Best Online Associate in Game Development

Badge for BEST ONLINE ASSOCIATE'S IN GAME DEVELOPMENT

Find top-ranked online associate in game development degree programs to prepare students for jobs like game testers, entry-level graphic designers, desktop publishers, and game designers. This degree can also provide a great starting point for students who will ultimately transfer into a bachelor’s degree program in game development.

Key Takeaways

  • Students in this major will take courses such as storytelling, animation, software programming, and game theory.
  • A game development associate degree pairs well with related fields like software engineering and web development.
  • This degree can lead to a career as a game tester, entry-level graphic designer, desktop publisher, game designer, and more. Many graduates go on to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Top 10 Online Associate Degree in Game Design and Development

Sort by:
  1. Academy of Art University
  2. Palomar College
  3. Henderson Community College
  4. Western Iowa Tech Community College
  5. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
  6. Finger Lakes Community College
  7. Guilford Technical Community College
  8. Bluegrass Community and Technical College
  9. Paradise Valley Community College
  10. Yavapai College
  1. Academy of Art University
  2. Palomar College
  3. Finger Lakes Community College
  4. Yavapai College
  5. Bluegrass Community and Technical College
  6. Guilford Technical Community College
  7. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
  8. Henderson Community College
  9. Paradise Valley Community College
  10. Western Iowa Tech Community College
    1. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College 23 to 1
    2. Palomar College 21 to 1
    3. Bluegrass Community and Technical College 18 to 1
    4. Yavapai College 18 to 1
    5. Henderson Community College 17 to 1
    6. Guilford Technical Community College 17 to 1
    7. Academy of Art University 15 to 1
    8. Finger Lakes Community College 14 to 1
    9. Western Iowa Tech Community College 13 to 1
    10. Paradise Valley Community College 11 to 1
    1. Academy of Art University $26,728
    2. Finger Lakes Community College $5,112
    3. Bluegrass Community and Technical College $4,368
    4. Henderson Community College $4,368
    5. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College $4,368
    6. Western Iowa Tech Community College $4,032
    7. Yavapai College $2,680
    8. Guilford Technical Community College $2,128
    9. Paradise Valley Community College $2,040
    10. Palomar College $1,288
    1. Academy of Art University $29,232
    1. Yavapai College
    2. Paradise Valley Community College
    3. Bluegrass Community and Technical College
    4. Guilford Technical Community College
    5. Finger Lakes Community College
    6. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
    7. Western Iowa Tech Community College
    8. Henderson Community College
    9. Palomar College
    10. Academy of Art University
    1. Western Iowa Tech Community College
    2. Paradise Valley Community College
    3. Henderson Community College
    4. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
    5. Guilford Technical Community College
    6. Bluegrass Community and Technical College
    7. Yavapai College
    8. Finger Lakes Community College
    9. Palomar College
    10. Academy of Art University
      1. Paradise Valley Community College 11 to 1
      2. Western Iowa Tech Community College 13 to 1
      3. Finger Lakes Community College 14 to 1
      4. Academy of Art University 15 to 1
      5. Henderson Community College 17 to 1
      6. Guilford Technical Community College 17 to 1
      7. Bluegrass Community and Technical College 18 to 1
      8. Yavapai College 18 to 1
      9. Palomar College 21 to 1
      10. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College 23 to 1
      1. Palomar College $1,288
      2. Paradise Valley Community College $2,040
      3. Guilford Technical Community College $2,128
      4. Yavapai College $2,680
      5. Western Iowa Tech Community College $4,032
      6. Bluegrass Community and Technical College $4,368
      7. Henderson Community College $4,368
      8. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College $4,368
      9. Finger Lakes Community College $5,112
      10. Academy of Art University $26,728
      1. Academy of Art University $29,232

      Featured Programs

      Frequently Asked Questions About Game Development Degrees

      Why get an associate in game development?

      An associate degree in game development provides entry-level knowledge and technical skills in game design and development.

      How long does it take to get an associate in game development?

      On average, this roughly 60-credit degree can be completed in two years, either online or on campus.

      Back to top.

      What will be covered in the courses needed to get an associate in game development?

      Students will enroll in courses that cover topics like storytelling, animation, software programming, and game theory. This degree pairs well with related fields like software engineering and web development.

      Back to top.

      What can I do with an associate in game development?

      Students will graduate with many marketable skills, which can lead to jobs like game testers, entry-level graphic designers, desktop publishers, and game designers. The associate degree can also provide a great starting point for students who will ultimately transfer into a bachelor’s degree program in game development.

      Back to top.

      Learn more about how to major in game design.

