Top Game Design & Development Programs in Colorado

Colorado has the highest mean altitude of all states. It is home to fifty-four 14,000-ft mountain peaks (more than any other state), and beautiful Denver has the largest city park system in the nation with 205 parks in city limits, and 20,000 acres of parkland in the nearby mountains. The state is filled with amazing scenery and more outdoor sports venues than most other places in the U.S., but did you know that Colorado also has a serious side? This is especially true when it comes to academics! Yes, Colorado is home to some of the nation’s top schools and many of these schools offer excellent programs for aspiring artists and designers of all kinds, including those interested in pursuing a career in the game design & development industry.

Colorado’s top-tier schools earned “Top” status based on factors such as cost, location, quality of facilities, job placement services, types of clubs and organizations, recreational opportunities, student population, and more. Student groups, alums, bloggers, and a variety of small organizations are usually behind most “Top Schools” lists.

The state’s top schools often find their way onto America’s “Best Schools” lists as well, but for different reasons. To earn a spot on the list of “Best Schools,” organizations such as Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report, and Forbes evaluate the school’s program offerings, graduation and retention rates, peer assessment, faculty resources (student-teacher ratio), financial resources, and student selectivity.

Continue reading to find out which Colorado game design & development schools made both lists and what each has to offer. Please note that the top schools below are in order by largest to smallest student population.

Top Game Design & Development School Programs Colorado

Colorado Springs
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Student Population: 7,300
Backdrop: Urban, 532-acre campus, easy access to Denver
Degrees Offered: B. I. (Bachelor of Innovation™) Game Design and Development; Masters of Engineering with Focus in Media Convergence, Games and Media Integration

Denver
Rocky Mountain College of Design (RMCAD)
Student Population: 684
Backdrop: Urban, 23-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Animation, Game Art, Illustration, 3D Animation (online only). Game art is an excellent program option if you’re leaning more towards a career in game art & design.

Sources

Peterson’s, www.petersons.com
Princeton Review, www.princetonreview.com
U.S. News & World Report College Rankings, www.usnews.com/rankings