### SUMMARY

 Majoring in Game and Interactive Media Design is a valuable choice and usually a critical first step for undergraduates coveting to begin a career as a game programmer, a game artist, or a game animator. In fact, game and interactive media design is a very rare major coming in at the 188th most popular major. Last academic year, there were 1,275 game and interactive media design diplomas received. In-state tuition for game and interactive media design at private institutions is, on average, 3.8 times more pricey than their public peers.

 With only 87 universities offering this degree there might be limited options as to the institutions you can choose from. If you're hoping to surround yourself with other game and interactive media design students, look at universities in Texas which have more students admitted to game and interactive media design than any other state. More generally, the best region to study game and interactive media design is in the Southwest region with [Abilene Christian University](/colleges/abilene-christian-university), [The University of Texas at Dallas](/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-dallas), and [The Art Institute of San Antonio](/colleges/the-art-institute-of-san-antonio) best representing the region. Interestingly, our selection of the best conference to major in game and interactive media design is the American Southwest Conference with [The University of Texas at Dallas](/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-dallas) representing the conference. That said, our selection for the best university for game and interactive media design is [University of Southern California](/colleges/university-of-southern-california), and here you can find our comprehensive list for the [best colleges](/rankings/best-colleges).

 The 'best' school does not have to be the 'best' school for you. There are a bunch of angels to consider when choosing college. Stuff like campus amenities, transportation services, and food would definitely affect one's decision on where to go to college. Here at authority.org, we've examined the pros and cons for you. If, for example, you are intrigued by which game and interactive media design university is home to the best campus, the answer is [Northeastern University](/colleges/northeastern-university). If, for example, you are very interested in which college boasts the top campus, we have an entire list [dedicated to that](/rankings/best-college-campuses). We have carefully pored through student reviews, professor reviews, government databases, and more in order to compare all U.S. majors in an unbiased and informative way. Here you can explore our well researched list for the universities with the [best student life](/rankings/best-student-life)&nbspand our choice for the university with the best student life for game and interactive media design is [University of Southern California](/colleges/university-of-southern-california). Are you curious why? Keep scrolling to learn more about our top selections. Some of our picks might shock you.

 If expense is a major influence in your decisions, you might be cautious about [University of Southern California](/colleges/university-of-southern-california). [University of Southern California](/colleges/university-of-southern-california)&nbspappears to be the most expensive college for game and interactive media design, at least regarding out of state enrollment. We do have an entire page for the [most expensive](/rankings/most-expensive-colleges)&nbspcolleges that might put the cost at [University of Southern California](/colleges/university-of-southern-california)&nbspinto perspective. For more context, you might be interested to know that game and interactive media design is the 279th most expensive major in America, with an average cost of $25,600. On a broader scale, the most expensive state for game and interactive media design in the country is Connecticut with expenses at the main institution, Quinnipiac University, of $46,790. Even more broadly, the most expensive region for game and interactive media design is the Mid East region which is best demonstrated with [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute](/colleges/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute) with a cost of $54,000, [Drexel University](/colleges/drexel-university) with a cost of $52,146, and [The University of the Arts](/colleges/the-university-of-the-arts) with a cost of $46,530.

 Our cheapest region for game and interactive media design is the Rocky Mountains region which is represented by [Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design](/colleges/rocky-mountain-college-of-art-and-design) with a cost of $17,670, [Boise State University](/colleges/boise-state-university) with a cost of $22,452, and [Utah Valley University](/colleges/utah-valley-university) with a cost of $15,872. More optimistically, the most affordable university for game and interactive media design is [University of Advancing Technology](/colleges/university-of-advancing-technology). Our comprehensive list of the most affordable universities can be found [here](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges).

 In-state attendees can anticipate paying around $9,600 for a degree in game and interactive media design. The cost inflates intensely to a median of $23,400 for an out-of-state public-school undergraduate. Our choice for the college representing the best value for game and interactive media design: [University of Southern California](/colleges/university-of-southern-california). Here you can see our comprehensive list of the universities we believe to be the [best value](/rankings/best-value-colleges)&nbspin general. Bear in mind, this list is based on the assumption that you are an out-of-state student. The value proposition changes when in-state tuition is considered, as such, we are using out-of-state tuition as the baseline.

 Earnings for game and interactive media design majors vary widely, but two-years after graduation students will typically earn around $56,200. While there is a lot of variation in salary; highest paid earners can enjoy pay up to $96,400. Straight out of college, the minimum earning positions within the game and interactive media design field make $33,000, which could be worse. The highest earning grads for game and interactive media design graduated from [Worcester Polytechnic Institute](/colleges/worcester-polytechnic-institute)&nbspand if you want to find the colleges with all of the [highest earning graduates](/rankings/highest-earning-graduates), we have that too.

