Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in game & interactive media design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Moorpark College, our #1 best value for game & interactive media design in California. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $17,075. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. 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. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $6,999. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $29,852. That is a strong return on a $6,999 median debt.
Irvine Valley College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in game & interactive media design, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $11,860. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $6,672 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,156 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $6,672 median debt.
College Of The Canyons is a great value for students pursuing a degree in game & interactive media design, landing the #4 spot this year. 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, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $9,776. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 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 Pasadena City College, which ranked #5. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $9,191. 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 placed #6 among the best values for game & interactive media design. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. In-state tuition and fees average $1,318, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,692 median debt.
Palomar College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,354, compared with $10,650 for out-of-state students. 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,556, compared with $12,544 for out-of-state students. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,870 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Diablo Valley College came in at #9 for value in game & interactive media design this year. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,312, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,205 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Diablo Valley College generally make around $27,813. Set against $9,205 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Foothill College earned the #10 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. Foothill College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills. In-state tuition and fees average $1,565, compared with $12,590 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,595 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Foothill College generally make around $94,152. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Los Angeles City College earned the #11 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. Los Angeles City College is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $1,238, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $10,763. 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.
Southwestern College Chula Vista earned the #12 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public school located in the city of Chula Vista. In-state tuition and fees average $1,344, compared with $10,640 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,205 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Southwestern College Chula Vista generally make around $49,358. Set against $11,205 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Chico came in at #13 for value in game & interactive media design this year. California State University Chico is a large public school located in the city of Chico. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,472, compared with $21,072 for out-of-state students. 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%.
University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #14 spot for game & interactive media design value 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, with out-of-state students paying around $46,923. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $18,559. 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. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Azusa Pacific University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Located in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. 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. Set against $23,709 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Biola University landed the #16 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Located in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,984. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $25,308 in student loans. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $45,003. That is a strong return on a $25,308 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Southern California ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. Students borrow a median of $18,262 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $64,846 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,262 median debt. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
Cogswell Polytechnical College earned the #18 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. Set in the city of San Jose, Cogswell Polytechnical College is a small private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $22,480. 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. The acceptance rate is 51%.
Academy Of Art University landed the #19 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,736. Students borrow a median of $33,312 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. 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 landed the #20 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,226. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $27,000. 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.
Laguna College Of Art And Design placed #21 among the best values for game & interactive media design. Laguna College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Laguna Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,500. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Laguna College Of Art And Design generally make around $27,785. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Gnomon School Of Visual Effects ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Gnomon School Of Visual Effects is a small private for-profit school located in the city of North Hollywood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,635. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $38,000 in student loans. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Gnomon School Of Visual Effects earn a median of $80,221 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $38,000 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 30 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/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
