| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DePaul University | Chicago |
| 2 | Bradley University | Peoria |
| 3 | Columbia College Chicago | Chicago |
Our 2025 ranking of the top game design school programs in Illinois. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media (CDM) at DePaul University (DePaul) houses the School of Cinematic Arts (SCA); the School of Computing; and the School of Design. All provide paths to study games. The School of Cinematic Arts houses the STEM-designated Animation BFA with a concentration in Game Art, and the Computer Science + Animation BS (CS+ANI BS) with a Game Art Technical Director concentration. Across programs students have access to the state-of-the-art DePaul Cinespace Studios.
This 60,000 square feet production facility houses six professional soundstages; animation studios and labs; Arri and RED cameras; green screen cycloramas; stop motion and motion capture stages; post-production video editing and color correction facilities; mixing studios; a scenic shop; and production offices.
Other program highlights include courses taught by accomplished industry professionals who have worked at places such as WMS Games, Nickelodeon, and Disney Feature Animation; opportunities to gain hands-on experience at DePaul’s virtual production stage—the first of its kind in the Midwest—and through the schools Indie Studio; the visiting artist series; the LA Quarter Program at the historic Sunset Las Palmas Studio; Project Bluelight; access to the Animation Lodge; and the annual Premiere Film Festival.
The Animation BFA/Game Art concentration focuses on real-world problem solving; teamwork, and pipelines. Students will work alongside game designers and game programmers on cross-disciplinary game development projects. Course examples for the program include Game Development I-II; Visual Design for Games; Art for Game Mods; and Game Modification Workshop.
Game Art students can also choose a focus in Animation or Modeling and Rigging. The Game Art concentration culminates with the Game Development Capstone I and Game Development II courses.
The Computer Science + Animation BS with a Game Art Technical Director concentration combines liberal studies, animation, computer science, and game art. Course examples include Computer Systems I-II; Rendering and Graphics Programming; 3D Modeling and Shading; Optimized C++; 3D Animation for Games and Cinematics; Game Modification Workshop; Motion Capture; Advanced Animation Production; 3D Dynamics; Object-Oriented Game Development; and Game Art Pipeline.
The Game Art Technical Director concentration culminates with the Game Development Capstone I and Game Development Project II courses.
Graduates of the SCA Games programs are prepared to pursue roles at major game companies, film studios, and animation studios. Program alumni have been hired at game design companies such as Electronic Arts (EA), Blizzard Entertainment, Iron Galaxy Studios, Bioware, and The Mill. They have also been hired at studios such as Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, LAIKA Studios, and Warner Bros. Animation.
The School of Computing at DePaul University houses the Computer Science BS with a concentration in Game Systems, a BS in Game Programming, and a Game Programming MS. These STEM-designated programs provide access to the game development studio DePaul Originals; the Deep Games Laboratory; the DePaul Esports Gaming Center; and the DePaul Fundamental Research in Academic Gaming (DeFRAG), which hosts week-long game jams, multiplay nights, and video game Jeopardy. Students also have access to all CDM facilities such as the gameplay, playtest and usability, virtual reality, and game development and research labs.
Other program features include participation in exhibitions; internships with local and national studios; and the biennial Japan Study Abroad Program. This two-week trip to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nagoya includes visits to game and animation studios; temples, cultural centers, and historic sites; and galleries and museums. In Nagoya, students will collaborate with Japanese game and animation students at Trident College of Computing. This two-day game/animation jam is the culminating experience for the trip.
Courses for all programs are topic-based and hands-on, with a focus on global software development and lab work. Game Programming students will collaborate on interdisciplinary teams with game designers, producers, game designers, and audio designers to create games. BS course examples include Fundamentals of Game Design; Practical Scripting for Games; 3D Design and Modeling; Game Engine Programming I-II; Object-Oriented Game Development; Rendering and Graphics Programming; Game Modification Workshop; Optimized C++; and Game Development II. The BS program culminates with the Real-Time Networking and Software Projects courses or the Game Development Capstone I and Game Development Project II courses, student’s choice.