 The all-around diversity of game and interactive media design sits pretty high, ranking within the 79th percentile of all programs. The college with the highest composite diversity for game and interactive media design is [Northeastern University](/colleges/northeastern-university)&nbspand here you can find our comprehensive list for the schools which have the [most diversity](/rankings/most-diverse-colleges). The overall financial diversity of the Game and Interactive Media Design major only ranks in the 48th percentile of all majors. Racial diversity is greater than financial diversity, ranking in the 76th percentile. White students make up the largest share at 53% of students majoring in game and interactive media design. Additionally, 70% of students pursuing a game and interactive media design degree are men.

 The median rating of game and interactive media design's professors is 4.1 stars, a score that is 2% greater than the average for every major; this is a good score. If you are curious about the most popular game and interactive media design instructor in the nation, look no further than John Schultheiss at [California State University-Northridge](/colleges/california-state-university-northridge). This may be shocking, but the top rated professors for game and interactive media design according to students are at [California State University-Northridge](/colleges/california-state-university-northridge). As we incorporate data other than basic rankings it becomes clear that the school with comprehensively the best professors for game and interactive media design is [Worcester Polytechnic Institute](/colleges/worcester-polytechnic-institute). You will find more detail on our ever evolving ranking methodology for the [best overall professors here](/rankings/best-professors), as well as many of the finest examples of instructors nationwide.

 Finally, the most difficult university to get into for game and interactive media design is [University of Southern California](/colleges/university-of-southern-california). While we are unsure why you would be interested, we do have a comprehensive page of the [hardest colleges to get into](/rankings/hardest-colleges-to-get-into). Although, here at Authority we hope you believe that considering the education process with a lens only informed by superlatives might create issues. We at Authority hope you explore our other pages on different schools and read a couple of our helpful background articles on essential details to think about as you continue your school search.



 ### POPULARITY

 Game and interactive media design is the 188th most popular degree in America, with 1,275 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #189 [Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services](/rankings/best-colleges-for-allied-health-and-medical-assisting-services), and narrowly lost to #187 [Food Science](/rankings/best-colleges-for-food-science).

 The degree is offered at a total of 87 colleges across the nation, and is the 189th most widely offered degree. It is only offered at 4% of the Top 100 [Best Colleges](/rankings/best-colleges) in America.

 It is also worth noting that a bit greater than four out of every nine colleges offering game and interactive media design are public making it a pretty accessible field.

 The southwest produces the most game and interactive media design graduates, largely led by [Abilene Christian University](/colleges/abilene-christian-university), while it’s the American Southwest Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, Texas ranks highest, with particular help from [Abilene Christian University](/colleges/abilene-christian-university) and [The University of Texas at Dallas](/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-dallas).

 All that being said, no individual school produces more game and interactive media design graduates than [Mesa Community College](/colleges/mesa-community-college), which graduated 208 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study game and interactive media design). More students studied game and interactive media design as a percentage of total students at [The Art Institute of Austin](/colleges/the-art-institute-of-austin) than any other college.



 ### COST

 Game and interactive media design is the 279th most expensive major in the United States, with a median cost of $25,555 for the top 50 programs (just ahead of #280, [Construction Engineering](rankings/best-colleges-for-construction-engineering), with a median cost of $25,515).

 The Mid East has the most expensive colleges with top 50 game and interactive media design programs led by [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute](/colleges/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute) with an annual cost of $54,000. Connecticut is the most expensive state for game and interactive media design led by [Quinnipiac University](/colleges/quinnipiac-university).

 Public schools with good programs generally charge 73.96% less than private schools for in-state students. However, when looking at out-of-state tuition, the median top 50 Public school charges 36.22% less than the median private school. So, if you're trying to find a state school, make sure you're eligible for in-state tuition sooner rather than later.

 The most costly option in the top 25 is [University of Southern California](/colleges/university-of-southern-california), which is the 14th most expensive college in America. The most affordable option in the top 100 is [Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon](/colleges/inter-american-university-of-puerto-rico-bayamon). It costs just $4,560 per year, and it's ranked 41st for its game and interactive media design program. If you’re looking for the least expensive option in the top 25, [University of Advancing Technology](/colleges/university-of-advancing-technology)  could be right for you, ranked #24 with an in-state cost of just $16,701. Another more affordable option would be #10, [California State University-Chico](/colleges/california-state-university-chico) in Butte County, CA with a cost of $5,742 for in-state students and $17,622 for out-of-state students.



### SALARY

 Starting college is a huge investment for most students. It's critical to make sure you justify that spend. We hope the following job placement and income insights help you make a well informed decision when choosing your focus.

