University of Hawaii at Manoa
BS Computer Science
- Graduates, 2023-24
- 68
On this page
- Game Design Options for Hawaii Students in 60 Seconds
- Related Programs in Hawaii
- Online Game Design Degrees for Hawaii Students
- The Nearest Game Design Programs to Hawaii for 2027
- What Game Jobs Pay in Hawaii
- Paying for School in Hawaii
- How to Choose a Game Design Program If You Live in Hawaii
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Pages
- Sources
Game Design Options for Hawaii Students in 60 Seconds
- Closest fit at home: University of Hawaii at Manoa. It graduates bachelor's students in computer science. It awarded 68 bachelor's degrees in 2023-24, as a related program outside the game design ranking. University of Hawaii at Hilo is another option at home. Related Programs ›
- Wilmington University tops the online options. Its net price is $14,267. Check it's authorized in Hawaii. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus is next at $21,511. Online ›
- Closest campus program: 2,394 miles away. California College of the Arts in California, which scores 34.4. Its net price is $49,945. Academy of Art University in California is next, 2,395 miles away. Nearest Programs ›
- Software developers earn $124,040 here. The U.S. median for the same job is $135,980. About 1,600 people work as software developers in Hawaii. Prices in Hawaii run 10.0% above the U.S. average on BEA's index, which takes a bite out of both pay and a student budget. Pay ›
- Public in-state tuition averages $7,284. Out of state, the average is $20,556. Hawaii's public four-year colleges are a good deal: aided in-state students pay $12,213 on average across 5, under the $13,240 median state. Costs ›
Heads up Hawaii belongs to the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), which can cut nonresident tuition at public schools in member states.
Related Programs in Hawaii
These are not game design degrees. Hawaii has no bachelor's in game design, game programming or simulation. These bachelor's programs in computer science, software, animation and digital media are the closest fields taught in the state, and each leads to some game work: programming for computer science, art and animation for the art programs.
Bachelor's first majors reported to IPEDS (C2024_A) in computer science, software, animation, digital media and graphic design fields: the 5 most relevant to game work of 9 in Hawaii, computer science and software first, then digital media and animation, then graphic design, with graduates in 2023-24.
University of Hawaii at Hilo
B.S. in Computer Science
- Graduates, 2023-24
- 10
View University of Hawaii at Hilo's B.S. in Computer Science
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Computer Science (BS)
- Graduates, 2023-24
- 20
View Brigham Young University-Hawaii's Computer Science (BS)
Hawaii Pacific University
Computer Science
- Graduates, 2023-24
- 18
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Bachelor of Arts in Creative Media
- Graduates, 2023-24
- 59
View University of Hawaii-West Oahu's Bachelor of Arts in Creative Media
Online Game Design Degrees for Hawaii Students
Online may be the cheapest route off the island. Net price is $14,267 at Wilmington University for its Game Design and Development degree, which scores 72.2, and $14,743 at Baker College, which offers Game Software Development, while Lindenwood University charges $18,698 for an online Game Design BA. Ask each school whether the quoted net price holds for Hawaii residents who plan to study from the islands. Thirteen online programs are confirmed, but each school needs approval to serve Hawaii residents, so ask admissions for its list. Compared with the $12,213 average in-state net price, online isn't a bargain, but it skips California housing. Because Hawaii prices run high, studying online from home can still cost more in daily living than the mainland price level suggests.
The five highest-scoring programs confirmed fully online on their own pages. Net price is the school-wide IPEDS average for aided first-year students.
Wilmington University
B.S. in Game Design and Development (Interactive Programming concentration)
- Completion
- 48%
- Net price
- $14,267
- Grads a year
- 12
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Information Technology BSIT - Online (Game Development and Simulation concentration)
- Completion
- 72%
- Net price
- $21,511
- Grads a year
- 11
Lindenwood University
Game Design, BA (online)
- Completion
- 58%
- Net price
- $18,698
- Grads a year
- 13
University of Advancing Technology
Game Programming (BS)
- Completion
- 48%
- Net price
- $21,148
- Grads a year
- 13
View University of Advancing Technology's Game Programming (BS)
Baker College
Bachelor of Science Game Software Development
- Completion
- 26%
- Net price
- $14,743
- Grads a year
- 11
View Baker College's Bachelor of Science Game Software Development
Online programs must be authorized to enroll students in your state, and this site's data doesn't record authorization by state, so check each school's state authorization page before you apply. The online game design degree ranking has every confirmed program.
