[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 202 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.
For return on investment in game & interactive media design, no school beat University Of Southern California this year. 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. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $18,262 in student loans. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $64,846. Set against $18,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in game & interactive media design, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $66,162 in tuition and fees. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $28,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $49,727. That is a strong return on a $28,250 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in game & interactive media design will find it at Maryland Institute College Of Art, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,800. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $27,000. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Maryland Institute College Of Art earn a median of $70,027 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Maryland Institute College Of Art admits about 77% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in game & interactive media design will find it at Academy Of Art University, which ranked #4. Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Students from in state pay about $30,736 in tuition and fees. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $33,312 in student loans. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $38,358. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
American University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $58,771 in tuition and fees. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $24,139 in student loans. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of American University earn a median of $54,585 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
California College Of The Arts came in at #6 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. Students from in state pay about $60,226 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $27,000. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $28,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Pratt Institute Main earned the #7 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,845 in tuition and fees. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $45,720. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Game & Interactive Media Design rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 202 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
