[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for game & interactive media design students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the game & interactive media design degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Fitchburg State University the best value for a degree in game & interactive media design in Massachusetts. Set in the suburb of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,346, compared with $17,426 for out-of-state students. 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 $29,191. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fitchburg State University admits about 87% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northeastern University earned it the #2 place for game & interactive media design. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,162. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $28,250 in student loans. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $49,727 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in game & interactive media design will find it at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,765. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $26,259 in student loans. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of $91,834 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,259 median debt. Worcester Polytechnic Institute admits about 60% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
