Top 10 Game Design Schools and Colleges in the Southwest – 2025 College Rankings

University of Utah (The U) provides five paths to study game design. Housed in the College of Architecture and Planning is the Entertainment Arts and Engineering (EAE) program. Established more than a decade ago by faculty from the School of Computing and the Division of Film Studies, the EAE is a collection of degree programs known as Utah Division of Games. Options include a Games BS (BSG); a Computer Science BS (CS BS) with an EAE emphasis (CSEAE); a Master of Entertainment Arts and Engineering (MEAE); a dual MBA/MEAE; and a Game minor. 

The Game minor requires 24 credit hours, including 12 upper division hours. Students will develop skills in areas such as game-based learning; entertainment software development; serious games for health; task-training tools; and games for science. Course examples include Interactive Machinima; Traditional Game Development; Programming for All; Digital Content Creation; and Alternative Game Development. 

All University of Utah EAE programs are interdisciplinary and immersive with a focus on computational research, art, and social science. The Games BS is designed for students seeking careers in the games for entertainment, visualization, simulation, or edutainment. Students in this program will complete all of the courses for the minor, along with general education, allied area of interest, and elective courses. 

Course examples include Ethics in Games; Digital Storytelling; Animation Techniques; Videogames and Storytelling; Discrete Structures; Lit, Film, Videogame; Fantasy; Rapid Visualization; Sound for Film and Digital Media; Storyboarding/Visual Storytelling; Film Production; and Software Practice. The program culminates with a capstone completed across two courses. 

University of Utah’s CS BS program with an EAE emphasis is ideal for students seeking careers in video game engineering. The program features the full Computer Science curriculum and courses that explore video game design and development, 3D animation, and computer-generated special effects (CG SFX). Because the CSEAE program is computer science-based, students must complete pre-major courses including Intro to Computer Science; Calculus I; Intro to Object-Orient Programming; and Algorithm/Data Structure. 

Examples of CS core courses include Software Practice 1-2; Discrete Structures; and Computer Systems. EAE core course examples include Introduction to Game Design; Traditional Game Development; Asset Pipeline; Digital Content Creation; Interactive Machinima; and Alternative Game Development. Students may also select from area focus electives such as AI/Analytics; Human Centered Computing; and Infrastructure. The program culminates with the Senior Project completed across two courses. 

The Master of Entertainment Arts and Engineering at University of Utah is designed as a cohort model, where students from five different tracks remain together for the entire two years of the program. Tracks include Game Arts; Game Design (launched in 2024); Technical Art; Game Production; and Game Engineering. In addition to courses in their chosen track, all MEAE students will take electives such as Virtual Worlds; Paper Prototyping for Games; Serious Games; Narrative in Game Design; and Experimental Gameplay. 

All MEAE students will also take game design, pre-production, and rapid prototyping classes. The MEAE program culminates with a final project completed in teams across three courses. Students in all EAE programs at University of Utah will graduate with several completed games to be included in their professional portfolios. 

Across programs, EAE graduates will be prepared to pursue titles such as Game Designer, Visualization Developer, Game Programmer, Training Simulation Game Designer, Game Simulation Software Engineer, Game Artist, Video Game Engineer, and Game Developer. 

Founded in 1850, University of Utah is the state’s public flagship institution. A top-tier research university, The U serves 36,970 students enrolled in more than 200 programs across 18 colleges and schools and nearly 100 departments. University of Utah has been continuously accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) since 1933. 

University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) houses the UT Game Development and Design (GDAD) program. Launched in 2020, the program is a partnership between the Department of Computer Science (CS) in the College of Natural Sciences; the Department of Radio-Television-Film (RTF) in Moody College of Communication; the Department of Arts and Entertainment Technologies (AET) in the College of Fine Arts’ School of Design and Creative Technologies; and the Texas Immersive Institute (TXI). 

Specific paths to study games within the GDAD program include the Department of Computer Science BS CS with a 15-credit hour Game Development concentration and the AET Department’s AET BS with a Game Design path. The RTF Department provides coursework that covers emergent media, cinematic arts, and narrative design. The TXI focuses on coursework in immersive experiences. All four departments provide minors and concentrations that combine studies in programming, design, media, and art. 

