| Ranking | School | % of Schools Considered |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Utah | Top 2% |
| 2 | University of Central Florida | Top 3% |
| 3 | University of California, Santa Cruz | Top 5% |
| 4 | Georgia Institute of Technology | Top 6% |
| 5 | Michigan State University | Top 7% |
| 6 | University of California, Los Angeles | Top 9% |
| 7 | University of Texas at Austin | Top 10% |
| 8 | University of California, Irvine | Top 15% |
| 9 | Purdue University | Top 15% |
| 10 | University of Florida | Top 15% |
| 11 | Texas A&M University | Top 15% |
| 12 | University of Texas at Dallas | Top 20% |
| 13 | University of Washington | Top 20% |
| 14 | North Carolina State University | Top 20% |
| 15 | The Ohio State University | Top 25% |
| 16 | Indiana University Bloomington | Top 25% |
| 17 | University of Wisconsin–Stout | Top 25% |
| 18 | California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo | Top 25% |
| 19 | Miami University | Top 30% |
| 20 | Clemson University | Top 30% |
| 21 | University of Arizona | Top 30% |
| 22 | George Mason University | Top 35% |
| 23 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Top 35% |
| 24 | Indiana University Indianapolis | Top 35% |
| 25 | Kennesaw State University | Top 35% |
What are the 2026 top ranked public college game design programs in the U.S.? For an explanation of ranking criteria, click here.
The College of Architecture and Planning at University of Utah (The U) houses the Utah Division of Games. Within the division are several paths to study game design including a Games BS (BSG); the Computer Science BS (CS BS) with an emphasis in Entertainment Arts and Engineering (CSEAE); a Master of EAE (MEAE); a dual MBA/MEAE; and the Games minor. These immersive, interdisciplinary programs provide opportunities to complete a professional internship at places such as Epic Games and Warner Bros. Games.
Students can also join a campus club such as Crimson Gaming, the 3D Art Club, or Gamecraft. Across clubs, students can participate in workshops, attend industry events, and develop games for game jams. Other program benefits include courses taught by instructors with experience in all areas of game development; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; studio simulation projects courses; and the opportunity to work in interdisciplinary teams to publish a game.
All programs culminate with a professional game portfolio. Utah Division of Games alumni can be found at places such as Rockstar Games, Nintendo, Warner Bros. Games, Disney, Ubisoft, Riot Games, Zynga, BioWare, Amazon Game Studios, Electronic Arts (EA), DreamWorks, Activision Blizzard, Epic Games, Microsoft Games, Nickelodeon, Google, Adobe, ESPN, U.S. Air Force, Bethesda, and Valve Corporation.
University of Central Florida (UCF) is home to Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM) and Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA). Both academic units provide several paths to study games. NSCM programs include the Digital Media BA, culminating with a Game Capstone; the Digital Media MA, culminating with a thesis or research project; and a Digital Media minor. The BA has tracks in Game Design, and Web and Interactive Media. FIEA houses the Interactive Entertainment MS with specializations in Art, Production, or Programming. All MS specializations culminate with the Interactive Entertainment Capstone and Digital Portfolio.
Activities for all programs take place in the Communication and Media Building, which houses state-of-the-art studio and classroom space across 112,000 square feet of space. This includes one of the largest soundstages and motion capture studios on the east coast—Studio 500. Other program highlights include internships at major studios; study abroad opportunities; participation in Esports at UCF; and student clubs such as Game Development Knights, Women’s Gaming Alliance, and Gaming Knights.
Students also have the opportunity to complete the Game Design (GD) or Digital Venture (DV) Practicum. The GD Practicum is an internship (full-time job). The DV Practicum gives students the opportunity to build a start-up.
NSCM and FIEA graduates have been hired at places such as Disney, Epic Games, Lockheed Martin, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Rockstar Games, Microsoft, Cartoon Network, Google, Blizzard Entertainment, Marvel, Nintendo, Electronic Arts (EA), Warner Bros. Games, Apple, Unity Technologies, Zynga, Sony, Universal, Iron Galaxy Studios, Gameloft, and Blur Studio.
