[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for game & interactive media design students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in game & interactive media design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Utah Valley University tops our 2027 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $14,057. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $31,888. That is a strong return on a $14,057 median debt.
Salt Lake Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in game & interactive media design, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,426, compared with $14,244 for out-of-state students. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $10,766 in student loans. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Salt Lake Community College earn a median of $34,227 early in their careers. Set against $10,766 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arapahoe Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in game & interactive media design, landing the #3 spot this year. Arapahoe Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Littleton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,434, with out-of-state students paying around $17,034. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Arapahoe Community College generally make around $32,100. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Utah is a great value for students pursuing a degree in game & interactive media design, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $16,344. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $60,527. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Boise State University earned it the #5 place for game & interactive media design. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,048, with out-of-state students paying around $27,788. Students borrow a median of $28,599 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $49,059 early in their careers. Set against $28,599 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design came in at #6 for value in game & interactive media design this year. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $20,190 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $46,544. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design earn a median of $29,829 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $46,544 median debt.
University Of Denver earned the #7 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,398. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $22,534 in student loans. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from University Of Denver generally make around $31,104. That is a strong return on a $22,534 median debt. University Of Denver admits about 78% 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 · 7 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.
