Best Game Design & Development Programs in California

Aspiring game design & development artists have access to a variety of California schools that offer top-tier game design & development programs. Many made the list of Best Game Design & Development programs in the U.S. The nation’s “Best Schools” lists are compiled and published by organizations such as U.S. News & World Report, Princeton Review, and Forbes.com, to name a few. These organizations assess a variety of factors to help determine which schools stand out from the rest. To make the list, a school must have excellent graduation and retention rates, they must offer access to a wide variety of financial resources, it must have a diverse list of program offerings, and it must be selective. Other considerations include peer assessment and faculty resources.

The number of colleges in any given state fluctuates throughout the year, but as it stands, the state of California is still home to more colleges and universities than anywhere else in the U.S. The Institute of Education Sciences National Center for Education Statistics (IES NCES) updates statistical information throughout the year, so it’s important to note that this figure may change. California is now home to more than 450 colleges and universities and many are considered the best. They can be found across the state from San Diego all the way up to Crescent City.

Although California’s learning institutions can be found just about anywhere in the state, many of the best are located in Los Angeles County, Orange County, and in northern California. Browse through our list below to review some of the best game design & development school programs in California and what they have to offer.

Best Game Design & Development School Programs in Southern California

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Los Angeles
University of Southern California (USC) - Degrees Offered: B. A. Animation and Digital Arts, Interactive Entertainment; M. F. A. Animation and Digital Arts, Interactive Media

Pasadena
Art Center College of Design - Degrees Offered: B. S. Entertainment Design; B. F. A. Graphic Design; B. F. A. Illustration

Best Game Design & Development School Programs in Northern California

Emeryville
Ex’pression College for Digital Arts - Degrees Offered: B. A. S. Animation and Visual Effects; Game Art and Design; Motion Graphic Design

San Francisco
Academy of Art University - Degrees Offered: A. A., B. F. A., M. F. A. Animation and Visual Effects; B. F. A., M. F. A. Game Design; A. A., B. F. A., M. F. A. Graphic Design; A. A., B. F. A., M. F. A. Illustration

Santa Cruz
University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) - Degrees Offered: B. A. Film and Digital Media, Art: Electronic/Digital Media; B. S. Computer Science: Computer Game Design; M. F. A. Digital Arts and New Media; Ph. D. Film and Digital Media, Computer Science with focus on Games

More Programs to Consider: