Top 25 Schools with Game Design Bachelor's Of Fine Arts (BFA) Programs – 2022 College Rankings

The School of Art at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU or Carnegie Mellon) offers a BFA in Art. CMU also houses the Entertainment Technology Center (ETC). Founded in 1998, ETC is a partnership between Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Fine Arts and the School of Computer Science. ETC offers an IDeATe Minor in Game Design that is open to all majors at CMU—including Game Art.

The curriculum for the ETC IDeATe Game Design Minor covers topics such as game programming, Interactive narrative and character development, user testing, computing, interface design, game systems and mechanics design, visual and audio design, teamwork, and the design process. The program requires a minimum of 45 units of study.

Graduates of the Game Design Programs at Carnegie Mellon University are routinely hired by top companies such as Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Meta (formerly Facebook). Other employers include 2K Games, A3 by Airbus, and 31st Street Studios.

The Interactive Design and Game Development Program at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) offers a BFA in Interactive Design and Game Development (IDGD) available online via SCADnow, and at the Atlanta and Savannah campuses.

SCAD BFA students will work individually and in teams to complete projects in state-of-the art facilities such as the labs and SCAD Digital Media Center. The opportunity to gain hands-on experience through internships with local and national studios is also part of the program, and each quarter students have the chance to interview and present their portfolios to professionals in the industry.

Past visitors have been affiliated with studios such as Electronic Arts (EA), Zynga, and Activision Blizzard. Graduates of the Interactive Design and Game Development Programs at Savannah College of Art and Design are routinely hired by these and other studios such as Epic Games, Sucker Punch Productions, and Firaxis Games, among others.

Following the studio model of teaching, Ringling College of Art and Design (RCAD) emphasizes learning by doing. Students in all programs at the school also benefit from visiting artists, industry internships, and other experiences that allow students to work on real projects with local businesses and studios.

For students seeking careers in the game design industry, RCAD offers a BFA In Game Art that attracts major recruiters from Epic Games, Blizzard Entertainment, and Riot Games. The program explores topics such as environmental design, professional practices, methods and technologies, and concept and creative problem-solving. Students will also work on projects in teams to develop collaboration and communication skills.

The Game Art BFA requires 48 credit hours in the major. This accounts for 40% of the coursework. Sample courses for the program include 3D for Games I-IV, Game Design I-II, Programming for Artists, and Visual Development for Games. BFA students will also take four courses leading to the development of a Game Thesis Project.

Graduates of the Ringling College of Art and Design Game Art BFA have gone on to establish successful careers at Blizzard Entertainment, Naughty Dog, Bungie, Inc., Rockstar Games, 343 Industries, and Bethesda Game Studios, among others.

The School of Art, Media, and Technology (AMT) at The New School's Parsons School of Design (Parsons) houses a Design and Technology (DT) Program that offers a BFA in DT. Programs in the School of AMT are STEM-designated and provide networking opportunities and collaborations with external partners, studios and lab courses led by working artists and designers who are experts in their fields, and internship opportunities with local and national companies.

The DT BFA offers informal pathways made up of Game Design Pathway that consists of electives, Core Studio and Core Lab courses. Like all undergraduate programs at Parsons, the first year of the BFA will cover the liberal arts, and art and design concepts such as drawing, digital design, and 2D and 3D processes. All first-year students at Parsons, regardless of major, will take their required courses together. 

University of Wisconsin – Stout (UW-Stout) houses the College of Arts, Communication, and Social Sciences (CACHSS), home to the School of Art and Design. Serving more than 1,000 students led by 60+ faculty members, the CACHSS School of Art and Design is the largest school of its kind in the entire upper Midwest. The school houses the Design Department and the BFA in Game Design and Development (GDD).

The GDD BFA consists of collaborative studios and hands-on experience gained at UW-Stout labs, studios, and other facilities. Students also gain field experience through study abroad courses in LA and San Francisco, internships, and industry projects with the Jim Henson Company, among others. GDD BFA students will complete a Game Design and Development Capstone and present a final portfolio of their best work at a public exhibition presented by the School of Art and Design.

