| Ranking | School | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University | California |
| 2 | University of Southern California | California |
| 3 | University of Washington | Washington |
| 4 | University of California, Berkeley | California |
| 5 | University of California, San Diego | California |
| 6 | University of California, Santa Cruz | California |
| 7 | California Institute of Technology | California |
| 8 | San Jose State University | California |
| 9 | University of California Santa Barbara | California |
| 10 | Chapman University | California |
Our 2025 rankings -our fifth annual- of the Top 10 AR/AV School Programs in the West. For reference, we define the West as California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Hawaii, and Alaska. For an explanation of ranking criteria, click here.
Stanford University is home to the School of Engineering, which houses the Computer Science (CS) Department. Established in 1965, the department provides programs that allow students to design their own specialization. Several official specializations allow students to focus in AR/VR. Specific program options include the Computer Science BS (BSCS), MS (MSCS), and CS PhD. Across programs students have access to courses such as Intro to Virtual Reality and Avatars; How to Make VR: Introduction to Virtual Reality Design and Development; and Coding for Social Good. Students also have to the Virtual Human Interaction Lab (VHIL), and the Virtual + Augmented Reality Design Lab (VR Design Lab), among others. Graduates of the CS Department are routinely hired at places such as such as Apple, Tesla, Microsoft, Google, Walt Disney World, Amazon, Meta, the U.S. Armed Forces, and Oracle.
The Frontiers of Computing initiative at University of Southern California (USC) is the single largest comprehensive academic initiative in the school’s history. Launched in 2023, Frontiers focuses on areas such as AR/VR, robotics, AI, and gaming. USE also houses the Mixed Reality Lab (MxR); the ICT Virtual Humans Group; and the Extended Reality Lab (XRLab). USC also recently launched the USC Working Group on Scholarly VR, AR, and 3D Modeling. Degree options include the Computer Science BS, MS, or PhD; the Interactive Media and Games MFA; the Arts, Technology, and the Business of Innovation BS; and the Integrated Design, Business, and Technology MS. Graduates of these programs are frequently recruited by the U.S. Armed Forces, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, DreamWorks Animation, Walt Disney, Google, Sony, Microsoft, Amazon, Discovery+, Tesla, United Airlines, Meta, and Disneyland Resorts.
The Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering at University of Washington (UW) is the world’s first school to offer an augmented reality capstone course. Program options for students interested in studying AR/VR include the Computer Science BS (CS BS); a combined BS/MS; the Professional Master’s Program (PMP) in CS; and a CS PhD. All Allen School students have the opportunity to take courses and work in interdisciplinary teams at the UW Reality Lab. Across programs, graduates have established careers at places such as Pixar Animation Studios, Microsoft, Disney, Apple, Unity Technologies, Riot Games, Amazon, Epic Systems, Adobe, Google, Dell, Samsung, HBO, Oracle, and Hulu.
University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) houses several facilities and programs that support education and training in all areas of AR/VR. Facilities include the AR/VR/MR laboratory known as XR Lab@Berkeley; the student-run Extended Reality@Berkeley; and the FHL Vive Center for Enhanced Reality, which sponsors research and applications in AR/VR and AI. Program options include the BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) and the Computer Science (CS) BA. Graduates are prepared to pursue advanced roles in areas such as AR/VR, AI and machine learning, computer vision, robotics, and aerospace. UC Berkeley alumni are routinely hired by Apple, Google, Meta, and Tesla.
