by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Game & Interactive Media Design explores Game And Interactive Media Design. A Program That Focuses On The Design, Development, And Programming Of Interactive Media Entertainment, Including Computer And Video Games, Virtual Environments, Internet Applications, And Other Interactive Media. Includes Instruction In Theory Of Games, Turn-Based Games, Real-Time Games, Visual And Interactive Design, Story Development, Animation, Simulation, And Programming. Examples: [Game Design], [Game Development]. Continue reading for the essential details every game & interactive media design student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering game & interactive media design programs.
In the U.S., game & interactive media design is a widely-pursued major, with 2,986 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Game & Interactive Media Design Schools ranking analyzes these 153 schools to determine the best overall colleges for game & interactive media design students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of game & interactive media design programs later in this article.
Programs in Game & Interactive Media Design build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations game & interactive media design graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a game & interactive media design program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a game & interactive media design major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several game & interactive media design degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 169 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 565 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,142 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,105 |
People currently working in careers related to game & interactive media design tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 52.8% |
| Some college courses | 39.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.7% |
| Master’s degree | 0.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in game & interactive media design careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying game & interactive media design opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to game & interactive media design.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to game & interactive media design.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | 40,928 | 6.1% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of game & interactive media design graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,054 |
| 4 years | $41,389 |
| 5 years | $46,982 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for game & interactive media design graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers game & interactive media design grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $68,967 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $57,836 |
With 153 different game & interactive media design programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased game & interactive media design school rankings to help you.
Those considering game & interactive media design, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Graphic Design | 10,676 |
| Design and Visual Communications, General | 6,186 |
| Interior Design | 5,651 |
| Illustration | 3,192 |
| Fashion/Apparel Design | 3,186 |
| Commercial and Advertising Art | 2,987 |
| Design and Applied Arts, Other | 1,640 |
| Industrial and Product Design | 1,395 |
| Commercial Photography | 899 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