BFA graduates have been hired at local studios and firms such as Pixel Spill Games, Big John Games, and Finn Daniels Architects. They are 3D artists, game designers, animators, building and environment modelers, and more. The GDD BFA at University of Wisconsin Stout is accredited by the National Association for Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

The School of Game Development at Academy of Art University (Academy of Art) is STEM-certified and operates under the direction of game design professionals. Programs at the school, including the BFA in Game Development, are all-encompassing so student designers will explore animation/animation VFX, game, systems, and tools programming, coding, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), user interface/user experience (UI/UX) design, artificial intelligence (AI), coding, programming, rigging, concept art, 3D modeling, technical art, level design, and more.

Thanks to partnerships with studios such as Zynga, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Riot Games, School of Game Development students have opportunities to gain real-world experience through an internship. In addition to working at a top studio prior to graduation, students will engage in hands-on learning in the Academy of Art Game Development Studio. Facilities include cross-departmental war rooms, esports and AR/VR labs, and more.

Academy of Art, School of Game Development alumni have been recruited by Sledgehammer Games, Naughty Dog, Crystal Dynamics, Riot Games, Zynga, and Sony Interactive Entertainment, among others.

Bradley University offers Minors in Game Design and Game Production. Students can add a Game Minor to the BFA in Studio Art, offered in Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts/Department of Art and Design, or programs such as the Animation or User Experience Design BA/BS. 

The Minors require 18-21 credit hours of study. Students in the program have opportunities to be mentored by faculty who have worked on the popular, team-based game League of Legends, Red Faction (developed by Volition), and Far Cry (published by Ubisoft). Students also benefit from hands-on learning with industry software, participation in game jams, internship experiences, and opportunities to show their work at the annual FUSE exhibit.

Course examples across options include 2D for Game Art, Game Production I-II, Critical Game Studies, Environment Art, Game Design I-II, Interactive Design, and Survey of Games. The Game Capstone allows students in both programs to develop a polished game and portfolio.

Bradley University Game Design graduates have been hired at Warner Bros. Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Oculus VR, and NetherRealm Studios.

The Game Design BFA Program at Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) combines coursework and immersive studios with opportunities to work on real-world projects with partners such as 360 Alley and NASA. Housed in the Game Design Department, the program is collaborative, so students will work in teams to complete console games, mobile apps, and AR/VR content from start to finish. Team members may come from the CIA Game Design Department or the Computer Gaming Minor Program at Case Western Reserve University.

Through coursework and practice, CIA Game Design Majors will master game engines such as Unreal and Unity. Course examples for the program include Game Media Production, Game Testing + Level Design, 3D Texture, Mapping, Digital Lighting, Serious Game Design: Theory + Applications, Advanced Digital Sculpting & Modeling, Special VFX/Simulation + Virtual Reality, and Sound Design Fundamentals.

Two three-credit courses are dedicated to the BFA Thesis + Exhibition. This solo project will represent the student’s best work. Instead of the Engaged Practice component of the program, which provides the opportunity to work with CIA partners, students may complete an internship with a game production studio, animation studio, or other company.

Graduates of the Cleveland Institute of Art Game Design Program are prepared to compete for positions such as Game Designer, Senior Game Developer, Game Art Director Lead, Animator, Visual effects (VFX) Developer, Technical, Storyboard, or Layout Artist, Modeler, Game Production Lead, Programmer, and Virtual Reality (VR) Artist, among others.

The BFA degree at College for Creative Studies (CCS) requires 126 credit hours to graduate. Studio areas account for 84 credits and 42 are in general studies. All first-year students, regardless of major, will take courses in the Foundation Department. Areas explored include basic design, drawing, and color theory. In the Entertainment Arts Department, students can earn a BFA in Entertainment Design with a Game Design, Animation, Concept Design, or Digital Film Emphasis. All emphasis areas are currently STEM-designated programs.

Entertainment Design Program features include small class sizes, internship opportunities, courses taught by industry professionals, and access industry-standard, state-of the art labs and equipment such as the Gaming Lab, AR/VR Lab, software and hardware, and editing suites. Course examples for the program include Creative Visualization, 3D Computer Graphics, Game: Concept and Technology, Experimental Animation, Stop Motion, Environments and Characters, Game Art, and Lighting and Rendering.

Graduates of the College for Creative Studies Entertainment Design Program have worked on more than 15 Marvel movies, they designed one third of the six Batmobiles, and have created game environments for World of Warcraft at Blizzard Entertainment. Other studios where CCS alumni work include Pixomondo, Disney Animation Studios, Nickelodeon, Paramount, and Disney Television Animation, among others.

