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California Game Design At a Glance
| Metric |
Detail |
| Median Game Design Salary |
$133,308 |
| Salary Outlook |
California offers competitive wages for game design professionals, reflected in the state-specific Bureau of Labor Statistics median salaries shown below. |
| Primary Licensing Body |
California Professional Licensing Board |
| Accreditation Required |
Institutional + Regional |
Earning an online game design degree in California offers a flexible path into game design careers. California offers competitive wages for game design professionals, reflected in the state-specific Bureau of Labor Statistics median salaries shown below. Whether you’re looking for an affordable in-state option or a nationally available program, California students have access to a variety of accredited online choices that balance quality and cost.
Online Game Design Schools in California
The following schools offer accredited online game design programs and are ranked based on affordability, graduation rates, and student outcomes in California.
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.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Acceptance rate
29%
Graduation rate
86%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$80,735
Avg net price
$14,251/yr
TuitionIn‑state$15,722
Out‑of‑state$49,922
Key stats
- Retention rate: 94%
- Programs offered: 134
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
93%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$92,498
Avg net price
$32,740/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 96%
- Programs offered: 267
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
93%
Graduation rate
63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$64,172
Avg net price
$14,480/yr
TuitionIn‑state$8,472
Out‑of‑state$21,072
Key stats
- Retention rate: 83%
- Programs offered: 74
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
66%
Graduation rate
75%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$68,396
Avg net price
$17,890/yr
TuitionIn‑state$16,005
Out‑of‑state$50,205
Key stats
- Retention rate: 89%
- Programs offered: 81
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
34%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$49,044
Avg net price
$-2,296/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
70%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$114,785
Avg net price
$51,949/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 89%
- Programs offered: 2
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$65,668
Avg net price
$33,692/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 77%
- Programs offered: 23
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
73%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$49,414
Avg net price
$53,909/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 90%
- Programs offered: 25
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Career Outlook and Salaries in California
Game Design professionals in California experience a dynamic job market with competitive wages. Below are the median annual salaries for key roles in the field, based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data for California.
| Occupation |
Median Annual Salary (California) |
| Software Developers |
$174,410 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators |
$130,540 |
| Graphic Designers |
$75,130 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers |
$136,110 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers |
$128,740 |
| Writers and Authors |
$86,480 |
| Computer Programmers |
$116,760 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers |
$218,290 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Why Pursue an Online Game Design Degree in California?
Choosing a program in California can provide several advantages:
- In-State Tuition: Many public universities in California offer lower tuition rates for residents, even for online programs.
- Local Networking: Attending a school within your state can make it easier to connect with local employers and professional organizations.
- Regional Relevance: Curriculum often incorporates data and case studies relevant to the California economy and job market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are online game design programs in California accredited?
The schools in our directory hold institutional accreditation from agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education - that is a condition of inclusion. Verify any specific school and program in the Department’s DAPIP database before enrolling.
