Top 20 Game Design Schools and Colleges in the Midwest – 2025 College Rankings

Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media (CDM) at DePaul University (DePaul) houses the School of Cinematic Arts (SCA); the School of Computing; and the School of Design. All provide paths to study games. The School of Cinematic Arts houses the STEM-designated Animation BFA with a concentration in Game Art, and the Computer Science + Animation BS (CS+ANI BS) with a Game Art Technical Director concentration. Across programs students have access to the state-of-the-art DePaul Cinespace Studios. 

This 60,000 square feet production facility houses six professional soundstages; animation studios and labs; Arri and RED cameras; green screen cycloramas; stop motion and motion capture stages; post-production video editing and color correction facilities; mixing studios; a scenic shop; and production offices. 

Other program highlights include courses taught by accomplished industry professionals who have worked at places such as WMS Games, Nickelodeon, and Disney Feature Animation; opportunities to gain hands-on experience at DePaul’s virtual production stage—the first of its kind in the Midwest—and through the schools Indie Studio; the visiting artist series; the LA Quarter Program at the historic Sunset Las Palmas Studio; Project Bluelight; access to the Animation Lodge; and the annual Premiere Film Festival. 

The Animation BFA/Game Art concentration focuses on real-world problemsolving; teamwork, and pipelines. Students will work alongside game designers and game programmers on cross-disciplinary game development projects. Course examples for the program include Game Development I-II; Visual Design for Games; Art for Game Mods; and Game Modification Workshop. 

Game Art students can also choose a focus in Animation or Modeling and Rigging. The Game Art concentration culminates with the Game Development Capstone I and Game Development II courses. The Computer Science + Animation BS with a Game Art Technical Director concentration combines liberal studies, animation, computer science, and game art. Course examples include Computer Systems I-II; Rendering and Graphics Programming; 3D Modeling and Shading; Optimized C++; 3D Animation for Games and Cinematics; Game Modification Workshop; Motion Capture; Advanced Animation Production; 3D Dynamics; Object-Oriented Game Development; and Game Art Pipeline. 

The Game Art Technical Director concentration culminates with the Game Development Capstone I and Game Development Project II courses. 

Graduates of the SCA Games programs are prepared to pursue roles at major game companies, film studios, and animation studios. Program alumni have been hired at game design companies such as Electronic Arts (EA), Blizzard Entertainment, Iron Galaxy Studios, Bioware, and The Mill. They have also been hired at studios such as Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, LAIKA Studios, and Warner Bros. Animation.

The School of Computing at DePaul University houses the Computer Science BS with a concentration in Game Systems, a BS in Game Programming, and a Game Programming MS. These STEM-designated programs provide access to the game development studio DePaul Originals; the Deep Games Laboratory; the DePaul Esports Gaming Center; and the DePaul Fundamental Research in Academic Gaming (DeFRAG), which hosts week-long game jams, multiplay nights, and video game Jeopardy. Students also have access to all CDM facilities such as the gameplay, playtest and usability, virtual reality, and game development and research labs. 

Other program features include participation in exhibitions; internships with local and national studios; and the biennial Japan Study Abroad Program. This two-week trip to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nagoya includes visits to game and animation studios; temples, cultural centers, and historic sites; and galleries and museums. In Nagoya, students will collaborate with Japanese game and animation students at Trident College of Computing. This two-day game/animation jam is the culminating experience for the trip. 

Courses for all programs are topic-based and hands-on, with a focus on global software development and lab work. Game Programming students will collaborate on interdisciplinary teams with game designers, producers, game designers, and audio designers to create games. BS course examples include Fundamentals of Game Design; Practical Scripting for Games; 3D Design and Modeling; Game Engine Programming I-II; Object-Oriented Game Development; Rendering and Graphics Programming; Game Modification Workshop; Optimized C++; and Game Development II. The BS program culminates with the Real-Time Networking and Software Projects courses or the Game Development Capstone I and Game Development Project II courses, student’s choice. 

The Game Systems concentration combines computer science, mathematics, and programming. Course examples include Discrete Mathematics I-II; Game Engine Programming I-II; Real-Time Networking; Object-Oriented Game Development; Computer Graphics Development I-II; Computer Systems I-II; Technical Writing; Applied 3D Geometry; and Concepts of Programming Languages. The program culminates with the Game Development Capstone I and Game Development Project II courses or the Software Projects course and one major elective, student’s choice. 

Game Programming MS students will take a combination of introductory, foundation, and advanced courses, along with major electives. These courses come from nine defined areas such as Game Specialties, Mobile Games, and Graphics. Elective examples from these areas include Physics for Game Developers; Advanced Rendering Techniques; Tool Programming for Game Development; Visualization; Game Programming for Mobile Devices; and Principles of Computer Animation. 