The School of Fine Arts at University of Connecticut (UConn) is home to the Department of Digital Media Design (DMD), which serves more than 300 students across seven concentrations. Department features include classes led by full-time instructors who are professionals in the industry, hands-on projects and a collaborative learning environment, more than 25 visiting experts each year who present workshops and mentor students, access to state-of-the-art production studios gaming clubs, and over 100 internships secured annually at companies in Connecticut and across the U.S. DMD students have interned with Disney, Pixar Animation Studios, HBO, Adobe, and ESPN, among others.

The University of Connecticut DMD offers a BFA in Digital Media and Design. DMD students may choose the Generalist Path or Specialize in Game Design, 3D Animation, Motion Design & Animation,  Web/Interactive Media Design, and Digital Film/Video Production.

Nearly 90% of UConn DMD alumni are employed in the industry within one year of graduation. University of Connecticut DMD graduates are prepared to pursue career paths such as game designer, serious games designer, gameplay programmer, video game artist, producer, esports manager, and more. UConn DMD alumni have been hired at Blur Studio, Epic Games, Disney, Adobe, The Game Agency, ESPN, HBO, Viacom, NBC Universal, World Walker, NBC Sports, and many others.

The School of Media, Culture & Design at Woodbury University offers a BFA in Game Art & Design that combines storytelling, animation, art, computer technology, and sound design with game design studies. Students in the program can choose to focus in game design or game art, and they will take many of the same major courses as students in the Applied Computer Science BS and Animation BFA Programs.

Through interdisciplinary, hands-on courses, production work in the Game Art & Design Studio, and the required BFA Internship, Game Art and Design students will develop skills in areas such as prototyping, scoring systems, programming, game conceptualization, play mechanics, story, game rules, and program flow. Students have interned at Disney, Nickelodeon, Insomniac Games, Activision Blizzard, Skydance Interactive, Microsoft, Ripple Effects Studios (an EA studio formerly known as DICE LA), IMAX, Nexon (South Korea), and the alumni-developed Code Headquarters.

Woodbury Game Art & Design graduates are often hired by the companies they have interned with. Possible titles include Game Level Designer, 3D Character Animator, Environmental Designer and Modeler, Story Developer for Interactive Media, Combat Designer, R&D Prototype Developer, Rigger, and User Interface Designer.

California State University, East Bay (Cal Sate East Bay) houses the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences (CLASS). Within CLASS is the School of Arts & Media, home to the Department of Art, which offers a BFA in Art with an Interaction & Game Design Concentration. The program explores both commercial and experimental approaches to game design and 70 units of study are required to complete the concentration.

Course examples for the program include History of Play, Games, and Interactivity, Game Design I, Interaction Design Studio I-II (Tools for Designers and Prototyping the Internet of Things), 4D Project Development and Preproduction, and Web Design: Screen Interactions. Game Design II and Game Development Team Project are elective examples, and Senior Project and Internship are also part of the program. BFA students will graduate with a professional game and portfolio. 

Graduates of the Cal State East Bay BFA Program go on to pursue positions such as Game Designer, Interaction Designer, Matte Painter (Film and Game Industry), Effects Animator, 3D Character Rigger, User Experience/User Interface Designer (UX/UI), Stop Motion Animator, Storyboard Artist, and Art Director, among others.

Lawrence Technological University (LTU) offers a Game Design BFA. Housed in the College of Architecture and Design’s (CoAD) Department of Design, the BFA has three concentration options: Digital Environments, Digital Interface, and Digital Objects. The program is multidisciplinary, so students in all concentration areas will focus on level design, game assembly and system design. Students will take several Integrated Game Studios and Professional Practices. An internship opportunity is also part of the program.

Graduates of the Game Design Program at Lawrence Technological University are prepared to pursue positions in game design and development, game writing, 3D modeling, app development, art direction, and user experience/user interface design (UX/UI), among others.

LTU Games alumni have been recruited by companies and studios such as Jackbox Games, Dreaming Door Studios, Ford, Dead Art Games, Flyover Games, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Chimera Labs, Pluto, Ford, Mackevision, Pixo, Flyover Games, FanLabel, and Seventy 7.