Game and Interactive Media Design: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Game and Interactive Media Design prepares students to create immersive, user-centered digital experiences through the integration of storytelling, visual artistry, and technical programming. This multidisciplinary field emphasizes the development of dynamic, responsive environments that engage users across platforms, from mobile applications to complex virtual realities.
- Theory of Games: Explores foundational principles governing game mechanics, player behavior, and systemic design to inform effective and meaningful gameplay experiences.
- Turn-Based Games: Focuses on strategic design and pacing in games where actions occur sequentially, emphasizing decision-making, balance, and long-term planning.
- Real-Time Games: Covers the development of fast-paced, responsive systems requiring continuous interaction, dynamic feedback, and optimized performance across devices.
- Visual and Interactive Design: Integrates aesthetic principles with usability to craft intuitive, visually compelling interfaces and user experiences that guide interaction effectively.
- Story Development: Involves narrative construction, character arcs, and world-building techniques tailored to interactive formats, ensuring emotional engagement and player immersion.
- Animation: Teaches the creation of lifelike motion and visual effects using digital tools, enhancing expressiveness and realism in characters, environments, and UI elements.
- Simulation: Addresses the modeling of real-world systems and behaviors to create authentic, data-driven experiences for training, education, or entertainment.
- Programming: Provides hands-on training in coding languages and frameworks essential for building functional, scalable interactive applications and game engines.
Game and Interactive Media Design Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Game and Interactive Media Design Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Game and Interactive Media Design degrees, including Special Effects Artists and Animators and Postsecondary Teachers, All Other. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 172,810 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Effects Artists and Animators 27-1014 | $99,800 | $57,220 - $174,630 | 21,280 | $47.98 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other 25-1199 | $78,490 | $39,720 - $172,850 | 151,530 | N/A |
Game and Interactive Media Design Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $55,170 in Arkansas to $135,380 in Hawaii—a 145% difference. The highest-paying states include Hawaii, California, and New Jersey. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 172,810 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Game and Interactive Media Design by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Game and Interactive Media Design programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Game and Interactive Media Design is found at Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) (448 graduates), Wake Technical Community College (Wake Tech) (219 graduates), University of California (UCSC), Santa Cruz (149 graduates), Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) (79 graduates), and Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) (76 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,837 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
448 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | cpcc.edu |
| Wake Technical Community College (Wake Tech) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
219 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | waketech.edu |
| University of California (UCSC) |
Bachelor's
|
149 | Santa Cruz, California | Public | ucsc.edu |
| Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
79 | McKinney, Texas | Public | collin.edu |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
76 | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Public | faytechcc.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
68 | Chico, California | Public | csuchico.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
65 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Wayne Community College (WCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
61 | Goldsboro, North Carolina | Public | waynecc.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Other Award
|
56 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
47 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Bachelor's
|
47 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| Columbia College Chicago (CCC) |
Bachelor's
|
45 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | colum.edu |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
45 | Troy, New York | Private | rpi.edu |
| Gwinnett Technical College (Gwinnett Tech) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
44 | Lawrenceville, Georgia | Public | gwinnetttech.edu |
| Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
40 | Laguna Beach, California | Private | lcad.edu |
| New England Institute of Technology (NEIT) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
40 | East Greenwich, Rhode Island | Private | neit.edu |
| Fitchburg State University |
Bachelor's
|
39 | Fitchburg, Massachusetts | Public | fitchburgstate.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Menomonie, Wisconsin | Public | uwstout.edu |
| Eastern Michigan University (EMU) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Public | emich.edu |
| Stark State College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
35 | North Canton, Ohio | Public | starkstate.edu |
| Hinds Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
34 | Raymond, Mississippi | Public | hindscc.edu |
| Moorpark College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
33 | Moorpark, California | Public | moorparkcollege.edu |
| NUC University (NUC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
33 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | nuc.edu |
| Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
29 | Jamestown, North Carolina | Public | gtcc.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
27 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| CUNY Hostos Community College |
Associate's
|
27 | Bronx, New York | Public | hostos.cuny.edu |
| University of Advancing Technology (UAT) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
27 | Tempe, Arizona | Private | uat.edu |
| Miami Dade College (MDC) |
Associate's
|
26 | Miami, Florida | Public | mdc.edu |
| Champlain College |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Burlington, Vermont | Private | champlain.edu |
| University of Silicon Valley (USV) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | San Jose, California | Private | usv.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Other Award
|
22 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
22 | Santa Rosa, California | Public | santarosa.edu |
| Montgomery College (MC) |
Associate's
|
22 | Rockville, Maryland | Public | montgomerycollege.edu |
| High Point University (HPU) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | High Point, North Carolina | Private | highpoint.edu |
| William Peace University |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Private | peace.edu |
| Gnomon |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
22 | Hollywood, California | Private | gnomon.edu |
| Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Lakewood, Colorado | Private | rmcad.edu |
| Lindenwood University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
21 | Saint Charles, Missouri | Private | lindenwood.edu |
| Marist College |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | marist.edu |
| Utah Valley University (UVU) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Orem, Utah | Public | uvu.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | wpi.edu |
| Columbus State Community College (CSCC) |
Associate's
|
20 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | cscc.edu |
| West Georgia Technical College (WGTC) |
Other Award
|
19 | Waco, Georgia | Public | westgatech.edu |
| Webster University |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
19 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | webster.edu |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
18 | Glendale, Arizona | Public | gccaz.edu |
| Pasadena City College (PCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
18 | Pasadena, California | Public | pasadena.edu |
| Mesa Community College (MCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
17 | Mesa, Arizona | Public | mesacc.edu |
| Keiser University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
17 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | keiseruniversity.edu |
| Johnson County Community College (JCCC) |
Associate's
|
16 | Overland Park, Kansas | Public | jccc.edu |
| Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
15 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | paradisevalley.edu |
| Connecticut State Community College (CT State) |
Associate's
|
14 | Hartford, Connecticut | Public | ctstate.edu |
| Pima Community College (PCC) |
Associate's
|
13 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | pima.edu |
| Arkansas Tech University (ATU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Russellville, Arkansas | Public | atu.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Postbac Cert.