The Game Systems concentration combines computer science, mathematics, and programming. Course examples include Discrete Mathematics I-II; Game Engine Programming I-II; Real-Time Networking; Object-Oriented Game Development; Computer Graphics Development I-II; Computer Systems I-II; Technical Writing; Applied 3D Geometry; and Concepts of Programming Languages. The program culminates with the Game Development Capstone I and Game Development Project II courses or the Software Projects course and one major elective, student’s choice.
Game Programming MS students will take a combination of introductory, foundation, and advanced courses, along with major electives. These courses come from nine defined areas such as Game Specialties, Mobile Games, and Graphics. Elective examples from these areas include Physics for Game Developers; Advanced Rendering Techniques; Tool Programming for Game Development; Visualization; Game Programming for Mobile Devices; and Principles of Computer Animation.
Graduates of the Games programs in DePaul University’s School of Computing are prepared to pursue advanced roles in all areas of game programming, development, and design. MS graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles in these areas, as well as research and education.
Across programs, alumni have been hired at places such as Disney Interactive Studios, Microsoft, Amazon, NetherRealm Studios, Abbott Laboratories, GitHub, Phosphor Games, Lockheed Martin, DeepMind, Scientific Games, Carbine Studios, Raytheon Missiles and Defense, and Scientific Games.
The School of Design at DePaul University houses the BS and MFA in Game Design. Students in these STEM-designated programs have access to everything the CDM has to offer as well as the Idea Realization Lab (IRL and IRL2); the interdisciplinary design PUSH Studio; the School of Design Talks Series; the Jarvis Speaker Series; mentored independent studies (MFA); and funded research assistantships (MFA).
PUSH Studio partners with industry professionals and social organizations. The Talks and Speaker Series’ have welcomed guests such as Bungie Founder Alex Seropian; Antionette Caroll—Founder and CEO of the Creative Reaction Lab; Co-CEO of Iron Galaxy Chelsea Blasko; Dale Dougherty—Founder and CEO of Make Media; Young Horses Games; and Scott Starrett—Brand Advisor to the Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez campaign.
The Depaul Game Design BS consists of courses such as Games Literacy; Unreal Engine Workshop; Game Development I-II; Playgaming; Solo Game Development Project; Sound for Games; 3D Design and Modeling; Practical Scripting for Games; 3D Animation; Advanced Game Design; and Data Analysis.
The Game Design BS program at DePaul university culminates with the Game Modification Workshop Game Development Capstone I, and Game Development Project II courses. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in game design and development, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), animation, and interactive media, among others.
The Game Design MFA is a flexible program that consists of courses such as Creative Computation; Art Games Bootcamp; Game Design Proseminar; Incubation Studio; Games With A Purpose Bootcamp; Game Design Workshop; and Game Development Practicum (internship, art game installation, development of a wearable device).
The Game Design MFA program at DePaul University culminates with the MFA Thesis, Showcase, and Defense. Graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles in areas such as game design, game development, game programming, research, teaching, and software development.
DePaul’s Game Design BS and MFA alumni have been hired at places such as Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media, Phosphor Games, NetherRealm Studios, Owlchemy Labs, Wargaming, and Firaxis. Some graduates have also gone on to launch their own studios, such as Young Horses—creators of Octodad. Developed at DePaul, this adventure game is an Independent Games Festival Student Showcase Winner and a Game Developer (formerly Gamasutra) Top 10 Indie.
DePaul University is the largest Catholic university in the United States. Serving 21,210 students, the school is also the nation’s 12th-largest private, not-for-profit university, and the largest private, not-for-profit college in the Midwest. Founded in 1898, DePaul provides more than 300 undergraduate majors and graduate programs across two campuses that house 10 academic colleges and schools. DePaul University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Bradley University (Bradley) has a number of paths to study games. All options emphasize student/faculty collaboration; liberal arts and sciences; study abroad experiences in places such as the UK, Spain, and Australia; and experiential learning opportunities such as NBC Olympics internships and the Bradley University Hollywood Semester.
Open to all Bradley students and majors, the Hollywood Semester highlights guest lectures; excursions to industry events; professional internships; courses led by industry professionals; and networking events. The programs new mentorship initiative also helps connect students with Bradley alumni in Los Angeles.
Bradley University is also home to Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Housed in Slane’s Interactive Media Department are the production-focused BA/BS in Game Design and Game Art; a 18-21 credit hour Game Design minor; and the Game Design and Development MS.