Graduates of the Games programs in DePaul University’s School of Computing are prepared to pursue advanced roles in all areas of game programming, development, and design. MS graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles in these areas, as well as research and education. 

Across programs, alumni have been hired at places such as Disney Interactive Studios, Microsoft, Amazon, NetherRealm Studios, Abbott Laboratories, GitHub, Phosphor Games, Lockheed Martin, DeepMind, Scientific Games, Carbine Studios, Raytheon Missiles and Defense, and Scientific Games. 

The School of Design at DePaul University houses the BS and MFA in Game Design. Students in these STEM-designated programs have access to everything the CDM has to offer as well as the Idea Realization Lab (IRL and IRL2); the interdisciplinary design PUSH Studio; the School of Design Talks Series; the Jarvis Speaker Series; mentored independent studies (MFA); and funded research assistantships (MFA). 

PUSH Studio partners with industry professionals and social organizations. The Talks and Speaker Series’ have welcomed guests such as Bungie Founder Alex Seropian; Antionette Caroll—Founder and CEO of the Creative Reaction Lab; Co-CEO of Iron Galaxy Chelsea Blasko; Dale Dougherty—Founder and CEO of Make Media; Young Horses Games; and Scott Starrett—Brand Advisor to the Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez campaign. 

The Depaul Game Design BS consists of courses such as Games Literacy; Unreal Engine Workshop; Game Development I-II; Playgaming; Solo Game Development Project; Sound for Games; 3D Design and Modeling; Practical Scripting for Games; 3D Animation; Advanced Game Design; and Data Analysis. 

The Game Design BS program at DePaul university culminates with the Game Modification Workshop Game Development Capstone I, and Game Development Project II courses. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in game design and development, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), animation, and interactive media, among others. 

The Game Design MFA is a flexible program that consists of courses such as Creative Computation; Art Games Bootcamp; Game Design Proseminar; Incubation Studio; Games With A Purpose Bootcamp; Game Design Workshop; and Game Development Practicum (internship, art game installation, development of a wearable device). 

The Game Design MFA program at DePaul University culminates with the MFA Thesis, Showcase, and Defense. Graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles in areas such as game design, game development, game programming, research, teaching, and software development. 

DePaul’s Game Design BS and MFA alumni have been hired at places such as Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media, Phosphor Games, NetherRealm Studios, Owlchemy Labs, Wargaming, and Firaxis. Some graduates have also gone on to launch their own studios, such as Young Horses—creators of Octodad. Developed at DePaul, this adventure game is an Independent Games Festival Student Showcase Winner and a Game Developer (formerly Gamasutra) Top 10 Indie. 

DePaul University is the largest Catholic university in the United States. Serving 21,210 students, the school is also the nation’s 12th-largest private, not-for-profit university, and the largest private, not-for-profit college in the Midwest. Founded in 1898, DePaul provides more than 300 undergraduate majors and graduate programs across two campuses that house 10 academic colleges and schools. DePaul University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Purdue University is home to Purdue Polytechnic Institute, which houses the Department of Computer Graphics Technology (CGT). Within the department are several paths to study game design including the CGT BS with a major in Game Development and Design; a CGT MS; and a Technology PhD. All programs are hands-on and ABET-accredited with access to state-of-the-art labs such as the Games Innovation Laboratory; Visual Effects Lab; IDEA Laboratory; VR Lab; the Experience Design Laboratory (ExLab); and the CGT Computer Lab. 

The CGT BS with a Game Development and Design major is a STEM-designated program that explores game design, visualization, rendering, animation, and programming. Students will have opportunities to engage in collaborative projects with peers and instructors. Past projects have focused on areas such as games utilization in entertainment; sustainable energy, medicine, and therapy; and information visualization. 

The Game Design and Development major requires 54 credit hours, with 39 credit hours focused on games. Course examples include Introduction to Games; Fundamentals of Imaging Technology; Computer Graphics Programming; Game Development I: Core Skills and Technologies; Game Development II: Design and Psychology; User Experience Design Studio; Game Development Practicum; and Contemporary Problems in Applied Computer Graphics I-II. 

For the culminating experience, all CGT BS students will complete a professional portfolio across several courses. Graduates are prepared to pursue roles in game design and development, animation, visualization, simulation, software design, and advertising, among others. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Electronic Arts (EA), Amazon, Riot Games, Lockheed Martin, Zynga, Raytheon, Boeing, PepsiCo, Endeavor Air, Caterpillar, and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. 

The CGT MS at Purdue Polytechnic enrolls approximately 100 students annually. The program provides five concentrations including Games; Animation; Virtual Reality and Visualization; UX Design; and Artificial Intelligence for Computer Graphics. Students in the Games concentration will take courses such as Game Development I-II; Computer Graphics Programming; Advanced Real-Time Computer Graphics; Games Research; Computer Shaders; Experimental Statistics; and Seminar in Computer Graphics Technology. 

