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USC is among top 10 universities for video game development programs in America. It has two major campuses located in Los Angeles and Columbia California which offer several degrees including Master’s degree programs in Game Development.
What Is Game Design?
Game design is the field of making video games. Game designers help imagine and create the characters, plots, rules, interfaces, and environments for video games.The field of game design combines computer programming, creative writing, and graphic design.
Just because you like playing video games doesn’t necessarily mean you’d like designing them. I really enjoy eating, but I don’t like to cook. Game design combines technical and creative skills. You have to be skilled in math, art, and writing to be a competent game designer.
The Best Colleges for Video Game Design
Game design schools are colleges where you can study game design. At some of these schools, you can get a degree in game design. At others, you can study game design, but you’ll get your degree in a related field like computer science or interactive media.
For each school that made the list of the best video game design colleges, I linked to its programs that are most closely related to game design. Some of these programs are majors while others are minors or concentrations in related majors. Click on the link to read about the program, the school’s facilities, the program requirements, and the course offerings for the program.
Also, I wrote a few sentences on what makes each program unique. The best programs have extensive facilities dedicated to game design, provide thorough instruction in game design, and have a history of helping undergraduates land a quality job when they complete the program.
There are very few rankings of game design programs. The most referenced rankings come from Princeton Review, so my list comes from the Princeton Review rankings.
More than 60 data points were weighted to determine the rankings. The criteria to determine the rankings focused on curriculum, facilities, technology, and career services. Results were determined based on survey responses from school administrators on topics such as academic offerings, faculty credentials, graduates’ employment history, and starting salaries.
According to the survey, undergrads who study game design earn an average starting salary of $58,000, a 20% increase from last year and 28% more than the average starting salary for all 2014 undergrads. You can check out all of the survey questions here.
Below you’ll find the top 20 undergraduate schools to study game design in the United States. The Princeton Review list included international schools like The Art Institute of Vancouver in Canada and Abertay University in Scotland, but I excluded them from this list so that it focuses on the best programs in the US.
Game design grads can make good money. (Steven Depolo/Flickr)
About the Schools on This List
The schools that made the list are from every region of the US and represent diverse types of colleges. There are large public colleges like the University of Utah and Michigan State, smaller public colleges like Shawnee State, tech colleges like Worcester Polytechnic, small private colleges like Hampshire College and Becker College, larger private colleges like the University of Southern California and Drexel, and a small for-profit university, DigiPen Institute of Technology.
The 20 Best Game Design Schools in the United States
From my research, USC and the University of Utah have the most prestigious programs, but all of these schools have well-regarded game design programs and impressive facilities where you can play and design games.
#1: University of Southern California
- Acceptance Rate: 16%
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,170
- Programs:
- Animation and Digital Arts
- Interactive Media
- Computer Science (Games)
- Game Design
About:
USC’s location in Los Angeles gives it a distinct advantage in helping students gain employment after graduation because many of the top game design jobs are in LA. Students who want to focus on design and production can pursue the Interactive Media and Game Design degrees through the school of Cinematic Arts. Those who are more interested in the technical aspects of designing and developing games can pursue the Computer Science (Games) degree through the Viterbi School of Engineering. The breadth and depth of game design offerings separate USC from other game design schools.
The USC marching band. (David Yu/Flickr)
#2: New York University
- Acceptance Rate: 28%
- Location: New York, NY
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 26,417
- Programs:
- Game Design
About:
NYU initiated its game design program in 2015. The program is already well-regarded because NYU offers its students access to advanced technology, it has a reputable computer science department, and the game design program is located in the famous Tisch School of the Arts. Not only does NYU offer a game design major and minor, but there is an entire department dedicated to game design.
#3: Becker College
- Acceptance Rate: 66%
- Location: Worcester, MA
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,824
- Programs:
- Interactive Media Design
About:
Becker is home to the Massachusetts Digital Game Institute, which is a think tank related to the video game industry. Massachusetts is also a favorable location for jobs in game design. Students at Becker have access to a high-performance computer lab, a six-camera video motion capture system, and 3D design software.
