GRADUATE RANKINGS
1. New York University
2024 Grads Hired: 87%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $76,400
Faculty: Eric Zimmerman (Gamelab), Dr. Mitu Khandaker (Spirit AI)
Graduates: Jenny Jiao-Hsia (IGF), Carol Mertz (Exploding Kittens)
gamecenter.nyu.edu
2. University of Central Florida
2024 Grads Hired: 80%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $81,303
Faculty: Benjamin Noel (EA), Nicholas Zuccarello (Sony)
Graduates: Carlos Barbosa (WB Games), Brian DeSanti (Blizzard)
www.fiea.ucf.edu
3. University of Southern California
2024 Grads Hired: 82%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $96,750
Faculty: TreaAndrea Russworm (Author, "Gaming Representation"), Mark Bolas (Fakespace Labs)
Graduates: Jenova Chen (Thatgamecompany), Brent Strong (Disney)
https://games.usc.edu/
4. University of Utah
2024 Grads Hired: 74%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $91,096
Faculty: Michael Young PhD, Jose Zagal PhD
Graduates: Doug Bowser (COO of Nintendo America), Nolan Bushnell (Founder of Atari)
https://games.utah.edu/
5. Clark University
2024 Grads Hired: 72%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $70,000
Faculty: Terasa Ulm, Scott Niemi
Graduates: Stanley Pierre-Louis (ESA), Gary Goldberg (Fablevision)
https://www.clarku.edu/schools/becker-school-of-design-and-technology/
6. Southern Methodist University
2024 Grads Hired: 59%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $96,667
Faculty: Dr. Elizabeth Storz Stringer (Atari), Dr. Karl Steiner (Amazon, Microsoft)
Graduates: Jane Chung Hoffacker (Incredible Dream), Tanya Short (Kitfox Games)
https://www.smu.edu/guildhall
7. Abertay University
2024 Grads Hired: 54%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $59,000
Faculty: Dr. Kenneth Fee, Joseph deLappe
Graduates: Zoe Sams (Riot), Richard Jolly (CEO of Splash Damage)
https://www.abertay.ac.uk/study-apply/how-to-apply
8. Drexel University
2024 Grads Hired: 50%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $80,000
Faculty: Dr. Paul Diefenbach (OpenWorlds Inc.), Dr. Frank Lee
Graduates: Anna Nguyen (NetherRealm Studios), Greg Lebanov (Wondersong, Chicory)
9. Michigan State University
2024 Grads Hired: 80%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $60,000
Faculty: Amanda Cote, Susan Bonner
Graduates: Brian Murray (EA), Steven Messinger (Rockstar)
https://comartsci.msu.edu/our- people/ruth-shillair
10. Rochester Institute of Technology
2024 Grads Hired: 100%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $98,300
Faculty: David Schwartz, Flip Philips
Graduates: Elan Lee (Exploding Kittens), Steven Van Slyke (co-inventor of OLED)
igm.rit.edu
11. Falmouth University
2024 Grads Hired: 72%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $31,000
Faculty: Tanya Krzwinska, William Huber
Graduates: Rex Crowle (Media Molecule), Sophie Shepher (Respawn)
https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/departments/games-academy
12. DigiPen Institute of Technology
2024 Grads Hired: 50%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $111,050
Faculty: Claude Comair (Nintendo), Brian Schmidt
Graduates: Luis Villegas (Bungie), Taralyn von der Linden (Pixar)
www.digipen.edu
13. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
2024 Grads Hired: 70%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $82,000
Faculty: Ben Schneider (Turbine, Standing Stone), Walt Yarbrough (Turbine)
Graduates: Michael Gesner (Riot), Jon Radoff (Beamable)
https://www.wpi.edu/academics/departments/interactive-media-game-development
14. Northeastern University
2024 Grads Hired: 38%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $80,000
Faculty: Christopher Barney, Celia Pearce (IndieCade)
Graduates: Riddhi Padte (Epic), Wendi Zhang (Activision Blizzard)
https://camd.northeastern.edu/program/game-science-and-design-ms/
15. Savannah College of Art and Design
2024 Grads Hired: 7%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $55,000
Faculty: Nye Warburton, Cyril Guichard (Electrotank)
Graduates: Lucas Slominski (ZeniMax), Chris Schmidt (Bioware)
https://www.scad.edu/admission/admission-information
16. Full Sail University
2024 Grads Hired: 14%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $62,109
Faculty: Dr. Shawn Stafford, Gerard Merrritt
Graduates: Erin Eberhardt (Dreamhaven), Aaron Hamilton Cook
https://www.fullsail.edu
17. Purdue University
2024 Grads Hired: 5%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $65,093
Faculty: Robert Howard, Jeffery Kesselman
Graduates: Jeff Hanna (Volition), Keith Self-Ballard (Bungie)
https://polytechnic.purdue.edu/profile/davewhit
18. Bradley University
2024 Grads Hired: 43%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $50,000
Faculty: David Abzug (Deep Silver), Ray Hazlip (Deep Silver)
Graduates: Diana Hughes (Age of Learning Inc.), Joseph Lax (Sony Santa Monica)
https://www.bradley.edu/academic/departments/im/graduate/ms-game-design/
19. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2024 Grads Hired: 17%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $74,917
Faculty: Maurice Suckling (Epic, 2K), Philip Vanderhyden
Graduates: Karthik Bala (Velan Studios), Jesse Schell (Schell Games)
https://hass.rpi.edu/games-and-simulation-arts-and-sciences
20. University of Florida
2024 Grads Hired: 60%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $96,000
Faculty: Dr. James Oliverio, Dr. Hyo Jeong Kang
Graduates: Joseph Murphy (EA), Pooja Agshikar (Microsoft)
http://digitalworlds.ufl.edu
21. University of Wisconsin-Stout
2024 Grads Hired: 20%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $42,100
Faculty: Dave Beck, Andrew Williams
Graduates: Hue Vang (Dreamworks), Andrew Murphy (Apple)
https://www.uwstout.edu/programs/mfa-design
22. American University
2024 Grads Hired: 80%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $80,000
Faculty: Andrew Phelps, Krzysztof Pietroszek
Graduates: Ryan Seymour (Smithsonian), Kelli Dunlop (TakeThis.org)
gamecenter.american.edu
23. DePaul University
2024 Grads Hired: 92%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: NR
Faculty: Ed Keenan (Midway), Allen Turner (Disney)
Graduates: Philip Tibitoski (Young Horses Inc.), Kevin Geisler (Young Horses co-founder)
https://www.cdm.depaul.edu/academics/Pages/School-of-Design.aspx
24. Laguna College of Art and Design
2024 Grads Hired: 50%
2024 Grads Mean Salary: $85,000
Faculty: NR
Graduates: Ben Thompson (Moonshot Games), Curtis Fetters (Escape X Games)
www.lcad.edu
25. The University of Texas at Dallas
2024 Grads Hired: NR
2024 Grads Mean Salary: NR
Faculty: Bryon Caldwell, Nelson Lim
Graduates: Matthew Ward (Gearbox), Matt Charles (Gearbox)
https://bass.utdallas.edu