University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz) is the first institution in the UC system to launch an undergraduate game major. Today, the school provides multiple paths to study games. Housed in the Jack Baskin School of Engineering (BSOE) and known as Games @ UC Santa Cruz, options include the Computer Science BS (CS BS) (Computer Game Design); the Art and Design-Games and Playable Media BA (BA AGPM); the Computational Media MS with a Games and Playable Media project sequence; a Digital Arts and New Media (DANM) MFA; and PhDs in Computational Media (CM), and Computer Science and Engineering. Programs are available at the main Santa Cruz campus and the school’s Silicon Valley (SVC) location.
Across all programs students have access to state-of-the-art production facilities and centers such as the Advanced Visualization and Interactive Systems Lab; Critical Realities Studio; The Other Lab; Expressive Intelligence Studio; Augmented Design Laboratory (ADL); Ludo Lab; the Center for Computational Experience; and the Critical Realities Studio.
Other Games @ UC Santa Cruz highlights include guest speakers from the game design industry; networking events; game design internships; participation in the Annual Games Showcase; frequent studio tours; and project evaluations by industry professionals.
Depending on the program, culminating experiences include a final project, capstone, thesis, or research project. Games @ UC Santa Cruz alumni have been hired at places such as Riot Games, Ubisoft, Tencent Games, Universal Studios Japan, Amazon, Electronic Arts (EA), Rockstar Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Google, Warner Bros. Games, Apple, Zynga, Intel, NCSoft, Topgolf, NetEase Games, and Hi-Rez Studios.
Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) houses a Computational Media BS (BSCM) program that launched in 2004 with just one student. With more than 300 students today, the BSCM is one of Georgia Tech’s fastest growing programs. The focus of the program is Media and Games. Other program options for students interested in studying games include MS and PhD degrees in Digital Media; a dual BSCM/Digital Media MS; a CM minor; and an undergraduate certificate in Scenarios, Models, and Military Games.
Students in these studio-based, multidisciplinary programs benefit from professional internships; immersive workshops; access to the GVU Center Game Studio at Georgia Tech and the Institute for People and Technology (IPaT); and participation in student organizations such as VGDev, Design Club, Anime O-Tekku, and Competitive Programming@Tech.
Programs culminate with a final project, presentation, and portfolio. Georgia Tech Games graduates can be found at places such as Boeing, Electronic Arts (EA), NASA, Cartoon Network, Riot Games, Amazon, Disney, Epic Games, Microsoft, Adult Swim, Google, Unity, TNT, Apple, NBCUniversal, CNN, and Meta.
Michigan State University (MSU) provides several paths to study game design. Options include the Games and Interactive Media BA with a focus in Game Design, Game Development, or Games Graphics and Animation; a Game Design and Development (GDD) minor; the Serious Games MA certificate; a STEM-approved Media and Information MA (MI MA) with a focus in Game Design; and BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Computer Science (CS). CS BS students can minor in GDD and/or concentrate in Multimedia and Graphics. MS and PhD students can enroll in the Serious Games certificate program.
All programs are hands-on, with opportunities to work on real-world projects with partners such as Rockstar Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Electronic Arts (EA), Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), and Ubisoft. Other program highlights include internships with places such as Apple, Insomniac Games, and ABC; visiting artist talks; and access to state-of-the-art facilities such as Games for Entertainment and Learning Lab (GEL Lab), the Social and Psychological Approaches to Research on Technology-Interaction Effects (SPARTIE) Lab, and virtual reality (VR) labs.
Students will graduate from the game design programs at MSU with a portfolio of their best work. Across programs, graduates have landed positions at places such as Boeing, Rockstar Games, Disney, Amazon, Electronic Arts (EA), Blizzard Entertainment, Apple, Ubisoft, Insomniac Games, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), Microsoft, Epic Systems, Google, IBM, and Ford Motor Company.
The Departments of Design Media Arts (DMA) and Computer Science (CS) at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) provide two paths to study game design—the DMA BA and CS BS. The DMA BA is a multidisciplinary studio-based program that enrolls approximately 22 students per course. Examples include Game Design; Worldbuilding; Game Engine; 3D Modeling and Motion; Collaborative Game Lab; and Interactive Animation.
