universities with video game design majors

Home » The Best Schools for Video Game Design and Development: 2021 World Rankings

While there is no single best college for game designing, we've compiled a list of what we believe are The 75 Best Video Game Design Schools in The World.

Attending one of these game development colleges should significantly improve your odds of success in both:

Landing a gaming job with a studio (or)
Successfully launching your own games

Great Game Design Colleges to Choose From
The Best Schools for Game Design
- University of Southern California
- University of Utah
- DigiPen Institute of Technology
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- Savannah College of Art and Design
- Drexel University
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- New York University
Top Online Video Game Design School
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Michigan State University
- Full Sail University
- Northeastern University
- University of California, Santa Cruz
- Champlain College
- University of Central Florida
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Shawnee State University
- Columbia College Chicago
- Parsons The New School for Design
- DePaul University
- Ringling College of Art and Design
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- University of Pennsylvania
- Becker College
- University of California, Irvine
- University of California Los Angeles
- Cornell University
- University of Texas
- Academy of Art University
- Gnomon School of Visual Effects
- Miami University
- Bradley University
- Laguna College of Art and Design
- George Mason University
- The Art Center College of Design
- Lawrence Technological University
- Cogswell College
- Marist College
- Otis College of Art and Design
- Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
- The Digital Animation & Visual Effects School
- New York Film Academy
- Woodbury University
- University of Denver
- The Art Institute of California, San Francisco
- Academy of Interactive Entertainment, Seattle
- The Art Institute of California, Los Angeles (CLOSED)
- Stony Brook University
- Maryland Institute College of Art
- Edinboro University
Top International Video Game Colleges
- Visual College of Art and Design of Vancouver
- Vancouver Film School
- The Centre for Digital Media
- Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
- Sheridan College
- University of Bolton
- Abertay University
- University of Malta
- SAE Institute
- Toronto Film School
- Hanze University of Applied Sciences
- Digipen Institute of Technology – Singapore
- Capilano University
- Max the Mutt College for Animation, Art & Design
- LaSalle College Vancouver
- Vancouver Institute of Media Arts (VanArts)
- University Center for Technology and Digital Art (U-TAD)
- Media Design School
- LISAA School of Animation & Video Games
- Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE)
- Noroff
- Seneca College
- CDI College
- Autograf
Common Questions About College

Great Game Design Colleges to Choose From

best game design schools in the world

From traditional 4-year Universities, smaller specialty schools, game development colleges offering flexible schedules, and even some with online learning options for those unable to attend classes on-campus.

Different students have different needs and we want to make sure everyone can find something that works for them.

Our Ranking Criteria:

Graduation rates
Degree Accreditation
Average starting salary
Professor reviews
Reputation and student feedback
Transferrable Credits

favorite schools for game design

The Best Schools for Game Design

University of Southern California

USC Games
Los Angeles, California

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science
Master of Fine Arts
Master of Science

Boasting four video gaming degree programs, two at the undergraduate level and two at the graduate level, it's no surprise that the University of Southern California has placed #1 in countless rankings when it comes to game development schools.

As you'd expect from a school known for its connection to Hollywood and the entertainment industry, students involved in one of the many college gaming courses receive the best hands-on instruction from professionals actually working in the gaming industry.

University of Utah

Entertainment Arts & Engineering
Salt Lake City, Utah

Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Arts
Master's of Entertainment Arts & Engineering

The University of Utah offers a video game development program that has art-focused students and tech-savvy ones working together to learn how a good product is made.

Since the school has a strong relationship with EA Sports in Salt Lake City, many students have access to valuable internship opportunities that give them the closest experience possible to actually working for a gaming company.

DigiPen Institute of Technology

DigiPen Institute of Technology
Redmond, Washington

Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Master of Science
Master of Fine Arts

With support from Nintendo, one of the world's most recognized developers, DigiPen is the ideal University for gaming if you're preparing for a career in game development in just about any field.

Whether you want to make games as an artist, designer, software developer, or programmer, Digipen offers a degree that will give you the tools you need to enter the industry and quickly make an impact. This includes both graduate and undergraduate degrees.

Rochester Institute of Technology

School of Interactive Games and Media
Rochester, New York

Bachelor of Science
Master of Science

Rochester's Interactive Games and Multimedia department boasts more than 150 classes given a year and several Game-Making and Development degrees, making it one of the most established technical schools for gaming design on this list.

Students can expect a unique approach to learning how technology, specialized in outsourcing training, content, and systems come together to create interactive experiences. The IGM college also runs the Global Game Jam program that invites students to make games while networking with others already working in the industry.

Savannah College of Art and Design

Savannah College of Art and Design
Savannah, GA Atlanta GA

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Master of Arts
Master of Fine Arts

Recognized for its achievements by top college-ranking websites, Savannah College of Art and Design is top tier when it comes to helping students become the next best game developers.

SCAD offers both graduate and undergraduate B.A. degrees that give students the chance to collaborate with industry professionals and use the latest interactive design tools. This is why games from SCAD's program have won the E3 College Gaming Competition several times.

Drexel University

Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
Philadelphia, PA

Bachelor of Science
Master of Science

Drexel University is widely recognized as one of the premier schools when it comes to putting the latest technology in the hands of students. Students enrolled in their graduate and undergraduate video game development programs have even won several awards, including the top prize at the Adobe Achievement Awards, Microsoft Imagine Cup, and more.