#4: DigiPen Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate: 57%
- Location: Redmond, WA
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,067
- Programs:
- Computer Science and Game Design
- Game Design
About:
DigiPen is a for-profit school that specializes in preparing students for careers in the video game industry. It began enrolling students in 1994, and it has received substantial support from Nintendo. Class sizes are small with a faculty to student ratio of 1:13. Students from DigiPen have won more awards at the Independent Games Festival than those from any other school. DigiPen’s Redmond campus is near more than 96 game development studios.
#5: Hampshire College
- Acceptance Rate: 63%
- Location: Amherst, MA
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,268
- Programs:
- Game Design and Development
About:
Students at Hampshire are given a great deal of freedom in designing their own course of study. Many game design and development students create their own games with the help of peers and advisers. Some game design courses you can take at Hampshire include pixel bending and analog game design.
One downside is that Hampshire has been going through a lot of financial struggles recently, making its future as an independent institution of higher education uncertain. Keep this in mind if you’re particularly interested in the video game design program at Hampshire—you can easily cross-register at (and in the worst-case scenario, can transfer to) Amherst, Mount Holyoke, Smith, and UMass Amherst as a Hampshire student, but you won’t find the same game design classes at these schools.
#6: Drexel University
- Acceptance Rate: 77%
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 15,667
- Programs:
- Game Design and Production
- Interactive Digital Media
- Computer Science
About:
At Drexel, the game design program is a collaborative effort between the digital media program and the computer science department. Drexel’s game design program offers some impressive resources including an 80-seat 3D theater, a green screen/motion capture studio, and audio recording studios. For the Tetris game he created in 2014, Professor Frank Lee was given a Guinness World Record for the largest architectural video game display.
Main Building at Drexel. (Tom Ipri/Flickr)
#7: Michigan State University
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Location: East Lansing, MI
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 39,423
- Programs:
- Game Design and Development
About:
Michigan State offers an undergraduate specialization in game design and development. Michigan State is also home to the Games for Entertainment and Learning Lab, an association of game research and design faculty and students at Michigan State whose mission is to “design innovative prototypes, techniques, and complete games for entertainment and learning and to advance state of the art knowledge about social and individual effects of digital games.”
#8: Rochester Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate: 57%
- Location: Rochester, NY
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 13,515
- Programs:
- Game Design and Development
- New Media Interactive Development
- 3D Digital Design
About:
Rochester Institute of Technology incorporates cooperative education into its game design program. Cooperative education is a full-time, paid work experience that provides students with an opportunity to learn on the job in a real-world industry setting. Graduates of RIT’s game design and development programs have gone on to work at top gaming companies including Microsoft, Electronic Arts, Vicarious Visions, and Nickelodeon.
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#9: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- Acceptance Rate: 42%
- Location: Worcester, MA
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,688
- Programs:
- Interactive Media and Game Development
About:
Worcester Polytechnic’s Interactive Media and Game Development program focuses on merging art with technology. Like many of the other top programs, WPI encourages a hands-on approach to learning that allows students to create their own games and collaborate with their peers.
#10: University of Utah
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Location: Salt Lake City, UT
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 24,743
- Programs:
- Entertainment Arts and Engineering
About:
For its undergraduate program, the School of Computing and the Department of Film and Media Arts offer interdisciplinary emphases in Entertainment Arts and Engineering. Students with a computer science emphasis focus on the technical aspects of video games. Students with a film and media arts emphasis focus on the tools and techniques required for game design, drawing, and storyboarding. The program culminates with a year-long senior project where students build a video game from the ground up.
#11: Miami University
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Location: Oxford, OH
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 17,327
- Programs:
- Interactive Media Studies
About:
Miami University’s Interactive Media Studies program is an interdisciplinary major that allows studies to study design, business, and technology. Students can declare a concentration in applied or digital interactive media studies, with the aim of positioning themselves as digital experts in their fields post-graduation. This is a highly competitive program with limited openings for applicants. Miami University is also working to launch a Games and Simulation major, which focuses on all aspects of creating and interpreting games.
