Gamer Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a gamer. Gamers usually study business, general studies, or criminal justice. 40% of gamers hold a high school diploma, and 31% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 150 real gamer resumes to see exactly what gamer education sections show.

The most common colleges for gamers are the Washington College and the Washington College.

There are also many online gamer courses to help get the education required to be a gamer.

What education do you need to become a gamer?

What degree do you need to be a gamer?

The most common degree for gamers is high school diploma, with 40% of gamers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 31% and bachelor's degree degree at 23%.
  • High School Diploma, 40%
  • Bachelor's, 31%
  • Associate, 23%
  • Master's, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a gamer?

You should major in business to become a gamer. 28% of gamers major in business. Other common majors for a gamer include general studies and criminal justice.

Most common colleges for gamers

Gamers often get their degrees at Washington College, Spalding University, and South College. Here are the most common colleges for gamers in the US based on their resumes.
Gamer Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
Washington College10.53%
Spalding University5.26%
South College5.26%
Manhattan College5.26%
University of Toledo5.26%

Best majors for gamers

Best colleges for gamers

The best colleges for gamers are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.

A gamer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for gamers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become gamers.

1. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

Website

www.usc.edu/

Address

University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0012

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,400 per year

Net Price: $30,453 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 12.96%
SAT Average - 1445
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Photography
General Education, Specific Areas
Graphic Design

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Finance
Business
General Education, Specific Areas
Photography

3. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, WI • Private

In-State Tuition

$10,555

Enrollment

30,360

Website

www.wisc.edu

Address

500 Lincoln Dr, Madison, WI 53706

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,600 per year

Net Price: $18,219 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 51.73%
SAT Average - 1365
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Finance
Business
Photography
General Education, Specific Areas

4. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Finance
Photography
General Education, Specific Areas

5. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA • Private

In-State Tuition

$13,620

Enrollment

27,730

Website

WWW.VT.EDU

Address

800 Drillfield Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $50,400 per year

Net Price: $20,964 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 64.85%
SAT Average - 1293
ACT Average - 28
Most Popular Majors
Finance
Business
Graphic Design
General Education, Specific Areas

20 best online courses for gamers

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Top 10 most affordable universities for gamers

The most affordable schools for gamers are University of Florida, usf sarasota-manatee, and suny farmingdale.

If the best universities for gamers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for gamers.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,381

Cost of Attendance

21,034

Website

www.ufl.edu/

Address

300 SW 13th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,700 per year

Net Price: $8,057 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 38.75%
SAT Average - 1362
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Business
Finance
General Education, Specific Areas
Graphic Design
U

2. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,587

Cost of Attendance

13,043

Website

usfsm.edu/

Address

8350 N. Tamiani Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,400 per year

Net Price: $4,595 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 32.43%
SAT Average - 1225
ACT Average - 26
Most Popular Majors
Business
Finance
Criminal Justice
General Education, Specific Areas

3. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,306

Cost of Attendance

16,091

Website

www.farmingdale.edu/

Address

2350 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale, NY 11735-1021

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $44,800 per year

Net Price: $9,268 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 46.07%
SAT Average - 1091
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Business
Criminal Justice
Computer Technical Support
Graphic Design

4. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,410

Cost of Attendance

20,456

Website

www.usf.edu

Address

4202 East Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620-9951

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,400 per year

Net Price: $9,838 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 42.63%
SAT Average - 1265
ACT Average - 28
Most Popular Majors
Finance
Business
General Education, Specific Areas
Criminal Justice

5. University of Houston - Victoria

Victoria, TX • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,491

Cost of Attendance

19,075

Website

www.uhv.edu

Address

3007 N. Ben Wilson, Victoria, TX 77901

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $43,800 per year

Net Price: $9,709 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 53.93%
Most Popular Majors
Business
Criminal Justice
Finance
Graphic Design

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for gamers

The hardest universities for gamers to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.

Some great schools for gamers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for gamers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Finance
Photography
General Education, Specific Areas

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,492

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Finance
Business
General Education, Specific Areas
Photography

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

13%

SAT Average

1,445

Website

www.usc.edu/

Address

University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0012

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,400 per year

Net Price: $30,453 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 12.96%
SAT Average - 1445
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Photography
General Education, Specific Areas
Graphic Design

4. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

19%

SAT Average

1,466

Website

www.northeastern.edu

Address

360 Huntington Ave, 110CH, Boston, MA 02115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $57,800 per year

Net Price: $31,855 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.34%
SAT Average - 1466
ACT Average - 33
Most Popular Majors
Computer Technical Support
Finance
Criminal Justice
Graphic Design

5. University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN • Private

Admissions Rate

18%

SAT Average

1,502

Website

www.nd.edu

Address

Main Building, Notre Dame, IN 46556

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $69,700 per year

Net Price: $32,096 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 17.71%
SAT Average - 1502
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Finance
Graphic Design
General Education, Specific Areas

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for gamers

The easiest schools for gamers to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, university of the incarnate word, and oklahoma wesleyan university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a gamer without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for gamers.

1. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

84%

SAT Average

1,031

Website

https://www.msmu.edu

Address

12001 Chalon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $57,700 per year

Net Price: $29,267 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 83.82%
SAT Average - 1031
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Accounting
Photography

2. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

88%

SAT Average

1,044

Website

www.uiw.edu

Address

4301 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,000 per year

Net Price: $23,441 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 87.94%
SAT Average - 1044
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Business
Criminal Justice
Finance
General Education, Specific Areas

3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions Rate

68%

SAT Average

964

Website

www.okwu.edu

Address

2201 Silver Lake Rd, Bartlesville, OK 74006-6299

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $50,500 per year

Net Price: $26,279 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 67.73%
SAT Average - 964
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Education
Accounting
Business
Business Economics

4. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

92%

SAT Average

1,031

Website

https://www.gmercyu.edu/

Address

1325 Sumneytown Pike, P. O. Box 901, Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437-0901

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $48,000 per year

Net Price: $23,213 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 92.00%
SAT Average - 1031
ACT Average - 21
Most Popular Majors
Business
General Education, Specific Areas
Criminal Justice
Computer Technical Support

5. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

70%

SAT Average

849

Website

www.hnu.edu

Address

3500 Mountain Blvd, Oakland, CA 94619-1699

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,000 per year

Net Price: $23,175 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 70.04%
SAT Average - 849
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Business
General Education, Specific Areas
Finance
Accounting

Average gamer salary by education level

Gamers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $48,668 annually. With a Doctorate degree, gamers earn a median annual income of $45,441 compared to $41,962 for gamers with an Bachelor's degree.
Gamer education level
ascdesc
Gamer salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$48,668
High School Diploma or Less$30,312
Bachelor's Degree$41,962
Doctorate Degree$45,441
Some College/ Associate Degree$30,284

Gamer Education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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