On campusThe Nearest Game Design Programs to Hawaii for 2027
These are the 8 game design, game programming and simulation bachelor's programs closest to Honolulu, in straight-line miles from Honolulu (Census Vintage 2024) to each campus (IPEDS coordinates), anywhere in the country. They're listed by national rank, best first, and the number on each card is that rank, of 89. Completion, net price and earnings are school-wide; graduates a year is the program's own.
University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA · Public · Game design program · 2396 miles
- #2 of 89 nationally
- 2,396 miles from Honolulu
- Largest program on this list
- Public
Students from Honolulu face a trip of about 2,396 miles to reach Santa Cruz, which makes this a flight-and-relocate decision rather than a commute. The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science: Computer Game Design is taught on a public campus in a city setting, with around 139 graduates a year.
Hawaii residents are charged the out-of-state tuition of $44,148, not the $12,260 California residents pay. That $31,888 yearly difference is the main cost question. The wider picture is friendlier: school-wide, aided first-years pay a net price of $16,526, and 81% of students complete within eight years. Graduates of all majors across the university earn a median of $68,396 a decade after starting. With 19,938 students and a 66% admit rate, it is a sizable public campus rather than a small specialty school, which suits students who want variety outside the major.
- Completion
- 81%school-wide
- Net price
- $16,526aided first-years
- Grads a year
- 139this program
- Earnings
- $68,39610 yrs, all majors
- Sticker cost
- $44,047highest sticker cost in the top 25
- Out-of-state premium
- $31,888published tuition, per year
California State University-Chico
Chico, CA · Public · Game design program · 2467 miles
- #3 of 89 nationally
- 2,467 miles from Honolulu
- Lowest net price on this list
- Public
Honolulu is roughly 2,467 miles from Chico, so Hawaii students would be relocating for a Bachelor of Science in Computer Animation and Game Development. Out-of-state tuition is $18,684, compared with $6,084 for California residents, which leaves a $12,600 yearly premium on top of travel costs.
Aid brings the school-wide net price for first-year students down to $15,187, the lowest among comparable programs on this list. The curriculum splits into Animation Production and Game Development options, and students gain practical experience in a motion capture lab. Chico is a public university in a city setting, where 75% of students finish a degree within eight years. The department also requires an internship and keeps faculty major advisors in-house for students in the program, which helps students far from home.
- Completion
- 75%school-wide
- Net price
- $15,187aided first-years
- Grads a year
- 67this program
- Earnings
- $64,17210 yrs, all majors
- Admit rate
- 93%school-wide
- In-state tuition
- $6,084published, before aid
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit · Simulation program · 2556 miles
- #46 of 89 nationally
- 2,556 miles from Honolulu
- Highest completion on this list
- Technical track: simulation
- Private
A Hawaii student heading to Los Angeles faces a 2,556-mile move, but tuition at this private university is the same $69,904 for everyone, so there is no out-of-state surcharge to plan around. Net price after aid is $41,496 for aided first-years school-wide, which is the number to compare with Hawaii options.
The program is a B.S. in Computer Science Games on a city campus, with a 1500 SAT midpoint and a 10% admit rate across the university. Of entering students university-wide, 93% complete within eight years, and graduates of all majors earn $92,498 a decade out. About 41 students complete this degree annually, so students will not be alone in the major. The cost of attendance before aid is $95,234 school-wide, and the degree requires a minimum of 128 units, including game design and two semester-long final game projects.
- Completion
- 93%school-wide
- Net price
- $41,496aided first-years
- Grads a year
- 41this program
- Earnings
- $92,49810 yrs, all majors
- SAT midpoint
- 1500highest SAT midpoint of the 89 ranked
- Out-of-state premium
- None (private)same tuition for all students
View University of Southern California's Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Games
Woodbury University
Burbank, CA · Private nonprofit · Game design program · 2555 miles
- #54 of 89 nationally
- 2,555 miles from Honolulu
- Private
Honolulu is 2,555 miles from Woodbury's Burbank campus, so a Hawaii student would be moving across an ocean to reach it. The reason to do so is proximity to the industry: the program says it is surrounded by commercial game studios, large and small, and internships are a required part of the degree.
Tuition is $45,562 for every student, wherever home is. School-wide net price for aided first-year students is $31,257, and 64% of entering students across the university complete within eight years. With just 849 students enrolled, classes stay small, and about 10 students a year finish the BFA.
The program's two tracks, game art and game design, share the same game courses. The admit rate across the university is 82%, and cost of attendance before aid is $67,407.
