Top 25 Schools with Game Design Bachelor's Of Fine Arts (BFA) Programs – 2023 College Rankings

The Game Center is the Department of Game Design at New York University’s (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts. Founded in 2008, The NYU Game Center hosts events and programs such as the NYU Game Center Lecture Series, No Quarter Exhibition (est. 2010), and the professional game conference known as PRACTICE: Game Design in Detail. The Center, which also hosts workshops, playtests, and tournaments, has a Game Design BFA.

The Program consists of immersive academic seminars and hands-on experiences in the Game Center’s development studios and play labs. Students may focus on programming, design, or visual design for games, game criticism, game art, or other areas.

A major component of the NYU Game Center is the internship program. Students have completed internships with Disney, Ubisoft, Arkadium, and TreSensa. NYU Game Center students will graduate with a resume and several finished games

New York University Game Center alumni are Game Artists, Game Designers and Developers, Software Publishers, AI Engineers, and Entrepreneurs. They work at companies and studios such as Blizzard Entertainment, Riot Games, Amazon, Tencent, Take-Two Interactive, ESPN, Nickelodeon, and IGDA Japan. 

Gnomon School of Visual Effects (Gnomon) emphasizes hands-on production. Learning takes place in classrooms that replicate real production studios. Consisting of a 30,000 square foot facility, Gnomon also houses nine state-of-the-art computer labs, drawing studios, lecture spaces, cycloramas, dedicated sculpture labs, a green screen stage, and the Gnomon Gallery.

Degree options include the 180-unit Digital Production BFA that focuses on the 3D production pipeline for visual effects, games, and film. Students will also master industry software and tools such as Nuke, After Effects, Maya, V-Ray, ZBrush, and Photoshop. A wide variety of elective options allows BFA students to create a specialization in any area of entertainment or production. Gnomon BFA students may also choose from three concentrations including 3D Generalist, Game Art, and Visual Effects.

The Digital Production BFA at Gnomon School of Visual Effects takes four years to complete (full-time), with or without a concentration. Students will graduate with a professional demo reel.

Gnomon School of Visual Effects alumni work at some of the world’s top studios. Examples include Blizzard Entertainment, Amazon Games, Framestore, WetaFX, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixomondo (PXO), Marvel, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Disney Imagineering, DreamWorks, Electronic Arts (EA), and Riot Games.

The College of Arts and Sciences at The Ohio State University houses the Department of Art, home to the Art BFA with an  Art & Technology. The specialization explores art games, 3D modeling and animation, emerging forms, moving images, sound, and more. Course examples include Digital Imaging, Internet Art, 3D Modeling, Moving Image Art, New Media Robotics, Computer Animation, and Art & Technology Studio Practice.

Students will also take Aspects of Art & Technology I and II, and Special Topics courses such as Art Games, Art & Science, Graphic Novels/Web Comics, and Eco Art.

Graduates of the Art/Art & Technology BFA Program at The Ohio State University are prepared to pursue positions in areas such as entertainment, technology, art, and engineering. Potential job titles include Game Designer, CG Specialist, Motion Graphic Designer, Interaction Designer, Software Programmer, Virtual Reality Designer, Design Strategist, User Interface/User Experience Designer (UI/UX), and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Designer.

The College of Arts, Media and Design (CAMD) at Northeastern University (Northeasters) has both Game Design and Game Art & Animation BFA Programs. Both programs are interdisciplinary and include courses such as Game Design and Analysis, Mixed Research Methods for Games, Prototyping for Experience Design, Advanced Topics in Game Design, Generative Game Design, Spatial and Temporal Design, Level Design and Game Architecture, Exploratory Concept Design, Player Experience, Business Models in the Game Industry, Building of Game Engines, Psychology of Play, Game Artificial Intelligence, Generative Game Design, Games and Society, Game Studio, Data-Driven Player Modeling, Advanced Topics in Game Science, Game Concept Development, and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).

In addition to a variety of courses, the Game Design and Game Art & Animation Programs at Northeastern University provide the opportunity to participate in the school’s distinctive co-op program. This paid experiential learning program allows undergraduate students to gain up to 18 months of hands-on, professional experience in game design.

Northeastern University partners with more than 20,000 co-op employers nationwide and in 65+ countries around the world. Examples include Hasbro, Mass DiGi, Greenbrier Games, Splash Damage Games, Harmonix, Jamspot, Live Nation, and Demiurge Studios.

In addition to gaining work experience through the co-op program, students in all CAMD programs enjoy hands-on learning in collaborative classrooms and studios, access to state-ot-the-art production facilities, courses taught by industry professionals, and access to 3,350+ employer partners, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and global companies. 