The CLAS houses the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems, home to the Computer Science (CS) and Computer Information Systems (CIS) BS programs with a concentration in Computer Game Technology; a 25 credit hour Computer Game Technology minor; and a Computer Science MS with a Computer Game Technology concentration.
The Game Design BA/BS at Bradley University allows students to create videogames, tabletop games, and more during every semester of the program. The major requires 53 credit hours. Course examples include Survey of Games; Game Design I-II; Appreciating Comics; Game Production I-II; Environmental Storytelling; Introduction to Game Scripting; Film History; Introduction to Game Development; History of Animation; Critical Game Studies; and Fundamentals of Interactive Design.
In addition to a variety of in-demand courses, the Game Design (and Game Art) BA/BS programs provide mentoring by faculty who have worked on game series such as Riot Game’s League of Legends, Ubisoft’s Far Cry, and Red Faction, developed by Volition. All BA/BS students also benefit from participation in game jams; opportunities to show their work at the annual FUSE exhibit; and hands-on learning with industry software.
The Game Design BA/BS programs culminate with three courses totaling 12 credit hours: Prototyping for Capstone; Game Capstone Project I; and Game Capstone Project II. Graduates will leave the program with a publishable game and professional portfolio.
The Game Art BA/BS programs at Bradley University explore asset creation, character art, animation, environment art, and concept art. The Game Art major requires 53 credit hours. Course examples include Introduction to Game Development; Character Art; Critical Issues in Interactive Media; 2D for Game Art; New Media History; Drawing 1-2; Game Art Fundamentals; Environment Art; Appreciating Comics, Game Art Development; Critical Game Studies; and Small Group Communication.
The Game Art BA/BS programs culminate with the Game Capstone Project completed across two courses.
The Game Design and Development MS at Bradley University consists of 30 credit hours without a concentration, and 31 credit hours to earn a Game Programming concentration. The program takes place in an environment that functions like a real production studio. Students have the opportunity to form a corporation inside the Bradley University Interactive Media Department, where they will spend a year developing games. MS students also receive regular feedback from working AAA game development professionals.
Students in the Game Design and Development MS without a concentration will take Game Prototyping (six credit hours); Game Production (12); Game Seminar (six); Game Practicum (two); and Game Post-Production (four). Students in the Game Programming concentration will take Game Prototyping; Fundamentals of Software Engineering or Computer Systems Analysis, Design and Integration; Game Engine Programming; Game Production; and Game Post-Production—the culminating experience for the program.
Elective examples for the concentration include Algorithms; Directed Individual Studies in Computer Information Systems; Advanced Mobile Programming; and Computer Game Capstone Project. This is the culminating experience for the program.
All MS students will have the option to sell their final game to a major manufacturer and produce a professional portfolio of their best work.
Graduates of the Slane Game Design programs at Bradley University are prepared to pursue careers across industries such as games for entertainment, serious games, animation, live action film, television production, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), aerospace and aeronautics, human-computer interaction (HCI), digital advertising, science and medicine, user interface and user experience (UI/UX), architecture, training simulations, artificial intelligence (AI), education, research, and consulting.
Program alumni have been hired at places such as Riot Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Insomniac Games, Ubisoft, Warner Bros. Games, NetherRealm Studios, and Daybreak Game Company.
The Computer Game Technology concentration in the CLAS Department of Computer Science and Information Systems requires 12 credit hours for the BS and nine credit hours for the MS. BS CS/CIS students will take Foundations of Game Programming; Game Programming Design Patterns; and Computer Game Capstone Project. For the remaining credits students will select an elective. Examples include Advanced Game Capstone; Game Engine Programming; and Computer Game Modification.
MS CS/CIS students will complete the required Computer Game Design and Computer Game Modification courses. The remaining three credits will come from elective options such as Concepting and Storytelling; Digital Animation; Sound Design; Game Engine Programming; and Computer Game Capstone Project.
Graduates of the MS/Computer Game Technology prorgams at Bradley University are prepared to pursue leadership roles in the broad technology industry, game design and development, animation production, research, consulting, and education. CSIS alumni have been hired at places such as Blizzard Entertainment, Microsoft, Warner Bros. Games, Sony, Amazon, Epic Systems, GGLeagues, Caterpillar, F84 Games, General Electric (GE), NetherRealm Studios, Accenture, Harris Corporation, and ChangeLab.