- Completion
- 64%school-wide
- Net price
- $31,257aided first-years
- Grads a year
- 10this program
- Earnings
- $65,66810 yrs, all majors
- Out-of-state premium
- None (private)same tuition for all students
- Students
- 849school enrollment
View Woodbury University's Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Art & Design
University of Silicon Valley
San Jose, CA · Private for-profit · Game design program · 2411 miles
- #56 of 89 nationally
- 2,411 miles from Honolulu
- Private
Honolulu is about 2,411 miles from San Jose, but Hawaii students do not have to move: the Bachelor of Arts in Game Design can be earned 100% online as well as on campus. That matters, since flights and Bay Area rent would add heavily to the bill.
Tuition is a flat $21,480 for every student, so Hawaii residents pay the same price as Californians. The school is private and for-profit, with 477 students, and a school-wide net price of $30,602 for aided first-years. The program covers prototyping, level design and narrative design, with a published portfolio at the end. About 22 students graduate each year. The school admits 51% of applicants, and graduates of any major earn a median of $51,017 ten years after enrolling.
- Completion
- 52%school-wide
- Net price
- $30,602aided first-years
- Grads a year
- 22this program
- Earnings
- $51,01710 yrs, all majors
- Out-of-state premium
- None (private)same tuition for all students
- Students
- 477school enrollment
View University of Silicon Valley's Bachelor of Arts in Game Design
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, CA · Private for-profit · Simulation program · 2395 miles
- #82 of 89 nationally
- 2,395 miles from Honolulu
- Technical track: simulation
- Private
Hawaii students face a 2,395-mile trip to San Francisco, so the option to take the Game Design BFA online matters here. The private for-profit university charges $29,736 whether a student comes from Honolulu or Oakland, with no out-of-state premium.
The degree builds a base in drawing, Maya modeling, two-dimensional tools and game development fundamentals. Before aid, cost of attendance is $67,777 school-wide, and aided first-years pay $36,591. About 50 students complete the program annually. University-wide, 26% of entering students finish within eight years, and graduates of all majors earn $39,008 ten years out. Students also learn lighting and animation, and they graduate with knowledge of game engine technology. Enrollment across the university is 5,498, a mid-sized community. Students can start with Digital Drawing for Entertainment and move toward production work.
- Completion
- 26%school-wide
- Net price
- $36,591aided first-years
- Grads a year
- 50this program
- Earnings
- $39,00810 yrs, all majors
- Out-of-state premium
- None (private)same tuition for all students
- Sticker cost
- $67,777cost of attendance, before aid
View Academy of Art University's Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Design
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · Game design program · 2394 miles
- #87 of 89 nationally
- 2,394 miles from Honolulu
- Private
Honolulu is 2,394 miles from San Francisco, which makes this a serious relocation for a Hawaii student, and the program is built for someone who wants to push games into the future as an artistic practice. California College of the Arts teaches the BFA across digital, analog and mixed-media game art and design.
The college is private, so tuition is $59,376 for every student and no out-of-state premium applies. Cost of attendance reaches $87,623 before aid across the college, with a net price of $49,945 for aided first-years. About 72% of entering students finish within eight years, and the program itself graduates around two students annually, so the cohort is intimate. Faculty work in the industry and the arts, and the school says that helps students build connections with game studios.
- Completion
- 72%school-wide
- Net price
- $49,945aided first-years
- Grads a year
- 2this program
- Earnings
- $49,41410 yrs, all majors
- Out-of-state premium
- None (private)same tuition for all students
- Sticker cost
- $87,623cost of attendance, before aid
View California College of the Arts' Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Arts & Design
New York Film Academy
Burbank, CA · Private for-profit · Game design program · 2555 miles
- #88 of 89 nationally
- 2,555 miles from Honolulu
- Private
Honolulu students would be flying 2,555 miles to the film academy's Los Angeles campus, where the BFA in Game Design is taught. Students prototype, playtest and iterate on a new game every semester, and instruction comes from working game designers plus guest speakers from the industry.
Leaving the islands means paying the same $35,212 tuition as a California resident, since the school charges one price. College-wide, aided first-years pay a net price of $50,504, and 65% of entering students complete a degree within eight years. With 1,132 students and only about 4 graduates a year in this major, the program is intimate and project-driven rather than large and lecture-based. Earnings for graduates of all majors were $29,633 ten years out.