The CS BS has a Graphics and Vision area that explores rendering, motion capture, artificial life modeling, and animation for the games and film industries. Course examples include Digital Design Project Laboratory; Software Engineering; Programming Languages; and Computer Systems Architecture. Students in both programs can take additional courses to fulfill elective requirements or enhance the degrees.
In addition, UCLA extension provides a number of single courses that are open to all majors. Examples include Intro to Game Development with Godot 4; Developing Video Game Narratives; Composing Music for Video Games; Unity I: 3D Game Design and Game Engines; Immersive Experience Design; Drawing from Videogame Styles; and Blender Foundations for Spatial Media.
All DMA BA and CS BS students may participate in the UCLA Game Lab. Supported by the School of the Arts and Architecture (UCLA Arts), and the School of Theater, Film and Television, the UCLA Game Lab hosts workshops, guest speaker events, and visiting artists. Examples of Game Lab sponsors include National Endowment for the Arts, NVIDIA, ZBrush, HP, Unity, and HTC.
Graduates of the DMA BA and CS BS programs at UCLA can be found at places such as Activision Blizzard, Riot Games, Electronic Arts (EA), Ubisoft, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), DreamWorks, Mattel, Nickelodeon, Warner Bros. Games, Google, Pixar, Microsoft, Walt Disney Imagineering, Cisco Systems, Amazon, Apple, NBCUniversal, Zynga, Mattel, and Oracle.
The University of Texas at Austin (UT) houses the UT Game Development and Design Program (GDAD), which provides several paths to study games. Options include the Computer Science BS (CS BS) with a Game Development concentration; the Arts and Entertainment Technologies (AET) BS with a Game Design focus; a CS MS; and a Five-Year CS BS/CS MS. Launched in 2020, the GDAD is a partnership between the Department of Computer Science (CS); the Department of Radio-Television-Film (RTF); the Department of Arts and Entertainment Technologies (AET); and the Texas Immersive Institute (TXI).
In addition to learning how to build games and immersive experiences, all students have the opportunity to work with industry studios and EGaDS!—UT’s game development student organization. Examples of industry partners include Gensler Digital Experience Design; Dell Experience Innovation Group; and ILMxLAB. Internship opportunities are also part of the program as well as independent study and the Game Development Capstone.
Graduates can be found at places such as Epic Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Electronic Arts (EA), Riot Games, NVIDIA, Rockstar Games, Ubisoft, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Microsoft, HP, BioWare, Apple, Disney, 2K Games, Aspyr Media, Google, IBM, Amazon, HP, Scientific Games, Zynga, and TikTok.
The Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences (ICS) at University of California, Irvine (UCI) is home to the Department of Informatics, which houses several programs for game designers. Options include the Game Design and Interactive Media (GDIM) BS; and the Computer Science (CS) BS, MS, and PhD. The CS BS has games-related specializations in Algorithms (computer games, graphics, artificial intelligence, computer vision, and information retrieval); Visual Computing (virtual reality, computer graphics, advanced 3D computer graphics); and general computer science (customized coursework with two project courses).
Students in the CS MS program can select from research areas such as Networks/Multimedia; Scientific and Visual Computing; Systems Software; Artificial Intelligence; Data Structures and Algorithms; and Architecture/Embedded Systems. The CS PhD provides access to games courses, and any CS MS research area.
Other highlights across programs include courses taught by industry experts; partnerships with major studios such as Electronic Arts (EA), Cartoon Network, Disney, Tencent Games, Blizzard Entertainment, and Riot Games; mentorships; and internship opportunities. The GDIM BS culminates with the Capstone Game Project. The CS BS culminates with the Capstone Project course—any focus area. The culminating experience for the UCI CS MS is a research-based thesis project or the comprehensive examination. Thesis students typically advance to the PhD program. The CS PhD culminates with a dissertation defense and final examination.
Graduates of the GDIM and CS programs at UCI have been hired at places such as Boeing, Google, SAP, Blizzard Entertainment, Northrop Grumman, Bungie, Amazon, Microsoft, RTX, Adobe, and Meta.