How does Game Design pay in California compare to other states?
California offers competitive wages for game design professionals, reflected in the state-specific Bureau of Labor Statistics median salaries shown below. This makes California a strong choice for students looking to maximize their ROI after graduation.
What is the primary licensing board for game design in California?
The California Professional Licensing Board oversees professional standards and licensure for the field in California. Most accredited programs are designed to align with their specific requirements.
Online Game Design Programs by City in California
Explore city-level guides with local salary data and school options:
Adelanto ·
Agoura Hills ·
Alameda ·
Alhambra ·
Aliso Viejo ·
American Canyon ·
Anaheim ·
Antioch ·
Apple Valley ·
Arcadia ·
Arroyo Grande ·
Arvin ·
Atascadero ·
Atwater ·
Azusa ·
Bakersfield ·
Baldwin Park ·
Banning ·
Barstow ·
Beaumont ·
Bell ·
Bell Gardens ·
Bellflower ·
Belmont ·
Benicia ·
Berkeley ·
Beverly Hills ·
Brawley ·
Brea ·
Brentwood ·
Buena Park ·
Burbank ·
Burlingame ·
Calabasas ·
Calexico ·
Camarillo ·
Campbell ·
Carlsbad ·
Carson ·
Cathedral City ·
Ceres ·
Cerritos ·
Chico ·
Chino ·
Chino Hills ·
Chula Vista ·
Citrus Heights ·
Claremont ·
Clovis ·
Coachella ·
Colton ·
Compton ·
Concord ·
Corcoran ·
Corona ·
Coronado ·
Costa Mesa ·
Covina ·
Cudahy ·
Culver City ·
Cupertino ·
Cypress ·
Daly City ·
Dana Point ·
Danville ·
Davis ·
Delano ·
Desert Hot Springs ·
Diamond Bar ·
Dinuba ·
Downey ·
Duarte ·
Dublin ·
East Palo Alto ·
Eastvale ·
El Cajon ·
El Centro ·
El Cerrito ·
El Monte ·
Elk Grove ·
Encinitas ·
Escondido ·
Eureka ·
Fairfield ·
Folsom ·
Fontana ·
Foster City ·
Fountain Valley ·
Fremont ·
Fresno ·
Fullerton ·
Galt ·
Garden Grove ·
Gardena ·
Gilroy ·
Glendale ·
Glendora ·
Goleta ·
Grass Valley ·
Half Moon Bay ·
Hanford ·
Hawthorne ·
Hayward ·
Hemet ·
Hercules ·
Hesperia ·
Highland ·
Hollister ·
Huntington Beach ·
Huntington Park ·
Imperial Beach ·
Indio ·
Inglewood ·
Irvine ·
Jurupa Valley ·
La Canada Flintridge ·
La Habra ·
La Mesa ·
La Mirada ·
La Puente ·
La Quinta ·
La Verne ·
Lafayette ·
Laguna Beach ·
Laguna Hills ·
Laguna Niguel ·
Lake Elsinore ·
Lake Forest ·
Lakewood ·
Lancaster ·
Lathrop ·
Lawndale ·
Lemon Grove ·
Lemoore ·
Lincoln ·
Livermore ·
Lodi ·
Loma Linda ·
Lomita ·
Lompoc ·
Long Beach ·
Los Altos ·
Los Angeles ·
Los Banos ·
Los Gatos ·
Lynwood ·
Madera ·
Manhattan Beach ·
Manteca ·
Marina ·
Martinez ·
Maywood ·
Menifee ·
Menlo Park ·
Merced ·
Millbrae ·
Milpitas ·
Mission Viejo ·
Modesto ·
Monrovia ·
Montclair ·
Montebello ·
Monterey ·
Monterey Park ·
Moorpark ·
Moreno Valley ·
Morgan Hill ·
Mountain View ·
Murrieta ·
Napa ·
National City ·
Newark ·
Newport Beach ·
Norco ·
Norwalk ·
Novato ·
Oakdale ·
Oakland ·
Oakley ·
Oceanside ·
Ontario ·
Orange ·
Oroville ·
Oxnard ·
Pacifica ·
Palm Desert ·
Palm Springs ·
Palmdale ·
Palo Alto ·
Paradise ·
Paramount ·
Pasadena ·
Patterson ·
Perris ·
Petaluma ·
Pico Rivera ·
Pittsburg ·
Placentia ·
Placerville ·
Pleasant Hill ·
Pleasanton ·
Pomona ·
Port Hueneme ·
Porterville ·
Poway ·
Rancho Cordova ·
Rancho Cucamonga ·
Rancho Palos Verdes ·
Rancho Santa Margarita ·
Redding ·
Redlands ·
Redondo Beach ·
Redwood City ·
Reedley ·
Rialto ·
Richmond ·
Ridgecrest ·
Riverbank ·
Riverside ·
Rocklin ·
Rohnert Park ·
Rosemead ·
Roseville ·
Sacramento ·
Salinas ·
San Bernardino ·
San Bruno ·
San Carlos ·
San Clemente ·
San Diego ·
San Dimas ·
San Fernando ·
San Francisco ·
San Gabriel ·
San Jacinto ·
San Jose ·
San Juan Capistrano ·
San Leandro ·
San Luis Obispo ·
San Marcos ·
San Mateo ·
San Pablo ·
San Rafael ·
San Ramon ·
Sanger ·
Santa Ana ·
Santa Barbara ·
Santa Clara ·
Santa Clarita ·
Santa Cruz ·
Santa Maria ·
Santa Monica ·
Santa Paula ·
Santa Rosa ·
Santee ·
Saratoga ·
Seal Beach ·
Seaside ·
Selma ·
Shafter ·
Simi Valley ·
Soledad ·
Sonoma ·
Sonora ·
South El Monte ·
South Gate ·
South Lake Tahoe ·
South Pasadena ·
South San Francisco ·
Stanton ·
Stockton ·
Suisun ·
Sunnyvale ·
Temecula ·
Temple City ·
Thousand Oaks ·
Torrance ·
Tracy ·
Tulare ·
Turlock ·
Tustin ·
Ukiah ·
Union City ·
Upland ·
Vacaville ·
Vallejo ·
Victorville ·
Visalia ·
Vista ·
Walnut ·
Walnut Creek ·
Wasco ·
Watsonville ·
West Covina ·
West Hollywood ·
West Sacramento ·
Westminster ·
Whittier ·
Wildomar ·
Windsor ·
Woodland ·
Yorba Linda ·
Yuba City ·
Yucaipa ·
Yucca Valley
Browse Other States
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