| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Denver | Denver |
| 2 | Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design | Denver |
| 3 | University of Colorado, Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs |
For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
University of Denver (DU) is home to the Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science (Ritchie School). Established in 1919 as the College of Engineering, the school serves approximately 1,165 students enrolled in more than 25 degree programs across three departments. All Ritchie School students benefit from interdisciplinary and project-based learning labs; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; participation in student organizations such as the DU Game Developers Society, DU Computer Science, Women in Technology, and DU Esports; and ABET accreditation.
The Ritchie School Computer Science Department houses multiple paths to study game design. This includes BA and BS degrees in Game Development; a BA in Applied Computing; BA and BS degrees in Computer Science; a Computer Science MS; and a PhD in Computer Science. All undergraduates may study games and complete the Game Capstone. This 10-week course allows students to design, build, test, and debug a fully working game—from the ground up.
Across programs, students will also take courses such as Introductory Game Design; Game Programming I-II; Machine Learning; Programming Languages; Multimedia Systems; Networking for Games; Topics in Computer Graphics; Game Prototyping; Shell Scripting and System Tools; 3D Modeling; Software for AI Robotics; Data Visualization; Software Engineering I-II; Advanced Algorithms; Object-Oriented Software Development; Advanced Unix Tools; and Human Computer Interaction.
In addition to having access to game design and related courses, graduate and PhD CS students will take advanced courses such as Python Software Development; C/C++ Programming; Advanced Algorithms; Ethical Hacking; Parallel and Distributed Computing; Advanced Unix Tools; Data Visualization; and Advanced Programming; Independent Research; and Independent Study. Courses and research for the PhD program are led by professors with a background in areas such as software engineering, humane games, robotics, and cybersecurity.
The culminating experience for MS students is the capstone project or the thesis. Students may focus their final projects or thesis in any area, including games. PhD students will complete the dissertation and defense I an area of their choice.
All Games, CS, and Applied Computing students will have opportunities to participate in DU’s study abroad programs (more than 120 options in 20+ countries), internship program, and cooperative education. Past internship employers include The Walt Disney Company, Ball Aerospace, Oracle, NBC Universal, and Charter Communications.
Graduates of the Game Development, Computer Science, and Applied Computing programs at University of Denver are prepared to pursue careers in areas such as game design and development, the broad technology industry, aerospace and defense, digital marketing, architecture, education, and research. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Lockheed Martin, Google, Amazon, Raytheon, Microsoft, IBM, Meta, LinkedIn, and X.
University of Denver was established in 1864 just six years after the city of Denver was founded. The school opened as the Colorado Seminary and later established one of the first business schools in the U.S. and the first school of social work between the Mississippi and the West Coast. Today, DU operates as a private, doctoral-granting R1 university that provides more than 200 degree programs across 10 colleges and schools. The school also serves approximately 12,815 students from the U.S. and more than 80 countries. University of Denver is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The school is also an Unreal Engine Academic Partner that houses a Game Art BFA provided year-round both on campus and online. Although campus-based students will spend most of their time face-to-face with instructors and peers, a small portion of the program must be completed online.
The Game Art BFA requires 123 credit hours with 48 in the major and six in studio electives. The remaining courses come from liberal arts and foundations. Led by industry professionals, all courses are collaborative and immersive, with small class sizes and interactions with students from other RMCAD programs.
Other program benefits include access to state-of-the-art production facilities; participation in Game Art Events; the speaker-series featuring game art professionals; and the opportunity to apply for a Spivak Student Studio space. Consisting of 12 coveted studios, Spivak is a dedicated campus-based creative space where students can collaborate, network, exhibit and critique works, and connect with visiting artists.
The Game Art BFA consists of foundations and liberal arts courses such as Art Historical Methods and Theories; Sound Studies; The Art of Math; Acoustics of Music; History of International Animation; Seminar in Contemporary Art; 2D Design; Time-Based Media; Life Drawing I-II; 2D Design-Elements and Principles; and 3D Design-Space and Materiality. Before advancing into the Game Art major, students will complete the Animation and Game Art Sophomore Portfolio Review.
Examples of Game Art major courses include Introduction to Animated Storytelling; 3D Modeling; Game Shader Development; 3D Computer Fundamentals; Rigging for Animation and Game Art; 3D Computer Animation Motion Studies; Game Creation Fundamentals; Character and Level Design; Digital Painting for Film and Games; 3D Computer Lighting and Materials; Strategy and Psychology in Games; Business Ethics and Copyright; Digital Sculpting; and Game Art Junior Portfolio Review.
