[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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 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.
Leading the list is Cuny Hostos Community College, our #1 best value for game & interactive media design in New York. Cuny Hostos Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bronx. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,254, with out-of-state students paying around $8,134. Students borrow a median of $9,007 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Cuny Hostos Community College earn a median of $12,863 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,007 median debt.
Mohawk Valley Community College 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 Utica, Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,218, with out-of-state students paying around $8,851. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $9,534 in student loans. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $21,012. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Finger Lakes Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in game & interactive media design, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Canandaigua, Finger Lakes Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,258 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,442 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $16,736. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $40,467. That is a strong return on a $16,736 median debt.
Villa Maria College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Set in the city of Buffalo, Villa Maria College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,670. Students borrow a median of $15,395 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Villa Maria College earn a median of $31,909 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,395 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Suny College Of Technology At Alfred one of the best values for game & interactive media design. Set in the rural area of Alfred, Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,892, while out-of-state students pay about $16,837. Students borrow a median of $19,721 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Alfred earn a median of $43,831 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,721 median debt. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred admits about 76% of applicants.
St Johns University New York placed #6 among the best values for game & interactive media design. St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Queens. In-state tuition and fees average $53,529. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates of St Johns University New York earn a median of $57,686 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute placed #7 among the best values for game & interactive media design. Set in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,078. Typical student debt for game & interactive media design graduates is $25,000. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $36,191. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Marist College placed #8 among the best values for game & interactive media design. Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Students from in state pay about $47,620 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,929 to complete the game & interactive media design program here. Early-career game & interactive media design graduates make about $28,336. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Pratt Institute Main ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value game & interactive media design schools. Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $61,845 in tuition and fees. Game & Interactive Media Design graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, game & interactive media design degree recipients from Pratt Institute Main generally make around $40,880. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pratt Institute Main admits about 73% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
