Game Design & Development Degree in Dayton, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Game Design & Development degree analysis for Dayton, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$88K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.7 yrs
in Dayton
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Game Design & Development in Dayton, OH Overview
Dayton, Ohio (pop. 137,644) has 9 colleges offering Game Design & Development programs. The local cost of living index of 104 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $865/month. Game Design & Development has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Unity and Unreal Engine skills. The adjusted starting salary in Dayton is approximately $52,000, growing to $88,400 by mid-career.
Category
Arts & Technology
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$9,740/yr
Private Tuition
$46,490/yr
Room & Board
$12,639/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,990/yr
Unemployment
6%
Graduation Rate
50%
Game Design & Development Salary in Dayton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Dayton's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Game Design & Development salary: $50,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $120,000 senior level.Dayton adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Game Design & Development ROI Calculator for Dayton
Estimate your return on investment for a Game Design & Development degree using local Dayton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,740 | Private avg: $46,490
Dayton avg aid: $7,990/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$89,516
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,600
vs HS diploma in Dayton
ROI Payback Period
5.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Dayton
$638,484
Lifetime earnings premium ($728,000) minus total education cost ($89,516)
Student Loan Payoff for Game Design & Development in Dayton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Dayton for Game Design & Development
University of Dayton
private
$46,490/yr
$185,960 total
Wright State University
public
$9,740/yr
$38,960 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Sinclair Community College
$4,344/yr
Top Employers for Game Design & Development in Dayton
Dayton offers opportunities in Game studios, Tech companies, Media companies for Game Design & Development graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Dayton Hiring Sectors for Arts & Technology
Game studios
Tech companies
Media companies
Startups
Entertainment
Common Game Design & Development Job Titles
Game Design & Development in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$52K starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cleveland, OH
$48K starting · COL 96
20 colleges
Cincinnati, OH
$51K starting · COL 102
28 colleges
Toledo, OH
$54K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Akron, OH
$53K starting · COL 105
5 colleges
Parma, OH
$45K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$42K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$43K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Game Design & Development Degree in Dayton — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Game Design & Development ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Dayton.