Top Game Design & Development Programs in New York

So, what makes a school a “top” school? This may be up for debate in some circles, but according to a number of student groups, education organizations, bloggers, and alums, roughly a dozen factors separate the best from the rest. Sure, a quality education is very important, but some of the other issues these groups care about are cost, convenience, job placement services, types of student clubs and organizations, intramural sports, cultural opportunities, quality of the facilities, student population, and even Greek life. Fortunately, a large number of New York schools scored high in all areas. Many of these schools also happen to offer some of the finest art and design programs in the world—including programs for aspiring game designers & developers.

New York’s “top” schools are also on the list of the nation’s “best” schools, but for different reasons. High profile organizations such as Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report, and Forbes rank the nation’s post-secondary institutions by assessing
factors such as number of program offerings, graduation and retention rates, peer assessment, faculty resources (student-teacher ratio), financial resources, and student selectivity. Continue reading to learn more about New York’s top schools for game designers & developers and what they have to offer. Please note that the schools are in order by largest to smallest student population.

Top Game Design & Development School Programs in New York

Rochester
Rochester Institute of Technology
Student Population: 13,582
Backdrop: Suburban, 1,300-acre campus, easy access to Buffalo
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Film and Animation, Illustration, Graphic Design, 3D Digital Graphics, New Media Design and Imaging; B. S. Game Design and Development, Media Arts and Technology, New Media Interactive Development; M. F. A. Computer Graphics Design, Film and Animation, Graphic Design; M. S. Game Design and Development

New York
Parsons The New School for Design
Student Population: 4,254
Backdrop: Urban, Greenwich Village campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Communication Design, Design and Technology, Illustration; M. F. A. Design and Technology

Alfred
Alfred University/New York State College of Ceramics
Student Population: 2,000
Backdrop: Historic small town, 232-acre campus, easy access to Rochester
Degrees Offered: Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Digital Interactive Arts; M. F. A. Electronic Integrated Arts

Sources

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