#12: Bradley University
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Location: Peoria, IL
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,606
- Programs:
- Game Design
About:
Bradley University offers a game design major and minor. At Bradley, game design is part of both the Department of Interactive Media and the Department of Computer Science & Information Systems. Bradley also offers concentrations in game design, animation, and computer game technology.
#13: University of Central Florida
- Acceptance Rate: 43%
- Location: Orlando, FL
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 58,913
- Programs:
- Interactive Entertainment
About:
Florida Interactive Game Entertainment Academy at UCF offers a video game production concentration. Students have the opportunity to study the main skills all game producers need. You’ll learn about design, scripting, and project management. This major is for people looking to explore multiple facets of game production, including management, creative, and technical skills.
#14: Cogswell College
- Acceptance Rate: 39%
- Location: San Jose, CA
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 595
- Programs:
- Game Design and Development
About:
Cogswell College offers a Bachelor of Art in Game Design Art for students looking to focus on the creative elements of game design, and a Bachelor of Science in Game Design Engineering for students who want to focus on the technical elements like development. The program is big on hands-on experience, and encourages all students to work on teams that create and develop their own games.
#15: Ferris State University
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Location: Big Rapids, MI
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 11,885
- Programs:
- Digital Animation and Game Design
About:
At Ferris State, all students in the Digital Animation and Game Design program are required to complete an internship to get real-world experience and make connections to help them professionally after they graduate. Ferris State also offer a Peer Mentor Program where sophomore, junior, and senior Digital Animation and Game Design majors serve as role models and help first-years students succeed academically.
The Digital Animation and Game Design program is focused on helping students reach their career goals. Students are given instruction on how to prepare a professional portfolio and demo reel and how to find a job in their chosen field.
#16: Laguna College of Art and Design
- Acceptance Rate: 39%
- Location: Laguna Beach, CA
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 613
- Programs:
- Game Art
About:
LCAD’s BFA in Game Art focuses on getting students ready for the gaming workforce. Students get hand-on experience working in the programs that they will use throughout their career, and get to work with teams to create games from scratch. LCAD students also benefit from the many industry experts that teach at the college.
#17: Champlain College
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Location: Burlington, VT
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,129
- Programs:
- Game Design
- Game Art and Animation
- Game Programming
About:
Champlain offers a game design major for students. Also, Champlain has a dedicated Game Studio where students can collaborate and build their own video games. Champlain has new multimedia, 3D art, and game production labs. Furthermore, game design students are given the opportunity to study abroad in Montreal, home of the Montreal Game Summit and the Montreal International Game Developers Association. Courses in Montreal are taught by game industry professionals in collaboration with game faculty at the main campus.
#18: Shawnee State University
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Location: Portsmouth, OH
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,114
- Programs:
- Game and Simulation Development Arts
- Digital Simulation and Gaming Engineering Technology
About:
Shawnee State offers a bachelor’s degree in gaming and simulation, which is a computer science degree. Also, it offers a bachelor’s degree in gaming arts, a Bachelor of Fine Arts program with a concentration in 3D modeling and texturing. Furthermore, it offers a minor in game design. The game design program graduated its first class in the spring of 2008.
#19: University of Wisconsin: Stout
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Location: Menomonie, WI
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,116
- Programs:
- Game Design and Development
About:
The BFA in Game Design and Development offers top-knotch equipment and professional tools as students learn the ins and outs of game design. Students work with computer science students and professors to get the most out of their degree, and to ensure that they have a well-rounded base of knowledge as they go out into the workforce. UW-Stout was the national co-champion at the E3 College Game Competition.