Other CGT MS features include small class sizes; opportunities to work on real-world projects; and research opportunities. Graduates are prepared to pursue teaching, research, and other leadership roles in areas such as game design and development, animation, virtual reality, UX design, visualization, software design, artificial intelligence, computer graphics programming, and simulation.

The CGT MS program at Purdue Polytechnic culminates with the MS Thesis completed across two courses. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Google, DreamWorks, Deloitte, and Salesforce. 

The Technology PhD Program at Purdue University provides opportunities to work with faculty on computer graphics, visual computing, and human-computer interaction. The program also allows students to select 30 credit hours of courses selected from six schools and departments. These courses will help students build a custom specialization. 

Technology PhD also have the opportunity to select 27 credit hours from any college or school other than Purdue Polytechnic. Students interested in games typically select Computer Graphics Technology, which includes game studies, human-computer interaction, computer animation, digital enterprise systems, user experience (UX) design, artificial intelligence, computational art, data visualization, and more.   

The culminating experience for the Technology PhD program is the dissertation. Program alumni are prepared to pursue leadership roles in areas such as game design and development, software design, artificial intelligence, animation, simulation, virtual reality, UX design, visualization, and computer graphics programming. Program alumni also go on to pursue careers in research, education, and consulting.

Purdue University is Indiana’s only land-grant university. Established in 1869, the school serves approximately 60,240 students, making it the second largest university in the state. Approximately 11% of all students at Purdue are enrolled at Purdue Polytechnic Institute. More than 400 programs are provided across 11 academic colleges and schools—including Purdue Polytechnic. Purdue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). 

Indiana University Bloomington (IU Bloomington) provides multiple paths to study games across several colleges and schools. All options provide access to GameDev@IU. This student-run organization hosts workshops; collaborative game design projects; and game jams. Students can also gain valuable hands-on experience through the Indiana University Bloomington Internship Program. Students have interned everywhere from General Motors to Google.

The Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering provides five distinct paths to study game design. Established in 2000 as the School of Informatics and serving more than 4,500 students, Luddy is one of the world’s largest technology and information schools, and among the first of its kind. Within the school are the Departments of Computer Science (est. 1971); Information and Library Science (est. 1951); Intelligent Systems Engineering (est. 2016); and Statistics (est. 2006).

Serving approximately 950 students enrolled in 11 programs at all degree levels, the Department of Computer Science provides a Computer Science BS (CSCIBS) with a Game Development specialization; an undergraduate Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI) minor; and the Animal Computer Informatics PhD and minor. The Luddy School also lists a Media Arts and Science BS (MAS BS) with a specialization in Game Design and Development. 

Course examples across the CSCIBS and MAS BS include Creative Concept Development; Game On! A History of Games; Game Production; Game Programming; Virtual World Design and Development; Game Development; Character Design and Animation; Storyboarding for multimedia; Augmented Reality Application Design and Development; Artificial Intelligence; Game Testing and Evaluation; Creature and Character Design for Videogames, Comics, Film, and Animation; Games and Puzzles; and Advanced Game Design and Development. 

The CSCIBS and MAS BS specializations in Game Development and Game Design and Development culminate with a senior project completed across two courses.

The undergraduate Animal-Computer Interaction minor is a unique program that provides access to courses such as Game Development; Introduction to Virtual Reality; Building Virtual Worlds; Creating Virtual Assets; Human Robot Interaction; Mobile Programming; Artificial Life in Virtual Reality; and Scientific Visualization. Students in the Animal Computer Informatics PhD program have access to the same courses, as well as options such as Experience Design; Interaction Design Methods; Advanced Prototyping; Applied Machine Learning; Makerspace-Design and Foundation; Elements of AI; and Computer Vision. 

The College of Arts and Sciences at IU Bloomington provides four paths to study game design. Programs are housed in the college’s Media School. Dating back to 1911 when IU established the Department of Journalism, this multidisciplinary academic unit attracts students seeking careers in game programming, animation, graphic design for multimedia, sound production, and music composition. Specific program options for game designers include the Game Design BS and minor; and a Media BA with a Media Technologies, Games and Culture concentration. A flexible CS BA is also conferred through the College of Arts and Sciences.  

Media School students may select elective courses from the Luddy School; Jacobs School of Music; and Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture and Design. Students may also pursue a Media specialization such as Game Production, Game Audio, or Game Art. Concentrations consist of five courses. Specializations require at least three courses. 

Concentration course examples include Game Experience Design; Digital Media; Games, Culture, and Society; Animation for Digital Media; Game Production; Story Lab; Game Technology; Narrative Design; Game Art and Sound; and Media Technologies and Culture. Specialization course examples include Game Analytics; Game Character Art; Introduction to Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) and Computer Music; Game Environment Art; Game Experience Design; Sound for Games and Playable Media; and Game Production. 

