What is the top Kentucky game design program for 2026?
| Ranking | School | City | Ranking by Region | National Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond | #17 in the South | Unranked |
Our 2026 ranking of the top game design school program in Kentucky.
The criteria we used for the animation rankings consists, in no particular order, of the following: Academic reputation, Employment data, Admission selectivity, Depth and breadth of the program, Value as it relates to tuition and indebtedness, Graduation rate, and Retention rate. For an explanation of ranking criteria, click here.
1. Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky
The Department of Computer Science and Information Technology (CSIT) at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) is the first computer science program in Kentucky to be accredited by CSAB, Inc. Housed in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), the department provides several paths to study games. Options include the Computer Science BS (CS BS) with a concentration in Interactive Multimedia (Game Design); a Computer Science MS (CS MS) with a concentration in Game Design; the Game Content Design minor; and a Game Design certificate.
All students have the opportunity to complete a professional internship or co-op; participate in the Global Game Jam; and study abroad. Other program highlights include access to state-of-the-art production facilities; hands-on project-based learning; and the Game Design Capstone.
Across programs, graduates have been hired at places such as Lockheed Martin, Cisco Systems, Amazon, Google, Aspyr Media, Toyota, Lost Boys Interactive, Multivision, Inc., Breakout Games, and Navigate360.
Eastern Kentucky University — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to Eastern Kentucky University's position in Animation Career Review's 2026 game design school rankings.
Academic Peer Recognition: Moderate Recognition by Academic Peers (Tier 4)
Faculty Size: Small Faculty (Tier 4)
Graduate Employment: Limited Employment Outcomes (Tier 5)
Admissions Selectivity: Accessible (Tier 4)
Average Net Cost: Minimal Average Net Cost (Tier 1)
Student Indebtedness: Elevated Student debt (Tier 4)
Graduation Rate: Low Graduation Rate (Tier 5)
First-Year Retention Rate: Moderate Student Retention After 1 Year (Tier 3)
Ranking Factor Tiers: Tier 1 represents the strongest performance and Tier 5 represents the weakest performance within each ranking factor.