Best Game Design Schools Near Reno, NV (2026)

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

Reno, Nevada is home to about 268,959 residents. Median household income is $78,448 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 35.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Reno, NV metro area, the top-earning game design-related role is Computer and Information Systems Managers at a median $167,900 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Game Design Schools to Reno

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

Game Design Wages Near Reno

Reno is part of the Reno, NV metro area (BLS area code 39900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Nevada statewide.

Occupation Median Wage Source COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Software Developers $125,710 Reno, NV $124,465
Special Effects Artists and Animators $105,240 Reno, NV $104,198
Graphic Designers $56,160 Reno, NV $55,604
Web and Digital Interface Designers $77,290 Reno, NV $76,525
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers $100,130 Reno, NV $99,139
Writers and Authors $63,910 NV statewide $63,277
Computer Programmers $104,200 Reno, NV $103,168
Computer and Information Systems Managers $167,900 Reno, NV $166,238

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.

Reno at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 268,959 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $78,448 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 35.7% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 101.0 (above U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Reno-Area Cities With Game Design Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying game design-related roles near Reno are: Computer and Information Systems Managers ($167,900), Software Developers ($125,710), Special Effects Artists and Animators ($105,240). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Nevada statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Sparks instead of Reno?

Sparks, NV is 7.4 miles from Reno 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 Reno an affordable place to study game design?

Reno’s median household income of $78,448 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Reno while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Nevada 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 Reno

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

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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