Electives allow students to complete an internship or focus in specific areas of games, animation, and art. Elective examples include Worldbuilding; Game Animation and Motion Capture; Vector Illustration; Drawing and Acting for Animation; The Art of Villainy; Scriptwriting for Animation; Layout Design; Experimental Animation; 3D Character and Production Design; Raster Imager Processing; Character Animation and Motion Studies; Figurative Sculpture; Digital Post Production; and Special Topics.
The Game Art BFA program at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design culminates with two courses: Senior Project I-Portfolio Preparation, and Senior Project II: Portfolio Delivery and Review.
Graduates are prepared to pursue roles in the game design industry, animation, film, and digital advertising, among others. Examples of potential job titles include Game Artist, Computer Animator, Game Designer, Concept Artist, Environment Designer, UI/UX Artist, Character Designer, Texture Artist, 3D Modeler, and Lighting Artist.
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design opened in 1963 as Rocky Mountain School of Art. Serving more than 1,000 students, RMCAD provides 16 degree and certificate programs in campus/hybrid and online formats. In addition to NASAD accreditation, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is home to the College of Engineering and Applied Science (EAS). Within the college are four departments including Computer Science; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Electrical and Computer Engineering; and Online Graduate Engineering. Students in all departments benefit from experiential learning; undergraduate and graduate research opportunities; professional internships; and immersive team-based projects.
The EAS Department of Computer Science provides several paths to study game design. Options include a Computer Science BA (BACS) with a Game Design (GD) track; the Bachelor of Innovation (BI) in Game Design and Development (GDD); minors in Game Design and Game Programming + 3D; and the interdisciplinary MS in Computer Science with an emphasis in Game and Media Integration (MSCS-GMI).
The MSCS-GMI provides a solid foundation in the research, design, and development of games, animation, wearable computing, virtual reality, human computer interaction, filmmaking, and complex systems. The program also allows students to pursue an additional specialization through electives and develop an industrial portfolio with an interdisciplinary focus. Elective examples include Animation and Visualization; Multimedia; Multivariate Control I-II; Virtual Reality and Human Computer Interaction; Evolutionary Computation; and Advanced Computer Graphics/Morphing.
The culminating experience for the MSCS-GMI program is the Thesis or Project. Final works are eligible for submission to events such as the SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival; Game Developers Conference (GDC); the International Symposium on Wearable Computing (ISWC); and virtual reality and HCI interaction conferences.
The minors in Game Design and Game Programming + 3D are 21 credits each. The Game Design minor is an ideal complement to majors in STEM fields such as software engineering, computer animation, and computer science. Course examples for the program include Introductory Programming for Game Developers; User Interface Design for Games; Introduction to Game Development; and Game Design for Diverse Populations.
The Game Programming minor is designed for students with significant programming experience either through coursework, professionally, or both. The program consists of courses such as Computer Graphics; Fundamental Game Design Concepts; Data Structures and Algorithms; and Team-Based Game Production.
The BACS with a Game Design track focuses on software design and development, and computer applications. The 18 credit hour GD track focuses on game design and development, graphics, game testing and distribution, user interfaces, and game theory. Course examples across the CS major and track include Team-Based Game Production; Python Programming; Level Design; User Interface Design for Games; Programming with UNIX; Design and Analysis of Algorithms; Multiplayer Game Development; Advanced Software Engineering; and Team-Based Game Testing and Deployment.
The BACS-Game Design program culminates with Advanced Software Engineering (Capstone course). During this team project, students will produce a game or other software from conception through planning, development, testing, deployment, and operations.
The Bachelor of Innovation is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. The BI GDD curriculum focuses on game design and development, programming, technical design, business, and entrepreneurship. Students will also complete a cross-discipline core such as Creative Communications or Globalization and select a specialty area. Options include Game Art, Game Design, and Game Programming. Each area is 15 credit hours (five courses).
Game Art courses include Concept Art; 2D Animation; 3D Animation; 3D Modeling; Concept Art; and Game Art Portfolio. Game Design courses include Advanced Data Structures in C++; Game Systems Design; User Interface Design for Games; Artificial Intelligence for Games; and Game Systems Design. Game Programming students will take Multiplayer Game Development; Advanced Data Structures in C++; AR/VR Game Programming; Artificial Intelligence for Games; and Unreal Game Programming.
The BI GDD program culminates with a final project (team-based game) and the Innovation Capstone (IC), which consists of a business plan and public presentation. The IC is also completed in teams.
Graduates of the Computer Science and Games programs at University of Colorado Colorado Springs are prepared to pursue advanced roles in traditional games for entertainment, serious games, and casual games. Program alumni are also well-positioned to launch their own studios or freelance businesses.
University of Colorado Colorado Springs was founded in 1965. Part of the four-campus University of Colorado system, UCCS is a public research institution that serves approximately 10,700 students enrolled in more than 75 programs across six colleges and schools. University of Colorado Colorado Springs is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
