[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 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.
For return on investment in game & interactive media design, no school beat North Hennepin Community College this year. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,061. Students borrow a median of $21,241 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $52,492. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Johnson County Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Johnson County Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Overland Park. In-state tuition and fees average $2,424, with out-of-state students paying around $5,688. Students borrow a median of $13,625 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Johnson County Community College earn a median of $32,030 early in their careers. Set against $13,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lindenwood University earned it the #3 place for game & interactive media design. Set in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,600. Students borrow a median of $28,663 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Lindenwood University generally make around $48,197. Set against $28,663 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lindenwood University admits about 57% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in game & interactive media design will find it at Drury University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Springfield, Drury University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,745. Students borrow a median of $26,641 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $37,267. That is a strong return on a $26,641 median debt. Drury University admits about 58% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in game & interactive media design will find it at Webster University, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,750. Students borrow a median of $25,550 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Webster University earn a median of $20,257 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,550 median debt. Webster University admits about 86% of applicants.
Bellevue University earned the #6 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. Set in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,873. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $29,688 in student loans. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Bellevue University earn a median of $61,548 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,688 median debt.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
