[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 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 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for game & interactive media design students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in game & interactive media design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Collin County Community College District tops our 2027 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools in the Southwest Region. Collin County Community College District is a very large public school located in the suburb of McKinney. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,014, while out-of-state students pay about $6,064. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $6,900 in student loans. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Collin County Community College District earn a median of $33,456 early in their careers. Set against $6,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Yavapai College one of the best values for game & interactive media design. Located in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,948 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,486. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $14,087 in student loans. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $52,087. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $15,996 in student loans. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,996 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Mesa Community College one of the best values for game & interactive media design. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arizona State University earned it the #5 place for game & interactive media design. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $21,500. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $55,876. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Paradise Valley Community College landed the #6 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Paradise Valley Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $14,204. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $71,136. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of North Texas ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $22,288 in student loans. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $49,157. Set against $22,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Arizona landed the #8 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $50,834. Set against $21,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Houston Baptist University earned the #9 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $39,430. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $25,601. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Houston Baptist University earn a median of $57,088 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of The Incarnate Word placed #10 among the best values for game & interactive media design. Set in the city of San Antonio, University Of The Incarnate Word is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,090. 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 University Of The Incarnate Word generally make around $27,986. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Saint Edwards University earned the #11 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. Saint Edwards University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Austin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,384. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $26,000. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Saint Edwards University earn a median of $30,589 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Saint Edwards University admits about 81% of applicants.
Abilene Christian University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Set in the city of Abilene, Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,200. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $21,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Abilene Christian University generally make around $56,463. That is a strong return on a $21,875 median debt. Abilene Christian University admits about 66% of applicants.
University Of Advancing Technology placed #13 among the best values for game & interactive media design. University Of Advancing Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Tempe. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,800. Students borrow a median of $27,895 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from University Of Advancing Technology generally make around $30,640. That is a strong return on a $27,895 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Narrow Game & Interactive Media Design Schools by State
More Game & Interactive Media Design Rankings
View All Game & Interactive Media Design Rankings >
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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
