The Princeton Review has ranked the best game design colleges for 2025. Whether you’re interested in video game development or aiming to enhance your existing skills, these institutions are well-regarded for preparing future talents in the industry. Here, we present the top 50 undergraduate and 25 graduate programs, each evaluated based on various metrics such as employment rates and alumni achievements.

To kickstart your game design journey, we also suggest practical ‘homework’ tasks mirroring real-world challenges faced by game developers today, discussing how elements like level design and animation contribute to the realism and enjoyment of modern video games.

For more detailed insights, visit Princeton Review’s Game Design page.

UNDERGRADUATE RANKINGS

1. University of Southern California
   • 2024 Grads Hired: 61%
   • 2024 Grads Mean Salary: $116,000
   • Notable Faculty: TreaAndrea Russworm, Mark Bolas
   • Alumni: Jenova Chen, Brent Strong
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2. New York University
   • 2024 Grads Hired: 24%
   • 2024 Grads Mean Salary: $76,400
   • Notable Faculty: Eric Zimmerman, Dr. Mitu Khandaker
   • Alumni: Jenny Jiao-Hsia, Carol Mertz
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3. Clark University
   • 2024 Grads Hired: 65%…
   • Notable Faculty: Ezra Cove, Scott Niemi
   • Alumni: Gary Goldberg, Stanley Pierre-Louis…
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4. University of Utah
   • 2024 Grads Hired: 52%
   • 2024 Grads Mean Salary: $72,304
   • Notable Faculty: Michael Young, Jose Zagal
   • Alumni: Doug Bowser, Nolan Bushnell
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