Game Design & Development Degree in Glendale, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Game Design & Development degree analysis for Glendale, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$53K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$89K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.7 yrs
in Glendale
Cost of Living
105
index (100 = avg)
Game Design & Development in Glendale, AZ Overview
Glendale, Arizona (pop. 248,325) has 16 colleges offering Game Design & Development programs. The local cost of living index of 105 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,370/month. Game Design & Development has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Unity and Unreal Engine skills. The adjusted starting salary in Glendale is approximately $52,500, growing to $89,250 by mid-career.
Category
Arts & Technology
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$12,652/yr
Private Tuition
$44,500/yr
Room & Board
$13,685/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,168/yr
Unemployment
4.8%
Graduation Rate
53%
Game Design & Development Salary in Glendale (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Glendale's cost of living index of 105 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Game Design & Development salary: $50,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $120,000 senior level.Glendale adjustment factor: 1.05x based on the local cost of living index.
Game Design & Development ROI Calculator for Glendale
Estimate your return on investment for a Game Design & Development degree using local Glendale tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,652 | Private avg: $44,500
Glendale avg aid: $14,168/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,348
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,750
vs HS diploma in Glendale
ROI Payback Period
6.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Glendale
$629,652
Lifetime earnings premium ($735,000) minus total education cost ($105,348)
Student Loan Payoff for Game Design & Development in Glendale
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Glendale for Game Design & Development
Midwestern University
private
$44,500/yr
$178,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Glendale Community College
$2,580/yr
Top Employers for Game Design & Development in Glendale
Glendale offers opportunities in Game studios, Tech companies, Media companies for Game Design & Development graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Glendale Hiring Sectors for Arts & Technology
Game studios
Tech companies
Media companies
Startups
Entertainment
Common Game Design & Development Job Titles
Game Design & Development in Nearby Arizona Cities
Phoenix, AZ
$76K starting · COL 152
72 colleges
Tucson, AZ
$58K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Mesa, AZ
$55K starting · COL 110
31 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$62K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Gilbert, AZ
$60K starting · COL 119
26 colleges
Scottsdale, AZ
$63K starting · COL 126
16 colleges
Peoria, AZ
$52K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Tempe, AZ
$57K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Game Design & Development Degree in Glendale — 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 Glendale.