| Ranking | School | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Texas at Austin | Texas |
| 2 | Texas A&M University | Texas |
| 3 | Arizona State University | Arizona |
| 4 | University of Arizona | Arizona |
| 5 | University of Utah | Utah |
| 6 | University of Colorado, Boulder | Colorado |
| 7 | University of Colorado, Denver | Colorado |
| 8 | Southern Methodist University | Texas |
| 9 | Oklahoma State University | Oklahoma |
| 10 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | Arizona |
Our 2025 rankings -our fifth annual- of the Top 10 Augmented/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) schools in the Southwest. We define the Southwest as Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. For an explanation of ranking criteria, click here.
The interdisciplinary Game Design and Development (GDAD) program at University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) provides the opportunity to work alongside industry studios and the game development student organization EGaDS!. GDAD students will also take courses that focus on immersive experiences through the Texas Immersive Institute in UT Austin’s Moody College of Communication. Specific degree options include the Computer Science (CS) BS with an optional Game Development concentration; the cross-disciplinary Bachelor of Science and Arts (BSA) in CS; and the Arts and Entertainment Technologies (AET). All options provide heavy AR/VR coursework, access to the Virtual Reality Laboratory, and participation in the Vision, Cognition, and Action Virtual Reality Lab. Across programs, graduates have been hired at places such as Google, HP, Amazon, IBM, EA Games, Apple, GameStop, and Zynga.
Texas A&M University (TAMU) is the new home of the Virtual Production Institute. This facility supports large-scale mixed-reality environments and education focused on AR/VR, AI, simulation, and sensing technology. Other labs that support AR/VR include HCI@VIZ; the recently launched Texas A&M University Virtual and Augmented Reality (TAMUVR); INDIE Lab; Soft Interaction Lab; MAESTRO Lab; the TEILab; and McNamara Lab. Program options include BS, MS, and MFA degrees in Visualization; a BS in Computer Science or Computer Engineering; the Computer Science BA; and a Virtual Production (VP) minor (with a professional internship). Top employers of TAMU graduates include Lockheed Martin, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Samsung, Google, Microsoft, IBM, Pixar, Amazon, Oracle, DreamWorks, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Electronic Arts (EA), Reel FX, and Texas Instruments (TI).
Arizona State University (ASU) is home to Meteor Studio. Funded by tech giants such as Google and Samsung, the studio was created to help advance development and research in AR/VR/XR. ASU also houses the Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center and the Center for Narrative and Emerging Media (NEM). Program options for AR/VR students include the NEM MA; the Media Arts and Sciences (Extended Reality Technologies) MS; and the Master of Science in Design (MSD). Programs include a mandatory internship and culminating applied project. Across ASU programs, graduates have been hired at places such as Microsoft, Northrop Grumman, Intel, Amazon, IBM, Honeywell, Apple, and Gore.
University of Arizona (UArizona) houses a STEM-designated BA in Information Science and Arts (BA IS&A) and Information Science BS (BSIS); BS degrees in Game Design and Development BS (BSGDD), and Computer Science; and an undergraduate Games and Simulation certificate (UGCert). Students in all programs may specialize in AR/VR through electives and research opportunities. Other program benefits include internships at places such as Amazon and Intel, and access to labs and studios such as the Extended Reality and Games Lab (XRG Lab); Mixed Augmented ViRtual eXtended (Reality) Lab (MAVRX Lab); 3D Visualization and Imaging Systems Lab; and the Terry Seligman VR Studio. Graduates have been hired at places such as Amazon, IBM, Microsoft, Intel, Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Texas Instruments (TI).
University of Utah (The U) houses a number of facilities and programs that support AR/VR education, projects, and research. This includes the Quantitative Experience Design (QED) Lab; XR Utah; the XR Classroom; the Film and Media MFA; BS and MS degrees in Computer Science (CS); MS and PhD degrees in CS or Computing; a STEM-designated Master of Software Development (MSD); and a combined CS BS/MS. All programs allow students to study AR/VR through established tracks and/or electives. Course examples include Virtual Reality; Machine Learning; Designing Human-Centered Experiences; and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Graduates go on to land positions at places such as IBM, Adobe, Intel, Micron, HP, L3Harris, Vivint, and CHG Healthcare.
