The best game design schools, ranked by the Princeton Review 2025

26. Abilene Christian University

2024 Grads Hired: 57%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $48,800
Faculty: Dr. Brian Burton, Rich Tanner
Graduates: Morgan Davis (Gearbox), Bryce Gattis (Brazen Animation)
https://acu.edu/academics/undergraduate/bachelor-of-science-in-digital-entertainment-technology/

27. University of Florida

2024 Grads Hired: 33%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $90,000
Faculty: Dr. James Oliverio, Dr. Hyo Jeong Kang
Graduates: Jesse Rapczak (Studio Wildcard), Virgilio Lasaga (Psyonix)
http://digitalworlds.ufl.edu

28. DePaul University

2024 Grads Hired: 89%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: NR
Faculty: Ed Keenan (Midway), Allen Turner (Disney)
Graduates: NR
https://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Student-Resources/Pages/advising.aspx

29. Miami University

2024 Grads Hired: 24%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $63,750
Faculty: Geoffrey Long PhD (Microsoft, Disney), Ben Nicholson
Graduates: Ellie Helbling (Naughty Dog), Lauren Midna (ZeniMax)
https://miamioh.edu/cca/departments/emerging-technology-in-business-and-design/index.html

30. University of Silicon Valley

2024 Grads Hired: 30%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $59,000
Faculty: Evan Skolnick, Philip Campbell
Graduates: NR
https://www.usv.edu

31. Academy of Art University

2024 Grads Hired: NR
2024 Grads Mean Salary: NR
Faculty: David Goodwine, Brian Hess
Graduates: Toby Winograd (Odyssey Interactive), Gary Mcgee (NetEase)
https://academyart.edu/art-degree/game-development/

32. Marist University

2024 Grads Hired: NR
2024 Grads Mean Salary: NR
Faculty: Dr. Karen Schrier (Nickelodeon), Dr. Ron Coleman (IBM)
Graduates: Darren Sugg (Epic), Rex Dickson (Blizzard)
https://www.marist.edu/games-emerging-media

33. Kent State University

2024 Grads Hired: 30%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $65,000
Faculty: Christopher Totten, Justin McCrea
Graduates: Joey Gage (EA), Nina Marotta
https://catalog.kent.edu/colleges/ap/animation-game-design-bs/

34. New York Film Academy

2024 Grads Hired: 29%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: NR
Faculty: John Zuur Platten, Craig Caton-Largent
Graduates: Leandro Ribeiro (Afterverse), Guillermo Quesada (Amazon)
https://www.nyfa.edu/game-design-school/

35. University of Miami

2024 Grads Hired: NR
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $68,000
Faculty: Clay Ewing (Social Impact Games), Lindsay Grace
Graduates: James Waugh (LucasFilm), Casey O'Brien (Respawn)
https://nerdlab.miami/UMGames

36. New Jersey Institute of Technology

2024 Grads Hired: NR
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $71,600
Faculty: Richard Thomspon, Hye Yeon Nam
Graduates: Jason Chin (Nvidia), James Tichenor (Meta)
http://informatics.njit.edu/information-technology / and http://design.njit.edu/school-art-design/

37. The University of Texas at Dallas

2024 Grads Hired: NR
2024 Grads Mean Salary: NR
Faculty: Bryon Caldwell (Riot, ILM), Nelson Lim (ILM, Lucasfilm, Riot)
Graduates: Matthew Ward (Gearbox), Matt Charles (Gearbox)
https://bass.utdallas.edu

38. Dakota State University

2024 Grads Hired: 67%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: NR
Faculty: Peter Britton, Erik Pederson
Graduates: Matt Engesser (Rockstar, Epic), Jimmy Chattin (Microsoft)
https://www.dsu.edu

39. University of Michigan-Dearborn

2024 Grads Hired: 30%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $80,000
Faculty: Brice Maxim, Foyzol Hassan
Graduates: Austin Krauss, Shane Costello
https://umdearborn.edu/cecs/departments/computer-and-information-science

40. University of the Incarnate Word

2024 Grads Hired: 18%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: NR
Faculty: Adam Watkins (Serious Games), Jingtian Li
Graduates: Matt Tovar (Retro Studios), Patrick Martinez (Insomniac)
https://www.uiw.edu/smd/academics/departments/3d-animation-game-design/

41. High Point University

2024 Grads Hired: 25%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $50,000
Faculty: Dr. Stefan Hall, Dr. Kristina Bell
Graduates: Kira Foglesong (Epic), Emily Krol (Logitech)
https://www.highpoint.edu/gamedesign/

42. Cleveland Institute of Art

2024 Grads Hired: NR
2024 Grads Mean Salary: NR
Faculty: Steven Gutierrez (Serious Games), Harrison Walsh (Niche Worlds Cult)
Graduates: Zack James, Robert Lauer
https://www.cia.edu/majors/game-design/

43. ArtCenter College of Design

2024 Grads Hired: 33%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: NR
Faculty: Zachary Adams, Tim FitzRandolph
Graduates: Syd Mead, Michael Bay (Director)
www.artcenter.edu

44. Ferris State University

2024 Grads Hired: 10%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $65,000
Faculty: Martin Han Lier, George Stankevich
Graduates: Lydia Zanotti, Robert Evans
www.ferris.edu/business/digital-animation-game-design/

45. Pratt Institute

2024 Grads Hired: NR
2024 Grads Mean Salary: NR
Faculty: Jason Corace, Everest Pipkin
Graduates: NR
https://www.pratt.edu/art/digital-arts-and-animation/game-arts-bfa/

46. Cornell University

2024 Grads Hired: 25%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: NR
Faculty: Donald P. Greenberg, Jon Kleinberg
Graduates: Daniel Sturman (Roblox), Rick Arons (Pokemon)
https://gdiac.cs.cornell.edu

47. Indiana University Bloomington

2024 Grads Hired: NR
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $55,000
Faculty: William Emigh (Studio Cypher), Michael Uslan
Graduates: Max Lancaster (Psyonix), Jess Tompkins (Skeleton Key)
https://mediaschool.indiana.edu/academics/undergraduate/game-design/index.html

48. Bloomfield College of Montclair State University

2024 Grads Hired: NR
2024 Grads Mean Salary: NR
Faculty: Samuel Leigh (Viacom), Oliver Hong (IGDA)
Graduates: Josiah Hunt (Cloud Chamber), Michael Murphy (Blizzard)
https://www.bloomfield.edu/

49. University of California—Irvine

2024 Grads Hired: 5%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $90,000
Faculty: Kurt Squire (Serious Games), Constance Steinkhueler
Graduates: NR

50. Arizona State University

2024 Grads Hired: NR
2024 Grads Mean Salary: NR
Faculty: Yoshihiro Kobayashi, Ross Maciejewski
Graduates: Adam Fairfield (Microsoft)
https://degrees.apps.asu.edu/minors/major/ASU00/ESSCICERT/computer-gaming