Lake in the Hills, Illinois has 3 accredited schools offering game design programs, with tuition ranging from $5,184 to $17,359 per year for indexed programs. Lake in the Hills has a population of about 28,853. Median household income is $113,491 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 36.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, the top-earning game design-related role is Computer and Information Systems Managers at a median $173,760 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Game Design Schools to Lake in the Hills
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer game design programs near Lake in the Hills, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Lake in the Hills 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 Lake in the Hills.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Graduation rate
55%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$42,195
Avg net price
$26,598/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 65%
- Programs offered: 48
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
56%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$38,877
Avg net price
$2,254/yr
TuitionIn‑state$4,415
Out‑of‑state$14,301
Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois game design page.
Game Design Wages Near Lake in the Hills
Lake in the Hills is part of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (BLS area code 16980). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Illinois statewide.
| Occupation |
Median Wage |
Source |
COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
| Software Developers |
$134,380 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$129,710 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators |
$83,200 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$80,309 |
| Graphic Designers |
$66,490 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$64,180 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers |
$87,920 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$84,865 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers |
$105,580 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$101,911 |
| Writers and Authors |
$75,940 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$73,301 |
| Computer Programmers |
$99,750 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$96,284 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers |
$173,760 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN |
$167,722 |
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.
Lake in the Hills at a Glance
| Metric |
Value |
Source |
| Population |
28,853 |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income |
$113,491 |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ |
36.7% |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) |
103.6 (above U.S. average) |
BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Lake in the Hills-Area Cities With Game Design Programs
- Algonquin, IL – 2.6 mi away (30,947 pop)
- Crystal Lake, IL – 3.0 mi away (40,339 pop)
- Huntley, IL – 4.9 mi away (26,611 pop)
- Carpentersville, IL – 5.6 mi away (38,291 pop)
- Woodstock, IL – 9.4 mi away (25,628 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited game design schools are near Lake in the Hills, IL?
Our directory has 3 accredited schools offering game design programs near Lake in the Hills. The closest is Columbia College Chicago in Chicago, IL (43.1 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Wisconsin-Madison (81.3 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying game design roles near Lake in the Hills?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying game design-related roles near Lake in the Hills are: Computer and Information Systems Managers ($173,760), Software Developers ($134,380), Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers ($105,580). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Illinois statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Algonquin instead of Lake in the Hills?
Algonquin, IL is 2.6 miles from Lake in the Hills 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 Lake in the Hills an affordable place to study game design?
Lake in the Hills’s median household income of $113,491 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lake in the Hills while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Illinois 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 Lake in the Hills
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Lake in the Hills:
- History programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- English programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Sociology programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Anthropology programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Political Science programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Philosophy programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Mathematics programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- General Studies programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Forensic Psychology programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Child Development programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Data Science programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Electrical Engineering programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Software Engineering programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Engineering Management programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Geography programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Aviation Management programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Public Policy programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- International Relations programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Chemistry programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Physics programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Neuroscience programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Spanish programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Film programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Fashion programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Architecture programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Urban Planning programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Industrial Design programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Instructional Design programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Higher Education Administration programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Global Health programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Art History programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Creative Writing programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Environmental Science programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Nutrition programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Theology programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Library Science programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Applied Behavior Analysis programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Medical Billing and Coding programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Medical Assistant programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Pharmacy Technician programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Health Science programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Occupational Safety and Health programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Entrepreneurship programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Interior Design programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Photography programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Sustainability Management programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Behavioral Health Science programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Mental Health Counseling programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Substance Abuse Counseling programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Journalism programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Public Relations programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Communication Disorders programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Speech Pathology programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Technical Communication programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Professional Writing programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Strategic Communications programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Business Development programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Construction Management programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Economics programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Financial Technology programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Forensic Accounting programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Health Information Management programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Hospitality Management programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- International Business programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Organizational Leadership programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Management Information Systems programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Nonprofit Management programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Operations Management programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Public Administration programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Real Estate programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Recreation Management programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Retail Management programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Risk Management programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Statistics programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Taxation programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Corrections programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Crime Analysis programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Criminal Justice Administration programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Criminology programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Cybercrime programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Emergency Management programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Fire Science programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Forensic Science programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Legal Services programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Legal Studies programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Paralegal programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Security Management programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Cloud Computing programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Computer Engineering programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Innovation programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Mobile App Development programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Software Development programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- User Experience programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Web Development programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Artificial Intelligence programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Machine Learning programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Supply Chain Management programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Data Analytics programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Public Health programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Human Resources programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Project Management programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Special Education programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Homeland Security programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Marketing programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Finance programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Kinesiology programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Sports Management programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Early Childhood Education programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Elementary Education programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Biology programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Communications programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Graphic Design programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Human Services programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- MBA programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Criminal Justice programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Nursing programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Business Administration programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Computer Science programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Psychology programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Education programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Engineering programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Technology programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Liberal Arts programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Healthcare programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Cybersecurity programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Accounting programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Healthcare Administration programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Social Work programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
- Counseling programs in Lake in the Hills, IL
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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