Game Design BS students at Indiana University Bloomington have the option to select courses from several areas to create a specialization. Areas include Design-Game Design Theory; Programming; Design-Games and Mind; Art; Sound; and Management, Advertising, and Public Relations. The program begins with a mix of hands-on production classes and seminars. 

Students will gradually advance into upper division courses, including a three-semester, three-course Game Workshop Sequence. Courses include Game Workshop I-Prototype; Game Workshop II-Demo; and Game Workshop III-Publish. Modeled after today’s top game studios, the sequence culminates with an industry-ready published game.

Graduates of the Computer Science, Game Design, and Media programs at Indiana University Bloomington are prepared to pursue advanced roles across all areas of game design and development. Program alumni have been hired at studios such as Electronic Arts (EA), Rockstar Games, Ubisoft,  Blizzard Entertainment, Zynga, Owlchemy Labs, Piperworks Studios, and Gearbox Software. 

Established in 1820, Indiana University Bloomington was one of the first public universities west of the Allegheny Mountains. The school is also one of the first universities to admit women. The flagship campus of the Indiana University system, IU Bloomington serves approximately 48,425 of the systems nearly 90,000 students. Indiana University Bloomington is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). 

University of Wisconsin-Stout (UW-Stout) is the state’s polytechnic university and one of just 125 polytechnic universities in the U.S. The school also houses the first and only Game Design and Development BFA in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. A Game Design and Development concentration is also available in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and Management (CSTEMM) is also available. 

Housed in the School of Art and Design—the largest school of its kind in the upper Midwest—the Game Design and Development (GDD) BFA is accredited by the National Association for Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Program highlights include collaborative studios with computer science students; opportunities to gain hands-on experience in UW-Stout labs, studios, and galleries; faculty-led trips to LA and San Francisco; industry projects with the Jim Henson Company and the National Park Service; access to AAA development kits, Intuos Cintiq Displays, and virtual reality equipment; and more than 300 study abroad programs across 40+ countries. 

The GDD BFA consists of 120 credit hours of study, with 80 credits in the major. The curriculum covers areas such as 3D modeling and animation, game design principles, programming, graphic and user interface design, 2D pixel art and animation, concept art, and character design. Course examples for the program include Introduction to Programming; 3D Game Art and Engines; Design Drawing and Concept Visualization; Exploratory Game Design and Development; 3D Modeling and Animation; Virtual and Augmented Reality Video Applications; Visual Effects and Compositing; and Digital Sound Studio. 

The culminating experience for the Game Design and Development BFA at UW-Stout is the Game Art, Design and Development Capstone and final portfolio presentation at the Stout Game Expo (SGX). Graduates are prepared to pursue positions in all areas of game design and development, the broad technology industry, animation and film, digital marketing, visualization and simulation, and architecture. 

UW-Stout alumni have been hired at major companies and studios such as DreamWorks Animation, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, HP, Procter & Gamble (P&G), and Abbott Laboratories. They also work at regional and local studios such as Big John Games, 20 Credits Studio, Pixel Farm Digital, and Finn Daniels Architects. 

The College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and Management at University of Wisconsin-Stout serves approximately 2,700 students led by more than 200 faculty. The college also houses the Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science Department, home to the Computer Science BS (CS BS). Students in this program can add the Game Design and Development concentration. 

The CS BS with a GDD concentration is the world’s first and only game design and development program accredited under the Computer Science curriculum by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. Program features include a paid co-op industry experience as part of the curriculum; participation in game competitions, game conferences, film festivals, and exhibitions; graduate research; and the opportunity to publish in peer-reviewed papers. 

With a 100% job placement rate graduates of the UW Stout CS BS program are prepared for careers in game design and development, the broad technology industry, animation and film, digital marketing, visualization and simulation, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), aerospace, and many other fields. 

Program alumni have been hired at major companies and studios such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, HB studios (develops console games for Electronic Arts), Big John Games (developer for Nintendo), Degica Japan (publisher of RPG Maker), and Concrete Software (mobile games). 

For game designers and developers seeking a graduate degree, the School of Art and Design at UW-Stout houses a flexible Design MFA that allows students to create their own focus area. Examples include Game Design and Development; Animation and Digital Media; Graphic Design and Interactive Media; Cinema, Video, and Photography; and User Experience Design. Design MFA students also have access to everything the School of Art and Design has to offer. 

The UW-Stout Design MFA program culminates with the Creative Thesis in Design consisting of nine credit hours. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in higher education, as well as professional roles in the design industry and other creative fields. Program alumni have been hired at places such as DreamWorks Animation, Rouge MoCap, Apple, Shutterfly, and World Architects.

