Turn your gaming passions into a career! As the billion-dollar gaming industry rapidly expands into the world of modern entertainment and technology, more universities are beginning to offer game design programs.

Games are not only popular sources of entertainment and leisure, but also serious tools for rehabilitation and education. Now, due to a fusion of advancing technology, burgeoning esports scene, and more, demand for games is exceptionally high. Contrary to longstanding opinions, games are not merely “brain-damaging” activities, but valid academic pathways with high career potential. So go for it!

With help from sources Animation Career Review, GameDesigning and Princeton Review, we’ve curated a list of great game design programs for undergraduates in the United States. The list includes relevant information about the academic profile, resources offered, and degree programs offered from each institution.

Click on Continue Reading to see our list of top undergraduate game design programs.

Top Game Design Programs for Undergraduates

The following factors are included to help you gain better insight into each program:

• Academic Profiles inform you about the general academic standing of the school, which includes the admit rate and standardized test score statistics for the mid-50th percentile.

• Degrees Offered: Academic institutions offer a variety of degree types, including majors, minors, specializations, concentration, tracks, and emphases. The listed institutions all offer at least one games-related major, but may also offer other types of degrees as well. When considering each degree program, it would be helpful to understand whether the curriculum would have a greater focus on the artistic or technical side of games. In some cases, the major’s direction is clear, like Game Arts or Game Programming. However, for degrees with ambiguous titles, we recommend taking a look at the college each major is offered in. For example, a degree offered in an engineering school would have greater emphasis on the developmental aspect of games while a degree from an arts and design school would highlight the arts more.

• Resources Offered: Top programs also offer a multitude of resources for undergraduate students to flourish.
  • Industry opportunities: Industry opportunities are important for advancement, as it prepares students for their future careers and extends the experience that employers look for. Examples include co-op programs, professional collaborations and partnerships, studio tours, and more.
  • Showcase events: Showcase events are excellent milestones for students in creative, project-based pathways like game education. These events are great ways for students to receive helpful feedback, learn more about games, and gain exposure to industry professionals.
  • Incubators: Some schools also offer incubators, which provide financial resources and mentorship for students to kickstart their games.
  • Research Centers and Opportunities: For students who love research, many schools also house research centers and labs for games. These programs and centers use games to create a strong impact in fields even beyond entertainment, from medicine to psychology.
  • Facilities and Tools: Games also frequently depend on advanced instruments for development and play. Top institutions offer state-of-the-art facilities and tools for game education majors to use. This criteria is primarily assessed on whether there are facilities and resources constructed specifically for games.

• Notes are included for extra information and additional resources that distinguish the institution.

Great Game Design Programs for Undergraduates

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