[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 25 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes 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.
Cuyahoga Community College District tops our 2026 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,249 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $11,795. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $22,517. That is a strong return on a $11,795 median debt.
Muskegon 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 city of Muskegon, Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,250, with out-of-state students paying around $16,010. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $14,928 in student loans. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Muskegon Community College earn a median of $48,267 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,928 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in game & interactive media design will find it at Columbus State Community College, which ranked #3. Columbus State Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,488, with out-of-state students paying around $11,224. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $9,041. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,435. Set against $9,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stark State College earned it the #4 place for game & interactive media design. Set in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,790, with out-of-state students paying around $7,886. Students borrow a median of $17,349 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $42,724 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lakeland Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Located in the suburb of Kirtland, Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,872, compared with $9,235 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,857 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Lakeland Community College generally make around $51,941. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jackson Community College landed the #6 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Jackson. In-state tuition and fees average $7,350, with out-of-state students paying around $10,200. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $16,960. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Jackson Community College generally make around $41,322. That is a strong return on a $16,960 median debt.
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #7 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $21,064. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $26,421. That is a strong return on a $21,064 median debt. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #8 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $20,875 in student loans. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $49,780. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,990. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $28,781 in student loans. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Eastern Michigan University earn a median of $38,443 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,781 median debt. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stout came in at #10 for value in game & interactive media design this year. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,701, while out-of-state students pay about $19,265. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $40,615. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $26,791. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $24,716. That is a strong return on a $26,791 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University earned the #12 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Students borrow a median of $28,175 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $36,784. Set against $28,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Chicago earned the #13 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,088. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $29,630. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford earned the #14 position for value in game & interactive media design this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $49,700. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Depaul University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. 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 Depaul University generally make around $55,226. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
Columbus College Of Art And Design landed the #16 spot for game & interactive media design value this year. Columbus College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,825. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $27,970. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Columbus College Of Art And Design admits about 68% of applicants.
Cleveland Institute Of Art placed #17 among the best values for game & interactive media design. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland Institute Of Art is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,700. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Cleveland Institute Of Art generally make around $23,358. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
