Illinois Game Design & Development Schools: Most Expensive to Least Expensive

According to the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), Illinois is home to 181 Title IV degree-granting institutions. These schools are eligible for financial aid programs, making them more accessible to students with financial need. Title IV schools have five things in common. They (1) have been in business for at least 2 years, (2) they have accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, (3) they grant an associate's degree or higher,  (4) they have signed a participation agreement with the Department, and (5) they offer a program of at least 300 clock hours in length. These requirements were established (and are enforced) by the U.S. Department of Education. If a school does not meet all requirements, it cannot state that it is a Title IV school, and is not eligible for Title IV financial aid programs.

Many of the state’s Title IV degree-granting institutions have excellent art and design programs, especially in the city of Chicago. While Chicago is home to many art and design schools, the most prestigious is the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). Unfortunately, while SAIC offers a wide variety of programs for artists and designers, it does not offer programs for aspiring game designers & developers. However, several of Chicago’s best schools for artists and designers do. Although some are considered expensive, because they have Title IV status, students have access to a variety of programs for all income levels.

If you’re ready to shop and compare Illinois game design & development schools, take a look at the most to least expensive schools below and what you can expect to pay. Keep in mind that resident tuition is always lower than non-resident tuition.
 
Most Expensive Illinois Game Design & Development Schools

DePaul University, Chicago – Tuition Cost: Undergraduate $30,000 ("package rate" for fall, winter and spring terms), graduate $17,040 for the 2011 – 2012 school year

Bradley University, Peoria – Tuition Cost: Undergraduate $25,150; graduate $16,320 for the 2010 – 2011 school year

Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy, Chicago – Tuition Cost: $25,000 per year for the 2010 – 2011 school year

Columbia College, Chicago – Tuition Cost: Undergraduate $20,094 for the 2011 – 2012 school year

Least Expensive Illinois Game Design & Development Schools

Western Illinois University, Macomb – Tuition Cost: Undergraduate residents $5,776, nonresidents $8,664 plus fees of $1,816 per year for the 2010 – 2011 school year

More Illinois Schools with Game related programs:  

Illinois Game Design & Development Scene

Illinois is home to around 69,980 artists and designers, up from 69,000 in 2002. They work for animation studios, film studios, graphic design firms, art galleries, game design companies, and independently. While art and design communities can be found in many areas throughout the state, Chicago is the most active city for this community overall. Aurora, Rockford, and Naperville are also worth exploring.

Salaried artists and designers in the state average $49,240 per year. However, salaries do vary greatly by specialty. For example, the state’s salaried fine artists average $47,600 per year, while graphic designers average around $51,220 per year. Game designers average an impressive $94,000 per year, while game developers average around $92,000 per year.

Employment opportunities for game designers & developers are fairly good in Illinois.  A wide variety of gaming companies can be found in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Just a few options include Wideload Games (Chicago), Barbaroga (Chicago), Day 1 Studios (Chicago), High Voltage (Hoffman Estates), Incredible Technologies (Arlington Heights), WB Games/NetherRealm Studios (Chicago), and Spooky Cool Labs (Chicago).