Profiles of Game Design Programs & Schools

What do you think is better – a “best animation school” or a “top animation school?” You may not  have to decide because many schools are one in the same! However, these schools earn “top” or “best’ status for different reasons. A top-tier school may earn the “best” title based on factors such as the financial resources, graduation and retention rates number of program offerings, peer assessment, faculty resources (student-teacher ratio), and student selectivity. The “top” title may be awarded to a school that is considered affordable, convenient, a leader when it comes to job placement, and other factors. In the state of Ohio, a large number of colleges and universities made both lists.

If a school is popular, it must be the best, right? That depends. To create a “best schools” list, each institution is evaluated carefully according to certain standards set forth by reputable college ranking organizations such as Princeton Review, Forbes, and U.S. News & World Report. They consider number of program offerings, graduation and retention rates, peer assessment, faculty resources (student-teacher ratio), financial resources, and student selectivity. In the state of Ohio, an impressive number of schools made the cut and many of them offer some of the best game design & development programs in the nation.

The gaming industry is one of the most profitable industries in the world. In 2012 alone, the industry is expected to generate more than $68 billion in business. Employment is on the rise as well with a three to six percent increase between now and 2020.  Other reports suggest an even greater increase between 2012 and 2018. The gaming industry employs more than 200,000 game designers and thousands of animators, cover artists, developers, programmers, illustrators, testers, and more.

Thanks to explosive growth in the industry, game design & development programs are easy to find. Art and design schools, technical schools, and traditional universities have all answered the call for cutting-edge designers & developers by offering competitive programs of all shapes and sizes. Some game design & development programs may be completed in just two years (Associate of Arts, A. A.), while others take four years to complete, but lead to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. Some schools offer Master of Arts (M.A.) and Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degrees as well.