Best Game Design Schools Near Joplin, MO (2026)

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

Joplin, Missouri has 1 accredited school offering game design programs. Joplin has a population of about 52,218. Median household income is $51,154 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 26.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Joplin, MO-KS metro area, the top-earning game design-related role is Computer and Information Systems Managers at a median $129,810 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Game Design Schools to Joplin

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

Drury University

Springfield, MO 67.7 miles from Joplin
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
48.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $40,694
Avg net price $20,831/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 57

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, MO 247.9 miles from Joplin
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
50.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $53,278
Avg net price $19,638/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 69%
  • Programs offered: 84

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Webster University

Saint Louis, MO 249.7 miles from Joplin
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
42.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 55%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $50,876
Avg net price $27,047/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 105

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Game Design Wages Near Joplin

Joplin is part of the Joplin, MO-KS metro area (BLS area code 27900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Missouri statewide.

Occupation Median Wage Source COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Software Developers $105,960 Joplin, MO-KS $123,641
Special Effects Artists and Animators $65,470 MO statewide $76,394
Graphic Designers $49,440 Joplin, MO-KS $57,690
Web and Digital Interface Designers $70,970 MO statewide $82,812
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers $85,530 MO statewide $99,802
Writers and Authors $58,140 MO statewide $67,841
Computer Programmers $90,420 MO statewide $105,508
Computer and Information Systems Managers $129,810 Joplin, MO-KS $151,470

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.

Joplin at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 52,218 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $51,154 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 26.4% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 85.7 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Joplin-Area Cities With Game Design Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited game design schools are near Joplin, MO?

Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering game design programs near Joplin. The closest is Drury University in Springfield, MO (67.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Drury University (67.7 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying game design-related roles near Joplin are: Computer and Information Systems Managers ($129,810), Software Developers ($105,960), Computer Programmers ($90,420). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Missouri statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Pittsburg instead of Joplin?

Pittsburg, KS is 25.7 miles from Joplin 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 Joplin an affordable place to study game design?

Joplin’s median household income of $51,154 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Joplin while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Missouri 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 Joplin

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

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 Missouri: Online Programs (2026)