Best Game Design Schools Near Helena, MT (2026)

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

Helena, Montana is home to about 33,126 residents. Median household income is $69,341 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 50.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Helena, MT metro area, the top-earning game design-related role is Computer and Information Systems Managers at a median $130,230 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Game Design Schools to Helena

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer game design programs near Helena, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Helena city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

No school data available.

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

Game Design Wages Near Helena

Helena is part of the Helena, MT metro area (BLS area code 25740). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Montana statewide.

Occupation Median Wage Source COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Software Developers $99,370 Helena, MT $103,835
Special Effects Artists and Animators N/A MT statewide –
Graphic Designers $63,690 Helena, MT $66,552
Web and Digital Interface Designers $77,030 MT statewide $80,491
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers $103,930 MT statewide $108,600
Writers and Authors N/A MT statewide –
Computer Programmers $89,920 MT statewide $93,960
Computer and Information Systems Managers $130,230 Helena, MT $136,082

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.

Helena at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 33,126 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $69,341 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 50.4% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 95.7 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Helena-Area Cities With Game Design Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying game design-related roles near Helena are: Computer and Information Systems Managers ($130,230), Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers ($103,930), Software Developers ($99,370). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Montana statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Butte instead of Helena?

Butte, MT is 56.8 miles from Helena 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 Helena an affordable place to study game design?

Helena’s median household income of $69,341 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Helena while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Montana 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 Helena

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

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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