University of Wisconsin – Stout was established in 1891 as The Stout Manual Training School. Serving approximately 6,915 students, UW-Stout provides more than 145 programs across two colleges and the Graduate School. Many of these programs are unique to UW-Stout, or they are not offered anywhere in the Midwest. University of Wisconsin – Stout is accredited the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The Graphic Design and Interactive Media program is accredited by the National Association for Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Bradley University (Bradley) has a number of paths to study games. All options emphasize student/faculty collaboration; liberal arts and sciences; study abroad experiences in places such as the UK, Spain, and Australia; and experiential learning opportunities such as NBC Olympics internships and the Bradley University Hollywood Semester.

Open to all Bradley students and majors, the Hollywood Semester highlights guest lectures; excursions to industry events; professional internships; courses led by industry professionals; and networking events. The programs new mentorship initiative also helps connect students with Bradley alumni in Los Angeles. 

Bradley University is also home to Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Housed in Slane’s Interactive Media Department are the production-focused BA/BS in Game Design and Game Art; a 18-21 credit hour Game Design minor; and the Game Design and Development MS. 

The CLAS houses the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems, home to the Computer Science (CS) and Computer Information Systems (CIS) BS programs with a concentration in Computer Game Technology; a 25 credit hour Computer Game Technology minor; and a Computer Science MS with a Computer Game Technology concentration.

The Game Design BA/BS at Bradley University allows students to create videogames, tabletop games, and more during every semester of the program. The major requires 53 credit hours. Course examples include Survey of Games; Game Design I-II; Appreciating Comics; Game Production I-II; Environmental Storytelling; Introduction to Game Scripting; Film History; Introduction to Game Development; History of Animation; Critical Game Studies; and Fundamentals of Interactive Design. 

In addition to a variety of in-demand courses, the Game Design (and Game Art) BA/BS programs provide mentoring by faculty who have worked on game series such as Riot Game’s League of Legends, Ubisoft’s Far Cry, and Red Faction, developed by Volition. All BA/BS students also benefit from participation in game jams; opportunities to show their work at the annual FUSE exhibit; and hands-on learning with industry software.

The Game Design BA/BS programs culminate with three courses totaling 12 credit hours: Prototyping for Capstone; Game Capstone Project I; and Game Capstone Project II. Graduates will leave the program with a publishable game and professional portfolio.

The Game Art BA/BS programs at Bradley University explore asset creation, character art, animation, environment art, and concept art. The Game Art major requires 53 credit hours. Course examples include Introduction to Game Development; Character Art; Critical Issues in Interactive Media; 2D for Game Art; New Media History; Drawing 1-2; Game Art Fundamentals; Environment Art; Appreciating Comics, Game Art Development; Critical Game Studies; and Small Group Communication. 

The Game Art BA/BS programs culminate with the Game Capstone Project completed across two courses. 

The Game Design and Development MS at Bradley University consists of 30 credit hours without a concentration, and 31 credit hours to earn a Game Programming concentration. The program takes place in an environment that functions like a real production studio. Students have the opportunity to form a corporation inside the Bradley University Interactive Media Department, where they will spend a year developing games. MS students also receive regular feedback from working AAA game development professionals.

Students in the Game Design and Development MS without a concentration will take Game Prototyping (six credit hours); Game Production (12); Game Seminar (six); Game Practicum (two); and Game Post-Production (four). Students in the Game Programming concentration will take Game Prototyping; Fundamentals of Software Engineering or Computer Systems Analysis, Design and Integration; Game Engine Programming; Game Production; and Game Post-Production—the culminating experience for the program. 

Elective examples for the concentration include Algorithms; Directed Individual Studies in Computer Information Systems; Advanced Mobile Programming; and Computer Game Capstone Project. This is the culminating experience for the program. 

All MS students will have the option to sell their final game to a major manufacturer and produce a professional portfolio of their best work.

Graduates of the Slane Game Design programs at Bradley University are prepared to pursue careers across industries such as games for entertainment, serious games, animation, live action film, television production, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), aerospace and aeronautics, human-computer interaction (HCI), digital advertising, science and medicine, user interface and user experience (UI/UX), architecture, training simulations, artificial intelligence (AI), education, research, and consulting. 

Program alumni have been hired at places such as Riot Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Insomniac Games, Ubisoft, Warner Bros. Games, NetherRealm Studios, and Daybreak Game Company.

The Computer Game Technology concentration in the CLAS Department of Computer Science and Information Systems requires 12 credit hours for the BS and nine credit hours for the MS. BS CS/CIS students will take Foundations of Game Programming; Game Programming Design Patterns; and Computer Game Capstone Project. For the remaining credits students will select an elective. Examples include Advanced Game Capstone; Game Engine Programming; and Computer Game Modification.

