Minneapolis, MN (population: 386,751) has four game development schools within its city limits. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, the highest ranked school in the city with a game development program, has a total student population of 51,659. It is the 31st highest ranked school in the USA and the highest in the state of Minnesota.
Game Development students from Minneapolis schools who go on to become game developers, game designers, video game designers, software developers, etc. have a good chance at finding employment. For example, there are 3,390 people working as gaming managers alone in the US, and their average annual salary is $74,030.
Minneapolis lies in Hennepin county, which is one of the 61 counties in Minnesota. Overall, the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington-WI area has 1,729,750 total employed workers according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a 0.4% unemployment rate, $23.40/hr average worker wage, and a $48,670 average annual salary.
Of the 4 game development schools in Minneapolis, only 2 have a student population over 10k. After taking into account tuition, living expenses, and financial aid, The Art Institutes International Minnesota comes out as the most expensive ($28,338/yr) for game development students, with Capella University as the lowest, reported at only $13,125/yr.
| Name | State | Population | # of Schools | Avg School Rank | Total Programs | Distance from Minneapolis |
| St Louis Park | MN | - | 1 | 8.81324 | 12 | 3.9 miles |
| Saint Louis Park | MN | 46,353 | 2 | 11.1178 | 24 | 4.5 miles |
| Edina | MN | 45,900 | 0 | - | 0 | 6.5 miles |
| Mendota Heights | MN | - | 2 | 22.3643 | 19 | 8.3 miles |
| Saint Paul | MN | 281,501 | 17 | 26.5648 | 744 | 8.4 miles |
| Brooklyn Center | MN | - | 2 | 15.2653 | 32 | 8.6 miles |
| Bloomington | MN | 81,380 | 8 | 29.5654 | 333 | 9.3 miles |
| Plymouth | MN | 72,954 | 4 | 34.6308 | 185 | 10.2 miles |
| Eagan | MN | 64,507 | 4 | 19.0283 | 31 | 11.1 miles |
| Brooklyn Park | MN | 72,758 | 3 | 8.3746 | 127 | 11.1 miles |
| Eden Prairie | MN | 62,379 | 2 | 4.18307 | 19 | 12.0 miles |
| Inver Grove Heights | MN | - | 1 | 10.5306 | 43 | 13.6 miles |
| Burnsville | MN | 59,309 | 1 | 29.2107 | 2 | 13.8 miles |
| Maple Grove | MN | 63,633 | 0 | - | 0 | 13.9 miles |
| Blaine | MN | 56,366 | 2 | 20.1744 | 20 | 14.8 miles |
| White Bear Lake | MN | - | 1 | 10.7099 | 66 | 15.4 miles |
| Woodbury | MN | 58,631 | 2 | 26.3629 | 27 | 17.5 miles |
| Lake Elmo | MN | - | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 19.3 miles |
| Saint Peter | MN | - | 1 | 36.7798 | 76 | 56.1 miles |
| Saint Cloud | MN | 67,771 | 3 | 25.374 | 204 | 59.9 miles |
| Pine City | MN | - | 1 | 14.515 | 24 | 62.2 miles |
| Mankato | MN | - | 3 | 19.0215 | 174 | 65.8 miles |
| North Mankato | MN | - | 1 | 14.452 | 54 | 66.2 miles |
| Willmar | MN | - | 1 | 19.0395 | 78 | 87.7 miles |
| Eau Claire | WI | 66,106 | 3 | 29.3261 | 160 | 87.8 miles |