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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Game & Interactive Media Design Schools in the Far Western Region

7 Colleges in the United States
441 Game & Interactive Media Design Degrees Awarded
$52,026 Avg Early-Career Salary

Game & Interactive Media Design degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 36 schools to find the best for game & interactive media design students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Game & Interactive Media Design in the Far Western Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the game & interactive media design degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Game & Interactive Media Design

1

University Of Southern California tops our 2026 ranking of the best game & interactive media design schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 47 game & interactive media design students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Students who receive their game & interactive media design degree from University Of Southern California earn around $64,846 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,262. Read more about the game & interactive media design program at University Of Southern California

2

University Of California Santa Cruz is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in game & interactive media design, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Cruz. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 147 game & interactive media design degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $40,920. Typical student debt for the program is $18,559. See the full game & interactive media design program report for University Of California Santa Cruz

3

Students looking for a strong game & interactive media design program will find one at Santa Rosa Junior College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. There were roughly 22 game & interactive media design students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their game & interactive media design degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $80,047 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete this degree. See the full game & interactive media design program report for Santa Rosa Junior College

4

A rank of #4 makes California State University Chico one of the top schools for game & interactive media design. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. California State University Chico awarded about 68 game & interactive media design degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the game & interactive media design program make about $27,573 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,047 to complete this degree. See the full game & interactive media design program report for California State University Chico

5
Moorpark College crest
Moorpark College
Moorpark, CA

Moorpark College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in game & interactive media design, ranking #5. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. About 33 game & interactive media design degrees were awarded at Moorpark College in the most recent year. Graduates of the game & interactive media design program make about $105,599 in their early career. Moorpark College graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans. See the full game & interactive media design program report for Moorpark College

6

Pasadena City College landed the #6 spot for game & interactive media design this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Pasadena. Pasadena City College awarded about 18 game & interactive media design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their game & interactive media design degree from Pasadena City College earn around $38,841 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,191. Get the full game & interactive media design details for Pasadena City College

7

San Diego Mesa College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best game & interactive media design schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Diego Mesa College awarded about 10 game & interactive media design degrees in the most recent data year. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $29,852 early in their careers. San Diego Mesa College graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans. More information about a degree in game & interactive media design from San Diego Mesa College

8

Laguna College Of Art And Design earned the #8 position for game & interactive media design this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Laguna Beach. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 40 game & interactive media design degrees were awarded at Laguna College Of Art And Design in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Laguna College Of Art And Design generally make around $27,785. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the game & interactive media design program at Laguna College Of Art And Design

9

Mt Hood Community College came in at #9 for game & interactive media design this year. Located in the suburb of Gresham, Mt Hood Community College is a large public university. Mt Hood Community College awarded about 10 game & interactive media design degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the game & interactive media design program make about $53,948 in their early career. Mt Hood Community College graduates carry a median of $18,767 in student loans. Read more about the game & interactive media design program at Mt Hood Community College

10

Cogswell Polytechnical College placed #10 among the best game & interactive media design schools. Located in the city of San Jose, Cogswell Polytechnical College is a small private for-profit university. Cogswell Polytechnical College graduates 29% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 game & interactive media design students who graduated with this degree at Cogswell Polytechnical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their game & interactive media design degree from Cogswell Polytechnical College earn around $22,656 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in game & interactive media design from Cogswell Polytechnical College

11

Gnomon School Of Visual Effects landed the #11 spot for game & interactive media design this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of North Hollywood. The six-year graduation rate is 100%. About 22 game & interactive media design degrees were awarded at Gnomon School Of Visual Effects in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Gnomon School Of Visual Effects generally make around $80,221. Typical student debt for the program is $38,000. More information about a degree in game & interactive media design from Gnomon School Of Visual Effects

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 36 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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