Game Design & Development Degree in Irving, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Game Design & Development degree analysis for Irving, TX. 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 yrs
in Irving
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Game Design & Development in Irving, TX Overview
Irving is one of Texas's top college towns, with 23 institutions and a student population of 13,394. Public tuition averages $7,612/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Game Design & Development has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Unity and Unreal Engine skills. The adjusted starting salary in Irving is approximately $52,000, growing to $88,400 by mid-career.
Category
Arts & Technology
Local Colleges
23
Public Tuition
$7,612/yr
Private Tuition
$44,780/yr
Room & Board
$11,777/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,860/yr
Unemployment
5.2%
Graduation Rate
47%
Game Design & Development Salary in Irving (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Irving'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.Irving adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Game Design & Development ROI Calculator for Irving
Estimate your return on investment for a Game Design & Development degree using local Irving tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,612 | Private avg: $44,780
Irving avg aid: $12,860/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$77,556
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,600
vs HS diploma in Irving
ROI Payback Period
5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Irving
$650,444
Lifetime earnings premium ($728,000) minus total education cost ($77,556)
Student Loan Payoff for Game Design & Development in Irving
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Irving for Game Design & Development
University of Dallas
private
$44,780/yr
$179,120 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
North Lake College
$2,220/yr
Top Employers for Game Design & Development in Irving
Irving offers opportunities in Game studios, Tech companies, Media companies for Game Design & Development graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Irving Hiring Sectors for Arts & Technology
Game studios
Tech companies
Media companies
Startups
Entertainment
Common Game Design & Development Job Titles
Game Design & Development in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$58K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$60K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$52K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$54K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$51K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$47K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$47K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$41K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Game Design & Development Degree in Irving — 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 Irving.