Although the GDAD is an undergraduate program, students seeking an advanced degree can earn an MS in CS (MSCS). A Five-Year BS/MS Integrated CS is also available.

Across programs, students will learn how to build games and immersive experiences, and apply game technology in other fields. All students will also have opportunities to work with industry studios and EGaDS!—UT’s game development student organization—on independent and collaborative projects. These hands-on experiences take place through the AET Studio Industry Partnership; Senior Design Project; University Partnership; College Collaboration; Independent Study courses; and the Game Development Capstone. 

Examples of industry partners include Dell Experience Innovation Group; Wonderspaces; Gensler Digital Experience Design; and ILMxLAB. Internship opportunities also provide the chance to gain valuable hands-on experience before graduation. The GDAD and CS programs also provide access to an unlimited number of games and games-related courses. 

Examples include Introduction to Programming; Level Design; Game Development; Computer Organization and Architecture; Mixed Reality; Game Character Animation; Digital Experience Design Studio; Game System Design; Physical Simulation of Computer Graphics; Future of Gaming; Interactive Environments; Game Scripting; Narrative Design; Challenges in Game Design; Virtual Production; Physical Game Design; Artificial Intelligence (game playing, natural language understanding, theorem proving); VR for Games; Cross Platform Storytelling; Mobile Game Development; Computer Graphics; Game Prototyping; Realtime Pipeline; Challenges in Game Design; and Advanced Creative Coding. 

Graduates of the GDAD and CS programs at UT Austin are prepared to pursue advanced roles in the games industry; entertainment (film, TV, animation); computer systems design; the broad technology industry; software engineering and design; simulation and visualization, and more. 

UT Austin Game Development and Design graduates enjoy a 93% employment rate within six months of graduation. Approximately 92% of CS graduates secure employment within six months of graduation. Across programs, alumni have been hired at places such as Electronic Arts (EA), IBM, Amazon, HP, Apple, Google, Aspyr Media, Inc., Scientific Games, Zynga, Lucid Motors, Diamond Entertainment, Everi Digital, and Cloud Imperium. 

Founded in 1883, University of Texas at Austin serves approximately 53,865 students, making it one of the largest universities in Texas. UT Austin provides more than 155 undergraduate degree programs with 170+ fields of study; 139 graduate degree programs; and nearly 100 doctoral programs across 19 colleges and schools. University of Texas at Austin is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) is home to the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology (The Bass School or Bass). Established in 1975, Bass is a Houdini Certified School that serves more than 1,960 students enrolled in over 45 majors, minors, and certificate programs. Among the school’s programs is an Animation and Games BA and a Game Development MFA. 

Across programs, students have access to state-of-the-art facilities such as the 155,000 square feet Edith O’Donnell Arts and Technology Building and the Game Lab; Render Farm; CG Animation Lab; experimenta.l.; Games Research Lab; Motion Capture Studio; Games and Media Library; Narrative Systems Research Lab; Surround Studio; The Studio for Mediating Play; Animation Lab; 3D Studio; Mixed Media Lab; MoGraph Lab; Escape Pod Studio; VAST Lab; and the 3D Studio. 

The Animation and Games BA is a 120 credit hour program that takes place in a studio environment. Students in this program will explore games and digital animation, including social gaming, 3D computer animation, motion capture, educational games, motion graphics, and real time entertainment. Course examples for the program include Digital Art and Design Foundations; History of Games; Programming for Digital Artists; Animation and Game Fundamentals; Scripting for Animation I; Time-Based Media; Scripting for Games I; History of Visual Effects; Design; and Animation Origins and Techniques. 

