| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | Newark |
| 2 | Fairleigh Dickinson University | Madison |
| 3 | Bloomfield College of Montclair State University | Bloomfield |
| 4 | Stevens Institute of Technology | Hoboken |
| 5 | The College of New Jersey | Ewing |
Our 2025 ranking of the top game design school programs in New Jersey. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
Game Design at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is a collection of tracks, concentrations, and graduate certificates provided in collaboration between the School of Art and Design in the J. Robert and Barbara A. Hillier College of Architecture and Design (HCAD), and the Information Technology Division in the Ying Wu College of Computing (YWCC).
This multidisciplinary initiative allows students to add the Game Design track to the Digital Design BA (BADD), MS (MSDD), and MFA (MFADD) programs; and the Game Programming and Game Production tracks to the BS degrees in Computer Science (BS CS) and Information Technology (BSIT).
Within the Digital Design BA are two additional tracks including Entertainment and Interactive Media/Production. Both tracks require the History of Games and Digital Design Studio I-IV courses. The Ideal for game designers, the Entertainment track also consist of courses such as Game Architecture and Design; 2D Character Design; Game Modification Development; Simulated Environments; Imaginary Worlds-Architecture in Motion Pictures; 3D Character Development; Visual and Special Effects in Movies; Digital Sound and Music; Information Design Techniques; and Collaborative Design Studio.
Both tracks culminate with projects that focus on the design, production, and post-production of motion sequences for games, digital advertising, animation, and other areas.
The NJIT MSDD and MFADD allow students to design their own program through courses from three graduate certificate programs. This includes Game Design and Interactivity; Animation; and UI/UX. Game Design and Interactivity course examples include Physical Computing for Designers – Interaction Design; Visual Storytelling and Storyboarding; Environment Design; History of Game Play and Interactivity; and Digital Audio.
All specializations and tracks culminate with the Extended Reality Design Studio and the Digital Design Independent Project Studio. The MFADD is a low-residency, terminal degree program.
Like students in the Digital Design programs, CS BS and BSIT students have access to Game Design, Game Programming, and Game Production track courses such as 2D Game Programming; Game Artificial Intelligence (AI); 3D Game Programming; Advanced Game Production; Virtual Reality Design; Simulated Environments; Game Modification Programing; 3D Character Development; Game Architecture and Design; 3D Game Engine Programming; Game Artificial Intelligence (AI); Educational Game Design; and WebGL Programming.
CS BS students will also take courses such as Programming Language Concepts; Intensive Programming in Linux; Advanced Data Structures and Algorithm Design; and Guided Design in Software Engineering. BSIT students will take courses such as Advanced Programming for Information Technology; Internet Applications; Computer Systems and Networks; and Information Design Techniques. The program culminates with the IT Capstone Project. The BS CS culminates with the team-based Senior Project.
Graduates of the Game Design programs at New Jersey Institute of Technology are prepared to pursue advanced roles in all areas of game design, development, and programming; animation and film; education, research, and consulting; serious games; storyboard art; architectural and environment visualization; artificial intelligence; simulations; web design; UI/UX design; human-computer interaction (HCI); digital advertising; and graphic design.
Program alumni have been hired by companies and studios such as Electronic Arts (EA), Microsoft, Blizzard Entertainment, Amazon, Riot Games, Nickelodeon, Verizon, Bungie, TIME, BioCentriq, MakerBot, Sumo Digital, Playground Games, Studio Gobo, and Double Eleven.
New Jersey Institute of Technology was established in 1881 as Newark Technical School. This public, polytechnic university serves approximately 13,000 students enrolled in more than 125 degree programs across six specialized schools. New Jersey Institute of Technology is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA); the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB); the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB); and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) has several paths to study game design. Maxwell Becton College of Arts and Sciences, houses the School of Art, home to the Film and Animation BA with a Video Game Animation concentration, and a 15 credit hour 3D Video Game Animation minor. At the graduate level, the school provides Animation MA and MFA programs with a Video Games concentration.
Also housed in the Maxwell Becton College is the School of the Sciences, Mathematics, and Computer Science (SMCS), home to the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. Within the school is a Computer Science BS with a Game Development concentration.
Lastly, FDU’s Gildart Haase School of Computer Sciences and Engineering houses an undergraduate Game Development certificate. This 18 credit hour program requires Computer Programming I-II and Computer Game Programming. For the remaining credits, students may choose from electives such as 3D Multimedia; Human Computer Interface; 3D Visualization; and Multimedia on the Internet.
The hands-on Film and Animation BA allows students to switch concentrations while working their way through the curriculum or double concentrate by choosing two options from 3D Animation, 2D Animation, and Video Game Animation. Students can also work across all areas through anywhere from 12-18 elective credit hours, depending on the concentration.
