Best Game Design Schools Near Ashland, OH (2026)

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

Ashland, Ohio has 5 accredited schools offering game design programs, with tuition ranging from $6,006 to $13,935 per year for indexed programs. Ashland has a population of about 19,008. Median household income is $57,310 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 23.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Ohio, the top-earning game design-related role is Computer and Information Systems Managers at a median $163,640 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Game Design Schools to Ashland

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer game design programs near Ashland, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Ashland 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 Ashland. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

Sort:
#1

Stark State College

North Canton, OH 45.8 miles from Ashland
  • 2 year
  • Offers a fully online program
46.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 29%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $34,661
Avg net price $5,986/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 93

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Heidelberg University

Tiffin, OH 47.6 miles from Ashland
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
47.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 56%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,466
Avg net price $20,556/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 37

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Sponsored Ad
#3

Cuyahoga Community College District

Cleveland, OH 54.4 miles from Ashland
  • 2 year
  • Offers a fully online program
47.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 19%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $35,654
Avg net price $4,266/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 103

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Cleveland Institute of Art

Cleveland, OH 57.9 miles from Ashland
  • 4 year
40.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,509
Avg net price $29,208/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 87%
  • Programs offered: 15

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Sponsored Ad
#5

Zane State College

Zanesville, OH 64.3 miles from Ashland
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
51.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 49%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $35,006
Avg net price $8,062/yr
Tuition
In‑state$6,006
Out‑of‑state$11,766
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 34

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Columbus State Community College

Columbus, OH 71.4 miles from Ashland
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
56.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 30%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $39,435
Avg net price $8,400/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 92

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Sponsored Ad
#7

Columbus College of Art & Design

Columbus, OH 71.6 miles from Ashland
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
42.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $40,664
Avg net price $29,439/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 11

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Ohio University-Main Campus

Athens, OH 107.0 miles from Ashland
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
63.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 69%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,581
Avg net price $21,637/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 217

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Sponsored Ad

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

Game Design Wages Near Ashland

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Ohio, statewide)
Software Developers $114,090
Special Effects Artists and Animators $67,000
Graphic Designers $60,080
Web and Digital Interface Designers $83,360
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers $98,000
Writers and Authors $65,930
Computer Programmers $85,270
Computer and Information Systems Managers $163,640

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.

Ashland at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 19,008 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $57,310 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 23.8% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Ashland-Area Cities With Game Design Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited game design schools are near Ashland, OH?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering game design programs near Ashland. The closest is Stark State College in North Canton, OH (45.8 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Zane State College (64.3 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying game design roles in Ohio?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying game design-related roles in Ohio are: Computer and Information Systems Managers ($163,640), Software Developers ($114,090), Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers ($98,000). Wages for Ashland workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Mansfield instead of Ashland?

Mansfield, OH is 13.1 miles from Ashland 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 Ashland an affordable place to study game design?

Ashland’s median household income of $57,310 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Ashland while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Ohio 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 Ashland

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

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 Ohio: Online Programs (2026)