Bradley University was founded in 1897 by Lydia Moss Bradley—a business pioneer and wealthy philanthropist. When the school opened as Bradley Polytechnic Institute, it had just 14 faculty and 150 students. Today, Bradley University employs 340 full-time faculty that serve approximately 4,800 students from 36 U.S. states and 55 other countries.
With more than 200 programs provided across eight colleges and schools, Bradley University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
The School of Design at Columbia College Chicago (Columbia College) provides programs that focus on collaboration, interdisciplinary coursework, and creating projects that utilize the latest state-of-the-art technology, including virtual reality. For students seeking careers in game design, the school houses a Game and Interactive Media Design BA; Game Art and Game Design BA programs; and minors in Game Art, Game Design, and Fashion for Game Art.
Students in all programs have access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment such as The Game Lab; Animation Production Spaces; The Equipment Cave (game consoles, equipment, digital cameras, and more); The Motion Capture Studio; The Sound Studio; and The Open Lab. Other program benefits include artist-in-residence initiatives; workshops; internship opportunities; study abroad experiences; and the opportunity to present senior game projects at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, California, South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, Industry Night at Columbia College Chicago, and the Chicago Toy and Game Fair.
The Game and Interactive Media Design, Game Art, and Game Design BA programs at Columbia College Chicago allow student designers and artists to begin building games in the first semester. The curriculums function like today’s collaborative studios, allowing students to develop advanced technical skills. Game Art BA students will focus on character environment and visualization, digital sculpting, level design, motion capture animation, computer generated character modeling, and environment modeling for game content.
Game Design BA students may select a concentration in Game Development or Game Sound. In the junior and senior years of the Game and Interactive Media Design BA program, students will have the opportunity to focus in an area of interest. Across programs, students will take courses such as Programming I-II; Character Visualization for Games; Story Development for Interactive Media; Computer Animation-Keyframing I; Introduction to Game Development; Advanced 3D Digital Sculpting; Game Culture; Shading and Surfacing for Games; Digital Imaging Design; and 2D Motion for Games.
The culminating experience for the Game Art and Game Design BA programs is the Capstone consisting of the Game Level Production course or Game Studio I-II, student’s choice. The Game and Interactive Media BA culminates with an industry-ready game and professional portfolio.
The Game Art minor at Columbia College Chicago is a 21 credit hour program that helps students develop the skills needed to create characters, environments, props, animations, and visual effects for games and simulations. Course examples include 2D Art for games; Introduction to Game Development; 2D Motion for Games; Character Visualization for Games; and Advanced 3D for Games. The program culminates with a team project.
The Game Design minor focuses on game-play, user experience, level design, and system design. Students will have the opportunity to work on small independent-scale projects and large commercial-style projects. Course examples include Programming I-II; Game Design I; Game Engine Scripting; Game Production; Advanced Game Scripting and Environments; and Introduction to Game Development. The program culminates with a team project.
The Fashion for Game Art minor is a unique collaboration between Fashion Studies and Interactive Arts and Media at Columbia College. This hybrid program focuses on fashion in game art, character concepts, and character designs. Students in this program will collaborate on projects in teams and through industry partnerships. Course examples include Game Culture; Character Design and Modeling; Introduction to Game Development; 3D Fashion for Digital Environments; and Computer Animation- Modeling. The program culminates with a final project.
Graduates of the Games programs at Columbia College Chicago are prepared to pursue careers across the game design, animation, live action film, television production, and digital advertising industries, among others. Program alumni have worked with or been hired at companies and studios such as Pixar, Amazon, Sony, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Weta Digital, Netflix, Bungie, Iron Galaxy Studios, Incredible Technologies, Inc., NetherRealm Studios, Jellyvision, and High Voltage Software.
Columbia College Chicago was established in 1890 as the Columbia School of Oratory. This private, nonprofit college serves nearly 6,700 students from 50 states and more than 60 countries. Programs include more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degrees in all creative disciplines. The school also provides business management and cultural studies programs. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accredits Columbia College Chicago.
