If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the game & interactive media design degrees they offer, see the list below.
Moorpark College tops our 2026 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools in the Far Western Region. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,075 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Moorpark College earn a median of $105,599 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in game & interactive media design will find it at San Diego Mesa College, which ranked #2. San Diego Mesa College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $6,999. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $29,852 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Irvine Valley College one of the best values for game & interactive media design. Located in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, compared with $11,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $6,672. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,156. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Canyons came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $51,913. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Pasadena City College one of the best values for game & interactive media design. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #6 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,318, compared with $11,308 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $14,692. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palomar College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,354, while out-of-state students pay about $10,650. Median earnings reach $42,300 ten years out.
Long Beach City College landed the #8 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, Long Beach City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,556 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,544. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $6,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,870. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Diablo Valley College placed #9 among the best values for game & interactive media design. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. Students from in state pay about $1,312 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,320. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $9,205 in student loans. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Diablo Valley College generally make around $27,813. That is a strong return on a $9,205 median debt.
Foothill College earned the #10 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $12,590. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $11,595. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Foothill College generally make around $94,152. That is a strong return on a $11,595 median debt.
Mt Hood Community College placed #11 among the best values for game & interactive media design. Located in the suburb of Gresham, Mt Hood Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,247, with out-of-state students paying around $9,819. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $18,767 in student loans. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $53,948. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Los Angeles City College placed #12 among the best values for game & interactive media design. Los Angeles City College is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,238, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. Students borrow a median of $10,763 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Los Angeles City College earn a median of $83,699 early in their careers. Set against $10,763 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Chico placed #13 among the best values for game & interactive media design. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,472 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,072. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $19,047. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $27,573 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Southwestern College Chula Vista placed #14 among the best values for game & interactive media design. Located in the city of Chula Vista, Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,344, while out-of-state students pay about $10,640. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $11,205. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Southwestern College Chula Vista earn a median of $49,358 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #15 for value in game & interactive media design this year. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,035, while out-of-state students pay about $46,923. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $18,559 in student loans. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $40,920. That is a strong return on a $18,559 median debt. University Of California Santa Cruz admits about 66% of applicants.
Azusa Pacific University landed the #16 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Azusa. Students from in state pay about $44,458 in tuition and fees. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $23,709 in student loans. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Azusa Pacific University earn a median of $58,302 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Biola University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Located in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,984. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $25,308 in student loans. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Biola University generally make around $45,003. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Southern California ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $18,262. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $64,846. That is a strong return on a $18,262 median debt. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Cogswell Polytechnical College placed #19 among the best values for game & interactive media design. Cogswell Polytechnical College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of San Jose. Students from in state pay about $22,480 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Cogswell Polytechnical College earn a median of $22,656 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 51% of applicants are accepted.
Academy Of Art University earned the #20 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,736. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $33,312. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Academy Of Art University earn a median of $28,555 early in their careers. Set against $33,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California College Of The Arts came in at #21 for value in game & interactive media design this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,226. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $28,673. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. California College Of The Arts admits about 91% of applicants.
Cornish College Of The Arts landed the #22 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Located in the city of Seattle, Cornish College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,684. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Cornish College Of The Arts generally make around $20,344. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornish College Of The Arts admits about 62% of applicants.
Laguna College Of Art And Design earned the #23 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. Laguna College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Laguna Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,500. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Laguna College Of Art And Design earn a median of $27,785 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Laguna College Of Art And Design admits about 94% of applicants.
Gnomon School Of Visual Effects came in at #24 for value in game & interactive media design this year. Gnomon School Of Visual Effects is a small private for-profit school located in the city of North Hollywood. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,635. Students borrow a median of $38,000 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $80,221. Set against $38,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Gnomon School Of Visual Effects admits about 42% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
[Game & Interactive Media Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/game-and-interactive-media-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