|
13 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Quinnipiac University (QU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Hamden, Connecticut | Private | qu.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | bayamon.inter.edu |
| Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | Private | harrisburgu.edu |
| Norco College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
12 | Norco, California | Public | norcocollege.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Master's
|
11 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| San Diego Mesa College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
10 | San Diego, California | Public | sdmesa.edu |
| Pitt Community College (PCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
10 | Winterville, North Carolina | Public | pittcc.edu |
| Mt Hood Community College (MHCC) |
Associate's
|
10 | Gresham, Oregon | Public | mhcc.edu |
| Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCAD) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Private | pcad.edu |
| Saint Edward's University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Austin, Texas | Private | stedwards.edu |
| Southern Arkansas University (SAU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Magnolia, Arkansas | Public | saumag.edu |
| Irvine Valley College (IVC) |
Other Award
|
9 | Irvine, California | Public | ivc.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| William T McFatter Technical College |
Other Award
|
9 | Davie, Florida | Public | mcfattertechnicalcollege.edu |
| Orange Technical College (OTC) |
Other Award
|
9 | Winter Park, Florida | Public | orangetechcollege.net |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Other Award
|
9 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| Louisiana Tech University (LA Tech) |
Other Award
|
9 | Ruston, Louisiana | Public | latech.edu |
| Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | mica.edu |
| Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Manchester, New Hampshire | Private | snhu.edu |
| Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Branchburg, New Jersey | Public | raritanval.edu |
| New Mexico State University |
Associate's
|
9 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | dacc.nmsu.edu |
| Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Canandaigua, New York | Public | flcc.edu |
| Zane State College (ZSC) |
Other Award
|
9 | Zanesville, Ohio | Public | zanestate.edu |
| Biola University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | La Mirada, California | Private | biola.edu |
| Arapahoe Community College (ACC) |
Associate's
|
8 | Littleton, Colorado | Public | arapahoe.edu |
| Sacred Heart University (SHU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Fairfield, Connecticut | Private | sacredheart.edu |
| Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) |
Associate's
|
8 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Public | qcc.edu |
| Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
8 | Morganton, North Carolina | Public | wpcc.edu |
| Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | cia.edu |
| Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Columbus, Ohio | Private | ccad.edu |
| Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) |
Other Award
|
8 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | slcc.edu |
| Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
8 | Seattle, Washington | Private | seattle.aie.edu |
| Los Angeles City College (LACC) |
Other Award
|
7 | Los Angeles, California | Public | lacitycollege.edu |
| Bergen Community College (BCC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Paramus, New Jersey | Public | bergen.edu |
| Mercer County Community College (MCCC) |
Associate's
|
7 | West Windsor, New Jersey | Public | mccc.edu |
| Albright College |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Reading, Pennsylvania | Private | albright.edu |
| Southeast Arkansas College (SEARK) |
Other Award
|
6 | Pine Bluff, Arkansas | Public | seark.edu |
| Sacramento City College (SCC) |
Other Award
|
6 | Sacramento, California | Public | scc.losrios.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| New England College (NEC) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Henniker, New Hampshire | Private | nec.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Associate's
|
6 | Guayama, Puerto Rico | Private | guayama.inter.edu |
| New York Film Academy (NYFA) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Master's
|
6 | Burbank, California | Private | nyfa.edu |
| Wiregrass Georgia Technical College |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
|
5 | Valdosta, Georgia | Public | wiregrass.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Game and Interactive Media Design programs
How much can I earn with a Game and Interactive Media Design degree?
Salaries for Game and Interactive Media Design graduates vary by role and location. Special Effects Artists and Animators earn a median of $99,800 annually, while Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn around $78,490. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Hawaii average $135,380 compared to $55,170 in Arkansas. Approximately 172,810 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Game and Interactive Media Design programs?
Currently 153 accredited institutions offer Game and Interactive Media Design degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) (448 graduates), Wake Technical Community College (Wake Tech) (219 graduates), and University of California (UCSC), Santa Cruz (149 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Game and Interactive Media Design growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 753 in 2010 to 2,986 in 2023-24. This represents a 297% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Game and Interactive Media Design degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Special Effects Artists and Animators, Postsecondary Teachers, All Other, . Related occupations employ approximately 172,810 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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