 Just after college, Game and Interactive Media Design students take in $30,102 per annum on average (bottom 20%). Later on in their careers, they can generate up to $96,392 to as little as $33,017, but average about $56,209. To put it in context, that is 46% higher than the United States average.

 The most common job placement for a Game and Interactive Media Design graduate is Analyst, which usually earn more or less $54,000; next are Account Executive and Sales Consultant, which commonly earn approximately $36,000 and $36,000 respectively.

 The best paid region for Game and Interactive Media Design graduates is The Far West. OR has the highest grossing Game and Interactive Media Design graduates of any state. University Athletic Association has the best paid Game and Interactive Media Design graduates of any conference..



### PROFESSORS

 Fast Facts for Game and Interactive Media Design: Median Professor Rating: 4.1 / 5, which is above average.

 Instructors repeatedly have an influential influence your college experience, regardless of your focus. A thought-provoking professor may help a student find their passion and set one up for future success. Alternatively, a bad experience with a professor can turn you off of a subject or even worse... flunk you!

 Professors of Game and Interactive Media Design have a median student rating of 4.1 out of 5, putting these professors in the upper 42nd percentile in the US grounded in student approval. For context a 4.1 rating is 2.5% over the national median professor rating for all subjects. Game and Interactive Media Design professors barely out-ranked those from ["Liberal Arts and Sciences"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-liberal-arts-and-sciences), whereas ["Child Development"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-child-development)&nbspprofessors ranked one slot above Game and Interactive Media Design.

 Now for some statistics about Game and Interactive Media Design professors. Colleges located in fringe rural areas tend to have the best Game and Interactive Media Design professors. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference has the highest rated Game and Interactive Media Design professors. The Southwest region has the highest rated Game and Interactive Media Design professors. Public institutions tend to have higher rated Game and Interactive Media Design professors than private schools. Finally, Delaware has the highest rated Game and Interactive Media Design professors in the nation.

 John Schultheiss, professor at [California State University-Northridge](/colleges/california-state-university-northridge)&nbspin Northridge, CA is the most popular Game and Interactive Media Design professor in America. Josh Planz, instructor at [School of Visual Arts](/colleges/school-of-visual-arts)&nbspin New York, NY is the highest rated Game and Interactive Media Design professor in the US, with a rating of 5 / 5.

 Find out which institutions have the [Best Professors](/rankings/best-professors)!



### STUDENTS

 College often can be an immensely momentous investment in one's life; it's a time for individual progress and expansion. Undergrads attempt to capture what they desire to do and cultivate the imperative skills to be a thriving member of society. But learning is not exclusively confined to a classroom - the campus dialogue, the life lesson received from a tenured instructor, the exposure to a different position. Therefore, finding a diverse college tremendously enhances what you gain from your time in school.

 Game and Interactive Media Design is a more ethnically diverse subject than average\*. 53% of the US' Game and Interactive Media Design majors are white students, followed by latino students (18%), students of other races\*\*(13%), and asian students (9%). The most ethnically diverse college\* in the top 100 is [University of Southern California](/colleges/university-of-southern-california)&nbspin Los Angeles, CA.

 Moreover, Game and Interactive Media Design significatly skews male, with 70% of students majoring in Game and Interactive Media Design identifying as men. [Northeastern University](/colleges/northeastern-university) in Boston, MA has the most gender balanced student body in the top 100.

 Another critical type of diversity is wealth diversity. Game and Interactive Media Design is fairly close to average for income diversity (52nd percentile). 29% of its students come from households with $110,000 plus annual incomes, 16% are from middle income homes, and 26% grew up in homes with a sub $30,000 annual income. [Boise State University](/colleges/boise-state-university) is the most financially diverse institution in the top 100.

 Considering each type of diversity, overall CA is the most diverse state for Game and Interactive Media Design. The Far West is the most diverse region, and the Pacific-12 Conference is the most diverse conference.

   \* diversity calculations and comparisons are based on [Simpson's Diversity Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_index)   
  \*\* other races is used to refer to non asian, black, latino, or white

  #### Diversity Statistics

  ##### Racial Diversity

 * Asian: 9%
* Black: 7%
* Latino: 18%
* White: 53%
* Other: 13%
  ##### Gender Diversity

 * Male: 70%
* Female: 30%
  ##### Socioeconomic Diversity (By Household Income)

 * Under 30k: 26%
* 30k - 48k: 15%
* 48k - 75k: 16%
* 75k - 110k: 15%
* Over 110k: 29%
  ##### Geographic Diversity

 * In State: 62%
* Out of State: 32%
* International: 6%


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There are about 12,430 students enrolled in Game and Interactive Media Design in the USA.

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There are about 12,430 students enrolled in Game and Interactive Media Design in the USA.

PROFESSORS