To complement the major and core curriculum, BA students may select 30 credit hours of prescribed and free electives. Examples include Sound Design for Games; Virtual Environments I-II; Mobile Game Development; Rigging I-II; Game Design I-II; Motion Capture Lab; Game Studies I-II; Experimental Animation; Scripting for Games II; Escape Pod Studio; Games and Narrative I-II; Real Time Texturing; Computer Animation I-III; Digital Effects; Collaborative Modeling; Storyboarding; Level Design I-II; Virtual Reality; Immersive Technologies Lab; Digital Sculpting; and Game Production Lab I-II. 

The Animation and Games BA at UT Dallas culminates with the Capstone Project. 

The Game Development MFA at UT Dallas is a terminal degree designed for student seeking advanced roles in the games industry or for those interested in educating tomorrow’s game designers. Required major courses for this 54 credit hour program include Anatomy of a Game; Game Production Practices; Experimental Games Studio; and Game Design and Development.

Prescribed and free electives total 27 credits. Elective examples include Building Virtual Worlds; Socially Conscious Games; Interactive Narrative; Game Production Studio; Play and Culture; Special Topics in Game Development; Educational Games Studio; and Games, Education, and Simulation. 

The final project for the Game Development MFA at UT Dallas consists of 15 credit hours completed over two consecutive long semesters. Courses include Master’s Thesis (ATCM 6399); Master’s Project I (ATCM 6698); and Master’s Project II (ATCM 6699). Students will present final projects in an exhibition, conference presentation, or defense. 

For students seeking a broad program with a flexible curriculum, The Bass School houses an Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication (ATEC) program with BA, MA, MFA, and PhD paths. Students in all programs may study games through elective requirements. Depending on the program, students are required to complete anywhere from 18-30 elective credit hours. 

The BA has an Emerging Media Arts (EMA) concentration with access to electives Game Design I; Game Studies I; Sound Design for Games; Modeling and Texturing; Motion Design I-II; and Virtual Environments. 

Programming for Digital Arts; Code Plus Culture; Time-Based Media; and Computer Modeling for Digital Fabrication are examples of required and major courses for the BA. This 120 credit hour program culminates with the Capstone Project course. 

The ATEC MA is a 36 credit hour program designed for students seeking leadership roles in the games industry or a doctorate degree. Course and elective examples for the program include Interactive Narrative; Computational Design; Design Research Methods; Special Topics in Interaction Design; Human Computer Interaction; Interactive Environments; Computer Processing for Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication; Experimental Interactive Media; and Emerging Media Studio. 

The UT Dallas ATEC MA culminates with the Advanced Master’s Thesis or Master’s Thesis course—student’s choice. 

The ATEC MFA is a 54 credit hour program designed for students seeking university-level teaching positions and those interested in advanced roles at professional studios or design firms. Course and elective examples for the program include Socially Conscious Games; Creativity as Social Practice; Modeling and Simulation; Experimental Interactive Media; Computational Design; Emerging Media Studio; Information Architecture and Design; Visualization Research; and Critical Making. 

The ATEC MFA culminates with a final project consisting of three courses completed over two consecutive long semesters. Courses include Master's Thesis; Master's Project I; and Master's Project II. 

The ATEC PhD at UT Dallas is a 60 credit hour program that allows students to select up to 15 credit hours from other schools. Students may also choose electives in games and other related areas. All ATEC students have access to games labs, studios, and other related facilities at UT Dallas. This allows PhD students to engage with students in the game design, development, and animation programs. 

Graduates of the Game Development, Animation and Games, and ATEC programs at University of Texas at Dallas have been hired at places such as Pixar, Apple, DreamWorks, Google, Disney, Toyota, and Capital One. Program alumni have also gone on to launch their own studios or freelance businesses. 

University of Texas at Dallas began as the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest (GRCSW) in 1961. The owners of Texas Instruments established the center to create better higher-education opportunities in North Texas. Today, UT Dallas is an official member of the University of Texas System, and a Carnegie R1 Doctoral Institution. 

The school also serves approximately 29,865 students enrolled in more than 150 degree programs across seven schools. University of Texas at Dallas is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

University of Arizona (U of A or Arizona) provides a STEM-designated BS in Game Design and Development (BSGDD) that can be completed on campus or online beginning Fall 2025. The program is housed in the School of Information (iSchool), which is Arizona’s only iSchool and a member of the iSchools consortium. This international organization of over 120 universities focuses on teaching and research in areas such as human-computer interaction (HCI), information access and organization, bibliometrics, and information integrity. 

