[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
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.
Cuyahoga Community College District earned the #1 spot for value among game & interactive media design schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,249 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $11,795. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $22,517. Set against $11,795 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Muskegon Community College earned it the #2 place for game & interactive media design. Set in the city of Muskegon, Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,250, with out-of-state students paying around $16,010. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $14,928 in student loans. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Muskegon Community College earn a median of $48,267 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 Stark State College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $17,349 in student loans. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $42,724 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,349 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Lakeland Community College one of the best values for game & interactive media design. Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirtland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,872, with out-of-state students paying around $9,235. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $19,857. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $51,941. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbus State Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in game & interactive media design, landing the #5 spot this year. Columbus State Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Students from in state pay about $5,488 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,224 for out-of-state students. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,435. Set against $9,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Milwaukee Area Technical College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,427. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $18,296. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College generally make around $27,795. That is a strong return on a $18,296 median debt.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #7 among the best values for game & interactive media design. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $18,839 in student loans. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $57,461. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Moraine Park Technical College earned the #8 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. Set in the city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,819, compared with $7,084 for out-of-state students. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $11,471 in student loans. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Moraine Park Technical College earn a median of $21,388 early in their careers. Set against $11,471 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Zane State College placed #9 among the best values for game & interactive media design. Located in the town of Zanesville, Zane State College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,006 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,766. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $9,405. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Zane State College generally make around $35,764. That is a strong return on a $9,405 median debt.
Vincennes University placed #10 among the best values for game & interactive media design. Set in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,126, compared with $16,858 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $14,506. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $45,976. That is a strong return on a $14,506 median debt.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #11 among the best values for game & interactive media design. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $20,875 in student loans. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $49,780. That is a strong return on a $20,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #12 for value in game & interactive media design this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $21,064. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $26,421 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University placed #13 among the best values for game & interactive media design. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,990. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $28,781. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $38,443. That is a strong return on a $28,781 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Stout placed #14 among the best values for game & interactive media design. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,701, compared with $19,265 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stout generally make around $40,615. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University came in at #15 for value in game & interactive media design this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,175 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $36,784. That is a strong return on a $28,175 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Students borrow a median of $26,791 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $24,716. Set against $26,791 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #17 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,851 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $58,659. Set against $25,851 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Columbia College Chicago earned the #18 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,088. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $29,630 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford landed the #19 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $26,000. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $49,700. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Cleveland Institute Of Art ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland Institute Of Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,700. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Cleveland Institute Of Art generally make around $23,358. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Columbus College Of Art And Design landed the #21 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,825. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Columbus College Of Art And Design earn a median of $27,970 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Depaul University placed #22 among the best values for game & interactive media design. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $55,390. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 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.
