Game Design Schools in Illinois

Video games aren’t just for kids anymore. The industry has become so diverse that the average age of a gamer is 32, and 2 out of every 5 players are female. Even more interesting is, decades ago, having a video game console was a luxury, but today, around 65 percent of U.S. households play video games. Thanks to constant change and growth in the video game industry, the demand for talented game designers is higher than ever before. Fortunately, a large number of colleges across the country offer top-tier programs for game designers. Many are located in the state of Illinois.

Before we discuss Illinois’s game design schools, the following are just a few benefits for aspiring game designers living here.Illinois is home to a variety of gaming conventions such as the Chicago Comic and Entertainment EXPO (C2E2), Games Day, Winter War, and Simcon, to name a few. Chicago Comic and Entertainment EXPO is one of the largest Expos in the Midwest showcasing the latest creations from the worlds of video games comics, movies, television, toys, anime, and manga.

Illinois is also home to dozens of gaming companies such as Barbaroga, Day 1 Studios, High Voltage Software, Incredible Technologies, Volition, Inc., and Wideload Games. Wideload Games is one of the state's most active video game companies. It was acquired by Disney Interactive Studios in 2009, but still operates out of its Chicago studio. Continue reading to learn about Illinois game design schools and what they have to offer.

Illinois Game Design Schools

According to the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), Illinois is home to 181 Title IV degree-granting institutions. Some are art and design schools, while others are traditional colleges and universities that offer excellent art and design programs. Several colleges here offer programs for aspiring game designers from instructional simulation gaming to computer game design.  Scroll through the list below to review programs at top schools such as Columbia College and Bradley University.

Chicago
Columbia College - Degrees Offered: B. A. Art and Design; B. A. Film and Video with Animation (Traditional or Computer) Concentration; B. A. Game Design with Concentration in Game Art, Game Development, Programming or Game Sound; B. F. A. Graphic Design, Illustration; B. A., B. F. A. Interactive Arts and Media

Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy - Degrees Offered: A. A. S. Animation and Visual Effects, Game and Interactive Media

DePaul University - Degrees Offered: B. A./B. S. Animation; B. A. Art, Media and Design with Concentration in Art and Design or Media Arts; B. S. Computer Game Development, Computer Graphics and Motion Technology; B. F. A. Graphic Design; M. S. Computer Game Development, Computer Graphics and Motion Technology

Macomb
Western Illinois University - Degrees Offered:  B. F. A. Art with Emphasis in Graphic Design; B. S. Instructional Simulation and Gaming

Peoria
Bradley University - Degrees Offered:  B. A., B. S., B. F. A. Art with Concentration in Graphic Design; B. A., B. S. Interactive Media with Concentration in Animation and Visual Effects, Game Design or Web and Application Design; M. A., M. F. A. Drawing/Illustration, Visual Communications and Design

More Illinois Schools with Game related programs:  

Employment and Salary Trends for Illinois Game Designers

According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistic Report (March 27, 2012), Illinois is now home to 70,530 salaried artists and designers, up from 69,000 in 2002. The state has the 5th largest population of artists and designers in the U.S. and many are members of the interactive design and digital art scene. Artists here average around $49,280, but salaries vary greatly based on factors such as location, company, experience, industry, benefits, and more. For example, game designers working in Chicago, IL average around $64,000, while Rockford, IL designers average around $54,000.
   
The U.S. is the number one video game market in the world and it is expected to generate $68 billion in business in 2012. The game design population is around 200,000 strong and it is expected to grow anywhere from three to six percent in the coming years. According to some reports, the figure is expected to increase even more by 2018. While salaries vary greatly by the factors listed above, overall, game designers average of around $80,000 a year, making game design one of the highest paying career fields in the art and design world.