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What are the top Maryland game design programs for 2026?
| Ranking | School | City | Ranking by Region | National Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Maryland Institute College of Art | Baltimore | #17 on East Coast | Unranked |
| #2 | University of Maryland, Baltimore County | Baltimore | #24 on East Coast | Unranked |
| #3 | University of Baltimore | Baltimore | Unranked | Unranked |
Our 2026 ranking of the top game design school programs in Maryland.
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. Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, Maryland
Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) provides BFA degrees in Game Design, Interactive Arts (IA), and Creative Media Production (CMP)/Game Design, and Studio minors in Game Design and Interactive Arts. Minor programs are open to all majors. Across programs, students have access to the MICA Game Lab; the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) MICA (Film Centre (JHU-MICA Film); the Center for Design Practice; and state-of-the-art production facilities in the Dolphin Design Center.
Students also benefit from partnerships with the Institute of Play (a New York-based organization for the research and development of games as teaching tools), and local game studios such as Firaxis Games and Big Huge Games. Other program highlights include teaching assistantships; summer and semester-long study abroad experiences; the opportunity to participate in Come Out and Play (an annual international festival for innovative street games and play); visiting artists and lecturers; and optional internships with MICA partners such as Bethesda, Sparkypants Studios, and IndieCade.
Programs culminate with a final project and presentation. MICA Games alumni have been hired at places such as DreamWorks, Electronic Arts (EA), Nickelodeon, Bethesda, Sony PlayStation, Cartoon Network, Insomniac Games, Sega, Pixar, Google, Apple, Big Huge Games, Sparkypants Studios, Firaxis Games, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, and Landor.
Maryland Institute College of Art — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to Maryland Institute College of Art's position in Animation Career Review's 2026 game design school rankings.
Academic Peer Recognition: Strong Recognition by Academic Peers (Tier 3)
Faculty Size: Mid-Sized Faculty (Tier 3)
Graduate Employment: Moderate Employment Outcomes (Tier 3)
Admissions Selectivity: Accessible (Tier 4)
Average Net Cost: Elevated Average Net Cost (Tier 4)
Student Indebtedness: Elevated Student debt (Tier 4)
Graduation Rate: Moderate Graduation Rate (Tier 3)
First-Year Retention Rate: Strong Student Retention After 1 Year (Tier 2)
Ranking Factor Tiers: Tier 1 represents the strongest performance and Tier 5 represents the weakest performance within each ranking factor.
2. University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland
The College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) at University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), houses the Computer Science and Electrical Engineering (CSEE) Department. Within the department is a Computer Science BS (CS BS) program with a Game Development track. UMBC’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences houses the Visual Arts BA and BFA programs with an optional concentration in Animation.
The CS BS program is game-focused with opportunities build several games each year; participate in UMBC’s annual Digital Entertainment Conference; and join organizations such as Hack UMBC; the Game Development Club, and the System Administration and Software Development Club. Students in the Visual Arts BA and BFA programs may participate in the conference, participate in on-campus games organizations, and complete the Team-based Game Development course or other capstone course.
Across all programs, students have access to state-of-the-art production facilities and internship opportunities. The CS BS program culminates with the Capstone Games Project. In addition to developing an industry-ready game, BS capstone students will focus on developing project management and team leadership skills. Graduates of the Games and Visual Arts programs at UMBC have secured roles at places such as Epic Games, RTX, Lockheed Martin, Bethesda, Google, Northrop Grumman, Zynga, Apple, Microsoft, Big Huge Games, Amazon, Meta, Firaxis Games, IBM, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab (APL), ZeniMax Media, AMD, and Abbott.
University of Maryland, Baltimore County — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to University of Maryland, Baltimore County's position in Animation Career Review's 2026 game design school rankings.
Academic Peer Recognition: Modest Recognition by Academic Peers (Tier 3)
Faculty Size: Mid-Sized Faculty (Tier 3)
Graduate Employment: Moderate Employment Outcomes (Tier 3)
Admissions Selectivity: Accessible (Tier 4)
Average Net Cost: Low-mid Average Net Cost (Tier 2)
Student Indebtedness: Low Student Debt (Tier 2)
Graduation Rate: Fair Graduation Rate (Tier 4)
First-Year Retention Rate: Strong Student Retention After 1 Year (Tier 2)
Ranking Factor Tiers: Tier 1 represents the strongest performance and Tier 5 represents the weakest performance within each ranking factor.
3. University of Baltimore – Baltimore, Maryland
The University of Baltimore (UBalt) is home to the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences, which houses the Simulation and Game Design program. The program emphasizes the creative and technical skills required to design, develop, and evaluate games and simulations for entertainment, education, healthcare, government, and business. Students work in collaborative, project-based environments while gaining experience with the game production pipeline from concept through completion.
Available pathways include a BS in Simulation and Game Design, along with a 15-credit Minor for students in other majors. Coursework explores game design theory, programming, 3D graphics and animation, level design, usability design, multiplayer game design, and the business of game development. Students complete collaborative game development projects through technical art or coding and development tracks, culminating in a professional portfolio that showcases their skills and creative work.
Graduates of the Simulation and Game Design program are prepared for careers as game designers, game developers, gameplay programmers, technical artists, level designers, simulation developers, multimedia programmers, educational game designers, concept artists, and other interactive media professionals. The program's emphasis on collaborative development, portfolio creation, and hands-on production prepares graduates for opportunities across the game, simulation, education, government, and technology sectors.
University of Baltimore — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to University of Baltimore's position in Animation Career Review's 2026 game design school rankings.
Academic Peer Recognition: Modest Recognition by Academic Peers (Tier 3)
Faculty Size: Small Faculty (Tier 4)
Graduate Employment: Moderate Employment Outcomes (Tier 3)
Admissions Selectivity: Accessible (Tier 4)
Average Net Cost: Low-mid Average Net Cost (Tier 2)
Student Indebtedness: Elevated Student debt (Tier 4)
Graduation Rate: Low Graduation Rate (Tier 5)
First-Year Retention Rate: Fair Student Retention After 1 Year (Tier 4)
Ranking Factor Tiers: Tier 1 represents the strongest performance and Tier 5 represents the weakest performance within each ranking factor.