| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge |
| 2 | Northeastern University | Boston |
| 3 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Worcester |
| 4 | Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg |
| 5 | Hampshire College | Amherst |
For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is home to a research and development hub known as MIT Game Lab. In addition to providing a space for students to collaborate, create games, and work with MIT partners, the lab helps students select a department and plan of study that matches their career goals. Ideal departments include Comparative Media Studies (CMS) and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS).
For students seeking careers in emerging industries for game designers, the MIT Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences (BCS) has a Brain and Cognitive Science BS program. This option is provided in partnership with the EECS Department and students can work with MIT Game Lab to customize a plan of study.
For students interested in launching their own studios or those seeking careers that focus on the business side of game design and development, MIT’s Sloan School of Management houses a Business BS program that allows students to work with the MIT Game Lab to develop a focus area that matches their goals.
Part of the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS), the Department of Comparative Media Studies (CMS) provides a BS or MS in CMS. The EECS Department is part of the Schwarzman College of Computing and it is the largest department at MIT. Popular degree options for game designers include a BS and MS in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE).
The CMS BS is an interdisciplinary program that explores game design, virtual worlds, interactive writing, and more. Course examples include Game Design Methods; Virtual Reality and Immersive Media Production; Creating Videogames; Interactive Narrative; Game Studies; Visual Design; Design and Development of Games for Learning; Critical Worldbuilding; Games and Culture; Imagination, Computation, and Expression Studio; Designing Interaction; Transmedia Storytelling - Modern Sci-Fi; Digital Media in Japan and Korea; History of Media and Technology; and Education Technology Studio.
The Comparative Media Studies BS at MIT culminates with a capstone project and presentation. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in all areas of game design and development.
The CMS MS at MIT is an interdisciplinary and collaborative program that includes a weekly Colloquium. Colloquia are open to the public and consist of talks by industry professionals. In the first year of the program students will work together in all but one subject. In the second year, students have more flexibility to take electives and work solo on projects and other activities.
Course examples include Game Design; Playful and Social Interaction; Design and Development for Games Learning; Advanced Video and Related Media; Games for Social Change; Media Theories and Methods I-II; Major Media Texts; Advanced Identity Representation; and Workshop I.
The Comparative Media Studies MS at MIT culminates with the thesis. Graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles in all areas of game design and development, education, and research.
The Computer Science and Engineering BS program at MIT is highly interdisciplinary, allowing students to explore areas such as human-computer interaction (HCI) and graphics; programming languages; machine learning; algorithms and theory; artificial intelligence (AI); software engineering; and computer systems. The program emphasizes team and independent projects; lab work and research; and professional internships with MIT partner companies.
Elective requirements allow students to take additional courses that focus on games. Courses are available within and outside the department. Examples include Game Design Methods; Interactive Narrative; Games for Social Change; Advanced Game Design Studio; Game Design; Videogame Theory, Computation, and Expression Studio; Design and Development for Games and Learning; Fun and Games - Cross-Cultural Perspectives; Designing Interactions; and Games and Culture.
The CSE MS program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology is provided through the Schwarzman College of Computing’s Center for Computational Science and Engineering (CCSE). This graduate division allows students to work with faculty and coursework from across MIT. The CSE MS focuses on hands-on projects and the master’s thesis. Students may also select five graduate subjects that align with their goals.
Examples include Introduction to Modeling and Simulation; Architecting and Engineering Software Systems; Advanced in Computer Vision; Multidisciplinary Design Optimization; Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Engineering Design; and Dynamic Programming and Reinforcement Learning.
Graduates of the Computer Science and Engineering programs (with MIT Game Lab) are prepared to pursue technology careers across industries, including game design and development. Graduate students are prepared to pursue leadership roles, research jobs, and teaching positions as well.
CSE program alumni have been hired at studios such as Blizzard Entertainment, Harmonix Music Systems, Bungie Studios, Muzzy Lane (educational game studio), Learning Games Network (LGN), Moonshot Games, and Fire Hose Games, which launched in 2008 by MIT alumni.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology was founded on April 10, 1861—just two days before the start of the Civil War. The school serves approximately 11,890 students from all 50 states, DC, four territories, and nearly 140 foreign countries. MIT provides more than 115 undergraduate majors and minors, along with 50 departments and programs that provide graduate degrees. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Northeastern University (Northeastern) houses a Game Science and Design (GSND) MS that is the only program of its kind in the U.S. The GSND is multidisciplinary and STEM-designated with five different specialization areas. Jointly provided through Northeastern’s College of Arts, Media, and Design (CAMD) and Khoury College of Computer Sciences, the program highlights a common core that provides students in all specializations with a foundation in game science and design.
