92% 5yr | $25,650 | 0.34× | Above +42% | Clears 2/2 |
| 37 | Wilmington UniversityDE · Master's | $74,740 n=47 | 88% 5yr | $23,098 | 0.31× | Above +15% | Clears 2/2 |
| 38 | Concordia University-ChicagoIL · Master's | $74,446 n=91 | 98% 5yr | $22,899 | 0.31× | Above +9% | Clears 2/2 |
| 39 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionAZ · Master's | $74,398 n=71 | 93% 1yr | $33,942 | 0.46× | Above +21% | — |
| 40 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionAZ · Master's | $74,398 n=71 | 93% 1yr | $33,942 | 0.46× | Above +21% | — |
| 41 | University of West GeorgiaGA · Master's | $74,243 n=238 | 100% 5yr | $21,320 | 0.29× | Above +18% | Clears 2/2 |
| 42 | University of Akron Main CampusOH · Master's | $73,409 n=19 | 100% 1yr | $35,626 | 0.48× | Above +17% | — |
| 43 | Western Oregon UniversityOR · Master's | $72,714 n=24 | — | — | — | Above +17% | — |
| 44 | New Jersey City UniversityNJ · Master's | $71,597 n=25 | 93% 5yr | $41,000 | 0.57× | Below -7% | Below 2/2 |
| 45 | Western Governors UniversityUT · Master's | $71,469 n=755 | 32% | $7,989 | 0.11× | Above +20% | Clears 2/2 |
| 46 | Valdosta State UniversityGA · Master's | $71,246 n=44 | 96% 1yr | $27,924 | 0.39× | Above +13% | — |
| 47 | Johns Hopkins UniversityMD · Master's | $71,213 n=17 | 94% 1yr | — | — | Below -6% | — |
| 48 | Kennesaw State UniversityGA · Master's | $70,302 n=80 | 98% 5yr | $33,950 | 0.48× | Above +11% | Below 1/2 |
| 49 | Saint Leo UniversityFL · Master's | $70,166 n=23 | 92% 5yr | $51,250 | 0.73× | Above +26% | Clears 2/2 |
| 50 | North Carolina State University at RaleighNC · Master's | $70,081 n=20 | 100% 1yr | — | — | Above +19% | — |
| 51 | Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaMN · Master's | $69,960 n=81 | 96% 1yr | $20,500 | 0.29× | Above +2% | — |
| 52 | Full Sail UniversityFL · Master's | $69,641 n=60 | 100% | $35,077 | 0.50× | Above +25% | Clears 2/2 |
| 53 | Texas A&M University-College StationTX · Master's | $68,705 n=38 | 89% 1yr | $30,780 | 0.45× | Above +5% | — |
| 54 | East Carolina UniversityNC · Master's | $68,606 n=39 | 98% 5yr | $20,500 | 0.30× | Above +17% | Clears 2/2 |
| 55 | Ashford UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $68,414 n=29 | — | $28,109 | 0.41× | Above +78% | Clears 2/2 |
| 56 | University of Michigan-FlintMI · Master's | $67,971 n=17 | — | $43,381 | 0.64× | Above +8% | — |
| 57 | Central Connecticut State UniversityCT · Master's | $67,787 n=18 | — | — | — | Below -10% | — |
| 58 | The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyTX · Master's | $67,562 n=18 | 98% 1yr | $19,000 | 0.28× | Above +3% | — |
| 59 | Michigan State UniversityMI · Master's | $67,489 n=95 | 100% 5yr | $24,608 | 0.36× | Above +7% | Below 1/2 |
| 60 | Lamar UniversityTX · Master's | $66,550 n=123 | 95% 5yr | $20,500 | 0.31× | Above +1% | Below 1/2 |
| 61 | Stockton UniversityNJ · Master's | $65,667 n=20 | 90% 1yr | — | — | Below -15% | — |
| 62 | SUNY OneontaNY · Master's | $65,141 n=42 | 95% 5yr | $19,261 | 0.30× | Below -8% | Below 2/2 |
| 63 | West Texas A & M UniversityTX · Master's | $65,110 n=26 | — | — | — | Below -1% | — |
| 64 | East Texas A&M UniversityTX · Master's | $64,997 n=19 | 100% 5yr | $26,891 | 0.41× | Below -1% | Below 2/2 |
| 65 | Fort Hays State UniversityKS · Master's | $64,964 n=93 | 97% 5yr | $24,840 | 0.38× | Above +11% | Below 1/2 |
| 66 | University of MemphisTN · Grad cert | $64,833 n=16 | — | $33,012 | 0.51× | Above +14% | — |
| 67 | Georgia Southern UniversityGA · Master's | $64,747 n=44 | 93% 5yr | $37,427 | 0.58× | Above +2% | Below 1/2 |
