Game Design & Development Degree in Knoxville, TN — Salary & ROI 2026
Game Design & Development degree analysis for Knoxville, TN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$43K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$72K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Knoxville
Cost of Living
85
index (100 = avg)
Game Design & Development in Knoxville, TN Overview
While Knoxville has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Game Design & Development students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $10,300/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Game Design & Development has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Unity and Unreal Engine skills. The adjusted starting salary in Knoxville is approximately $42,500, growing to $72,250 by mid-career.
Category
Arts & Technology
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$8,792/yr
Private Tuition
$47,660/yr
Room & Board
$10,300/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,344/yr
Unemployment
6.6%
Graduation Rate
47%
Game Design & Development Salary in Knoxville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Knoxville's cost of living index of 85 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Game Design & Development salary: $50,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $120,000 senior level.Knoxville adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
Game Design & Development ROI Calculator for Knoxville
Estimate your return on investment for a Game Design & Development degree using local Knoxville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,792 | Private avg: $47,660
Knoxville avg aid: $10,344/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$76,368
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,750
vs HS diploma in Knoxville
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Knoxville
$518,632
Lifetime earnings premium ($595,000) minus total education cost ($76,368)
Student Loan Payoff for Game Design & Development in Knoxville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Knoxville for Game Design & Development
University of Tennessee
public
$13,264/yr
$53,056 total
Pellissippi State Community College
public
$4,320/yr
$17,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pellissippi State Community College
$4,320/yr
Top Employers for Game Design & Development in Knoxville
Knoxville offers opportunities in Game studios, Tech companies, Media companies for Game Design & Development graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Knoxville Hiring Sectors for Arts & Technology
Game studios
Tech companies
Media companies
Startups
Entertainment
Common Game Design & Development Job Titles
Game Design & Development in Nearby Tennessee Cities
Nashville, TN
$46K starting · COL 92
35 colleges
Memphis, TN
$47K starting · COL 93
22 colleges
Chattanooga, TN
$40K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Clarksville, TN
$45K starting · COL 90
9 colleges
Murfreesboro, TN
$46K starting · COL 91
10 colleges
Franklin, TN
$59K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Jackson, TN
$41K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Johnson City, TN
$53K starting · COL 105
6 colleges
Game Design & Development Degree in Knoxville — 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 Knoxville.