Specializations include Extended Realities; Game Science; Game Art; Game Programming; and Game Science. This two-year, 34 credit hour program consists of courses such as Game Design and Analysis; Mixed Research Methods for Games; Player Experience; and Business Models in the Game Industry. All students will have the opportunity to take a number of elective courses to enhance the degree.
Elective examples include Game Artificial Intelligence; Psychology of Game Play; Generative Game Design; Exploratory Concept Design; Building Game Engines; Computer/Human Interaction; and Advanced Topics in Game Science; Spatial and Temporal Design; and Data-Driven Player Modeling.
Other program highlights include access to The Games Studio, which allows students to work on projects and be credited on up to four shipped titles; exhibitions; the Media Studios Organization, which houses labs, studios, and making spaces; guest lectures; the Center for Design—a space for collaborative and interdisciplinary design research; workshops; and the opportunity to complete a full-semester (paid) summer co-op.
Northeastern University partners with more than 20,000 co-op employers nationwide and across more than 65 countries. Examples include Hasbro, Live Nation, Harmonix, Mass DiGi, Splash Damage Games, Jamspot, Demiurge Studios, and Greenbrier Games.
The Game Science and Design MS program at Northeastern University culminates with a thesis project. Graduates are prepared to pursue advanced roles in fields such as software development, game design and development, special effects, animation, software quality assurance, and graphic design.
The CAMD and Khoury College of Computer Sciences provide several additional programs for game designers. CAMD programs include the 17 credit hour, one-year Game Science graduate certificate with access to all GSND MS resources and benefits; the Game Design and Game Art and Animation BFAs; the Game Design and Music BS with a concentration in Music Technology; and minors in Game Art and Game Design.
Khoury College houses a Computer Science and Game Development BS that focuses on developing and building games and playable media experiences.
All programs are interdisciplinary, with courses led by industry professionals. Across options, course examples include Game Studio; Building of Game Engines; Player Experience; Game Design and Analysis; Level Design and Game Architecture; Prototyping for Experience Design; Spatial and Temporal Design; Mixed Research Methods for Games; Data-Driven Player Modeling; Psychology of Play; Business Models in the Game Industry; Advanced Topics in Game Design; Game Concept Design; Human-Computer Interaction; Game Artificial Intelligence; Games and Society; and Generative Game Design.
In addition to a wide range of in-demand courses taught by faculty experts, all undergraduate Game Design programs at Northeastern University provide the opportunity to participate in the school’s co-op program. This allows undergraduates to gain up to 18 months of hands-on, professional experience.
In addition, students in all programs enjoy hands-on learning in collaborative classrooms and studios; state-ot-the-art production facilities; and access to more than 3,350 employer partners, including government agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and global organizations.
The graduate certificate and undergraduate Game Design programs at Northeastern University culminate with a final project. Graduates are prepared to pursue roles in all areas of game design and development, software development, animation and special effects, graphic design, architectural design, android development, visual design, artificial intelligence, and art direction.
CAMD and Khoury College alumni have been hired at major companies and studios such as Google, Xbox Game Studios, Amazon, Hasbro, Zynga, Cognizant, Boeing, Harmonix, Arc Games, Greenbrier Games, Splash Damage Games, Demiurge Studios, HireIO, Digital Eclipse Entertainment Partners, and Lucid Motors.
Northeastern University began as the Evening Institute of the Boston Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in 1898. Today, with 13 campuses across the U.S., Canada, and the UK, this global research university serves approximately 36,630 students from all backgrounds. Students have access to more than 500 programs across 10 colleges and schools. Northeastern University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is a Top 25 STEM college that houses one of the nation’s oldest games and interactive degree programs—Interactive Media and Game Development (IMGD). The school is also home to the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute (MassDigi). Launched in 2011, MassDigi is a center for education, entrepreneurship, and workforce development in the Massachusetts games industry.
MassDigi programs and labs include the Reverse Internship/Sabbatical, where students can work on projects in teams of college and university students; the Virtual Production Laboratory; the Education Working Group; the Summer Innovation Program (SIP); and Live Code, which allows students to work on real games in the market.
Launched in 2004, and part of the School of Arts and Sciences, the IMGD program at WPI provides BA, BS, MFA, MS, and BS/MS degrees, along with the recently launched interdisciplinary Computational Media PhD, which focuses on gameplay and art.