Graduates of the Game Design and Game Art & Animation Programs at Northeastern University work in Game Art, Game Design and Development, Game Programming, Sound for Games, Animation, and many other areas. Program alumni have been hired at major companies and studios such as Google, Zynga, Xbox Game Studios (a division of Microsoft), and Cognizant. 

Academy of Art University (Academy of Art) is home to a STEM-certified School of Game Development that operates under the direction of professionals who are active in the game design industry. Academy of Art programs, including the Game Design BFA, are multidisciplinary, so student designers will explore game, systems, and tools programming; coding; augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR); rigging; animation/animation VFX; artificial intelligence (AI); concept art; user interface/user experience (UI/UX) design; 3D modeling; technical art; and level design.

Across all Academy of Art University programs, students will take courses such as Programming for Games, AI, Mobile Game Development, Programming for Game UI and Tools, Game Engines, History of Gaming, Collaborative Game Development, 2D Tools for Game Development, Game Engines, 3D Modeling for Games, Prop & Weapon Design for Games, Level Design for Video Games, Rapid Game Development, Combat Design, and Game Freemium & Monetization.

Partnerships with studios such as Zynga, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Riot Games allow School of Game Development students to gain real-world experience through professional internships. 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. Examples of facilities and technology include cross-departmental war rooms with students from the Schools of Animation, Illustration, and Music, among others, Xbox/PlayStation/Nintendo Game consoles, competitive esports lab, 280+ Alienware High Performance Computers with Dual Monitors, AR/VR labs, and the Game Lounge.

Graduates of the School of Game Development at Academy of Art University have been recruited by major studios such as Riot Games, Zynga, and Sony Interactive Entertainment. Students have also been hired at smaller studios such as Sledgehammer Games, Naughty Dog, and Crystal Dynamics.

The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) at George Mason University (GMU) was established in 2001. Today, the CVPA provides more than 1,400 majors across four disciplines including Computer Game Design, Film and Video Studies, Art and Visual Technology: Dance, Music, and Theater, and Arts Management. Specific undergraduate degree options for game designers include the Computer Game Design BFA.

Consisting of 120 credit hours of study, the Computer Game Design BFA requires a 180-hour internship, including 135 hours on-site. Course examples for the program include Applied Coding for Game Designers, History of Computer Game Design, Three-Dimensional Game Art, Consumer Gaming Platform Analysis Lab, and Story Design for computer Games. BFA students will complete a Portfolio course, which consists of creating and refining a web portfolio to present to faculty and peers, to supplement internship applications, and for professional development.

The Computer Game Design BFA at George Mason University culminates with the Senior Game Design Capstone taken over two courses.

All Computer Game Design students at George Mason University have access to the Virginia Serious Game Institute (VSGI). Housed at GMU’s Science and Technology Campus, VSGI focuses on job creation, start-ups, and research. In collaboration with companies, government agencies, and non-profit organizations, VSGI develops research projects in areas such as Cyber-Game education, mobile and wearable game technologies, EdTech Game platform development, AR/VR diagnostic and training solutions, and MedSim.

Also part of GSU’s VSGI is the Mason Game and Technology Academy (MGTA). Founded in 2013, MGTA provides the opportunity to develop skills in game design and programming, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Graduates of the Computer Game Design Program at George Mason University are prepared to pursue careers in the commercial, entertainment, serious games, education, and the nonprofit sectors. Some Game Design alumni have launched their own studios or freelance businesses, while others have been hired at studios such as Bethesda Softworks, Citadel Studios, Big Huge Games, Ready at Dawn Studios, and Catlilli Games. 

Otis College of Art and Design (Otis) has a Game and Entertainment Design BFA Program that combines computer technology, art sound design, animation, story development, and game design. Coursework for the program is hands-on, allowing students to develop skills in Pipeline Game Engine integration, modeling, texturing & lighting, and concept art, as well as industry software such as Maya, Blender, Adobe Suite, Unreal Engine, Houdini, and Zbrush.

The Otis Game and Entertainment Design BFA features three projects: Game Engine Explorations, Game Studio Project I & II, and Game Senior Project I & II. Upon completion of the program, graduates are prepared to pursue careers in the games industry and other industries that value game design and development skills. Examples of potential job titles include Game Engine Artist, Game Art Developer, Visual Effects (VFX) Artist, Character Animator, Unreal Engine Animator, CG Texture Artist, Real-Time Development Artist, Character Modeler, 2D/3D CG Artist, Concept Artist, and CG Modeler/Sculptor.

Graduates of the Game and Entertainment Design Program at Otis College of Art and Design have been hired at major companies and studios such as Apple, Nickelodeon, Mattel, Pixar, DreamWorks, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), and Disney. 