Purdue University is home to Purdue Polytechnic Institute. Within the institute is the School of Applied and Creative Computing, which houses the STEM-designated Game Development BS; a Computer Graphics Technology MS (CGT MS) with a Games concentration; and the Technology PhD, with 30 credit hours of flexible electives selected across six schools and departments. Purdue’s School of Business and Information Technology also houses an Analytics BS with a concentration in Game Development.
All programs are hands-on with access to state-of-the-art facilities such as the CGT Computer Lab; the Games Innovation Laboratory; VR Lab; Experience Design Laboratory (ExLab); Visual Effects Lab; and IDEA Laboratory. Other program benefits include opportunities to work on real-world projects; small class sizes; and the opportunity to complete an internship or participate in the co-op program.
The culminating experience for the Game Development BS program is a professional portfolio. The Game Development concentration culminates with a final project. CGT MS students will compete a thesis to graduate. The Technology PhD program culminates with a dissertation. Graduates can be found at places such as Riot Games, Lockheed Martin, Electronic Arts (EA), Ubisoft, Microsoft, Boeing, RTX, DreamWorks, HP, Amazon, Zynga, Google, PepsiCo, Apple, HP, Epic Systems, Delta Air Lines, Northrop Grumman, Procter & Gamble (P&G), Ford Motor Company, and Caterpillar.
The College of the Arts (COTA) at University of Florida (UF) is home to the Digital Worlds Institute (DW), which has two paths to study games. Options include the Digital Arts and Sciences (DAS) BA (BADAS); a DAS Masters (MiDAS); and the DAS minor. The BADAS and DAS minor can be completed on campus or entirely online. All DW programs provides access to state-of-the-art labs and facilities such as the ORC Lab; The GYM Production and Collaboration HUB; the Virtual Production Studio (VPS); the Reality Lab – the Immersive Technology and Research Lab (Reality Lab); and the Polymodal Immersive Classroom Theater (PICT).
Other DW benefits include professional internships; study abroad experiences; visiting artists and lecturers; and workshops, recruitment events, and open houses through the Agency at UF. Programs culminate with a final project and portfolio.
Graduates go on to establish careers at places such as Insomniac Games, DreamWorks, Google, Disney, Microsoft, Bungie, Adobe, Gearbox Software, Apple, Oracle, ESPN, Vu Technologies, and The NFL.
The College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts (PVFA) at Texas A&M University (TAMU) provides several paths to study game design. Options include the Visualization BS (VIZ BS) with a Game Development emphasis; a VIZ MS with an emphasis in Gaming; the VIZ MFA with a Gaming emphasis; a BA in Performance and Visual Studies with an emphasis in Media Studies (Film, TV and Video Games); the Visual Computing and Interactive Media PhD with a Game Design and Development emphasis; and a Game Design and Development minor.
Across programs, students have the opportunity to complete a paid internship and participate in organizations and events such as Texas Aggie Game Developers (TAGD); Women in Animation; the VIZ Industry Fair (VIF); and the TAMU SIGGRAPH Student Chapter. Programs also take place in a studio environment with opportunities to collaborate on projects across emphasis areas.
The Visualization BS culminates with the Capstone Studio course. VIZ MS students will complete a thesis or capstone project. The VIZ MFA culminates with a portfolio and exhibition. To date, PVFA alumni have worked on over 400 films produced by more than 20 studios. Graduates can be found at places such as Epic Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), Riot Games, Electronic Arts (EA), DreamWorks, Lucasfilm, Disney Animation, Microsoft, Sony, Pixar, Ubisoft, Reel FX, and Aspyr Media.
The Bass School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology at University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas or UTD) is a Houdini Certified School that houses several paths to study games. Options include an Animation and Games BA; the Media Arts and Design (MAD) BA with a concentration in Emerging Media Arts (EMA); and Game Development MFA.
The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science houses a flexible, multidisciplinary Computer Science MS with opportunities to focus in subfields such as Computer Graphics, Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision, Machine Learning, and Programming Languages. Students in all programs may also study games through elective requirements. Depending on the program, students may complete up to 30 elective credit hours.
