How Much Does Game Programming School Cost?
The continued popularity of video and computer games has become a very appealing profession for those who have a passion for making these games. In addition to the enjoyment and challenge that comes with the game development process, many aspiring game programmers are encouraged to go into this profession because it offers lucrative pay.
If this is the career that really interests you then you’ll need to be prepared for the tuition, fees, books and supplies that come with going to game programming school. In addition to these academic expenses, you also need to be ready with the costs associated with housing and food while you are still working towards earning your degree.
How much you pay for your tuition will depend on whether you go to a public or private school. Attending public schools as an in-state student is going to lower your overall college costs because these schools provide tuition discounts to residents. Private schools don’t offer this kind of discount because it charges the same tuition to all students regardless of their residency status.
A bachelor’s degree in computer programming serves as a good preparation for a career as a game programmer. In general, an out-of-state student can expect to spend an average of $22,000 a year for tuition, fees, books, supplies, room and board for this program. However, the range can vary from $12,000 to nearly $40,000 a year.
A more focused preparation is specifically a degree in game programming. To give you an idea of how much you need to pay for tuition, let’s take a look at some programs. The Art Institutes offers the Bachelor of Science in Game Programming degree. It has an annual tuition cost of $24,864. University of Advancing Technology also offers the Bachelor of Science Degree in Game Programming which has a tuition cost of $23,150 for two semesters. DeVry University also offers the Game and Simulation Programming degree both on-campus or online. The standard tuition rate is $609 per credit hour for those taking one to seven hours and $365 per credit hour for those who are taking more than eight hours.
In addition to the cost of tuition, you also need to consider the housing, food, personal and travel expenses during the four years that you’ll be attending game programming school. When obtaining the program on-campus, you’ll probably need to shell out anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 a year for these expenses depending on the part of the state where you will be studying and your own method of handling your budget.
Taking gaming programming courses online is one way to help reduce costs not necessarily because tuition is cheaper but because it affords one the opportunity to work while studying at the same time. When you’re able to pay for the cost of your tuition outright, you don’t have to depend on student loans to finish your game programming degree. Attending online classes will also do away with the need to relocate near your school. You can even stay with your parents while you’re studying which will substantially bring down the cost of your living expenses.
Whether you attend your classes online or on-campus, don’t forget to ask for financial aid opportunities. Check with the financial aid advisor of your school for scholarships or grants that you can apply for. This will make college more affordable.
Career Spotlight: Game Programmer
A game programmer encompasses various specializations that professionals engaged in making video games focus on in the highly-collaborative game development process. In this profession, you could focu[...]
