Best Game Design Schools Near Centralia, WA (2026)

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

Centralia, Washington has 3 accredited schools offering game design programs. Centralia has a population of about 18,457. Median household income is $52,387 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 17.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Washington, the top-earning game design-related role is Computer and Information Systems Managers at a median $209,370 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Game Design Schools to Centralia

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

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

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#1

Academy of Interactive Entertainment

Seattle, WA 68.5 miles from Centralia
  • 2 year
  • Offers a fully online program
56.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 90%
Avg net price $34,626/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 4

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Cornish College of the Arts

Seattle, WA 68.7 miles from Centralia
  • 4 year
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 12

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Skagit Valley College

Mount Vernon, WA 122.4 miles from Centralia
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
72.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 42%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $43,505
Avg net price $6,064/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 40

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Game Design Wages Near Centralia

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Washington, statewide)
Software Developers $166,540
Special Effects Artists and Animators $133,480
Graphic Designers $72,710
Web and Digital Interface Designers $130,480
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers $128,480
Writers and Authors $85,700
Computer Programmers $125,620
Computer and Information Systems Managers $209,370

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.

Centralia at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 18,457 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $52,387 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 17.6% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Centralia-Area Cities With Game Design Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited game design schools are near Centralia, WA?

Our directory has 3 accredited schools offering game design programs near Centralia. The closest is Academy of Interactive Entertainment in Seattle, WA (68.5 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Mt Hood Community College (87.8 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying game design-related roles in Washington are: Computer and Information Systems Managers ($209,370), Software Developers ($166,540), Special Effects Artists and Animators ($133,480). Wages for Centralia workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Tumwater instead of Centralia?

Tumwater, WA is 18.8 miles from Centralia 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 Centralia an affordable place to study game design?

Centralia’s median household income of $52,387 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Centralia while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Washington 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 Centralia

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

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 Washington: Online Programs (2026)