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The video game industry is expected to bring in revenue of over 150 billion dollars by 2020. Those with the desire and aptitude to design video games can start out making over $70,000 a year if they are willing to obtain a bachelor’s degree. If you are thinking that this might be a career you want to pursue, you need to decide what university you wish to attend. To help you get started, we have compiled a list of 2022’s best bachelor’s in video game design programs.
The University of Southern California video game design program is the best in the US. It has two Bachelor’s degrees and two Master’s degree programs that get students prepared for their future careers. The Interactive Media and Game Design program is taught via the school of Cinematic Arts, and its Computer Science program with a concentration in games is taught via the School of Engineering. Also, USC has minors that are related to video game design. USC’s program has several features that make it our top pick.
Located in Salt Lake City, The University of Utah has been highly ranked by the Princeton Review. Their bachelor’s degree in video game design provides students with a valuable internship experience that gives them insight concerning the skills required to make it in this field. The application process is selective, as the admissions committee interviews each candidate to get to know them on a personal level. This video game degree program has a diverse student body, so if you like meeting people from around the globe, this might be the program for you.
The Savannah College of Art and Design has a BA in digital media with a concentration in video game development and a BFA in Interactive design and game development, and also two master’s degrees. Online courses are available in interactive design and game development. Students are urged to create a portfolio of their work by graduation to show to potential employers, giving them an advantage during interviews.
This school in Philadelphia was selected as a top school for video game design by none other than the Princeton Review. Pretty impressive, right? Drexel has a B.S. in Game Art and Production, a B.S. in Game Programming and Development, and an M.S. in Digital Media. If you are looking for a top-flight video design program, then Drexel is the place for you.
Rochester Institute of Technology has a B.S. and M.S. in Game Design & Development and a B.S. in New Media Interactive Development. It also features several degree options within the School of Interactive Games and Media. It boasts an abundance of labs that are equipped with the resources and supports that students need. Each lab is available seven days a week so students can work on assignments and independent projects. Its coolest feature is the co-op program, which allows students to obtain career skills.
At the New School has a BFA in Design and Technology, students have the option to major in either Game Design or Creative Technology. The program is considered a part of the School of Art, Media, and Technology and is heavily design-focused. One of the benefits of choosing this best video game design school is the location. New York City is home to a robust game development community and is the center of commerce for the Western Hemisphere.
Georgia Tech has a B.S. in Computational Media and also an M.S. and Ph.D. in Digital Media. It operates several labs and studios for students to work in. These labs are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Georgia Tech researchers are involved in cutting-edge research and are currently using big data algorithms to tailor video game difficulty to fit the user’s ability level. This B.S. degree is a joint venture between the College of Computing and Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.
MIT has a prestigious undergraduate degree in Comparative Media Studies with a concentration in Games and Interactive Media. Students are required to take courses in video game theory, game design methods, and design interactions. The Princeton Review ranks this program as among the best of the nest. Students can participate in research through the MIT Game Lab that centers on creating new games and players’ experiences.
NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts has a BFA program in game design as a creative art form. Students start by tackling courses like Games 101, which is a survey of the history of video games and the industry. Then they are allowed to personalize their own curriculum by choosing courses that fall in line with their interests. Each student must finish a senior project that is related to video game design.
The University of Pennsylvania has an undergraduate degree in Digital Media Design, and also a Master’s degree in Computer Graphics and Game Technology. Penn is an Ivy League school, and this means that the admissions department is highly selective. However, if you get in, you can be sure that you will receive an elite education Students must spend at one summer interning in the multimedia industry.