      Best Online Associate in Game Development Degree Programs

      1. #1

        Academy of Art University

        San Francisco , CA

        Tuition + fees

        $27K

        Graduation

        44%

        Student body

        10K

        Career Outlook for Game Development degree at Academy of Art University

        Cost of Degree: $28,024
        Expenses: $27,555
        Starting Salary: $31,725
        Salary after 4 years: $42,955
        Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
        Paid back at 15% of annual salary

        Online Degrees

        AA in Game Development
        • Required Credits: 66
        • Completion time: 2-3 years
        • Format: Online
      2. #2

        Palomar College

        San Marcos , CA

        Tuition + fees

        $1K

        Graduation

        31%

        Student body

        26K

        Career Outlook for Game Development degree at Palomar College

        Cost of Degree: $1,354
        Starting Salary: $47,717
        Salary after 4 years: $58,423

        Online Degrees

        AS in Computer Science

        Concentrations

        • Video Gaming
        • Required Credits: 60
        • Completion time: 2-3 years
        • Format: Online
      3. Other Rankings

        Tuition + fees

        $5K

        Graduation

        34%

        Student body

        2K

        Career Outlook for Game Development degree at Henderson Community College

        Cost of Degree: $4,656
        Starting Salary: $36,824
        Salary after 4 years: $45,086

        Online Degrees

        AAS in Computer and Information Technologies

        Concentrations

        • Business Software and Support
        • Cloud Computing
        • Technologies
        • Data Center Technologies
        • General
        • Geospatial
        • Technologies
        • Informatics
        • Information Security
        • Internet Technologies
        • Network Administration
        • Network Technologies
        • Programming
        • and
        • Video Game Design
        • Required Credits: None Reported
        • Completion time: 2 years
        • Format: Online
      4. Tuition + fees

        $5K

        Graduation

        42%

        Student body

        7K

        Career Outlook for Game Development degree at Western Iowa Tech Community College

        Cost of Degree: $5,042
        Expenses: $12,426
        Starting Salary: $40,494
        Salary after 4 years: $49,580
        Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
        Paid back at 15% of annual salary

        Online Degrees

        AAS in Video Game Design
        • Required Credits: 67
        • Completion time: None Reported
        • Format: Online
      5. Other Rankings

        Tuition + fees

        $5K

        Graduation

        42%

        Student body

        8K

        Career Outlook for Game Development degree at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College

        Cost of Degree: $4,656
        Starting Salary: $37,179
        Salary after 4 years: $45,521

        Online Degrees

        AAS in Computer and Information Technologies

        Concentrations

        • Business Software and Support
        • Geospatial
        • Information Security
        • Internet Technologies
        • Video Game Design
        • Programming Track
        • Required Credits: 60
        • Completion time: None Reported
        • Format: Online
      6. Other Rankings

        Tuition + fees

        $6K

        Graduation

        29%

        Student body

        8K

        Career Outlook for Game Development degree at Finger Lakes Community College

        Cost of Degree: $6,138
        Expenses: $19,045
        Starting Salary: $40,613
        Salary after 4 years: $49,725
        Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
        Paid back at 15% of annual salary

        Online Degrees

        AS in Game Programming and Design
        • Required Credits: 63
        • Completion time: 2-3 years
        • Format: Hybrid
      7. Other Rankings

        Tuition + fees

        $2K

        Graduation

        28%

        Student body

        14K

        Career Outlook for Game Development degree at Guilford Technical Community College

        Cost of Degree: $2,319
        Starting Salary: $36,232
        Salary after 4 years: $44,361

        Online Degrees

        AAS in Simulation And Game Development
        • Required Credits: 66
        • Completion time: None Reported
        • Format: Online
      8. Other Rankings

        Tuition + fees

        $5K

        Graduation

        35%

        Student body

        13K

        Career Outlook for Game Development degree at Bluegrass Community and Technical College

        Cost of Degree: $4,706
        Starting Salary: $35,284
        Salary after 4 years: $43,201

        Online Degrees

        AAS in Computer & Information Technologies

        Concentrations

        • Business Software and Support
        • Geospatial Technologies
        • Internet Technologies
        • Programming
        • Video Game Design
        • Required Credits: 60
        • Completion time: None Reported
        • Format: Online
        AAS in Graphic Design and Library Technology

        Concentrations

        • Graphic Design
        • Library Information Technology
        • Video Game Design
        • Required Credits: 60
        • Completion time: None Reported
        • Format: Online
      9. #10

        Yavapai College

        Prescott , AZ

        Tuition + fees

        $3K

        Graduation

        39%

        Student body

        10K

        Career Outlook for Game Development degree at Yavapai College

        Cost of Degree: $2,838
        Expenses: $14,516
        Starting Salary: $40,257
        Salary after 4 years: $49,290
        Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
        Paid back at 15% of annual salary

        Online Degrees

        AAS in Video Game Development
        • Required Credits: 60
        • Completion time: None Reported
        • Format: Online

      Career Outlook for Students with Game Development Degree

      Go to Degree Finder tool

      Computer Game Programming

      Degree Level: Associate's

      • Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
      • Avg. Cost of Degree*: $7,624
      • Avg. Starting Salary*: $41,844
      • Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $51,233
      • Job Growth: 15.44%
      • Number of Jobs: 2,036,500
      • * denotes ‘annually’

      Career Salaries

      CareerJob GrowthAvg. Salary
      Software Developers17.94%$132,270
      Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers11.80%$101,800
      Computer Programmers-9.61%$99,700
      Web and Digital Interface Designers7.93%$98,540
      Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary6.00%$96,430

      Top Industries

      IndustryAvg. Salary
      Software Developers$132,270
      Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$101,800
      Computer Programmers$99,700
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      Online Video Game Design Programs Looking for You

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      Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

      If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

      No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way?

      If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps.

      In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

      Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

      Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.

      As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.

      In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

      Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

      If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option).

      While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

      The advantages of online classes are many. Above all, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

      Resources for Online College-Bound Students

      Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

      Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here