Grass Valley, California has 2 accredited schools offering game design programs, with tuition ranging from $1,288 to $26,283 per year for indexed programs. Grass Valley has a population of about 14,126. Median household income is $48,850 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 32.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In California, the top-earning game design-related role is Computer and Information Systems Managers at a median $218,290 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Game Design Schools to Grass Valley
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer game design programs near Grass Valley, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Grass Valley 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:
BOCSCORE
- 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 Grass Valley.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Acceptance rate
93%
Graduation rate
63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$64,172
Avg net price
$14,480/yr
TuitionIn‑state$8,472
Out‑of‑state$21,072
Key stats
- Retention rate: 83%
- Programs offered: 74
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
25%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$39,008
Avg net price
$40,613/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 71%
- Programs offered: 36
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
73%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$49,414
Avg net price
$53,909/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 90%
- Programs offered: 25
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
50%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$51,017
Avg net price
$27,815/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 64%
- Programs offered: 7
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
25%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$57,072
Avg net price
$7,653/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
66%
Graduation rate
75%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$68,396
Avg net price
$17,890/yr
TuitionIn‑state$16,005
Out‑of‑state$50,205
Key stats
- Retention rate: 89%
- Programs offered: 81
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
34%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$49,044
Avg net price
$-2,296/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$65,668
Avg net price
$33,692/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 77%
- Programs offered: 23
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California game design page.
Game Design Wages Near Grass Valley
| Occupation |
Median Annual Wage (California, statewide) |
| Software Developers |
$174,410 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators |
$130,540 |
| Graphic Designers |
$75,130 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers |
$136,110 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers |
$128,740 |
| Writers and Authors |
$86,480 |
| Computer Programmers |
$116,760 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers |
$218,290 |
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.
Grass Valley at a Glance
| Metric |
Value |
Source |
| Population |
14,126 |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income |
$48,850 |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ |
32.0% |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
Other Grass Valley-Area Cities With Game Design Programs
- Lincoln, CA – 27.3 mi away (47,030 pop)
- Rocklin, CA – 30.6 mi away (62,787 pop)
- Yuba City, CA – 31.8 mi away (120,159 pop)
- Oroville, CA – 33.3 mi away (45,445 pop)
- Roseville, CA – 34.5 mi away (132,671 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited game design schools are near Grass Valley, CA?
Our directory has 2 accredited schools offering game design programs near Grass Valley. The closest is Sacramento City College in Sacramento, CA (52.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is California State University-Chico (54.8 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying game design roles in California?
Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying game design-related roles in California are: Computer and Information Systems Managers ($218,290), Software Developers ($174,410), Web and Digital Interface Designers ($136,110). Wages for Grass Valley workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Should I look at programs in Lincoln instead of Grass Valley?
Lincoln, CA is 27.3 miles from Grass Valley 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 Grass Valley an affordable place to study game design?
Grass Valley’s median household income of $48,850 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Grass Valley while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and California 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 Grass Valley
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Grass Valley:
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- Philosophy programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Mathematics programs in Grass Valley, CA
- General Studies programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Forensic Psychology programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Child Development programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Data Science programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Electrical Engineering programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Software Engineering programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Engineering Management programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Geography programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Aviation Management programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Public Policy programs in Grass Valley, CA
- International Relations programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Chemistry programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Physics programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Neuroscience programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Spanish programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Film programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Fashion programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Architecture programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Urban Planning programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Industrial Design programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Instructional Design programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Higher Education Administration programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Global Health programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Art History programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Creative Writing programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Environmental Science programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Nutrition programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Theology programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Library Science programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Applied Behavior Analysis programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Medical Billing and Coding programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Medical Assistant programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Pharmacy Technician programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Health Science programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Occupational Safety and Health programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Entrepreneurship programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Interior Design programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Photography programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Sustainability Management programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Behavioral Health Science programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Mental Health Counseling programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Substance Abuse Counseling programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Journalism programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Public Relations programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Communication Disorders programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Speech Pathology programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Technical Communication programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Professional Writing programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Strategic Communications programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Business Development programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Construction Management programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Economics programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Financial Technology programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Forensic Accounting programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Health Information Management programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Hospitality Management programs in Grass Valley, CA
- International Business programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Organizational Leadership programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Management Information Systems programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Nonprofit Management programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Operations Management programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Public Administration programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Real Estate programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Recreation Management programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Retail Management programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Risk Management programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Statistics programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Taxation programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Corrections programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Crime Analysis programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Criminal Justice Administration programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Criminology programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Cybercrime programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Emergency Management programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Fire Science programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Forensic Science programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Legal Services programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Legal Studies programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Paralegal programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Security Management programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Cloud Computing programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Computer Engineering programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Innovation programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Mobile App Development programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Software Development programs in Grass Valley, CA
- User Experience programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Web Development programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Artificial Intelligence programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Machine Learning programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Supply Chain Management programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Data Analytics programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Public Health programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Human Resources programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Project Management programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Special Education programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Homeland Security programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Marketing programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Finance programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Kinesiology programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Sports Management programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Early Childhood Education programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Elementary Education programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Biology programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Communications programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Graphic Design programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Human Services programs in Grass Valley, CA
- MBA programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Criminal Justice programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Nursing programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Business Administration programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Computer Science programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Psychology programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Education programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Engineering programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Technology programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Liberal Arts programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Healthcare programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Cybersecurity programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Accounting programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Healthcare Administration programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Social Work programs in Grass Valley, CA
- Counseling programs in Grass Valley, CA
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.
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