MS CS/CIS students will complete the required Computer Game Design and Computer Game Modification courses. The remaining three credits will come from elective options such as Concepting and Storytelling; Digital Animation; Sound Design; Game Engine Programming; and Computer Game Capstone Project. 

Graduates of the MS/Computer Game Technology programs at Bradley University are prepared to pursue leadership roles in the broad technology industry, game design and development, animation production, research, consulting, and education. CSIS alumni have been hired at places such as Blizzard Entertainment, Microsoft, Warner Bros. Games, Sony, Amazon, Epic Systems, GGLeagues, Caterpillar, F84 Games, General Electric (GE), NetherRealm Studios, Accenture, Harris Corporation, and ChangeLab.

Bradley University was founded in 1897 by Lydia Moss Bradley—a business pioneer and wealthy philanthropist. When the school opened as Bradley Polytechnic Institute, it had just 14 faculty and 150 students. Today, Bradley University employs 340 full-time faculty that serve approximately 4,800 students from 36 U.S. states and 55 other countries. 

With more than 200 programs provided across eight colleges and schools, Bradley University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD) is one of approximately 328 schools accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The school also requires all undergraduates to complete the First-Year Experience (FYE). During this introductory year, students will collaborate with peers on projects and take courses such as Systems of Drawing; 2D Creative Spaces; 3D Making with Care; and Drawing for Entertainment Design. Upon completion of the FYE CCAD, students will advance into their major course of study. 

For students seeking a game design degree, CCAD houses a Game Art and Design BFA. Program benefits include participation in community game forums; courses and projects led by expert faculty members; participation in game jams; the CCAD Internship Program; visiting artists; participation in student-led organizations such as the Game Development Guild, the Tabletop/Role Play Game Club, and the Battle Game Alliance; and participation in regional events such as the annual tabletop gaming convention—Origins Game Fair, and GDEX (gaming expo). 

Students in the program also have access to state-of-the-art labs, equipment, and facilities such as the Cloyd Family Animation Center's Stop Motion Lab; play-testing areas; sound rooms and editing suites; tetherless VR and AR kits; Makey Makey and Arduino alternative controller kits; and Mac and PC computer labs outfitted with the latest industry-standard software. 

Course examples for the program include Introduction to Game Art and Design; Game Theory and Design; Tabletop Rules at Play; Level Design for Games; Programming for Play; Game Art Production; Digital Playscapes; History of Games; and Pipeline to Product Fundamentals. 

The CCAD Game Art and Design BFA program culminates with the Game Pipeline Capstone I and Game Projects Capstone II courses. Graduates are prepared to pursue positions in all areas of game design and development. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Electronic Arts (EA), Insomniac Games, Riot Games, Multivarious Games, Google, Nike, McGraw-Hill Education, BioWare, GuessworkVR, AfroDuck Studios, Mindstream Interactive, Super77, Legio Vox Studios, and GameU. 

Columbus Art School was established in 1879 by five women who had been prohibited from taking art classes alongside men. When it opened, the school had just six students. Serving more than 1,000 students, Columbus Art School is now known as Columbus College of Art and Design. Students at this private, nonprofit art and design college have access to BFAs in nine programs, 19 minors, and one graduate program across more than 10 departments. 

Columbus College of Art and Design is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The school is also affiliated with the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD).

The School of Engineering at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU or Case) is home to the Department of Computer and Data Science (CDS). Within the department is a unique Computer Gaming minor with an introductory course co-taught with Cleveland Institute of Art’s (CIA) Game Design Department. During the course, students will complete programming assignments that explore Unity 3D game engine development and basic game design. Students will work in teams of four to create and publish a game prototype on CWRU’s itch.io. 

Students from CIA and Case will also join together in teams of 10 (for an entire semester) to publish an original game itch.io. The School of Engineering holds an Arcade Day at the end of the semester, where invited guest judges will evaluate student games. 

All Computer Gaming students have access to Think[box]—a seven-story, 50,000 square feet innovation center and makerspace; the Kevin Kranzusch Gaming, Simulation and Visualization Lab, outfitted with 20 Alienware PCs with Nvidia 1080GTX GPUs; an iOS and Android mobile App development room; the Oculus Rift and HoloLens development room; and a conference room. Students may also join the Case Esports Club, which is open to casual and competitive gamers, and complete a paid work experience through the Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program at Case School of Engineering.

While the Computer Gaming minor at Case is open to all students, it is popular among individuals in the Computer Science (CS) BA, BS, BA/MS, BS/MS and PhD programs. The Case School of Engineering CS program was established in 1987. Required courses for the BA are part of the CDS department. However, the College of Arts and Sciences at Case awards the CS BA.

Course examples for the minor and CS programs include Computer Game Design and Implementation; Play Anything-Theorizing Video Games; Advanced Algorithms; Programming, Human Cognition in Evolution and Development; Modeling and Simulation; Computer Vision; and Machine learning. The culminating experience is the Advanced Game Development Project. 

