Best Game Design Schools Near Hartford, CT (2026)

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

Hartford, Connecticut has 5 accredited schools offering game design programs. Hartford has a population of about 119,970. Median household income is $45,300 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 18.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Connecticut, the top-earning game design-related role is Computer and Information Systems Managers at a median $171,750 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Game Design Schools to Hartford

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer game design programs near Hartford, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Hartford 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 Hartford. 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

Connecticut State Community College

New Britain, CT 0.6 miles from Hartford
  • 2 year
  • Offers a fully online program
47.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 25%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,344
Avg net price $11,513/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 127

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Quinnipiac University

Hamden, CT 26.3 miles from Hartford
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
72.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 79%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $83,759
Avg net price $40,675/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 82

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Sacred Heart University

Fairfield, CT 47.5 miles from Hartford
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
66.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 71%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $75,059
Avg net price $46,174/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 84%
  • Programs offered: 77

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Game Design Wages Near Hartford

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Connecticut, statewide)
Software Developers $134,120
Special Effects Artists and Animators N/A
Graphic Designers $72,700
Web and Digital Interface Designers $94,660
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers $97,740
Writers and Authors $98,460
Computer Programmers $133,820
Computer and Information Systems Managers $171,750

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.

Hartford at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 119,970 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $45,300 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 18.3% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Hartford-Area Cities With Game Design Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited game design schools are near Hartford, CT?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering game design programs near Hartford. The closest is Connecticut State Community College in New Britain, CT (0.6 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Worcester Polytechnic Institute (57.0 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying game design roles in Connecticut?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying game design-related roles in Connecticut are: Computer and Information Systems Managers ($171,750), Software Developers ($134,120), Computer Programmers ($133,820). Wages for Hartford workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in New Britain instead of Hartford?

New Britain, CT is 8.2 miles from Hartford 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 Hartford an affordable place to study game design?

Hartford’s median household income of $45,300 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Hartford while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Connecticut 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 Hartford

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

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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