In a lot of cases, a higher education can mean a higher salary or even a better job. That's why we found out the best colleges for game testers. We based this list on these metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of students working, ratio of working vs. non-working students 10 years after admission, average cost of attendance and median debt for graduates.
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Best Colleges And Majors For Game Testers
Best Colleges For Game Testers
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
2. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
3. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
5. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
In-State Tuition
$12,424
Enrollment
15,201
6. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
7. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
8. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
9. University of Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$58,230
Enrollment
6,600
10. University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$13,226
Enrollment
31,568
Game Tester Education Requirements
The education needed to be a game tester is normally a bachelor's degree. Game testers usually study computer science, graphic design or business. 54% of game testers hold a bachelor's degree and 20% hold a associate degree. We found these by analyzing 894 game tester resumes to investigate the topic of game tester education more precisely.
The most common colleges for students to pursue their goal of becoming a game tester are Bellevue College and Full Sail University. We also broke down what colleges provide the best overall education for a game tester. Students have a great path to earning their game tester qualifications at the following schools:
- Stanford University
- Harvard University
- Duke University
If you're interested in getting a college degree in an affordable college for game testers - California State University - Long Beach is an excellent option for you. If your SAT or ACT score aren't as high as you'd like, you can look at La Roche College, as the admission requirements aren't too selective. On the other end of that spectrum are the Stanford University, Northwestern University and Harvard University.
For those who would rather stay in your pajamas during the day, we prepared some online courses that can help in game tester education paths.
What Education Do You Need To Become a Game Tester?
What degree do you need to be a Game Tester?
The most common degree for game testers is bachelor's degree 54% of game testers earn that degree. A close second is associate degree with 20% and rounding it off is high school diploma with 18%.
- Bachelors, 54%
- Associate, 20%
- High School Diploma, 18%
- Masters, 3%
- Other Degrees, 5%
What Should I Major in to Become a Game Tester?
Most game testers, 18% to be exact, major in computer science. Some other common majors for a game tester include graphic design and business majors.
- Computer Science, 18%
- Graphic Design, 17%
- Business, 6%
- Animation, 6%
- Other Majors, 53%
Most Common Colleges For Game Testers
Here are the most common colleges for a game tester career in the US based on their resumes. Advocates often get their degree in Bellevue College, Full Sail University, and DeVry University .
| Game Tester Common College | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bellevue College | 10.66% |
| Full Sail University | 9.84% |
| DeVry University | 9.84% |
| DigiPen Institute of Technology | 9.02% |
| University of Washington | 8.20% |
Best Majors For Game Testers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer Science | 18.2% |
| 2 | Graphic Design | 17.5% |
| 3 | Business | 6.3% |
| 4 | Animation | 5.9% |
| 5 | English | 5.6% |
20 Best Online Courses for Game Testers
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Top 10 Affordable Universities For Game Testers
If those top 10 were a bit out of your price range, you might want to check these schools instead. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price and mean earnings after 6 years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for game testers.
1. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,798
Cost of Attendance
18,306
2. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,620
Cost of Attendance
18,136
3. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,338
Cost of Attendance
14,281
4. University of Houston - Victoria
Victoria, TX • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,491
Cost of Attendance
19,075
5. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,210
Cost of Attendance
14,359
6. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,306
Cost of Attendance
16,091
7. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,992
Cost of Attendance
22,430
8. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,410
Cost of Attendance
20,456
9. Brigham Young University - Hawaii
Laie, HI • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,560
Cost of Attendance
18,043
10. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,942
Cost of Attendance
14,469
Top 10 Hardest Universities To Get Into For Game Testers
Some people like a challenge. Well, we challenge you to get into one of these schools. It's not going to be easy. We know this based on these institutions' admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted and mean earnings of students 6 years after admission.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
4%
SAT Average
1,497
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,508
3. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
5%
SAT Average
1,520
4. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions Rate
9%
SAT Average
1,516
5. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
17%
SAT Average
1,507
6. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions Rate
15%
SAT Average
1,506
7. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,492
8. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
22%
SAT Average
1,420
9. University of Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
7%
SAT Average
1,520
10. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
20%
SAT Average
1,419
Top 10 Easier To Apply Universities For Game Testers
Why make getting a job harder on yourself than it has to be? With these colleges, you're sure to be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores and average salary of students 6 years after graduation in order to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into.
1. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
99%
SAT Average
1,008
2. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions Rate
71%
SAT Average
1,035
3. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
82%
SAT Average
983
4. Linfield College
McMinnville, OR • Private
Admissions Rate
81%
SAT Average
1,117
5. Baker University
Baldwin City, KS • Private
Admissions Rate
88%
SAT Average
1,126
6. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
72%
SAT Average
1,054
7. Longwood University
Farmville, VA • Private
Admissions Rate
89%
SAT Average
1,065
8. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
84%
SAT Average
1,031
9. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
98%
SAT Average
999
10. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
93%
SAT Average
1,026
Average Game Tester Salary by Education Level
Game testers with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $40,661 annually. With a Masters degree, game testers earn a median annual income of $40,312 compared to $34,173 for game testers with an Bachelors degree.
| Game Tester Education Level | Game Tester Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $40,312 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $34,173 |
| Doctorate Degree | $40,661 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $26,094 |
Game Tester Education FAQs
What Degree Do You Need To Be A Game Tester?
You need a high school diploma to be a game tester. There is no formal education requirement to be eligible to test games. However, completing either an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree would be very helpful for gaining employment in the field of game testing.
Typically, most game testers earn at least a bachelor's degree. The most common fields of study for someone wanting to become a game tester are computer science and software development. Other viable degree options are graphic design, business, or animation.
Game testing is a very competitive job market. Having a degree, specifically one in something like computer science, will make you more attractive to potential employers. Having a degree can also help with career advancement if you ever choose to enter the world of game development or design.
Another thing that employers tend to look for is that you have a genuine interest in video games. If you are a gamer who has a wide array of knowledge and experience with different games, this will also help make you more competitive when looking for a job.
What Is The Best College For Game Testers?
The best college for Game Testers is Stanford University
Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.