| 68 | Michigan State UniversityMI · Grad cert | $64,738 n=52 | 97% 1yr | $32,079 | 0.50× | Above +3% | — |
| 69 | Texas Tech UniversityTX · Master's | $64,716 n=17 | — | — | — | Below -1% | — |
| 70 | Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaPA · Master's | $64,548 n=28 | 87% 1yr | — | — | Above +1% | — |
| 71 | Trevecca Nazarene UniversityTN · Master's | $64,048 n=16 | 77% 1yr | $24,821 | 0.39× | Above +12% | — |
| 72 | Western Illinois UniversityIL · Master's | $63,099 n=30 | 80% 5yr | — | — | Below -8% | Below 2/2 |
| 73 | Miami University-OxfordOH · Master's | $62,832 n=21 | 100% 1yr | — | — | Above +0% | — |
| 74 | Wayne State UniversityMI · Master's | $61,791 n=26 | 100% 5yr | $40,500 | 0.66× | Below -2% | Below 1/2 |
| 75 | American InterContinental University SystemAZ · Master's | $60,586 n=98 | 76% | $33,474 | 0.55× | Below -1% | Below 2/2 |
| 76 | American InterContinental University-AtlantaGA · Master's | $60,586 n=98 | 76% | $33,474 | 0.55× | Below -4% | Below 2/2 |
| 77 | Jacksonville State UniversityAL · Master's | $60,576 n=28 | 96% 1yr | $31,507 | 0.52× | Above +6% | — |
| 78 | University of West AlabamaAL · Master's | $60,086 n=101 | 97% 5yr | $27,333 | 0.46× | Above +5% | Below 1/2 |
| 79 | Bowling Green State University-Main CampusOH · Post-bacc cert | $59,669 n=22 | 100% 1yr | — | — | Below -5% | — |
| 80 | Grand Valley State UniversityMI · Master's | $59,199 n=29 | 95% 1yr | — | — | Below -6% | — |
| 81 | Kent State University at KentOH · Master's | $58,965 n=27 | 89% 1yr | $31,044 | 0.53× | Below -6% | Below 2/2 |
| 82 | Appalachian State UniversityNC · Master's | $58,140 n=20 | 100% 5yr | $12,600 | 0.22× | Below -1% | Below 2/2 |
| 83 | Coastal Carolina UniversitySC · Master's | $55,622 n=88 | 97% 1yr | $27,717 | 0.50× | Below -3% | — |
| 84 | Liberty UniversityVA · Master's | $55,451 n=32 | 100% | $34,166 | 0.62× | Below -22% | Below 2/2 |
| 85 | University of Central MissouriMO · Master's | $54,579 n=54 | 91% 5yr | $20,250 | 0.37× | Below -6% | Below 2/2 |
| 86 | Park UniversityMO · Master's | $51,148 n=20 | 97% 1yr | $22,955 | 0.45× | Below -12% | — |
| 87 | Southern Arkansas University Main CampusAR · Master's | $49,718 n=32 | 93% 1yr | $17,362 | 0.35× | Below -9% | — |
| 88 | William Woods UniversityMO · Master's | $44,336 n=31 | 95% 5yr | $19,491 | 0.44× | Below -23% | Below 2/2 |
| 89 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo CampusPR · Master's | $36,324 n=26 | — | $40,676 | 1.12× | Above +30% | Below 1/2 |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| California | $93,547 | 7 |
| New York | $91,069 | 6 |
| Pennsylvania | $79,721 | 3 |
| Minnesota | $78,245 | 4 |
| Maryland | $76,376 | 3 |
| Illinois | $75,353 | 4 |
| Arizona | $74,398 | 5 |
| Florida | $73,604 | 4 |
| Georgia | $71,246 | 7 |
| North Carolina | $69,344 | 4 |
| Texas | $66,550 | 7 |
| Michigan | $64,738 | 5 |
| Ohio | $61,250 | 4 |
| Missouri | $51,148 | 3 |
States with at least 3 reporting Educational/Instructional Media Design programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Educational/Instructional Media Design programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Educational/Instructional Media Design programs in this dataset are Pepperdine University ($133,031), Harvard University ($127,546), New York University ($117,843). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Educational/Instructional Media Design programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 22 of the 89 Educational/Instructional Media Design programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.