The Alliance for Technology, Learning and Society (ATLAS) Institute at University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) supports education and research in AR/VR. Situated in the 66,000-square foot Roser ATLAS Center, the institute houses labs such as THING Lab, ACME Lab, and Helio Lab, along with the Creative Technology and Design (CTD) program leading to a BS, MS, or PhD. A comprehensive minor is also available. Examples of topics and courses explored include Introduction to Virtual Reality; Tangible and Mixed Reality; Wearable Technologies; and Interactive Sound. CTD graduates have been hired at places such as NASA, Lockheed Martin, IBM, Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, Disney, Ball Aerospace, General Motors (GM), Nike, Google, Hitachi, Thermo Fisher Scientific, RTX, Tesla, STARZ, L3Harris, and CBS.
University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) is home to the Computer Graphics and VR Lab (CGVR), which focuses on the development of AR/VR, human-computer interaction (HCI), physical simulation, interactive computer graphics, and computer vision techniques. In addition to participating in the lab, students can focus in AR/VR through CU Denver’s Computer Science (CS) BA, BS, MS, and PhD programs. Pathways culminate with a capstone or thesis. With a 100% employment rate, CS graduates are routinely recruited by the U.S. Air Force and at places such as Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Adobe, Northop Grumman, Oracle, Ball Aerospace, Adobe, RTX, and World Wide Technology (WWT).
Southern Methodist University (SMU) houses a number of facilities and programs that allow students to study AR/VR. These include the Digital/Hybrid Media Workshop; AT&T Center for Virtualization; the Center for VR Learning Innovation (CVRL)—home to the Mixed-Reality Simulation Lab and Olamaie Curtiss Graney VR Design Lab; Meadows Center of Creative Computation; SMU Guildhall—the graduate school for game design; the Computer Science (CS) BA, BS, MS and PhD; and the Creative Computation BA. The Guildhall features partnerships with companies such as Disney, Epic Games, and Ubisoft, and a final project sponsored by companies such as Microsoft, Nintendo, and Intel. Across programs, graduates are routinely hired by SMU partner and sponsor companies, as well as places such as Google, Samsung, Amazon, Electronic Arts (EA), Adobe, Nike, Dell, American Airlines, and KPMG.
Oklahoma State University (OSU) houses several programs and labs that support AR/VR education, research, and projects. Programs include the Computer Science (CS) BS, MS, and PhD; the Design and Merchandising MS with a Digital Design track; both undergraduate and graduate certificates in Digital Design; and comprehensive minors in CS and Applied Computer Programming (APCP). Labs include the Mixed Reality Lab and the Research Labs of the College of Arts and Sciences. Across programs, OSU graduates have been hired at places such as Lockheed Martin, Amazon, Halliburton Industries, Google, ConocoPhillips, IBM, Merck, Tyco, Intel, and Dell.
The Colleges of Arts and Sciences (COAS) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Embry-Riddle) houses Simulation Science Games and Animation (SSGA) BS program with coursework that focuses on building virtual worlds and simulations. Students in the program have access the SSGA Lab, including 20 VR workstations, Wacom tablets, and specialty content creation software); the Design and Computer-Aided Design Lab; Meteorology Lab; the College of Engineering Senior Design Lab; Airway Science Lab; and the STEM Education Center, which houses additional computing, robotics, and simulation labs. Embry-Riddle graduates have been hired at places such Boeing, the Department of Defense Modeling and Simulation Office, Walt Disney Imagineering, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Microsoft, Blizzard Entertainment, Super League Gaming, Win Reality (VR Training), ForgeFX Simulations, and Mass Virtual (XR Training).
