Best Game Design Schools Near Caldwell, ID (2026)

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

Caldwell, Idaho has 1 accredited school offering game design programs. Caldwell has a population of about 63,465. Median household income is $66,663 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 17.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Boise City, ID metro area, the top-earning game design-related role is Computer and Information Systems Managers at a median $161,990 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Game Design Schools to Caldwell

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

Boise State University

Boise, ID 23.0 miles from Caldwell
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
53.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 59%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,658
Avg net price $21,610/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 148

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Game Design Wages Near Caldwell

Caldwell is part of the Boise City, ID metro area (BLS area code 14260). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Idaho statewide.

Occupation Median Wage Source COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Software Developers $131,590 Boise City, ID $133,730
Special Effects Artists and Animators N/A ID statewide –
Graphic Designers $55,970 Boise City, ID $56,880
Web and Digital Interface Designers $58,240 Boise City, ID $59,187
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers $102,110 Boise City, ID $103,770
Writers and Authors $61,650 Boise City, ID $62,652
Computer Programmers $92,270 Boise City, ID $93,770
Computer and Information Systems Managers $161,990 Boise City, ID $164,624

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.

Caldwell at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 63,465 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $66,663 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 17.8% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 98.4 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Caldwell-Area Cities With Game Design Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited game design schools are near Caldwell, ID?

Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering game design programs near Caldwell. The closest is Boise State University in Boise, ID (23.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Boise State University (23.0 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying game design roles near Caldwell?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying game design-related roles near Caldwell are: Computer and Information Systems Managers ($161,990), Software Developers ($131,590), Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers ($102,110). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Idaho statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Nampa instead of Caldwell?

Nampa, ID is 6.4 miles from Caldwell 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 Caldwell an affordable place to study game design?

Caldwell’s median household income of $66,663 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Caldwell while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Idaho 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 Caldwell

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

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 Idaho: Online Programs (2026)