The program's strength comes from both computer science and digital media departments working together to make sure students learn all there is to know about game development.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

The School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Troy, NY

Bachelor of Science
Master of Fine Arts
PhD in Electronic Art

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is unique in that it allows students majoring in "Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences" to also select a second concentration. These include art, computer science, cognitive science, writing, and human-computer interaction.

Also available are many advanced degree programs that train future game makers in Gaming and Animation, Communication Technologies, and more.

New York University

Tisch School of the Arts
New York, NY

Minor in Game Design
Bachelors of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts

New York University's Tisch School of the Arts makes available several programs for game designing at different levels for future video game makers. This includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts degree in Game Design, as well as a Minor in in-game Design.

Students are also given access to valuable resources such as the Media and Games Network at the NYU Brooklyn campus, Game Center Open Library, and NYU Game Center.pen

Common Questions About College

Do I really need to attend one of these game designer schools?

No, of course not. However, earning a degree from one of these game development colleges will help you take that next step more than most other schools with game design programs. But in the end, your success will come down to your effort, attitude, and focus.

What if I can't afford college right now?

No worries, start learning game engines like Unreal and Unity while saving up for school. Presenting a strong portfolio of your work can sometimes help you more than a game design degree.

What about Online Game Design Schools?

The good ones are a great resource but beware of the many ineffective ones. Look for development programs that offer hands-on experience and hold their students accountable. A game design degree doesn't mean much if you haven't actually learned anything.

What skills do game designers need?

To be a developer, you need to want to be a gaming designer! The first step comes from you, and your creative motivation to design games. As long as you love to create, and have an interest in gaming, you can build the skills to become a designer.

After establishing your interest, you can begin to build skills in programming, visual design, and drawing, awareness of the various gaming platforms, as well as communication and presentation skills. Building skills come from practice, a lot of which one would build while attending a college for game design! Learn more about video game designers here.

How to choose the right college for you?

Choosing the right game design college for you requires taking into consideration many different things. First and foremost, the university should have the program you're interested in! If you want to be a designer, a college without a computer engineering or programming major may not be right for you.

You can also consider how far away from home, the size of the college, and what kind of extracurricular activities you want to do. All of this can be learned with a little research, as well as by taking time to visit the colleges you're applying to.

How to get the most out of your college education?

Getting the most of your education at the gaming school you've chosen is up to you. You have to put in the effort! Colleges about gaining an education, so make sure you go to class and are attentive in each of your classes so you can learn as much as you can in your (approximately) 4 years at college.

Take good notes! Schools for game development are about more than just going to class! You can get a lot out of your college education by participating in extracurricular activities – for example, you can take a computer programming class and also help out a club on campus by creating graphic designs for them. You can make connections with other gaming development students while at school by joining clubs!

How to research university professors?

You can research professors in a few ways. One easy way is simply Googling them! If you learn the names of the faculty that run the design department, a quick Google search will tell you where they have worked in the past, their specific responsibilities at the university, and some of the research they've done.

Rate My Professors is also an excellent option, as this website includes testimonials from students who have had that professor before!

If you're able to contact current gaming school students, they'll be a wealth of knowledge on professors at their university. Lastly, you can learn about professors by visiting and meeting with them, or sitting in on their classes. Many professors are happy to chats with incoming students, so you can get a better idea of what life is like in that major and at that college!

How to find college scholarships?

College scholarships are everywhere! If you're applying while still in high school, it's likely that your guidance counselor's office will have a lot of resources for scholarships for you. These scholarships are also likely local or just limited to students of your high school – the applicant pool being smaller means higher chances for you!

You can also look into scholarships at the universities you are applying to. Some schools will automatically consider you for scholarships upon applying, while others may require you to write an extra essay or complete an interview. And lastly, the internet! Websites such as fastweb.com and collegescholarships.org are excellent search engines for scholarships, and there are many more great ones out there.

Do colleges provide the software & tools I'll need?

This will depend from college to college, and is something important for you to research before deciding to attend a school! Many colleges have computer labs that house computers equipped with the proper software and tools that animation and development students need, and some also provide different ways for students to download programs onto their computers (for free!) that they may use.

This heavily depends upon what kind of program you're thinking about, and upon the college! For example, some universities offering video game design give their students free Microsoft word but may require students to visit computer labs for different, more expensive programs. If this is an important concern of yours, make sure you talk to those in charge of your major so you know exactly what will be provided to you.

Do I need to take computer programming classes for game design?

Computer programming classes are definitely recommended for a career in video game design. In order to understand what you can do, and what is physically possible in the realm of game creation, it's important that you have a basic understanding of programming and computers in general.

You may not have to program an entire video game on your own, but you should understand how they work and how they interact with computers and gaming systems to understand your field, and what you're asking of programmers!

Info Collected from Game Design Universities

The above list was formed with the help of reputable educational resources dedicated to providing knowledge that will help students choose the perfect educational institute for them

Written by Dustin Tyler [Updated June 8, 2021]

dustin_founder Initially focused on web dev, Dustin was introduced to game design by a friend after college and was immediately attracted to the combination of technical skill and creativity required to make an awesome game.

While not a professional game developer himself, he's utilized his web dev skills and desire to help others by creating a resource where expert game designers can share what they've learned with the next generation of aspiring game makers. Meet the rest of the team.