The dual IMGD BS/MS allows students to complete two degrees at an accelerated pace. This means students can complete two degrees in four to five years instead of six or more. Across all programs, students will gain experience in art and technology through a co-op or professional internship. On campus, all IMGD students will also work their way through the entire game development process alongside industry advisors and faculty researchers.
Other program benefits include project-based learning (team-based game projects); access to state-of-the-art facilities such as the IMGD Interaction Lab, Foisie Innovation Studio, the Intentional Design Studio (IDeaS), and the Digital Art and Fabrication Studio—FabLab; and participation in gaming activities, competitions, and conferences. Examples include the International Game Developers Association (IGDA); the annual PAX East Game Festival; Game Jam; the Diversity in Games Club; the Game Developers Conference (GDC); and the MassDiGi Game Challenge.
The IMGD BA has concentrations in Design (board game design, narrative design, digital design); Technical Art (motion capture, 3D rigging, animation, pipeline management); Visual Art (2D animation, 3D modeling and animation, interactive art installations); and Writing (world building, narrative structure, character building). As part of the IMGD program, all students will explore the artistic and technical aspects of game development, as well as art, science, music, and math.
All IMGD BA students will complete courses such as The Game Development Process; Storytelling in Interactive Media and Games; Critical Studies in Media and Games; Game Audio; Technical game Development; and Novel Interfaces for Interactive Environments. The IMGD BA program culminates with a final project.
The IMGD BS consists of many of the same courses as the BA program. However, the BS has a stronger emphasis on software engineering and programming. Students in this program will complete projects and specialized courses in areas such as game engine programming, creative coding, computer graphics, artificial intelligence, software engineering, procedural content generation, networking, human-computer interaction, and live coding performance. The IMGD BS program culminates with a final project.
The WPI IMGD MFA is an interdisciplinary art- and studio-based program with three focus areas: Serious Games; Technical; and Production and Management. All students will complete 12 design studio credits, 21 core credits, six professionalization credits, three elective credits, and nine project credits. This customizable program culminates with a solo thesis project in digital games and a portfolio of the student’s best work.
The interdisciplinary IMGD MS is a two-year program designed for students interested in careers in game design, game development, and interactive media. Like MFA students, MS students may specialize in Serious Game; Technical; or Production and Management. Course examples include IMGD Studio; Serious and Applied Games; Design of Interactive Experiences; Production Management for Interactive Media; and Multidisciplinary Research Methods in Computational Media. The IMGD MS culminates with a thesis or group project capstone.
The IMGD PhD program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute requires 15 credit hours in the computational media core. All students have the option to create an individual path such as games and game engines; artificial intelligence; narratives; visual and sonic media; or human-computer interfaces. The program culminates with the dissertation and defense.
For students in other majors, WPI has an IMGD minor with a customizable focus area. This 18-credit hour program also allows students to select from courses that explore game design, animation, visual art, game studies, technical development, audio arts, creative writing, and social impact of games. The minor culminates with a final project.
Graduates of the IMGD and Computational Media programs at WPI are prepared to pursue careers in all areas of game design and development. Graduate and PhD students are also prepared for teaching, research, and consulting positions. Some program alumni also go on to launch their own studios or freelance businesses.
WPI IMGD alumni enjoy a 92.7% employment rate. Examples of companies that routinely hire WPI graduates include Rockstar Games, Amazon, Lockheed Martin, Google, Microsoft, Epic Systems, HubSpot, BrainCo, Raytheon Technologies, NextGen Interactions, Kaon Interactive, and Jitterbit.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute was established in 1865. One of just 187 R1 designated universities in nation, WPI has more than 50 global project centers on six continents. The school provides 70+ degree programs to approximately 7,355 students across the schools of Arts & Sciences; Engineering; and Business, and The Global School. Worcester Polytechnic Institute is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Fitchburg State University (Fitchburg State) is home to the School of Business and Technology, which houses the Computer Science Department. Within the department is a Computer Science BS (CS BS) with a Game Programming concentration. This ABET-accredited program provides opportunities to complete a professional internship, with support from the Fitchburg’s Career Services and Advising (CSA) department. All CS BS students may also take part in the school’s faculty-led study abroad programs in places such as Japan and Italy.
The CS BS with a concentration in Game Programming is an interdisciplinary program that requires four computer science courses that focus on game programming, and two game design courses. Upon completion of the Game Programming concentration, students may apply for the Game Design minor housed in the School of Arts and Sciences’ Communications Media Department (CMD), or double major in CS and Game Design (CMD BS).
