Game Design & Development Degree in Plymouth, MN — Salary & ROI 2026
Game Design & Development degree analysis for Plymouth, MN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$91K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.2 yrs
in Plymouth
Cost of Living
107.3
index (100 = avg)
Game Design & Development in Plymouth, MN Overview
While Plymouth has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Game Design & Development students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,754/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 Plymouth is approximately $53,650, growing to $91,205 by mid-career.
Category
Arts & Technology
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$14,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,754/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,061/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
71%
Game Design & Development Salary in Plymouth (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Plymouth's cost of living index of 107.3 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Game Design & Development salary: $50,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $120,000 senior level.Plymouth adjustment factor: 1.07x based on the local cost of living index.
Game Design & Development ROI Calculator for Plymouth
Estimate your return on investment for a Game Design & Development degree using local Plymouth tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Plymouth avg aid: $10,061/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$115,816
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,095
vs HS diploma in Plymouth
ROI Payback Period
7.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Plymouth
$635,284
Lifetime earnings premium ($751,100) minus total education cost ($115,816)
Student Loan Payoff for Game Design & Development in Plymouth
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Plymouth for Game Design & Development
Plymouth State University
public
$14,111/yr
$56,444 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Plymouth Community College
$6,023/yr
Top Employers for Game Design & Development in Plymouth
Plymouth offers opportunities in Game studios, Tech companies, Media companies for Game Design & Development graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Plymouth Hiring Sectors for Arts & Technology
Game studios
Tech companies
Media companies
Startups
Entertainment
Common Game Design & Development Job Titles
Game Design & Development in Nearby Minnesota Cities
Minneapolis, MN
$49K starting · COL 97
15 colleges
Saint Paul, MN
$51K starting · COL 101.5
11 colleges
St. Paul, MN
$54K starting · COL 108
20 colleges
Rochester, MN
$53K starting · COL 105
8 colleges
Duluth, MN
$50K starting · COL 100
5 colleges
Bloomington, MN
$50K starting · COL 100.2
4 colleges
Brooklyn Park, MN
$49K starting · COL 98.8
4 colleges
Maple Grove, MN
$54K starting · COL 107.4
4 colleges
Game Design & Development Degree in Plymouth — 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 Plymouth.