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

Program benefits for all Entertainment Arts students 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 Game Design Emphasis include Drawing I: Rapid Concept, 3D Computer Graphics, Modeling & Texturing, Digital Techniques, Processing & Making, Game Ideation, and 2D Design Principles.

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

The School of Fine Arts at University of Connecticut (UConn) is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD). Within the School is the Department of Digital Media Design (DMD) and the DMD BFA Program.

Serving more than 375 students across seven concentrations, the DMD emphasizes a collaborative learning environment, hands-on projects, and visiting experts who present workshops and mentor students. The Department also provides access to state-of-the-art production studios, gaming clubs, and more than 100 internships annually at companies in Connecticut and across the U.S. DMD students have interned at major studios and companies such as HBO, Pixar Animation Studios, Disney, Adobe, and ESPN.

Students in all DMD Programs may take the Generalist Path or Specialize in Game Design. Led by full-time instructors who are professionals in the industry, courses for the programs may include 3D Virtual World & Simulations, Digital Game Design, Game Scripting, History of Computer Graphics, Critical Perspectives on Digital Media, and Fundamentals of Programming for Game & Web. Undergraduates will also complete a Portfolio course, Professional Development course, and a Senior Project. 

Approximately 90% of University of Connecticut DMD alumni are employed in the industry within one year of graduation. UConn DMD graduates are prepared to pursue careers such as Game Designer, Video Game Artist, Producer, Serious Games Designer, Gameplay Programmer, and Esports Manager. UConn DMD alumni have been hired at companies and studios such as Blur Studio, Epic Games, Disney, Adobe, The Game Agency, ESPN, HBO, Viacom, NBC Universal, Owlchemy Labs, NBC Sports, Deck Nine Games, and World Walker Games.

The College of Arts and Sciences at Arts Shawnee State University (SSU or Shawnee State) houses the Department of Fine, Digital, and Performing Arts, which has a Game & Simulation Arts BFA Program that explores game design, art asset development, animation, and the gaming pipeline. Course examples include Game Studio, World Design and Creation, Game Programming, Animation Studio, Game Design, Organic 3D, Acting, Game Documentation, Digital 3D Foundation Studio, UI Design for Games, Hard Surface 3D, and Game Audio.

Other Game & Simulation Arts BFA highlights include immersive course assignments; access to Shawnee State’s state-of-the-art Motion Capture Studio and the Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Lab; and participation in Game Jams and varsity Esports.

During the final year of the program, BFA students will collaborate on a joint senior project that will become the centerpiece of their professional portfolio.

Graduates of the Game & Simulation Arts Program at Shawnee State University have established careers in the entertainment industry and serious games, as well as other emerging industries for game design and development such as technology, government, and health care. Job titles include Game Designer, Game/Simulation Programmer, Game Animator, Software Engineer, Art Director, Game/Simulation Engine Developer, Game Artist, and Technical Director, among others.

The School of Media, Culture & Design at Woodbury University has a Game Art & Design BFA that combines game design studies with computer technology, animation, sound design, storytelling, and art. Students in this program can focus in either 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, the required BFA Internship, and production work in the Game Art & Design Studio, BFA students will develop skills in game conceptualization, play mechanics, game rules, story, program flow, prototyping, and scoring systems.

Game Art & Design students have interned at Insomniac Games, Activision Blizzard, Disney, Nickelodeon, Skydance Interactive, Microsoft, Ripple Effects Studios (an EA studio formerly known as DICE LA), IMAX, Nexon (South Korea), and the alumni-developed Code Headquarters.

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

The School of Media and Design at University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) houses the Department of 3D Animation and Game Design (ANGD), which has an ANGD BFA that features immersive coursework, workshops, and production studios. Students in this program have four concentration options including, Programming, Animation, Production Management, and Modeling.

Students in all concentrations will complete ANGD Orientation and courses such as Game Engines, Organic Modeling, Business of Animation and Game Design, Visual Narrative Conventions, and Animation Industry Seminar.

Course examples across all concentrations include Game Programming, Hard Surface Modeling, History of Games, Rigging, Environment Production, Motion Capture for Animation, Animation Pipeline, Character Modeling, Production Management, and Modeling and Production Pipeline.

During the final year of the ANGD BFA Program at UIW, all students will complete the Senior Thesis Workshop and Senior Portfolio. Programming, Animation, and Modeling students will complete Senior Thesis Production I-II and Production Management students will complete Senior Thesis Production Management I-II.

Graduates of the ANGD Program at University of the Incarnate Word have held positions at Sony, Weta FX, BioWare Games, Naughty Dog Games, Infinity Ward Games, the Los Alamos National Lab, and Booz Allen Hamilton. Potential job titles include Game Developer, Effects Director, Character Rigger, Art Director, Visual Effects (VFX) Technician, Concept Artist, VFX Artist, and Forensic Animator.