| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Ohio State University | Columbus |
| 2 | Miami University | Oxford |
| 3 | Cleveland Institute of Art | Cleveland |
| 4 | Kent State University | Kent |
| 5 | Columbus College of Art and Design | Columbus |
For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
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.
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 Game Design Department at Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) houses a Game Design BFA program that provides access to a new Interactive Media Lab (IML). This 14,297 square feet space houses one of the few virtual production studios in Ohio, along with an in-house arcade for game testing; extended reality (XR) studio; rapid prototyping lab; image and data capture studio; and a multi-format screening room.
Other program highlights include internship opportunities; projects with partner clients such as NASA and The Hearst Foundations (HearstFDN); intensive training in game engines such as Unreal and Unity; and access to the Larry Sears and Sally Zlotnick Sears think[box]—a seven-story, 50,000 square feet innovation center and makerspace on the neighboring Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) campus.
In the final year of the program, students will complete the Serious Game Design and BFA Research and Preparation courses. The program culminates with the BFA Thesis and Exhibition. Graduates have been hired at places such as Epic Games, Disney, Electronic Arts (EA), Bethesda, American Greetings, MIM Software Inc., Round Table Learning, thatgamecompany, Fanatics Inc., and XRtistry.
The College of Applied and Technical Studies (CATS) at Kent State University (Kent State or KSU) has two paths to study games including the Animation Game BS (AGD BS) and Game Design minor. BS students can concentrate in Animation or Game Design. The AGD BS can be completed at the Kent, Tuscarawas, and Stark campuses. The College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Computer Science houses a Game Programming minor that complements the Computer Science BA, BS, MS, BS/MS, and PhD programs; the Computer Engineering BS; and the Digital Media Production BS.
Highlights across programs include opportunities to complete a professional internship; study abroad experiences; participation in workshops and seminars; and collaborative projects that take place in the classroom and state-of-the-art labs, studios, and production facilities. The culminating experience for the AGD BS is the Senior Capstone Project or Technical and Applied Studies Capstone—student’s choice. The CS BS with Game Programming culminates with the Computer Science Capstone.
Graduates have landed positions at places such as Riot Games, NASA, Electronic Arts (EA), Boeing, Epic Games, Ubisoft, Nintendo, Blizzard Entertainment, DreamWorks, Disney, Take-Two Interactive, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, PGA of America, IBM, Apple, Intel, Cleveland Cavaliers, ESPN, ABC, and R/GA.
Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD) houses a Game Art and Design BFA program that highlights participation in game jams; the Origins Game Fair hosted by The Tabletop Game Association (GAMA); community game forums; and the Gaming and Expo Conference (GDEX). All students have access to state-of-the-art facilities and tools such as Mac and PC computer labs with the latest industry software; Makey and Arduino alternative controller kits; play-testing areas; sound rooms and editing suites; stand-alone AR/VR kits; and the Cloyd Family Animation Center's Stop Motion Lab.
Students also benefit from courses and projects led by expert faculty members; interactions with visiting artists and designers; participation in student-run organizations such as the Battle Game Alliance, Tabletop/Role Play Game Club, and Game Development Guild; professional internships; and the opportunity to have games featured on CCAD’s webpage Oh My GAD.
The CCAD Game Art and Design BFA program culminates with the Game Pipeline and Game Projects Capstone courses. Graduates can be found at places such as Electronic Arts (EA), Ubisoft, LEGO, Insomniac Games, LAIKA, Pixar, Riot Games, BioWare, Disney, Nickelodeon, Warner Bros. Animation, Netflix, Google, Multivarious Games, Iron Galaxies Studios, and Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