- Completion
- 65%school-wide
- Net price
- $50,504aided first-years
- Grads a year
- 4this program
- Earnings
- $29,63310 yrs, all majors
- Out-of-state premium
- None (private)same tuition for all students
- Students
- 1,132school enrollment
View New York Film Academy's Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Design
What Game Jobs Pay in Hawaii
Game jobs pay well in Hawaii for programmers and poorly documented for designers. Hawaii has a software developer median of $124,040, $11,940 short of the national median, and 1,600 people hold those jobs. Computer programmers do better against the nation: $118,180, $17,790 ahead of the national median.
| Occupation | HI median | Middle half | Employed in HI | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software developersGame programmers and engine developers are counted here | $124,040 | $82,830 to $170,970 | 1,600 | $135,980 |
| Web and digital interface designersGame designers and UI designers are counted here | $105,560May 2024 | $70,430 to $113,720, May 2024 | 50May 2025 | $104,000 |
| Graphic designersWhere many art and UI graduates start | $58,070 | $46,140 to $78,420 | 520 | $62,960 |
| Computer programmersProgramming roles outside software development | $118,180 | $89,810 to $125,270 | 450 | $100,390 |
| Art directorsSenior art leads; rarely a first job | $89,300 | $63,090 to $108,780 | 40 | $114,850 |
Pay in Hawaii's Largest Metro Areas
| Metro area | Software developers | Web and digital interface designers | Price level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu | $120,230 | $92,130 | 111 |
| Kahului-Wailuku | $133,870 | Not published | 109.4 |
Special effects artists and animators have no Hawaii median in any recent BLS release, and web and digital interface designers have one only from the earlier May 2024 release, with just 50 people counted in the job. If you're aiming at game design or animation, expect a thin local market and plan on remote work or a move to a mainland studio. For animators, the national median of $102,030 is the only benchmark, so treat it as a rough guide and not a Hawaii promise.
Metro figures show Kahului-Wailuku ahead of Honolulu for developers, with software developers at $133,870 against $120,230 and computer programmers at $128,240 against $111,170. Honolulu's web and digital interface designers earn $92,130 and its graphic designers $58,270. Graphic designers statewide earn $58,070, and many art and UI graduates start there.
Graduates usually begin with testing contracts, junior design, art or interface work, or junior programming. Art directors earn $89,300 statewide, though that's rarely a first job. The cost side matters most: Hawaii prices run about 10.0% above the national average, a price level of 110.
About 1,600 people work as software developers in Hawaii. Prices in Hawaii run 10.0% above the U.S. average on BEA's index, which takes a bite out of both pay and a student budget.
The game design salary pages explain what each occupation covers and how game studios fit inside it.
Cost in HawaiiPaying for School in Hawaii
Five public four-year colleges serve Hawaii. Residents pay $7,284 on average for tuition and nonresidents pay $20,556, adding $13,272. Aid brings the average in-state net price to $12,213. Where game or animation programs exist, resident tuition is $9,324 and nonresident tuition is $26,820. University of Hawaii at Hilo graduated 10 computer science students in 2024, so the system has several campuses with technical programs.
| Public colleges in HI | Figure |
|---|---|
| Public four-year colleges | 5 |
| Average in-state tuition | $7,284 |
| Average out-of-state tuition | $20,556 |
| Average net price, aided in-state students | $12,213 |
Hawaii's public four-year colleges are a good deal: aided in-state students pay $12,213 on average across 5, under the $13,240 median state.
Don't look for a Hawaii-specific grant here, because none is verified for this page. The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is the useful piece. California is the member state with game programs nearby, so ask the school about WUE rates before you write off a California campus on price. Ask for the WUE rate in writing before you commit to a campus visit or a deposit, because exchange availability can vary by program and year.
Tuition Exchanges
Hawaii belongs to the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE). In the program's own words, "WUE enables eligible students to enroll as nonresidents in 170 participating public colleges and universities and pay 150% (or less) of the enrolling institution’s resident tuition."
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
ChoosingHow to Choose a Game Design Program If You Live in Hawaii
Start at home before you cross the Pacific, because University of Hawaii-West Oahu has an animation bachelor's with a score of 80.8 and a net price of $11,881, and University of Hawaii at Manoa has one with a score of 85.0 and a net price of $14,557. Those aren't game design degrees, so ask whether the curriculum includes game production.
If you want a true game degree, California has twelve game bachelor's programs. University of California-Santa Cruz scores 89.5 at a net price of $16,526, and California State University-Chico scores 88.9 at $15,187. Both are public, and both are far cheaper than California College of the Arts at $49,945. University of Southern California scores 59.0 but costs $41,496 net, and Woodbury University scores 54.6 at $31,257.