The iSchool at Arizona focuses on cross-disciplinary studies in a hands-on, collaborative learning environment with internship opportunities at places such as Intel, Amazon, Mayo Clinic, Pitney Bowes, Lunewave, CyVerse, Genentech, Lum.ai, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). All iSchool students also have opportunities to study abroad in places such as Rome and Orvieto, Italy through courses such as Visual Content Creation in the Information Age, and Digital Storytelling and Culture. 

In addition to the Game Design and Development BS, the Arizona iSchool provides more than a dozen undergraduate majors, minors, and certificates, as well as 10 master’s, doctoral, and graduate certificate programs. Other game programs include the Games and Behavior BA (BA GB); a Certificate in Games and Simulation; and minors in GDD and Games and Behavior.  

In addition to everything the iSchool has to offer, students in all programs benefit from access to state-of-the-art production facilities; courses taught by accomplished industry professionals; and participation on the Global Game Jam (GGJ) and the U of A Game Development Club. 

The Game Design and Development BS and minor explore games for areas such as entertainment, simulations, visualization, education, and healthcare. Across programs, students will take major courses and major technical electives such as Introduction to Game Design; Ethics in a Digital World; Game Development; Programming for Informatics Applications; Introduction to Human Computer Interaction; Advanced Game Development; Computational Thinking and Doing; Algorithms for Games; Statistical Foundations of the Information Age; 3D Modeling for Games; and Virtual Reality.

BS students may take five elective courses and minor students can take three. Examples include Serious STEM Games; Computing and the Arts; Narrative Practices in Digital Games; Introduction to Creative Coding; Advanced Game Development; Technology of Sound; Designing for Video Game Genres; Neural Networks; and Gamification in Society. The BS requires 120 units to graduate. The minor requires 18 units. 

Graduates of the Game Design and Development programs at University of Arizona go on to establish careers in areas such as game design, game development, serious games, UI/UX design, film and animation, digital marketing, simulations and visualization, and the broad technology field. 

The Games and Behavior BA and minor at University of Arizona explore game design for entertainment, education, and research; gamification in society; human behavior in games; games for health and wellness; games for job training; and games for social support. Course examples across programs include Introduction to Game Design; Quantitative Methods for the Digital Marketplace; Gamification in Society; eSports Industries; Ethics in a Digital World; and Collaborating in Online Communities.  

To enhance the degree, BA students may choose four elective courses. Minor students will select all required units (18) from a set list of courses. BA elective examples include Disruptive Technologies; Digital Engagement; Digital Games and Society; eSports Casting and Development; Digital Storytelling and Culture; Information, Multimedia Design and Moving Image; Computing and the Arts; Narrative Practices in Digital Games; Technology of Sound; Serious STEM Games; Introduction to Human Computer Interaction (HCI); Digital Commerce; and Legal Aspects of Game Industries. 

The Games and Behavior BA at University of Arizona requires 120 units to graduate. Upon completion of the program, graduates are prepared to pursue titles such as Video Game Designer; Software Quality Assurance Analyst; Game Designer/Manager; Concept Artist; Gaming Market Research Manager; Art Director; Gamification Design Consultant; Digital Marketing Specialist; Game Tester; Multimedia Specialist; Web Designer; Consumer Insights Manager; Graphic Designer; and UX/UI Designer. 

The Games and Simulation certificate is a flexible 12 unit undergraduate program. All students will complete Introduction to Game Design. The remaining courses will come from electives—student’s choice. Students have access to all electives for the BA and BS programs. Other examples include Monetizing Independent Gaming; Simulation Design and Development for Complex Problem Solving; Legal Aspects of Game Industries; and Diversity and Bias in Games.  

