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What are the top Wisconsin game design programs for 2025?
| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin–Stout | Menomonie |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin–Whitewater | Whitewater |
Our 2025 ranking of the top game design school programs in Wisconsin. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
1. University of Wisconsin–Stout, Menomonie, Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Stout (UW-Stout) is the state’s polytechnic university and one of just 125 polytechnic universities in the U.S. The school also houses the first and only Game Design and Development BFA in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. A Game Design and Development concentration is also available in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and Management (CSTEMM) is also available.
Housed in the School of Art and Design—the largest school of its kind in the upper Midwest—the Game Design and Development (GDD) BFA is accredited by the National Association for Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Program highlights include collaborative studios with computer science students; opportunities to gain hands-on experience in UW-Stout labs, studios, and galleries; faculty-led trips to LA and San Francisco; industry projects with the Jim Henson Company and the National Park Service; access to AAA development kits, Intuos Cintiq Displays, and virtual reality equipment; and more than 300 study abroad programs across 40+ countries.
The GDD BFA consists of 120 credit hours of study, with 80 credits in the major. The curriculum covers areas such as 3D modeling and animation, game design principles, programming, graphic and user interface design, 2D pixel art and animation, concept art, and character design. Course examples for the program include Introduction to Programming; 3D Game Art and Engines; Design Drawing and Concept Visualization; Exploratory Game Design and Development; 3D Modeling and Animation; Virtual and Augmented Reality Video Applications; Visual Effects and Compositing; and Digital Sound Studio.
The culminating experience for the Game Design and Development BFA at UW-Stout is the Game Art, Design and Development Capstone and final portfolio presentation at the Stout Game Expo (SGX). Graduates are prepared to pursue positions in all areas of game design and development, the broad technology industry, animation and film, digital marketing, visualization and simulation, and architecture.
UW-Stout alumni have been hired at major companies and studios such as DreamWorks Animation, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, HP, Procter & Gamble (P&G), and Abbott Laboratories. They also work at regional and local studios such as Big John Games, 20 Credits Studio, Pixel Farm Digital, and Finn Daniels Architects.
The College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and Management at University of Wisconsin-Stout serves approximately 2,700 students led by more than 200 faculty. The college also houses the Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science Department, home to the Computer Science BS (CS BS). Students in this program can add the Game Design and Development concentration.
The CS BS with a GDD concentration is the world’s first and only game design and development program accredited under the Computer Science curriculum by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. Program features include a paid co-op industry experience as part of the curriculum; participation in game competitions, game conferences, film festivals, and exhibitions; graduate research; and the opportunity to publish in peer-reviewed papers.
With a 100% job placement rate graduates of the UW Stout CS BS program are prepared for careers in game design and development, the broad technology industry, animation and film, digital marketing, visualization and simulation, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), aerospace, and many other fields.
Program alumni have been hired at major companies and studios such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, HB studios (develops console games for Electronic Arts), Big John Games (developer for Nintendo), Degica Japan (publisher of RPG Maker), and Concrete Software (mobile games).
For game designers and developers seeking a graduate degree, the School of Art and Design at UW-Stout houses a flexible Design MFA that allows students to create their own focus area. Examples include Game Design and Development; Animation and Digital Media; Graphic Design and Interactive Media; Cinema, Video, and Photography; and User Experience Design. Design MFA students also have access to everything the School of Art and Design has to offer.
The UW-Stout Design MFA program culminates with the Creative Thesis in Design consisting of nine credit hours. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in higher education, as well as professional roles in the design industry and other creative fields. Program alumni have been hired at places such as DreamWorks Animation, Rouge MoCap, Apple, Shutterfly, and World Architects.
University of Wisconsin – Stout was established in 1891 as The Stout Manual Training School. Serving approximately 6,915 students, UW-Stout provides more than 145 programs across two colleges and the Graduate School. Many of these programs are unique to UW-Stout, or they are not offered anywhere in the Midwest. University of Wisconsin – Stout is accredited the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The Graphic Design and Interactive Media program is accredited by the National Association for Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
2. University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, Whitewater, Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UW-Whitewater) houses a multidisciplinary Media Arts and Game Development (MAGD) program that combines computer science, art, music, and communication. Provided in the Department of Art and Design within the school’s College of Arts and Communication, the MAGD program has paths leading to a BA, BS, or a minor.
All MAGD students benefit from participation in student organizations such as GAMED (Game and Media Entertainment Developers), Anime, Smash Bros., the Animation Club, Esports, and the Gaming Group of Whitewater; access to state-of-the-art production facilities such as the Motion Capture Studio and a gaming room that hosts weekend-long game jams; and the chance to take part in regional game design expos and competitions such as the MAGD Expo and M-Dev.
Held annually at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the MAGD Expo welcomes leaders in the industry who have developed games such as Transformers, Assassin’s Creed, Madden NFL, Baby Driver, and God of War.
Other MAGD highlights include professional internships in the UW-Whitewater Digital Media Lab or off campus at a game, animation, film or media production studio; team-based projects; and the opportunity to study abroad at HAN University in Holland. During the experience, students will collaborate with HAN students on a team game project (from the UW-Whitewater campus), then travel to Holland during the spring semester to complete the game with them.
The MAGD program at UW-Whitewater allows BA and BS students to choose from three emphasis areas/minors including Gaming Technology, Media Arts, and Communication/Gaming. The Gaming Technology emphasis explores programming, software development, and real-time interactive graphics. Media Arts focuses on the creation of digital content for special effects, interactive computer games, 3D, motion graphics, and animation.
Communication/Gaming (and Media Art) are also provided as minors for students in the College of Letters and Sciences’ Department of Computer Science. Programs lead to a BA or BS in Computer Science (CS). Communication/Gaming explores games, writing for digital media, audio and video, and emerging technology.
Across emphasis areas, students will take core courses and electives such as Game Development; Motion Graphics Studio; Interactive Communication; Introduction to Media Arts and Game Development; Game Studies and Design; Screenwriting; Drawing for Digital Media; Video Games and Learning; Electronic Music and Sound Design; and Data Structures. All programs culminate with the Senior Capstone.
Graduates of the MAGD and CS programs at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater are prepared to pursue positions in areas such as game design and development, animation production, 3D art, digital advertising, usability engineering, interface design, mobile app development, motion graphics, multimedia production, visualization, simulation, research, education, and consulting.
MAGD and Computer Science alumni have been hired at companies and studios such as Amazon, Epic Software, Google, Bethesda Game Studios, IBM, Obsidian Entertainment, Filament Games, Raven Software, JDA Software, Image 360, PerBlue, and Concurrency, Inc.
Some MAGD and undergraduate CS graduates go on to enroll in a graduate program such as UW-Whitewater's Computer Science MS program. Others have gone on to launch their own studios or freelance businesses.
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater opened as Whitewater Normal School in 1968. Serving nearly 12,000 students, UW-Whitewater is the third largest campus by enrollment in the University of Wisconsin System. The school is also the system’s second oldest member. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).