[Game & Interactive Media Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/game-and-interactive-media-design/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong game & interactive media design education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for game & interactive media design students.
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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 earned the #1 spot for value among game & interactive media design schools in California. Set in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $17,075. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $105,599. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Canada College one of the best values for game & interactive media design. Set in the suburb of Redwood City, Canada College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, compared with $11,384 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $15,000. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $106,691. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Canyons came in at #3 on our 2027 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. In-state tuition and fees average $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
Pasadena City College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. 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, 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. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Palomar College one of the best values for game & interactive media design. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,354, compared with $10,650 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,300.
Norco College landed the #6 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Located in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $8,203. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,206 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $8,203 median debt.
San Diego Mesa College landed the #7 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fullerton College landed the #8 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Fullerton College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,151, while out-of-state students pay about $12,379. Median earnings reach $43,366 ten years out.
Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #9 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,318, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. Set against $14,692 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Foothill College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,565, while out-of-state students pay about $12,590. Students borrow a median of $11,595 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $94,152. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Diablo Valley College earned the #11 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. Set in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,312 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $9,205 in student loans. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Diablo Valley College earn a median of $27,813 early in their careers. Set against $9,205 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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. Students from in state pay about $1,238 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $10,763 in student loans. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Los Angeles City College generally make around $83,699. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern College Chula Vista ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public school located in the city of Chula Vista. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,344, with out-of-state students paying around $10,640. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $11,205 in student loans. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $49,358. Set against $11,205 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Chico came in at #14 for value in game & interactive media design this year. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public university. 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. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from California State University Chico generally make around $27,573. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Azusa Pacific University landed the #15 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Set in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,458. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $23,709 in student loans. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $58,302. Set against $23,709 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California ranked #16 on our 2027 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $18,262. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $64,846. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
Biola University earned the #17 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Mirada. Students from in state pay about $48,984 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,308 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Biola University earn a median of $45,003 early in their careers. Set against $25,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% 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. Students from in state pay about $22,480 in tuition and fees. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Cogswell Polytechnical College generally make around $22,656. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 51%.
Academy Of Art University landed the #19 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,736. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $33,312 in student loans. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $28,555. Set against $33,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Laguna College Of Art And Design earned the #20 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. Set in the rural area of Laguna Beach, Laguna College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. 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. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Laguna College Of Art And Design admits about 94% of applicants.
Gnomon School Of Visual Effects landed the #21 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Located in the city of North Hollywood, Gnomon School Of Visual Effects is a small private for-profit university. 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. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Gnomon School Of Visual Effects generally make around $80,221. That is a strong return on a $38,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
California College Of The Arts landed the #22 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $60,226 in tuition and fees. 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.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