Across programs, students have access to one of the nation’s largest project design studios—the Jonsson School facility. Other labs and studios include the Game Lab; Animation Lab; Render Farm; 3D Studio; CG Animation Lab; The Studio for Mediating Play; Games and Media Library; Mixed Media Lab; experimenta.l.; Games Research Lab; Escape Pod Studio; VAST Lab; Motion Capture Studio; Narrative Systems Research Lab; Surround Studio; and MoGraph Lab. Students also have opportunities to compete an internship, study abroad experience, or other experiential learning activities.
Programs culminate with a final project (capstone), thesis, portfolio, and/or presentation. UT Dallas Games and MAD graduates are routinely hired at places such as Epic Games, Disney, Pixar, BioWare, Lockheed Martin, Blizzard Entertainment, DreamWorks, Electronic Arts (EA), Unity, Gearbox Software, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), Google, Amazon, RTX, Microsoft, Apple, Reel FX, and id Software.
University of Washington (UW) is home to the School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE). Both provide paths to study games. STEM programs include an Interactive Media Design BA and the Game Design Certificate (GDC). Allen School options include the ABET-accredited Computer Engineering (CE) and Computer Science (CS) BS and BS/MS programs with the option to specialize in Graphics, Vision, Games, and Animation.
Across programs, students have access to the Center for Game Science; the Animation Research Labs (ARL); UW Graphics and Imaging Lab (GRAIL); and UW Reality Lab; GRAIL provides opportunities to work with researchers from places such as Adobe, Google, Microsoft, and Intel. The multidisciplinary ARL provides opportunities to interact with artists from places such as Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Disney, Xbox Game Studios, and Bungie.
Other program benefits include internships, workshops, and study abroad experiences. Programs culminate with a capstone project and showcase. Graduates can be found at places such as Epic Games, Disney, Boeing, Nintendo, Xbox Game Studios, Amazon, Electronic Arts (EA), Adobe, The Pokémon Company International (TPCi), Bungie, Google, ArenaNet, Oracle, Microsoft, Apple, and Meta.
The College of Engineering at North Carolina State University (NC State) houses the Department of Computer Science (CSC). Within the department is a Computer Science BS (CSC BS) with a Game Development concentration. With 21 credit hours of games-focused courses, the concentration also allows students to select up to nine electives to create an additional focus area.
Other program highlights include access to the Games and Visual Narrative Suite, and the Digital Games Research center (DGRc); the opportunity to join the research community known as the Visual Narrative Initiative (VNI); and participation in the Game Developers Conference (GDC) and Games and Visual Narratives Showcase. Launched in May 2007, the DGRc is a collaborative space where students can work on projects with game developers and game studio teams. The DGRc also has partnerships and licensing agreements with game studios and game engine developers across the U.S.
The CSC BS culminates with the senior design team project, supported by the Senior Design Center and industry sponsors. Graduates have been hired at places such as Electronic Arts (EA), Ubisoft, Riot Games, Disney, Epic Games, Microsoft, Insomniac Games, Apple, NVIDIA, Google, ESPN, and Spark Plug Games.
The Ohio State University (OSU) provides multiple paths to study games. Programs are housed across the Department of Computer Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering; the Department of Art and Department of Design in the College of Arts and Sciences. Options include the BS, MS, and PhD in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE); a BS in Computer and Information Science (BS CIS); an Art BA; the BFA in Studio Art; the Studio Art MFA; the MFA with tracks in Digital Animation and Interactive Media (DAIM) or Art and Technology; and the Game Studies minor.
Electives, tracks, and opportunities to customize an emphasis area allow students in all programs to focus in games. Other benefits across programs include access to state-of-the-art production facilities; professional internships; and study abroad experiences in places such as the UK, Italy, Spain, and France.
OSU graduates have been hired at places such as DreamWorks, Epic Games, Boeing, Pixar, Unity, Nickelodeon, Activision Blizzard, Disney, Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, Lockheed Martin, Netflix, Microsoft, Starz, Titmouse, Google, NVIDIA, IBM, Amazon, Intel, Apple, Dell, ABC, Northrop Grumman, HP, Nike, Oracle, Meta, Texas Instruments (TI), RTX, Cisco Systems, Magic Leap, and Ohio Film Group.
