Pinehurst, North Carolina has 5 accredited schools offering game design programs, with tuition ranging from $2,320 to $20,529 per year for indexed programs. Pinehurst has a population of about 17,992. Median household income is $104,955 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 62.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC metro area, the top-earning game design-related role is Computer and Information Systems Managers at a median $137,460 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Game Design Schools to Pinehurst
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer game design programs near Pinehurst, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Pinehurst 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 Pinehurst.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
28%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$31,861
Avg net price
$3,589/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
38%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$36,686
Avg net price
$5,721/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
32%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$41,769
Avg net price
$8,759/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
31%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$33,934
Avg net price
$15,002/yr
TuitionIn‑state$2,320
Out‑of‑state$7,696
Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
75%
Graduation rate
72%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$61,389
Avg net price
$38,707/yr
TuitionIn‑state$45,312
Out‑of‑state$45,312
Key stats
- Retention rate: 85%
- Programs offered: 69
Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
49%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$46,643
Avg net price
$21,649/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 68%
- Programs offered: 26
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
70%
Graduation rate
43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$46,566
Avg net price
$17,882/yr
TuitionIn‑state$21,000
Out‑of‑state$21,000
Key stats
- Retention rate: 64%
- Programs offered: 25
Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all North Carolina schools on the North Carolina game design page.
Game Design Wages Near Pinehurst
Pinehurst is part of the Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC metro area (BLS area code 38240). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to North Carolina statewide.
| Occupation |
Median Wage |
Source |
COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
| Software Developers |
$130,240 |
Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC |
$147,497 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators |
$88,350 |
NC statewide |
$100,057 |
| Graphic Designers |
$50,230 |
Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC |
$56,886 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers |
$97,990 |
NC statewide |
$110,974 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers |
$101,140 |
Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC |
$114,541 |
| Writers and Authors |
$63,660 |
NC statewide |
$72,095 |
| Computer Programmers |
$81,070 |
NC statewide |
$91,812 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers |
$137,460 |
Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC |
$155,674 |
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.
Pinehurst at a Glance
| Metric |
Value |
Source |
| Population |
17,992 |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income |
$104,955 |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ |
62.0% |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) |
88.3 (below U.S. average) |
BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Pinehurst-Area Cities With Game Design Programs
- Rockingham, NC – 24.1 mi away (24,135 pop)
- Sanford, NC – 25.9 mi away (34,339 pop)
- Fayetteville, NC – 28.7 mi away (316,764 pop)
- Laurinburg, NC – 29.9 mi away (20,514 pop)
- Asheboro, NC – 41.1 mi away (39,496 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited game design schools are near Pinehurst, NC?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering game design programs near Pinehurst. The closest is St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, NC (30.9 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Guilford Technical Community College (61.2 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying game design roles near Pinehurst?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying game design-related roles near Pinehurst are: Computer and Information Systems Managers ($137,460), Software Developers ($130,240), Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers ($101,140). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with North Carolina statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Rockingham instead of Pinehurst?
Rockingham, NC is 24.1 miles from Pinehurst 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 Pinehurst an affordable place to study game design?
Pinehurst’s median household income of $104,955 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Pinehurst while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and North Carolina 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 Pinehurst
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Pinehurst:
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- Philosophy programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Mathematics programs in Pinehurst, NC
- General Studies programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Forensic Psychology programs in Pinehurst, NC
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- Electrical Engineering programs in Pinehurst, NC
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- Aviation Management programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Public Policy programs in Pinehurst, NC
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- Film programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Fashion programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Architecture programs in Pinehurst, NC
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- Industrial Design programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Instructional Design programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Higher Education Administration programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Global Health programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Art History programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Creative Writing programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Environmental Science programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Nutrition programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Theology programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Library Science programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Applied Behavior Analysis programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Medical Billing and Coding programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Medical Assistant programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Pharmacy Technician programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Health Science programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Occupational Safety and Health programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Entrepreneurship programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Interior Design programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Photography programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Sustainability Management programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Behavioral Health Science programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Mental Health Counseling programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Substance Abuse Counseling programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Journalism programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Public Relations programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Communication Disorders programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Speech Pathology programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Technical Communication programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Professional Writing programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Strategic Communications programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Business Development programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Construction Management programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Economics programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Financial Technology programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Forensic Accounting programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Health Information Management programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Hospitality Management programs in Pinehurst, NC
- International Business programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Organizational Leadership programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Management Information Systems programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Nonprofit Management programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Operations Management programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Public Administration programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Real Estate programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Recreation Management programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Retail Management programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Risk Management programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Statistics programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Taxation programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Corrections programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Crime Analysis programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Criminal Justice Administration programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Criminology programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Cybercrime programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Emergency Management programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Fire Science programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Forensic Science programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Legal Services programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Legal Studies programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Paralegal programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Security Management programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Cloud Computing programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Computer Engineering programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Innovation programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Mobile App Development programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Software Development programs in Pinehurst, NC
- User Experience programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Web Development programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Artificial Intelligence programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Machine Learning programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Supply Chain Management programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Data Analytics programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Public Health programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Human Resources programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Project Management programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Special Education programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Homeland Security programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Marketing programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Finance programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Kinesiology programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Sports Management programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Early Childhood Education programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Elementary Education programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Biology programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Communications programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Graphic Design programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Human Services programs in Pinehurst, NC
- MBA programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Criminal Justice programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Nursing programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Business Administration programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Computer Science programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Psychology programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Education programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Engineering programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Technology programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Liberal Arts programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Healthcare programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Cybersecurity programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Accounting programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Healthcare Administration programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Social Work programs in Pinehurst, NC
- Counseling programs in Pinehurst, NC
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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