
What do you think is better – a “best animation school” or a “top animation school?” You may not have to decide because many schools are one in the same! However, these schools earn “top” or “best’ status for different reasons. A top-tier school may earn the “best” title based on factors such as the financial resources, graduation and retention rates number of program offerings, peer assessment, faculty resources (student-teacher ratio), and student selectivity. The “top” title may be awarded to a school that is considered affordable, convenient, a leader when it comes to job placement, and other factors. In the state of Ohio, a large number of colleges and universities made both lists.
Ohio is home to one of the largest collections of colleges and universities in the U.S. In fact, at 215 Title IV degree-granting institutions, Ohio has the sixth largest number of colleges and universities in the nation. Just a few top Ohio colleges include Ohio University, Kent State, and The Ohio State University. Continue reading to find out which of these schools are tops for aspiring game designers & developers and what they have to offer. Please note that the schools listed are in order from largest to smallest student population.
Top Game Design & Development School Programs Ohio Major Cities
Columbus
The Ohio State University
Student Population: 42,916
Backdrop: Urban 3,469-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Art and Technology, B. S. Design with Concentration in Visual Communication Design; M. F. A. Art and Technology; M. F. A. Digital Animation and Interactive Media
Cleveland
Cleveland Institute of Art
Student Population: 546
Backdrop: Urban, 5-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Animation, Communication Design, Game Design, Illustration, Technology and Integrated Media Environment (T. I. M. E.) – Digital Arts, Video
Top Game Design & Development School Programs Ohio - Other Cities and Towns
Kent
Kent State University
Student Population: 22,260
Backdrop: Suburban, 1,200-acre, easy access to Cleveland
Degrees Offered: B. A., B. F. A. Graphic Design – 2D, Graphic Design – 3D, Photo-Illustration, B. S. Computer Design, Animation and Game Design; M. A., M. F. A. Visual Communication Design
Athens
Ohio University
Student Population: 21,655
Backdrop: Small town, 1,773-acre
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Graphic Design, B. S. C. Digital Media: Special Effects, Games and Animation; M. F. A. Graphic Design
Portsmouth
Shawnee State University
Student Population: 4,618
Backdrop: Small town, 50-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Gaming and Simulation Development Arts, Visualist Design and Interactive Media; B. S. Digital Simulation and Gaming Engineering Technology
More Programs to Consider:
- San Francisco & Online
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#15) - 2020
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#23) - 2020
- Top 40 Nationally for Illustration (#29) - 2020
- Atlanta, Georgia; Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and SCAD eLearning
- Animation – BFA, MA, MFA
- Film and Television – BFA, MA, MFA
- Graphic Design – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Illustration – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Immersive Reality - BFA
- Interactive Design and Game Development – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Motion Media Design – BFA, MA, MFA
- Sequential Art – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Visual Effects – BFA, MA, MFA
- User Experience (UX) Design – BFA
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#3) - 2020
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#12) - 2020
- Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#9) - 2020
- Top 40 Nationally for Illustration (#9) - 2020
- Winter Park, FL & Online
- Computer Animation - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
- Game Programs - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
- Graphic Design & Digital Arts - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
- Film & Digital Cinematography - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
- Mobile Development - Bachelor's - Online
- Simulation & Visualization - Bachelor's - Campus
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#19) - 2020
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#17) - 2020
- Top 5 in Florida for Graphic Design (#4) - 2020
- Online
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