[Game & Interactive Media Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/game-and-interactive-media-design/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment 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.
Our analysis ranked Collin County Community College District the best value for a degree in game & interactive media design in Texas. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,014 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,064. Students borrow a median of $6,900 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $33,456. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houston Baptist University 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 Houston, Houston Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,430. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $25,601. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Houston Baptist University earn a median of $57,088 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of The Incarnate Word came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Set in the city of San Antonio, University Of The Incarnate Word is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,090 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $27,000. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $27,986. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Saint Edwards University one of the best values for game & interactive media design. Saint Edwards University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Austin. In-state tuition and fees average $51,384. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $26,000. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $30,589. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Saint Edwards University admits about 81% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Abilene Christian University one of the best values for game & interactive media design. Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Abilene. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,200. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $21,875. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Abilene Christian University generally make around $56,463. That is a strong return on a $21,875 median debt. Abilene Christian University admits about 66% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