The Video Game Animation concentration is the ideal choice for game designers as highlights 30 credit hours in theory and production courses, plus 15-18 elective credit hours. Examples of required courses include Game Design; Low Poly 3D Modeling; 3D Game Creation Using Unreal; Character Animation Using CAT; 3D Game Creation Using Unity; ZBrush Digital Sculpting; and 3D Environment Modeling. The program culminates with the Thesis I-II courses.
The 3D Video Game Animation minor at FDU is a 15 credit hour program that focuses on 3D graphics and animation for first-person and third-person games. Required courses include Creative Imagery with Photoshop; Low Poly 3D Modeling; and 3D Computer Animation. For the remaining credits, students will select from the following electives: Game Creation using Unity, Game Design, and Game Creation using Unreal.
The Animation MA and MFA programs with a concentration in Video Games allow students to attend classes on campus, online, or a combination of the two. MA students will complete required courses totaling 18 credits and 18 in major electives. The MFA consists of required courses totaling 36 credits and 24 in major electives. While the MFA requires the Animation and Career Preparation (ANIM 7900) course, MA students can take it as an elective.
Students in both programs will take Character Design; Game Creation; Digital 2D Animation; 3D Animation for Games; Digital Sculpting; and Advanced Game Creation. MFA students will also take Virtual Reality and Video Game Team Project. For MA students, both courses can be taken as electives. Students in both programs have access to electives such as Animation with Houdini; Character Animation – Emotion and Personality; History of Video Games; Expressions and Scripting in After Effects; 3D Character Modeling; and Animation with Hair/Fur.
The FDU Animation MA culminates with a final project, while the Animation MFA culminates with a thesis completed across three courses and presented at the Thesis Event.
The Computer Science BS at Fairleigh Dickinson University is a flexible program that focuses on problem solving, teamwork and collaboration, software design, and professional development. Designed based on guidelines from the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), the Game Development concentration consists of four required courses and two electives selected from a list of seven options.
Required courses include Introduction to Game Development; Human Computer Interaction; Advanced Game Development; and Artificial Intelligence. Elective options include Game Creation Using Unity; Environment Modeling; Game Creation Using Unreal; 3D Computer Animation; Game Design; ZBrush Digital Sculpting; and 3D Asset Creation Video Games. The program culminates with the Senior Project I-II courses or the Computer Science Internship, student’s choice.
Across all Animation, Games, and CS programs, students may participate in the school’s internship program, which provides opportunities to work at major studios and networks such as DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, NBCUniversal, MTV, Viacom, and ABC. Graduates are often hired by many of these studios and networks.
Program alumni have also been hired at places such as Marvel Comics, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Verizon, Tribe Pictures, Pixel Light Digital Media, Whisper Films, Skyline Entertainment, and High 5 Games.
Established in 1942, Fairleigh Dickinson University was the first comprehensive university in the world to require distance learning of its undergraduates. Serving more than 12,000 students across four campuses, FDU is also the largest private university in New Jersey. More than 100 degrees and disciplines are provided across two nine colleges and schools.
In addition to the New Jersey campuses (Madison and Teaneck), the England campus, and the campus in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, FDU has extension sites across the state of New Jersey. Fairleigh Dickinson University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Bloomfield College of Montclair State University is one of the 13 colleges and schools of Montclair State University. The college houses more than 50 degree programs, including a BS in Game Programing and a BA in Game Design. Across programs, students have access to a brand new state-of-the-art Center for Technology and Creativity; internships with local studios and media companies; and the opportunity to participate in the annual Global Game Jam where student contestants will produce a stand-alone game in just 48 hours.
Other program benefits include collaborative team-based projects based on real-world game development; and participation in the Game Development Club, where students will work in groups to create two games every semester.
Course examples for the Game Design program at Bloomfield College of Montclair State include Introduction to Game Design; Drawing I-II; Computer Imaging; Introduction to Game Programming; and Drawing for 2D Animation. The program culminates with the Game Development Capstone, completed across two courses.
The Game Programming BS at Bloomfield College of Montclair State University consists of courses such as Programming I-II; Systems Analysis and Design; Game Programming Studio; Introduction to Game Programming; Data Structures; Digital Game Design; Group Game Project I-II; and Operating Systems. The program culminates with the Game Development Capstone, completed across two courses.
Graduates of the Game Programming and Game Design and programs at Bloomfield College of Montclair State University are prepared to pursue titles such as Game Designer; Game Programmer; VFX Artist; Computer Programmer; Software Developer; and Information Systems Manager. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Psyonix (a member of the Epic Games family) and Santa Monica Studio (a subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment).