#20: North Carolina State University
- Acceptance Rate: 47%
- Location: Raleigh, NC
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 25,199
- Programs:
- Computer Science: Digital Games Initiative
About:
Under the umbrella of their computer science department, the NC State program works with students to build a strong foundation in computer science, and launch their creativity. Students have a strong focus in graphics, writing, and storytelling, and are required to complete a senior design project in their game design concentration.
How Should You Use This List?
If you want to go to a top game design school, you should research the schools on this list that interest you to determine if they’re schools you should apply to or attend. Figure out whether you prefer a program that focuses solely on game design or if you want to attend a school that will offer you a broader, more interdisciplinary education. What aspects of game design interest you the most? Which schools offer you opportunities to reach your specific academic and professional goals?
Even if you know you want to pursue game design, there are many factors to consider to help determine if a college is a good fit for you including size, location, selectivity, and cost. Look at the school’s website and game design programs and use guidebooks, college finders, and other ranking lists to help you in the college selection process. If possible, consult with teachers, counselors, parents, current students, and alumni.
Also, keep in mind that many students change their majors or career goals while they’re in college. Even though you may be determined to pursue game design now, after taking game design classes in college or an inspiring course in another field, you may change your plans.
Therefore, you should consider attending a school where you’ll be happy, receive a good education, and be able to pursue your interests even if you eventually decide not to study game design.
Let’s take a look at the most relevant programs, so you know what to expect from the curriculum.
Game Design & Development Degree Programs Offered at USC
The University of Southern California offers four primary major degree programs specific to game design and development:
At the undergraduate level:
- Bachelor of Arts in Interactive Media & Games
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with an emphasis in Games
At the graduate level:
- Master of Fine Arts in Interactive Media & Games
- Master of Science in Computer Science with an emphasis in Games
Now, let’s look at these programs a little more closely, shall we?
Bachelor of Arts in Interactive Media & Games
According to the USC Degree programs page, “the Bachelor of Arts in Interactive Entertainment combines a broad liberal arts background with specialization in the design of games and interactive entertainment.”
USC takes the hands-on approach–you’ll make games at every level of the program. As your skills improve, you’ll develop familiarity and competency in several digital media arts.
This program lets you earn multiple industry specializations. The opportunity for specialization will broaden your skills and increase your value to companies after graduation.
Your game design education in the Interactive Media & Games program will focus on innovation, collaboration, creative leadership, and team-building. You’ll also spend time on emerging markets and platforms (AR and VR, anyone?).
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with an Emphasis in Games
“The goal of the BS in Computer Science (Games) program is to graduate students with a solid grounding in computer science and a cross-disciplinary background in game development.”
You’ll cover topics like:
- Production
- Video game programming
- Visual design for games and interactives
- Game engine programming
- Game hardware architecture
- Computer animation
- Serious game development
- Game design through the introductory and intermediate levels
This program also includes a final game development project that spans your final two semesters.
Interested in going for your Master’s degree? This program also sets you up for further education in game development or computer science graduate programs.
Master of Fine Arts in Interactive Media & Games
The Master of Fine Arts in Interactive Media “is an intensive three-year program designed to prepare students to become creative thought leaders and innovators in the evolving fields of games and interactive entertainment.”
This program will hone your skills in areas like:
- Development
- Design
- Creative leadership
- Collaboration
Your third year in the program will involve a thesis project that spans the entire year. The collaboration element is prevalent here—the program “draws on the strengths of the School of Cinematic Arts”—the whole school. This includes resources from animation, sound production, producing, screenwriting, game design, and critical studies.
Master of Science in Computer Science with an Emphasis in Games
“The goal of the M.S. in Computer Science (Game Development) program is to graduate students with a core in computer science, an engineering-oriented game development core, and a concentration”.
Your concentration will be in “one of the key research directions”—the list includes:
- Cognition and games
- Game development infrastructure
- Immersion
- Serious games
What is the USC Minor Programs?
If you’re not sold on a game design major—no problem. It’s not for everyone.
If you want formal game design education without committing 30+ credit hours to the cause, a minor might be your best bet.
USC offers several minors, and some are more relevant than others.
