| Ranking | School | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan | Michigan |
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Illinois |
| 3 | Purdue University | Indiana |
| 4 | Northwestern University | Illinois |
| 5 | The Ohio State University | Ohio |
| 6 | Iowa State University | Iowa |
| 7 | DePaul University | Illinois |
| 8 | University of Illinois Chicago | Illinois |
| 9 | Ohio University | Ohio |
| 10 | Columbia College Chicago | Illinois |
Our fifth annual top AR/VR programs in the Midwest. For reference, we define the Midwest as Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Idaho, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota.
University of Michigan (U-M) provides a number of programs, labs, and initiatives that explore AR/VR. Programs include the Computer Science BS; Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) MS; CSE PhD; and the graduate certificate in Extended Reality (XR). Labs and initiatives include the XR Initiative - Center for Academic Innovation and the James and Anne Duderstadt Center (DC). Within the center are the DC Visualization Studio; M.I.D.E.N (Michigan Immersive Digital Experience Nexus); the Fabrication Studio; and VizHubs. Graduates are prepared to pursue advanced roles in AR/VR. Top employers of U-M alumni include Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle, General Motors (GM), Epic Games, IBM, and Meta.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is home to VR@Illinois Lab. This collaborative initiative supports all AR/VR and extended reality activities at UIUC. Resources include virtual reality classrooms; studio spaces for VR creation, research, teaching, and exploration; the VR Club; and the Innovation Studio. Formal program options are housed in Grainger College of Engineering and include the Computer Science BS and MS. Course examples across programs include Virtual Reality; AI for Computer Games; Software Design Lab; Applied Machine Learning; Human-Computer Interaction (HCI); User Interface Design; Software Engineering I-II; and Mobile Interactive Design. UIUC Grainger alumni have gone on to co-found companies such as Yelp, PayPal, and YouTube. Graduates have also been hired at places such as Amazon, Epic Systems, Google, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, IBM, Meta, Tesla, Apple, and Samsung.
Purdue University is home to Purdue Polytechnic Institute, which houses the Department of Computer Graphics Technology (CGT) and the CGT MS with a concentration in Virtual Reality and Visualization. All CGT MS students have access to the IDEAS Research Group, which focuses on Metaverse/AR/VR, and the Purdue HRD Virtual Lab. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in all industries that utilize AR/VR. Purdue Polytechnic Institute alumni have been hired at places such as Boeing, Mercedes-Benz, Lockheed Martin, DreamWorks, Amazon, RTX, Google, Eli Lilly, Toyota, and Gulfstream Aerospace.
Northwestern University (Northwestern) houses a number of labs and programs that focus on AR/VR education, projects, and research. Two of the largest labs include The Garage, and the Center for Human-Computer Interaction + Design. Others labs and initiatives include the Tangible Interaction Design and Learning (TIDAL) Lab; Artificial Intelligence Group; Computer Science + X (CS +X) Initiative; Interactive Audio Lab; NuLogiCS Group; Interactive Audio Lab; Swarm Robotics Lab; Cognition, Creativity, and Communication Lab (C3 Lab); IDEAS Lab; and Prescience Lab. Programs include the Computer Science BS/BA, MS, and PhD. Undergraduates may select a concentration such as Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Robotics, or Artificial Intelligence (AI). Graduates go on to become Computer Programmers, Software Developers, and Engineers at places such as Google, Microsoft, Intel, and IBM.
The Ohio State University (Ohio State) houses a Design MFA program and several labs that allow students to focus in AR/VR. Labs include the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design (ACCAD) and the Emerging Tech Studio (ETS). The interdisciplinary Design MFA has a Digital Animation and Interactive Media (DAIM) track with the option to select 12 studio elective credits in any area. Course examples include Virtual Modeling; Designing Immersive Virtual Environments; and Computer Vision for Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). The program culminates with the Project Exhibition and Oral Defense (Thesis Defense). Graduates are prepared to pursue careers with technology firms, game design studios, film production houses, design and media companies, and advertising agencies, among others.
Iowa State University (Iowa State) houses the Virtual Reality Applications Center (VRAC), which supports student, faculty, and industry partner research. VRAC participants have experience in areas such as AR/VR/MR, developmental robotics, mobile computing, and HCI. In addition participating in the VRAC, students interested in AR/VR can enroll in the MS or PhD programs in Computer Science; the Master of Human-Computer Interaction (MHCI); or the Artificial Intelligence (AI) MS. Course examples across programs include Virtual Worlds and Applications; Developmental Robotics; Design and Evaluation of Human Computer Interaction; and Learning to Speak AI. Graduates go on to secure advanced roles at places such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, IBM, Collins Aerospace, RTX, SAP Labs, and John Deere.
DePaul University houses AR/VR/XR labs such as the Jarvis Extended Reality (XR) studio space; the Virtual and Augmented Design (VAD) Lab; and the Virtual and Augmented Reality Communication (VARC) Lab. AR/VR-related programs include the Game Design BS; Communication and Technology BA; Computer Science BS (CS BS) with a concentration in Game Systems, Artificial Intelligence (AI), or Software Development; and MS degrees in Computer Science (CS MS) and Software Engineering. DePaul graduates are routinely hired at places such as Lockheed Martin, Amazon, Microsoft, Disney, Meta, Abbott, CDW, NBCUniversal, Argonne National Laboratory, Motorola, and Eclipse Gaming Systems.
The Learning Sciences Research Institute at University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) houses the Design Lab, which focuses on research in XR technologies. Other labs and programs that support XR education and research include the Electronic Visualization Laboratory (EVL) and the Human-in-Mind Engineering Research Lab (HiMER). Programs include the Computer Science and Design BS—the only program of its kind at a public university; the Computer Science BS with a concentration in Human-Centered Computing; and MS, combined BS/MS, and PhD degrees in Computer Science. Graduates hold positions at places such as Amazon, Google, Cisco, Apple, Microsoft, LG, Adobe, HP, Meta, and Verizon.
Ohio University provides two solid paths to study AR/VR—the Virtual Reality and Game Development (VRGD) BS and the Information and Telecommunications (ITS) BS. ITS students have the option to customize an AR/VR concentration, and students in both programs provide access to the Game Research and Immersive Design Lab (GRID Lab). Faculty and students in the lab conduct advanced research and produce content focused on AR/VR and digital games. Programs culminate with a final project (capstone) and portfolio. Graduates are routinely recruited by Microsoft, the U.S. Armed Forces, Walt Disney Imagineering, Cisco, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Google, IBM, Unity, Apple, Booz Allen Hamilton, Warner Bros., Riot Games, Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft, Electronic Arts (EA), and Bungie.
Columbia College Chicago (Columbia) houses a Game and Interactive Design BA that incorporates elements of immersive media, programming, and user experience (UX). Concentrations include Software Design; Game Programming; UX/UI; and Game Design. Immersive Media, Programming, Game Design, and User Experience are also offered as minors. Course examples across programs include Immersive Environments I-II; Wearable Interfaces; Programming I-II; and Code. Graduates enjoy a 90% employment rate. Across programs, alumni can be found at places such as Lockheed Martin, Riot Games, IBM, Google, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Rockstar Games, Sony, Deloitte, Walt Disney Imagineering, Microsoft, Electronic Arts (EA), Cartoon Network, Leo Burnett Worldwide, Zynga, Adobe, Epic Games, Nintendo, Unity, Marvel, BBDO, Gameloft, Deloitte, Blur Studio, Razorfish, and TIME Studios.