University of Arizona has an additional program option housed in the College of Humanities- Department of Public and Applied Humanities. Leading to a BA in Applied Humanities with a Game Studies emphasis, the curriculum for the program includes courses such as Introduction to Game Design; Narrative Practices in Digital Games; Video Game Studies: Critical/Cultural Approaches; Computing and the Arts; Video Games as Artifacts-Appreciating Interactive Multimedia Entertainment; Global Video Game Cultures and Their Origins; Game Development; Simulation Design and Development for Complex Problem Solving; Gamification in Society. 

The BA program also requires an internship and the production of a professional portfolio. The culminating experience for Game Studies is the Senior Capstone (project). Graduates are prepared to pursue positions in the areas such as global games, serious games, digital humanities, game and media journalism, digital culture studies, and new media policy. 

Across all University of Arizona iSchool and other related programs, graduates have been hired at places such as Microsoft, Epic Systems, Apple, Lockheed Martin, Cisco Systems, Intel, Amazon, Boeing, Raytheon, Ball Aerospace, L3 Communications, Medtronic, HP, Lucent Technologies, and Texas Instruments.  

University of Arizona is the state’s first university. Established in 1885, this land-grant institution opened with just a few students. Today, UA serves approximately 56,545 students, making it one of the state’s largest post-secondary institutions. UArizona provides more than 300 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in 150+ areas of study across 21 colleges and nearly two dozen specialized schools. University of Arizona is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). 

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The school is also an Unreal Engine Academic Partner that houses a Game Art BFA provided year-round both on campus and online. Although campus-based students will spend most of their time face-to-face with instructors and peers, a small portion of the program must be completed online. 

The Game Art BFA requires 123 credit hours with 48 in the major and six in studio electives. The remaining courses come from liberal arts and foundations. Led by industry professionals, all courses are collaborative and immersive, with small class sizes and interactions with students from other RMCAD programs. 

Other program benefits include access to state-of-the-art production facilities; participation in Game Art Events; the speaker-series featuring game art professionals; and the opportunity to apply for a Spivak Student Studio space. Consisting of 12 coveted studios, Spivak is a dedicated campus-based creative space where students can collaborate, network, exhibit and critique works, and connect with visiting artists.

The Game Art BFA consists of foundations and liberal arts courses such as Art Historical Methods and Theories; Sound Studies; The Art of Math; Acoustics of Music; History of International Animation; Seminar in Contemporary Art; 2D Design; Time-Based Media; Life Drawing I-II; 2D Design-Elements and Principles; and 3D Design-Space and Materiality. Before advancing into the Game Art major, students will complete the Animation and Game Art Sophomore Portfolio Review. 

Examples of Game Art major courses include Introduction to Animated Storytelling; 3D Modeling; Game Shader Development; 3D Computer Fundamentals; Rigging for Animation and Game Art; 3D Computer Animation Motion Studies; Game Creation Fundamentals; Character and Level Design; Digital Painting for Film and Games; 3D Computer Lighting and Materials; Strategy and Psychology in Games; Business Ethics and Copyright; Digital Sculpting; and Game Art Junior Portfolio Review. 

Electives allow students to complete an internship or focus in specific areas of games, animation, and art. Elective examples include Worldbuilding; Game Animation and Motion Capture; Vector Illustration; Drawing and Acting for Animation; The Art of Villainy; Scriptwriting for Animation; Layout Design; Experimental Animation; 3D Character and Production Design; Raster Imager Processing; Character Animation and Motion Studies; Figurative Sculpture; Digital Post Production; and Special Topics. 

The Game Art BFA program at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design culminates with two courses: Senior Project I-Portfolio Preparation, and Senior Project II: Portfolio Delivery and Review. 

Graduates are prepared to pursue roles in the game design industry, animation, film, and digital advertising, among others. Examples of potential job titles include Game Artist, Computer Animator, Game Designer, Concept Artist, Environment Designer, UI/UX Artist, Character Designer, Texture Artist, 3D Modeler, and Lighting Artist.

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design opened in 1963 as Rocky Mountain School of Art. Serving more than 1,000 students, RMCAD provides 16 degree and certificate programs in campus/hybrid and online formats. In addition to NASAD accreditation, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).