Game Design & Development Degree in Parma, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Game Design & Development degree analysis for Parma, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$77K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.4 yrs
in Parma
Cost of Living
90
index (100 = avg)
Game Design & Development in Parma, OH Overview
While Parma has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Game Design & Development students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $13,857/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 Parma is approximately $45,000, growing to $76,500 by mid-career.
Category
Arts & Technology
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$11,000/yr
Private Tuition
$34,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,857/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,347/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
62%
Game Design & Development Salary in Parma (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Parma's cost of living index of 90 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Game Design & Development salary: $50,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $120,000 senior level.Parma adjustment factor: 0.90x based on the local cost of living index.
Game Design & Development ROI Calculator for Parma
Estimate your return on investment for a Game Design & Development degree using local Parma tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,000 | Private avg: $34,000
Parma avg aid: $15,347/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$99,428
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,500
vs HS diploma in Parma
ROI Payback Period
7.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Parma
$530,572
Lifetime earnings premium ($630,000) minus total education cost ($99,428)
Student Loan Payoff for Game Design & Development in Parma
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Parma for Game Design & Development
Parma State University
public
$10,847/yr
$43,388 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Parma Community College
$5,562/yr
Top Employers for Game Design & Development in Parma
Parma offers opportunities in Game studios, Tech companies, Media companies for Game Design & Development graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Parma 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
Dayton, OH
$52K starting · COL 104
9 colleges
Canton, OH
$42K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$43K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Game Design & Development Degree in Parma — 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 Parma.