by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, game and interactive media design was the 293rd most popular major nationwide with 2,692 degrees awarded. This 271 less than the prior year, a decrease of 10.1%.
Our 2023 Best Game & Interactive Media Design Schools ranking analyzes 71 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for game and interactive media design students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of game and interactive media design programs later in this article.
When studying Game and Interactive Media Design, you’ll learn that giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents and using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic game and interactive media design program qualifications, to serve in some game and interactive media design careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are various different levels of game and interactive media design degrees. Game & Interactive Media Design programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest game and interactive media design degree you can get. The time it takes to complete a game and interactive media design degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to game and interactive media design, with approximately 52.8% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to game and interactive media design tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 53.0% |
| Some College Courses | 39.9% |
| High School Diploma | 5.4% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 1.7% |
| Master’s Degree | 0.3% |
53.1% of game and interactive media design workers have at least a bachelor's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in game and interactive media design have received.
This of course varies depending on which game and interactive media design career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your game and interactive media design degree? Game & Interactive Media Design careers are expected to grow 9.2% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to game and interactive media design.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Professors | 258,700 | 9.4% |
| Multimedia Artists and Animators | 79,900 | 8.4% |
As you might expect, salaries for game and interactive media design graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for game and interactive media design graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers game and interactive media design grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Multimedia Artists and Animators | $78,230 |
| Professors | $76,990 |
With over 266 different game and interactive media design degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased game and interactive media design school rankings to help you with this.
Learn about other programs related to Game & Interactive Media Design that might interest you.
BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts
Translate your creative ideas through concept, design and digital media with a bachelor's in graphic design online from Southern New Hampshire University.
BS in Game Programming & Development
Go beyond traditional software development to gain the technical expertise required to succeed in an exciting and competitive field with this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts - Web Design
Gain a solid grounding in your online web design classes and exercise your creative muscle with this specialized online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Game & Interactive Media Design is one of 9 different types of Design & Applied Arts programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Graphic Design | 8,710 |
| Interior Design | 5,840 |
| Visual Communications | 5,765 |
| Commercial & Advertising Art | 3,597 |
| Fashion Design | 3,103 |