Montclair State University was founded in 1908 as the New Jersey State Normal School at Montclair. The school serves approximately 23,545 students enrolled in 300 majors, minors, concentrations, and certificate programs across 13 colleges and schools. On July 1, 2023 Bloomfield College merged with Montclair State, officially becoming Bloomfield College of Montclair State University. Montclair State University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
The School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Stevens Institute of Technology (SIT or Stevens Tech) houses a Visual Arts and Technology BS (VAT BA) program with four concentrations. While all options provide coursework in games and interactive design, the Game Design concentration is the most popular option for students interested in creating games for the entertainment industry, among others. All programs emphasize interdisciplinary, hands-on learning with studio-based lessons complemented by opportunities to complete an internship at places such as IBM and NBCUniversal.
Students in the Game Design concentration at Stevens Institute of Technology will create 2D and 3D games using their own code and original stories. In the Virtual Arts Lab, Game Design students can brainstorm, assess digital artworks, and create prototypes. Students also have access to state-of-the-art production facilities such as the Visual Arts Studio and the MakerCenter. In addition, all students, regardless of concentration, may join the Stevens Game Development Club.
Consisting of 124 credits of study, the VAT BA begins with the First Year Experience course and Observational Drawing; Foundation 2D: Color and Composition; Writing and Communications Colloquium; Foundation of 3D: Form and Space; and History of Art: Prehistory to Modern Era. In the Game Design concentration, students will take Game Design I-III. Students may also take courses from a secondary concentration. Creative Computation is an ideal choice. Courses include Creative Programming I-III.
Other course examples for the VAT major include Computer Science; Moving Image – On Screen; Creative Studio I-II; Foundations 4D; Contemporary Art; Frontiers on Technology; Design I; Foundations in Creative Software; and Professional Workshop.
The VAT BA at Stevens Institute of Technology culminates with a yearlong capstone project. In addition to games for entertainment, Game Design and Creative Computation students are prepared to pursue careers in serious games, simulation, visualization, software engineering, the broad technology industry, research, and education. SIT alumni have been hired at places such as Microsoft, Amazon, Lockheed Martin, Google, IBM, L3Harris, Nokia, Merck, CNBC, Xfinity, ABC, Cigna, Lummus Technology, Live Nation, World Records, and BuzzFeed.
Stevens Institute of Technology was established in 1870, making it one of the oldest technology universities in the U.S. The school serves approximately 8,470 students enrolled in more than 250 degree and graduate certificate programs across three schools and the College of Arts and Letters. Stevens Institute of Technology has been continually accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) since 1927.
The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) is home to the School of the Arts and Communication. Within the school are programs in music; art and education; communication, journalism, and film; design and creative technology; and teacher education. Among the school’s design and creative technology programs is an Interactive Multimedia (IMM) BA with six focus areas. Options include Games and Playable Media; Creative Coding; Visual Storytelling and Animation; Culture and Technology; Digital Fabrication; and Music Technology. An IMM minor consisting of five courses is also available.
Students in the minor and all BA focus areas have access to dedicated facilities such as the IMM U-Lab; the AIMM classroom housed in the Art and Interactive Media Building; and the Game Room. The TCNJ Center for the Arts also houses studios and theaters, which can be used for game-related workshops, presentations, and performances. IMM BA students also have the opportunity to create original projects for local clients and complete an internship at places such as DreamWorks, NFL Films, and Amazon.
Across all focus areas, students will take five common core courses including Introduction to Digital Media; Patterns of Innovation; Design Fundamentals for the Web; Introduction to Interactive Computing; and Design Perspectives in IMM. Upon completion of the IMM common core, students may select up to two focus areas, and a minor or second major in Computer Science, Graphic Design, Art, Communications, Business, or other area.
For students seeking careers in games the Games and Playable Media (GPM) focus area is an ideal choice. GPM students often add the Creative Coding or Visual Storytelling and Animation focus area. Creative Coding course examples include Physical Computing; Interactive Music Programming; Introduction to Interactive Computing; Design Fundamentals for the Web; Mobile Computing; and Dynamic Web Applications.
Visual Storytelling and Animation course examples include Computer Animation I-II; Interactive Storytelling; Time Media - Video Effects and Compositing; Special Topics – Character Design with Environmental Storytelling; 2D Animation; and Independent Study in Visual Storytelling and Animation.
Games and Playable Media students will work with professional game development tools; master prototyping and play testing; and complete individual and team projects. Course examples include Intro to Interactive Computing; Games I: Design and Architecture; Special Topics - Game Studies and Design; Games II: Implementation and Project Management; Special Topics - Delightful Little Games; Independent Study in Game Design; Learning Assistant in Game Design; and Special Topics - Tiny Games Workshop.
The culminating experience for the IMM BA program is the Final Project and Showcase. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in areas such as game design and development, animation and film, interactive media, and digital advertising. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Nickelodeon, TIME, and MakerBot. Some program alumni have also gone on to pursue graduate studies at School of Visual Arts (SVA), New York University (NYU), and Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).
The College of New Jersey was established in 1855 as the New Jersey State Normal School. Today, TCNJ serves approximately 7,400 students enrolled in more than 180 degree programs across eight schools. The College of New Jersey is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
