Profiles of Schools/Colleges in Connecticut (CT) Offering Animation, Design, Gaming, and Media Related Programs

Thanks to advances in technology, new media, and an economy that has left companies vying for consumer dollars, businesses now spend billions on advertising and marketing. This has created a strong demand for top-tier graphic designers that are wildly creative, multi-talented, innovative, and tech savvy. To meet this demand, hundreds of U.S. schools have jumped on the bandwagon. This means, aspiring graphic designers don’t have to worry too much about finding the best graphic design programs to help meet their career goals.

Connecticut is home to 47 Title IV degree-granting institutions. A Title IV school (1) has been in business for at least two years, (2) has accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, (3) grants an associate's degree or higher, (4) offers a program of at least 300 clock hours in length, and (5) has signed a participation agreement with the Department. Once these requirements have been met, the school becomes eligible for Title IV federal financial-aid programs. This makes them more accessible to students with financial need.

Officially nicknamed “The Constitution State” in 1959, Connecticut has its fair share of firsts from the very first cigars made in America to the first color TV. The state produced the nation’s first law school, the first telephone book, the world’s first nuclear powered submarine was built in Groton, the state was the first to issue permanent license plates for cars, and the first commercial U.S. telephone exchange opened in New Haven.

Connecticut is one of the few states that continues to publish more than 144 different newspapers and it runs the oldest newspaper in America—the Hartford, which began as a weekly newspaper in 1764. The state is a leader when it comes to innovation and accepting new ideas, so it’s not surprising that Connecticut is also home to an active film office that offers excellent incentives for digital animation production companies. This attracts productions from all over the U.S., which spells “opportunity” for aspiring animators.

Our 2015 rankings of the top programs on the East Coast for game design and development. We define the East Coast as Virginia, Rhode Island, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. For an explanation of ranking criteria, click here.

1. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) was founded in 1900. It is home nearly 13,000 students enrolled in more than 100 programs across seven colleges and schools. The College of Fine Arts-Integrative Design, Arts and Technology Network (IDeATe), and the School of Computer Science-Computer Science Department offer a unique program for aspiring game designers. The Bachelor of Computer Science and Arts (BCSA) features a Concentration in Game Design.