Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall game & interactive media design education in California.
University Of Southern California tops our 2026 ranking of the best game & interactive media design schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 47 game & interactive media design students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the game & interactive media design program make about $64,846 in their early career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $18,262 in student loans.
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University Of California Santa Cruz is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in game & interactive media design, ranking #2. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates 75% of students within six years. About 147 game & interactive media design degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent year. Students who receive their game & interactive media design degree from University Of California Santa Cruz earn around $40,920 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,559 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong game & interactive media design program will find one at Santa Rosa Junior College, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 22 game & interactive media design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their game & interactive media design degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $80,047 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,692.
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California State University Chico is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in game & interactive media design, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public university. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 68 game & interactive media design students who graduated with this degree at California State University Chico in the most recent data year. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $27,573 early in their careers. California State University Chico graduates carry a median of $19,047 in student loans.
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Moorpark College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in game & interactive media design, landing the #5 spot this year. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. About 33 game & interactive media design degrees were awarded at Moorpark College in the most recent year. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Moorpark College earn a median of $105,599 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,075.
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Pasadena City College earned the #6 position for game & interactive media design this year. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. There were roughly 18 game & interactive media design students who graduated with this degree at Pasadena City College in the most recent data year. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,191.
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San Diego Mesa College came in at #7 for game & interactive media design this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Diego Mesa College awarded about 10 game & interactive media design degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the game & interactive media design program make about $29,852 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete this degree.
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Laguna College Of Art And Design earned the #8 position for game & interactive media design this year. Located in the rural area of Laguna Beach, Laguna College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. Laguna College Of Art And Design awarded about 40 game & interactive media design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their game & interactive media design degree from Laguna College Of Art And Design earn around $27,785 in the first couple years of their career. Laguna College Of Art And Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Cogswell Polytechnical College earned the #9 position for game & interactive media design this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of San Jose. Roughly 29% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 game & interactive media design students who graduated with this degree at Cogswell Polytechnical College in the most recent data year. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Cogswell Polytechnical College earn a median of $22,656 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
See the full game & interactive media design program report for Cogswell Polytechnical College
Gnomon School Of Visual Effects ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best game & interactive media design schools. Set in the city of North Hollywood, Gnomon School Of Visual Effects is a small private for-profit institution. Gnomon School Of Visual Effects graduates 100% of students within six years. About 22 game & interactive media design degrees were awarded at Gnomon School Of Visual Effects in the most recent year. Students who receive their game & interactive media design degree from Gnomon School Of Visual Effects earn around $80,221 in the first couple years of their career. Gnomon School Of Visual Effects graduates carry a median of $38,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in game & interactive media design from Gnomon School Of Visual Effects
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 30 schools evaluated.
- 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.