Course highlights for the CS BS with a Game Programming concentration include Elements of Game Design; Computer Science I-II; Mobile Application Development; Programming Languages; Introduction to Game Art; Computer Graphics Programming; Software Engineering; Game Design Workshop; Digital Electronics; Algorithms and Date Structures; Ethics and Impacts of Computing Solutions; Game Programming; and Operating Systems.
Fitchburg State’s Game Design BS is the first program of its kind at a public institution in the Northeast. The program focuses on developing games both independently and in teams. In addition to traditional technologies, Game Design BS students will work with new and emerging platforms such as augmented reality, mobile, and virtual reality.
Students in the 18 credit hour Game Design minor will explore the basics of traditional games through required courses such as Elements of Game Design and Introduction to Game Art, and electives such as Serious Games; Game Level Design; Advanced Game Workshop; and 3D Game Development.
Course examples for the CMD Game Design BS include History of Interactive Media and Games; Elements of Game Design; Introduction to Game Art; 3D Game Development; Game Level Design; and Game Design Workshop. Students may select 12 credit hours of Game Production electives such as Serious Games; Virtual Reality Development; Making Historical Games; Games and Arts in Japan; 3D Animation; and Advanced Game Art.
Additional electives (12 credits) allow students to enhance the degree and develop skills in additional areas. Elective examples include The Art of Puppetry; Experimental Writing; Sculpture; Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, and Journalism Systems Programming; Life Drawing; and Media Conscious Storytelling.
Across all Fitchburg State Games programs, students have access to state-of-the-art multimedia classrooms, lecture labs, and database servers; required software through special educational software licenses from Microsoft, and other prominent software vendors; hardware labs containing equipment for teaching courses such as digital electronics, computer organization, and data communications; and high speed Internet connections between computer labs and departmental network using the latest technologies.
The CS BS and Game Design BS programs at Fitchburg State University culminate with a capstone project. Graduates are prepared to pursue graduate studies or advanced roles in all areas of game design, development, and programming; the broader technology industry; mobile application development; web design and development; simulation and visualization; digital advertising; animation and film production; and UX design, among others.
Fitchburg State University alumni have been hired at places such as Apple, Cisco Systems, Amazon, HP, Raytheon, Consilient Labs, Accenture, and Westfield Athenaeum.
Fitchburg State University was established in 1894 as the State Normal School in Fitchburg. The school serves 6,100 students enrolled in more than 40 undergraduate degree programs, and 40+ master’s and certificate programs across five schools and 16 academic departments. Fitchburg State University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Hampshire College doesn’t provide traditional majors. Instead, the school allows students to work with faculty advisors to create an individualized plan of study. Faculty advisors will also help students build a portfolio of their best work throughout each customized program.
For students interested in games, Hampshire College provides project-based courses that explore game programming, 2D and 3D art and animation, game design, audio design, storytelling, playtesting, and user testing. Other available courses cover areas such as communication, iterative development, entrepreneurship, and project management.
Course examples include Introduction to Game Design; Computer Animation I-III; Analog Game Design; Pixelbending; Introduction to Game Programming; The Art and Science of Digital Imaging; Designing Treasure Hunts; Women in Game Programming; Game Development Workshop; and Radical Innovation in Digital Arts.
In addition to a variety of courses, students have access to the Game Lab, which houses vintage consoles such as Atari 2600, and current consoles; the Game Library, which houses hundreds of digital and analog games; and the Hampshire College Cluster Computing Facility, which houses Fly—a high-performance, Beowulf-style computer cluster.
The Hampshire College campus also houses several computer and media labs equipped with industry-standard software; digital design, computer animation, and film and video editing facilities in the Liebling Center for Film, Photography, and Video and Johnson Library Center; and an electronic music recording studio in the Music and Dance building.
The culminating experience for Games students is the development of professional game. Students may work individually or in teams to complete their final projects.
Graduates of the customized Games program at Hampshire College are prepared to pursue a graduate degree or positions in game design, game development, game art, game programming, animation production, digital advertising, AR/VR, simulation, visualization, education, research, and consulting.
Hampshire College alumni have been hired at places such as Pixar Animation Studios, MyRise Coding Academy, Idea Collective, Baylor College of Medicine, Sparetime Entertainment, and Teach for America.
Founded in 1965, Hampshire College is a private, liberal arts college that serves more than 700 students enrolled in around 50 areas of study. The school is part of the Five College Consortium, which includes Amherst College, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College. Through the Consortium, Hampshire students have access to more than 7,000 additional course options, more than 900 student organizations and activities, more than 3,400 annual events, and recruiting activities by nearly 500 companies. Hampshire College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
