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2026 Best Value Game & Interactive Media Design Schools in Illinois

[Game & Interactive Media Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/game-and-interactive-media-design/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong game & interactive media design education at a price that pays off.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for game & interactive media design students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Game & Interactive Media Design Schools in Illinois

2026 Best Value Game & Interactive Media Design Schools in Illinois

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in game & interactive media design, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Game & Interactive Media Design Schools

1

Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, IL

$34,088 In-State Tuition & Fees

$27,000 Avg Student Debt

$42,195 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked Columbia College Chicago the best value for a degree in game & interactive media design in Illinois. 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. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $27,000. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $29,630 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.

2

Depaul University
Chicago, IL

$45,405 In-State Tuition & Fees

$27,000 Avg Student Debt

$68,751 Median Earnings (10yr)

Depaul University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $27,000. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $55,226 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.

View All Game & Interactive Media Design Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 3 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.