Indiana University Bloomington (IU Bloomington) provides multiple paths to study games. Options include the Game Design BS and minor; a Computer Science BS (CS BS) with a Game Development specialization; the flexible CS BA; a Media Arts and Science BS (MAS BS) with a specialization in Game Design and Development; and a Media BA with a Media Technologies, Games and Culture concentration.
All options provide access to GameDev@IU (GD@IU)—a student-run organization that hosts game jams, collaborative game design projects; and workshops. Other program benefits include access to state-of-the-art production facilities; professional internships; portfolio development; and opportunities to complete a final project or prototype, demo, and publish an original game.
Graduates of all programs are prepared to pursue advanced roles across all areas of game design and development. Program alumni have secured positions at places such as Rockstar Games, Disney, Epic Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Riot Games, Electronic Arts (EA), Nintendo, Ubisoft, Xbox Game Studios, Zynga, Insomniac Games, Bethesda, Naughty Dog, Gearbox Software, Owlchemy Labs, and Psyonix.
University of Wisconsin-Stout (UW-Stout) is home to the first and only Game Design and Development (GDD) BFA in the upper Midwest (Wisconsin-Iowa-Minnesota). UW-Stout also offers a GDD concentration for students in the Computer Science BS (CS BS) program, and a Design MFA with a GDD focus. The CS BS is a charter member of the Higher Education Video Game Alliance.
Highlights across programs include access to state-of-the-art production facilities; collaborative studios; faculty-led trips to Los Angeles and San Francisco; internships and paid co-op experiences; participation in game conferences, exhibitions, game competitions, and festivals; industry projects with The Jim Henson Company and the National Park Service; and hundreds of study abroad programs across more than 40 countries.
Programs culminate with a final project and portfolio. Graduates have been hired at places such as DreamWorks, Ubisoft, Electronic Arts (EA), Lockheed Martin, Disney, Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, Cisco, Apple, HP, Raven Software, and Afterverse.
The College of Engineering (CENG) at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) houses the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering (CSSE). Within the department is a Game Development concentration for Computer Science (CS) BS, MS, and BS/MS students. A Computer Science minor and Computing for Interactive Arts (CIA) minor, jointly offered by the Department of Art and Design, are also available.
All programs highlight hands-on learning in a collaborative, studio-like environment. Courses are project-based, with access to state-of-the-art production facilities and labs. Other program highlights include professional internships and co-op experiences; participation in weekend-long Hackathons; individual and group projects; and the chance to study abroad in one of over 75 countries.
Programs culminate with a final project and presentation. Graduates go on to land positions at places such Tencent Games, Electronic Arts (EA), Riot Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Rockstar Games, Disney, DreamWorks, Apple, Naughty Dog, Take-Two Interactive, NVIDIA, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.
The College of Creative Arts at Miami University (Miami U) houses the Department of Emerging Technology in Business and Design (ETBD). Within the department are several paths to study games. Options include the Games and Simulation BS; an ETBD BA with Digital and Applied concentrations; and minors in Games and Simulation, and ETBD. All students have access to more than 50 games courses. ETBD BA students can add the Games and Simulation minor and/or customize a games focus through electives.
Across programs, students also benefit from mandatory internships; access to state-of-the-art production facilities and labs such as the John Smale Interactive Visualization Lab and Center, Esports Lounge and Arena, and Huge Immersive Virtual Environment (HIVE); close proximity to more than 20 local game studios, such as SGM Games, Multivarious Games, and Wraith Games; and opportunities to study abroad at Miami University Dolibois European Center (MUDEC) or in places such as Japan, Morocco, the UK, Spain, and South Korea.
The Games and Simulation BS program culminates with an industry-ready game. ETBD BA students will complete a capstone project with a theme of their choice to graduate. The Games and Simulation minor culminates with an independent game development project.
Miami University Games graduates can be found at places such as Rockstar Games, Activision Blizzard, Lucasfilm Games, Electronic Arts (EA), Xbox Game Studios, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Nintendo, Amazon Games, Ubisoft, Google, ZeniMax Media, Gearbox Software, Apple, Intel, Zynga, and Meta.