Graduates of the CS programs with a Computer Gaming minor are prepared to pursue roles across the broader technology industry, game design and development, interactive simulations and training, digital advertising, visualization, animation and film, architecture, and more. Program alumni have been hired at major companies and studios such as Epic Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Riot Games, Boeing, NASA, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, IBM, Apple, Merck & Co., Intel, General Electric (GE), Cisco Systems, Oracle, Take-Two Interactive, Procter & Gamble (P&G), Motorola, Verizon, Eaton Corporation, Moen, and HP. 

Established in 1826, Case Western Reserve University is an independent research university that serves approximately 12,475 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. The school provides over 100 undergraduate programs, 160 graduate and professional options, and 145+ dual-degree programs across nine colleges and schools. Case Western Reserve University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and it is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). 

The Game Design Department at Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) houses a BFA program that provides opportunities to work on projects with partner clients such as NASA, Hearst Foundations, and General Motors (GM). The program is also collaborative, so students will work in teams to complete everything from console games to mobile apps—from concept to publishable product. 

CIA partners with Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), so team members will come from the school’s Department of Computer and Data Sciences’ (CDS) Computer Gaming minor. 

In addition to collaborative projects, the curriculum for the Game Design BFA at CIA combines in-demand courses, immersive labs and studios, and intensive training in game engines such as Unreal and Unity. Course examples for the program include Studio Discovery; 2D Game Design; 3D Texture Mapping and Digital Lighting; Safety Lab; Tabletop Game Design; Screenwriting; 3D Modeling for Game Engines; Virtual + Augmented Reality Aesthetics + Design; Writing I-III; 3D Animation for Game Engines; Digital I-II; and Game Development Pipeline-Team Project.

All Game Design BFA students have access to state-of-the-art production facilities on the CIA campus including the new Interactive Media Lab (IML), as well the Larry Sears and Sally Zlotnick Sears think[box]—a seven-story, 50,000 square foot innovation center and makerspace on the CWRU campus. The IML is a 14,297 square feet space that houses a virtual production studio (one of the few in Ohio); an in-house arcade for testing video game concepts; an image and data capture studio; the innovation studio; a rapid prototyping lab; and a multi-format screening room. 

In the final year of the Game Design BFA program at Cleveland Institute of Art, students will complete the Serious Game Design and BFA Research and Preparation courses. The program culminates with the BFA Thesis and Exhibition. 

Graduates are prepared to pursue titles such as Game Designer, Modeler, Game Art Lead, Visual Effects (VFX) Developer, Game Programmer, Animator, Senior Game Developer, Storyboard Artist, Game Production Lead, Layout Artist, Virtual Reality (VR) Designer, Art Director, Visualization Artist, Simulation Designer, and Art Educator. 

CIA alumni have worked with or been hired at places such as Thatgamecompany, MIM Software, Inc., Halo Media Works Roundtable Learning, American Greetings, George Mason University, Bio Enterprise, Columbus College of Art and Design. 

Cleveland Institute of Art was chartered as the Western Resere School of Design for Women in 1882. This independent, not-for-profit college serves approximately 600 students enrolled in 13 entertainment arts, design, fine arts, and craft majors. In addition to NASAD accreditation, Cleveland Institute of Art is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Ferris State University (Ferris State or FSU) houses the College of Business—home to the School of Digital Media, and Kendall College of Art and Design (KCAD). Within the School of Digital Media is a Digital Animation and Game Design BAS (DAGD BAS). KCAD houses a flexible Digital Art and Design BFA (DIAD BFA). Across programs, students will study and create in classrooms, studios, and labs led by expert faculty. 

The DAGD BAS in the School of Digital Media is a highly technical program that explores game design, 3D animation, programming, and business. Students in this program will complete communication and collaboration competency courses such as Scriptwriting; Small Group Decision Making; Interaction Design; Argumentation and Debate; and Advanced Technical Writing.

The major consists of 81 credit hours and an 18 credit hour concentration in Game Development (GMDV); General (GDAG); or 3D Animation (AN3D). Across all concentrations, students will take courses such as Introduction to Game Design and Development; 3D Modeling-Animation 1-2; Introduction to Coding for Games; Agile Project Management; Digital Imaging for 3D; Field Production; Multimedia Design; Animation Foundation; Seminar; and Applied Internship.

The Game Development concentration requires Game Programming I-II. Students will select the remaining four courses from the following options: Level Design; Procedural Animation Technique; Multiplayer game Program; Applied Digital Simulation; and Multimedia 2. Students in the General concentration have the option to take any or all of these courses (minus one), select from nine other courses, or choose a combination of the 15 available GDAG courses. Examples include Digital FX; Advanced Mod-Anim-Vehicle-Structure; Contemporary Tools/Techniques; and Advanced 3D Character. 