Game Design Minor
This minor “teaches iterative design and prototyping skills while providing students the opportunity to explore design for new technologies and the skills of user assessment and usability testing.”
Hands-on experience with new tech, learning sequential approaches to game design, and learning how to test your creations? This is a well-rounded way to get your feet wet in the field.
Video Game Design and Management Minor
This minor “integrates theoretical concepts and practical skills to prepare students for a career in interactive entertainment, specifically the video game industry.”
In this minor, you’ll be exposed to concepts like:
- Gameplay control
- User interface
- Level design
- Game mechanics
- Storytelling
- Multiplayer
You’ll use game design software tools to build your own working video game demo throughout the minor.
The Game Design Minor and the Video Game Design and Management Minor are the most relevant minors to this review, but USC offers several others:
- Game Animation
- Game Audio
- Game Entrepreneurism
- Game User Research
- Themed Entertainment
- Video Game Programming (this one is code-heavy)
- 3D Computer Modeling and Graphics
Who’s Teaching this Stuff?
There is a huge roster of faculty supporting these programs. And the industry experience between them is dizzying! You don’t have to search long to see companies and games that you recognize.
Take a look at some of these:
You Have Tracy Fullerton, for example, who wrote Game Design Workshop—a textbook that is used worldwide in game programs.
There’s Scott Easley, who is “an Emmy, Telly and Annie-winning commercial writer/creator.”
Richard Lemarchand is the lead designer on a “critical and commercial hit series of games.” You might have heard of the series….It’s called Uncharted.
Hao Li was named the top 35 innovators under 35 in 2013 by MIT technology review. He’s held positions at Industrial Light & magic (not to mention Columbia University, Princeton University, and more).
One more—Matthew Whiting. He’s worked on games like Spyro the Dragon, Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters, True Crime, and more. He has over 15 years of experience in the industry.
This is a small taste of some of the professors you have the opportunity to learn from at USC. Professors who have spent years in the industry, who have held positions at studios and companies where you want to work, and who wrote the book on some of these subjects.
What Else Does USC Have Going On?
Flexible, top-rated programs. An impressive roster of faculty. These are great things to have, but on their own, they don’t ensure you graduate with an awesome portfolio or great connections (hint hint—those are what count, not where you got your degree).
No, those two things come down to you and your effort. But USC does give you some helpful resources to make those things happen! Here are some other experience-boosting perks that USC offers.
Cutting Edge Facilities
You’ll have access to a motion capture stage, a Kinect development lab (in cooperation with Microsoft), and an impressive list of hardware and software available for student use.
If you’re interested in the tools and resources you’ll have at your disposal, you’ll want to check out the full list of facilities and technology.
USC Games Demo Day—AGP
USC runs what they call Advanced Game Projects. It’s where students from all across campus get together to try and develop games. Then, on Demo Day, they showcase these projects. It’s like USC’s little E3.
Here’s how it works.
In Spring semester, there’s a rigorous pitch process “wherein small teams pitch projects that are either original or developed out of the other USC Games curriculum, our selection committee (comprised of faculty from across the campus, as well as industry veterans) chooses the 5-7 games that will advance.”
You can peep the whole list for the 2016-17 games on the AGP website. There’s even a game that uses augmented reality (Way more cutting edge than you’d expect from college students, wink wink).
Other Opportunities at USC and Closing Thoughts
There are activities like “game jams” which are hosted by the local student organization, MEGA. Game jams, and opportunities like them, are great places to network with your peers.
This school will have hundreds of people like you—like-minded creatives. People looking to design great games. People looking to push the boundaries of current technology. People who want to create for the sake of creating.
It’s these opportunities that will help you succeed after college. USC will let you tap into a great network of game makers. Just look at where the alumni work: Electronic Arts, Activision Blizzard, Disney Interactive Games, Naughty Dog, Jam City, Treyarch, and more.
It always comes down to the time you put it, not the place you go to. If you do decide to go to USC, make it count.
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