The College of Engineering Computing and Applied Sciences (CECAS) at Clemson University (Clemson) houses the School of Computing. Within the school are several cross-disciplinary programs that allow students to focus games, audio engineering, computer science, and more. Options for game designers include the Digital Production Arts (DPA) MFA, MS, and minor; a Computer Science BA and BS (CS-BS, BA-CS); the Computer Information Systems BS (BS-CIS); and a fast-track Computer Science Bachelor’s/Master’s (BS/MS).
Across programs, students may participate in the University Professional Internship and Co-op (UPIC) program, which provides more than 900 paid, on-campus internships each year, and the active study abroad program with experiences in locations such as Japan, the UK, Spain, and Germany. Other program benefits include 24/7 access to four dedicated computer labs and state-of-the-art production facilities; high-tech classrooms; workshops and collaborative projects; visiting artists from places such as DreamWorks; advanced studios; and participation in the SIGGRAPH Conference.
Graduates of the DPA and CS programs at Clemson University can be found at places such as Epic Games, Boeing, Electronic Arts (EA), Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Sledgehammer Games, Disney, Blur Studio, Google, Apple, Hitachi, Meta, Honeywell, IBM, Delta Air Lines, BMW, Nike, and the Orange Bowl.
The College of Information Science at University of Arizona (U of A or Arizona) houses a STEM-designated Game Design and Development BS and (BSGDD) and a Games and Behavior BA (BA GB). Both programs have minor options. The BSGDD can be completed on campus or online. Other program options include the Applied Humanities BA with a Game Studies emphasis, offered in the College of Humanities’ Department of Public and Applied Humanities, and an undergraduate Games and Simulation certificate.
Students in all degree programs benefit from collaborative learning with opportunities to gain hands-on experience through internships with places such as Amazon and Intel. Degree-seeking students also have opportunities to take study abroad courses such as Visual Content Creation in the Information Age (Rome), and Digital Storytelling and Culture (Orvieto, Italy).
Students in all programs have access to state-of-the-art production facilities; courses taught by accomplished industry professionals; and opportunities to participate in the Global Game Jam (GGJ) and U of A Game Development Club. Programs culminate with a final project and portfolio.
Graduates of the Games programs at University of Arizona have been hired at places such as Electronic Arts (EA), IGN, Amazon, Deca Games, Heavy Iron Studios, Oracle, Comcast, Booz Allen, and CNN.
George Mason University (GMU or Mason) provides multiple paths to study games. Options include the Computer Game Design BFA, MA, and minor; a BS in Applied Computer Science (BS ACS) with a Computer Game Design concentration; and a Sport and Computer Game Design minor. All students have access to the Virginia Serious Game Institute (VSGI) and opportunities to study at GMU’s Korea campus. In addition to hosting the Korea-U.S.-Japan eSports Tournament in 2025, GMU Korea highlights immersion programs; the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; and the Incheon Global Campus (IGC) shared facilities.
The VSGI focuses on research projects in areas such as EdTech Game platform development, cyber-game education, mobile and wearable game technologies, and AR/VR diagnostic and training solutions. The institute also provides opportunities to complete a paid internship with a GMU partner or other company. Students have interned with Bethesda, PBS Kids, Spark Plug Games, The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), and Catilli Games, which specializes in STEM games for children (K-12).
Programs culminate with a Game Design Capstone. Graduates can be found at places such as Epic Games, Amazon, Electronic Arts (EA), Pixar, Bethesda, Microsoft, 2K Games, PBS Kids, Big Huge Games, and Booz Allen.
The College of Computing and Informatics (CCI) and the College of Arts and Architecture at University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte or Charlotte) provide several paths to study games. CCI programs include the Computer Science BS with an AI, Robotics, and Gaming Concentration; a Computer Science MS; and Game Design and Development (GDD) certificate at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Coursework for the certificate programs may be used towards the Computer Science BS or MS programs.