In 2017, University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) launched its Virtual Reality Lab—the first of its kind at an American University. Shortly after, the school hosted its very first Virtual Reality/ Augmented Reality Hackathon. Sponsors included Sony, Oculus, HTC, and Google. Today, UC San Diego’s VR resources have expanded to include the Extended Reality (XR) Lab and the Design Lab; the Human-Centered Design minor and graduate specialization; and a Virtual Reality App Development certificate that can be added to any degree program. Formal degree programs include the BS, MS, BS/MS, and PhD in Computer Science (CS). Across programs, required electives allow students to customize a focus in AR/VR. UC San Diego CS graduates have been hired at places such as Amazon, Lockheed Martin, NVIDIA, Intuit, Apple, RTX, Northrup Grumman, Tencent, HP, Qualcomm, Lenovo, and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz or UCSC) houses several programs and labs that allow students to study AR/VR and work on projects with technology companies such as Amazon, Google, HP, and Samsung. Labs include the VizLab and the Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE) Lab. Programs include MS degrees in Computational Media MS and Human Computer Interaction; a Computational Media PhD; a Computer Science BA and BS; the Computer Engineering BS; a Computer Science and Engineering BS/MS; and the Computer Science and Engineering MS and PhD. UC Santa Cruz graduates have been hired at places such as Cisco, Microsoft, Northrup Grumman, Amazon, Google, SpaceX, Apple, Disney, NVIDIA, Intel, Adobe, Samsung, Tesla, Genentech, Meta, and Kaiser Permanente.
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) houses a Virtual Reality Lab (VRL) that provides opportunities to collaborate on AR/VR projects and research, experiment with online technologies and learning modalities, and participate in seminars, discussions, and group meetings. In addition to the lab, Caltech provides several pathways to study AR/VR. These include the Computer Science (CS) BS, MS, and comprehensive minor. Course examples include Making Data Visual (virtual/technological media); Computer Graphics (animation, human-computer interaction (HCI), and modeling); Experimental Robotics; Machine Learning; Digital Ventures Design; and Software Engineering. Caltech alumni can be found at places such as NASA, Northrop Grumman, SpaceX, Apple, and The Aerospace Corporation.
San Jose State University (SJSU) is home to the eCampus Immersive Learning Institute, which focuses on AR/VR/XR technology and learning, and the King Library Experiential Virtual Reality (KLEVR) Lab, which allows students to experiment and develop their own AR/VR projects. Specific AR/VR degree pathways include the Information Science and Data Analytics BS (BSISDA) program that explores AR/VR, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and big data, and the Computer Science BS and MS programs with heavy AR/VR-related coursework. Graduates of the programs are routinely hired at places such as NASA, Microsoft, the City of San Jose, Amazon, Cisco, Google, IBM, Apple, Oracle, Adobe, Intel, and Meta.
University of California Santa Barbara (UC Santa Barbara or UCSB) houses several facilities and degree programs that support AR/VR education and research. Facilities include the Data, Research, Exploration, Access, Methods (DREAM) Lab, which houses an AR/VR studio; the Research Center for Virtual Environments and Behavior (ReCVEB); transLAB (Worldmaking + Social VR, Immersion, Performative Interactive Arts); the Four Eyes (Imaging, Interaction, and Innovation Interfaces) Lab; RE Touch Lab (Haptics, Robotics, and VR); and the Systemics Lab (Robotics, Interface Design, Sustainable Computing Paradigms). Programs include the Computer Science (CS) BS and MS; and the Media Arts and Technology (MAT) MS and PhD. Through electives and other coursework, students may create a focus in AR/VR. Some of the top hiring companies for UCSB graduates include Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, IBM, Adobe, Gilead Sciences, Amazon, Intel, HP, Apple, Google, NVIDIA, Meta, Oracle, Intuit, and Tesla.
Chapman University houses a comprehensive Entertainment Technology minor that requires 21 credit hours and courses such as Intro to VR and AR; Advanced VR/AR Workshop; and Virtual Production Workshop. Other programs for students interested in AR/VR include BS degrees in Computer Science and Computer Engineering; BFA degrees in Animation and Visual Effects and Digital Media; and the Computational and Data Sciences MS. In addition to the Entertainment Technology minor, students in all programs have access to labs and centers such as Noctvrnal; the Institute for Creative Reality (ICR); and the Virtual Reality Club (VR Club). Graduates of the Chapman AR/VR programs are routinely hired at places such as Amazon, Disney, Boeing, Pixar, Lockheed Martin, DreamWorks, The Aerospace Corporation, Blizzard Entertainment, Google, and Blur Studio.