The final course for the DAGD BAS program at Ferris State University is the Capstone. During this culminating experience, students will create a commercially marketable project portfolio and engage in job seeking activities. 

The KCAD DIAD BFA program allows students customize a specialization and develop portfolios in one or more areas such as 3D Game Art; Interaction Design; 2D Animation; Motion Design; or Visual Development. All students will take supportive studio, art history, and major studio courses such as Digital Imaging I-II; Animation Processes; Digital Character Drawing; Global Art; and Professional Studio I-II. Electives examples include 3D Game Art I-II; 2D Character Design; Concept and Production Art; Motion Design; Applied Music and Sound; 3D Character Design; Storyboard Art; and Interaction Design. 

The program culminates with the Digital Art and Design Thesis (completed across two courses) and the Professional Practices course, which provides the opportunity for students to create a self-promotional digital campaign that targets job-seeking and freelancing opportunities. 

Graduates of Ferris State’s Digital Art and Design BFA and Digital Animation and Game Design BAS programs are prepared to pursue graduate studies or positions in areas such as game design, game art, animation, television production, digital advertising, visualization, simulation, interactive design, and education. 

KCAD alumni have been hired at places such as Epic Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Walt Disney Animation Studios, DreamWorks Animation, R/GA New York, YouTube, Caterpillar, and Tek Systems. KCAD BFA alumni have also been accepted into graduate programs at places such as School of Visual Arts, New York (SVA NY), Vancouver Film School (VFS), Michigan State University (MSU), Academy of Art University, Andrews University, Grand Valley State University (GVSU), and Indiana University (IU). 

Ferris State University was established in 1884. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the school serves approximately 9,950 students enrolled in more than 190 programs across eight colleges. This includes Kendall College of Art and Design. Founded in 1928 and located in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, KCAD serves 565 students enrolled in more than a dozen degree and certificate programs.

As part of Ferris State University, KCAD is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The school is also an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). 

Ohio University houses an interdisciplinary hub known as CREATE_space, where students from all programs can collaborate with peers; gain hands-on experience through training sessions; engage in creative consultations with staff; and utilize equipment such as 3D printers, AV tools, and digital cameras. Ohio University is also home to Scripps College of Communication, which houses the J. Warren McClure School of Emerging Communication Technologies, home to the innovative Virtual Reality and Game Development (VRGD) BS program. 

Launched in 2022, VRGD replaces the Games and Animation (G&A) program that was part of the Scripps School of Media Arts and Studies. Consisting of 120 total credit hours, the VRGD BS program includes a required minor in Business or Communication Studies. Both options are designed to help students develop problem-solving, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills. 

The VRGD curriculum explores emerging technologies such as virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), as well as storytelling, programming, and game development. Course examples include Foundations of Virtual Reality and Game Design; New Media Storytelling; Digital Game Design-Concepts; Computer Programming in JAVA; Game Development I-II; Scripting Projects; and Engineering Programming. 

Students may select nine or more credits from electives. These courses allow students to develop additional skills related to games, animation, and technology. Elective examples include Digital Game Design-World Creation; Animation I-II; Data Networking; Transmedia Storytelling; Augmented Reality Development; Understanding Internet Technology; and Special Topics in VR and Game Development. 

In addition to in-demand courses and electives, all Ohio University VRGD students have access to The Game Research and Immersive Design (GRID) Lab. Developed by faculty and staff in the School of Media Arts and Studies, GRID is an initiative of Ohio University's Scripps College of Communication that provides the opportunity to develop creative and technical skills in digital game technology. GRID is also a research lab that explores serious and educational games, computer animation, virtual reality, and simulations.

In addition, the GRID Lab also collaborates with the Virtual Immersive Technologies and Arts for Learning Laboratory (VITAL Lab); Ohio University's Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service; Adena Ventures’ and CREATE_space.

The Virtual Reality and Game Development BS program at Ohio University culminates with a project capstone and portfolio. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers across industries such as games, animation, technology, VR/AR, and digital advertising.

Program alumni have been hired at major companies and studios such as Electronic Arts (EA), Apple, Google, Activision Blizzard, Walt Disney Imagineering, Ubisoft, Sony Santa Monica, Bungie, and Unity. Other alumni employers include DGN Games, Esports Engine, and eFuse.  

Founded on February 18, 1804, Ohio University is the oldest public university in the state. The school opened with a single building, three students, and one professor. Today the school employs more than 4,000 faculty and staff that serve approximately 28,270 across 200 buildings, 1,800 acres of land, five regional campuses, and extension campuses in Cleveland and Dublin, Ohio. Academic offerings include more than 250 programs across 11 colleges, 16 schools, and dozens of departments. Ohio University has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1913.