The College of Arts and Architecture houses the Art BFA with a Digital Media concentration. Students in this studio-focused program can concentrate in games through electives such as Game Design and Graphics; 3D Modeling and Animation; Interactive Art and Design; and Advanced 3D Modeling. The program culminates with the Senior Experience and BFA Thesis Show (Senior Exhibition).
CCI students have the opportunity to participate in the annual Global Game Jam (GGJ), where they will work in teams to produce a game within a 48 hours. The student club—Game Developers at UNC Charlotte provides additional opportunities to collaborate on games, as well as online Bootcamps led by artists from places such as Electronic Arts (EA), Blizzard Entertainment, Epic Games, and Ubisoft. The East Coast Gaming Conference (ECGC), held at UNC Charlotte, provides additional opportunities to network with game industry professionals.
Students in all programs have access to state-of-the-art facilities and labs such as the Gaming Lab at J. Murrey Atkins Library; Gaming and Mixed Reality Lab; Intelligent, Multimedia, and Interactive Systems (IMI) Lab; Visualization Lab; Interaction Design (INDE) Lab; UNC MAKERSPACE; the Robotics Lab; Human Computer Interaction Lab (HCI LAB); and UNC Charlotte Machine Learning Lab (CHARMLAB). Students also have opportunities to complete an internship or co-op.
The CCI Games programs culminate with a Game Design and Development Capstone. Charlotte Games alumni have been hired at places such as Epic Games, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), Ubisoft, Electronic Arts (EA), Insomniac Games, Activision Blizzard, Take-Two Interactive, and FanDuel.
The Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering at Indiana University Indianapolis (IU Indianapolis) houses the Media Arts and Science BS (MAS BS) with a Game Design and Development (GDD) specialization, and a GDD minor. Both programs are hands-on with a focus on learning how to design and create an industry-ready original game. Other program highlights include team projects; professional internships; and the opportunity to travel to Greece for three weeks or Finland for two weeks. In Greece students will complete service learning projects such as 3D graphics of historic places or promotional videos.
In Finland, students collaborate with partners at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences and visit museums, historic sites, studios, and cultural events. All students also have access to state-of-the-art facilities such as the Emerging Technologies Lab, which houses virtual production, motion capture, and virtual reality technologies; VELa (Video Editing Lab), equipped with After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop, Millumin, and Lightroom; and MARLA (Media Arts Research and Learning Arcade). This game, animation, and simulations production space provides access to industry-standard technology and platforms such as Unreal Engine 4; Unity; Maya; ZBrush; UVLayout; and Cintiq creative pen displays.
The MAS BS program culminates with the Capstone Project Internship or Capstone Project—student’s choice. Capstone projects will be presented at the MAS Exhibition. Graduates can be found at places such as Rockstar Games, Pixar, Blizzard Entertainment, Digital Domain, Gearbox Software, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Owlchemy Labs, Piperworks Studios, Vision3 Interactive, and 4A Games.
The College of Computing and Software Engineering (CCSE) at Kennesaw State University (KSU) houses the Department of Software Engineering and Game Design and Development (SWEGD). Within the department are several programs for game designers. Options include the BS in Computer Game Design and Development (BSCGDD); a CGDD minor; the Double Owl Pathway (earn a BS/MS at an accelerated pace); and the Software Engineering MS (MSSWE), with access to games-related electives. Examples include Game Design and Development; Real Time Systems; User Interaction Engineering; Mobile App Development; Software Testing and Verification; Human Factors; and Software Architecture.
Across programs, students have the opportunity to publish games in the KSU Game Studio and participate in the KSU Game Narrative Lab. Other program highlights include participation in the Global Game Jam Hackathon, the International Programing Competition, and/or the Computing Showcase (C-Day); paid and unpaid co-op education opportunities; the Raspberry Pi Workshop; guest speakers; computing internships; networking events that attract companies such as Microsoft, Infor, and Cox; and research assistantships.
Programs culminate with a final project and portfolio. Graduates are often recruited by companies and studios such as Ubisoft (Blue Mammoth Games), Disney, Scientific Games, Amazon, Hi-Rez Studios, Microsoft, Tripwire Interactive, Delta Air Lines, Resurgens Gaming, and HTC Vive.