Computer science is the safe hedge. University of Hawaii at Manoa graduated 68 computer science students in 2024, and Hawaii Pacific University graduated 18. A computer science degree with game projects on the side keeps you close to home, but it's a related degree and not a game design degree. Brigham Young University-Hawaii graduated 20 computer science students and 20 graphic design students, and both are related fields.
Nearest States
- Nearest state California 11 ranked game bachelor's · 78 programs in all
- Nearest state Washington 2 ranked game bachelor's · 9 programs in all
- Nearest state Oregon 2 related programs, no game bachelor's
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Earn a Game Design Bachelor's Without Leaving Hawaii?
Software developers, the BLS occupation that counts game programmers, earn a median of $124,040 in Hawaii, against $135,980 nationally (BLS May 2025). Prices in Hawaii run 10.0% above the U.S. average on BEA's index, which takes a bite out of both pay and a student budget. About 1,600 people work as software developers in Hawaii. See what game jobs pay in Hawaii.
How Close Is the Nearest Game Design Campus?
There's no bachelor's game design program in Hawaii or the states around it in the federal data, so your choices are an online degree, a related program at home, or a campus farther away. The nearest campus is California College of the Arts in California, 2,394 miles from Honolulu, with a $49,945 net price. Online, Wilmington University scores highest at $14,267 a year. See the nearest programs.
Is There a Published Animator Wage for Hawaii?
BLS doesn't publish a recent median for special effects artists and animators in Hawaii, usually because too few are employed to estimate reliably, so the national median of $102,030 is the closest guide. The occupation covers film, TV and advertising as well as games. In all, 4 animation programs are offered in Hawaii across every degree level. Hawaii has 2 ranked animation bachelor's programs, led by University of Hawaii at Manoa. See animator salary for national pay.
Does WUE Help Hawaii Students Going to California?
Yes, through the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE): Hawaii is a member, and in the exchange's own words, "WUE enables eligible students to enroll as nonresidents in 170 participating public colleges and universities and pay 150% (or less) of the enrolling institution’s resident tuition." Each college decides which programs and how many seats take part, so check the specific game program before you count on a discount. For comparison, out-of-state tuition at Hawaii's own public colleges averages $20,556 against $7,284 in state. See paying for school in Hawaii.
How Expensive Is Living in Hawaii Compared With the Mainland?
Hawaii is more expensive than average to live in: overall prices run at 110 on BEA's Regional Price Parities, where the U.S. average is 100, and housing at 125.3. Housing is the steep part, at 125.3 on BEA's housing index against 100 nationally. Hawaii's public four-year colleges are a good deal: aided in-state students pay $12,213 on average across 5, under the $13,240 median state. See what game jobs pay in Hawaii.
Sources
- 1 NCES, IPEDS Completions 2022 to 2024 and Completions by Distance Education 2024 Every program in the ranking, the field code it is filed under, its graduates each year, and whether the school reports it can be completed by distance education. 354 programs in four fields. Accessed .
- 2 NCES, IPEDS Outcome Measures 2023 The completion factor: the share of all entering students, full-time, part-time and transfer, who earned an award within eight years. School-wide.
- 3 NCES, IPEDS Student Financial Aid 2022-23, average net price The cost factor: average net price for first-time, full-time students who received grant aid, in-state for public schools. School-wide.
- 4 NCES, IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24, tuition Average graduate tuition, in-state and out-of-state, used for the master's cost factor.
- 5 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), all-data file, May 2025 State and metro wages, 25th and 75th percentiles and employment for the six occupations in the pay tables. Accessed .
- 6 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, all data files, May 2024 Only for table cells BLS suppressed in the current release; each is tagged May 2024. Accessed .
- 7 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by State (SARPP) and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Area (MARPP), 2024 Price levels for the state and its metros, U.S. = 100. Accessed .
- 8 IPEDS IC2023_AY (TUITION2, TUITION3) and SFA2223 (NPIST2), public four-year degree-granting colleges offering undergraduate study (HD2024) Average tuition and net price at the state's public four-year colleges. Accessed .
- 9 U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 population estimates for incorporated places (SUB-EST2024); internal points from the 2024 Gazetteer place file Honolulu (Census place: Urban Honolulu CDP), the starting point for every distance on this page. Accessed .
- 10 IPEDS C2024_A completions, first majors, bachelor's (AWLEVEL 5), award year 2023-24 Related bachelor's programs in the state. Accessed .
- 11 Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE): member states and terms Member states and the quoted terms. Accessed .