Best Game Design Schools Near Bella Vista, AR (2026)

Updated September 5, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Bella Vista, Arkansas has 1 accredited school offering game design programs. Bella Vista has a population of about 30,935. Median household income is $85,932 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 37.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro area, the top-earning game design-related role is Computer and Information Systems Managers at a median $141,940 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Game Design Schools to Bella Vista

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer game design programs near Bella Vista, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Bella Vista city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Bella Vista. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Arkansas Tech University

Russellville, AR 102.8 miles from Bella Vista
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
58.4 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 96%
Graduation rate 49%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,766
Avg net price $12,970/yr
Tuition
In‑state$8,674
Out‑of‑state$14,668
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 118

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Southeast Arkansas College

Pine Bluff, AR 200.8 miles from Bella Vista
  • 2 year
  • Offers a fully online program
35.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 31%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $33,603
Avg net price $19,038/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 27

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Arkansas State University

Jonesboro, AR 204.9 miles from Bella Vista
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
51.5 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 82%
Graduation rate 55%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,617
Avg net price $12,366/yr
Tuition
In‑state$8,090
Out‑of‑state$14,522
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 117

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Magnolia, AR 227.1 miles from Bella Vista
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
40.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 44%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,386
Avg net price $14,027/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 68%
  • Programs offered: 53

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Arkansas schools on the Arkansas game design page.

Game Design Wages Near Bella Vista

Bella Vista is part of the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro area (BLS area code 22220). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Arkansas statewide.

Occupation Median Wage Source COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Software Developers $105,130 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $115,022
Special Effects Artists and Animators N/A AR statewide –
Graphic Designers $54,820 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $59,978
Web and Digital Interface Designers $57,640 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $63,063
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers N/A AR statewide –
Writers and Authors $50,720 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $55,492
Computer Programmers $136,880 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $149,759
Computer and Information Systems Managers $141,940 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $155,295

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Bella Vista at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 30,935 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $85,932 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 37.8% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 91.4 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Bella Vista-Area Cities With Game Design Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited game design schools are near Bella Vista, AR?

Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering game design programs near Bella Vista. The closest is Drury University in Springfield, MO (75.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Drury University (75.3 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying game design roles near Bella Vista?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying game design-related roles near Bella Vista are: Computer and Information Systems Managers ($141,940), Computer Programmers ($136,880), Software Developers ($105,130). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Arkansas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Bentonville instead of Bella Vista?

Bentonville, AR is 7.9 miles from Bella Vista and has its own set of local game design programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Bella Vista an affordable place to study game design?

Bella Vista’s median household income of $85,932 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Bella Vista while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Arkansas public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Game Design Programs

Other Programs Available in Bella Vista

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Bella Vista:

Data verified: September 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

Back to Best Game Design Schools in Arkansas: Online Programs (2026)