| Ranking | School | City | Ranking by Region | National Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | East Tennessee State University | Johnson City | #18 in the South | Unranked |
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.
The College of Business and Technology at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) houses the Digital Media (DIGM) Department. Within the department are several paths to study games. Options include the DIGM BS with a Digital Game Design concentration, along with Asset Development and Design tracks; a DIGM MFA with the opportunity to customize a specialization; and the project-based DIGM minor.
Across programs, students benefit from courses taught by industry professionals; access to state-of-the-art labs and production facilities; opportunities to work in teams (during the entire four years of study) to produce games, animations, and other digital works for internal and external clients. The culminating experience for the DIGM BS is the Portfolio Development for Digital Media course and portfolio. The minor culminates with a final project. The DIGM MFA culminates with a final body of work to be reviewed by faculty and peers.
Graduates of the DIGM programs at ETSU have been hired at places such as Disney, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), Ubisoft, Naughty Dog, Amazon, Luma Pictures, CBS, and Deck Nine Games. Program alumni have been credited on games and films such as Halo 5; Avatar; Lord of the Rings; Guitar Hero; World of Warcraft; Borderlands; The Avengers; Kung Fu Panda III; Justice League; and The Walking Dead.
