
Game design & development is one of the fastest growing careers in the U.S. More households than ever before play video games and the makeup of the average player has changed tremendously since the early days of Atari and Nintendo. Back then, video games were just for kids—mostly boys. But today, 2 out of 5 players are female and the average age of a gamer is 32.
Not only has the consumer side of the gaming industry changed, but everything behind the scenes has changed, from the quality of the games to the cost to play them. This means, the stakes are high and game development studios are in fierce competition for consumer cash. This means, they recruit only the best talent, from the best schools. Fortunately, the number of top rated degree programs has increased significantly to keep up with growth and advances in the field. In the state of Utah, several schools offer the best programs for aspiring game designers & developers. *One of the best is ranked number two in the nation.
Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and other college ranking organizations determine which schools are the best based on several factors. They include faculty resources, student selectivity, number of program offerings, peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, and financial resources. According to the most recent report by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), Utah is home to 41 Title IV colleges and Universities. Many of these schools earn a spot on the list of best schools in the nation each year.
Utah’s best schools for aspiring game designers & developers can be found all over the state, but some of the most popular schools are located in Salt Lake City, Provo, and South Jordan. Continue reading to learn more about Utah’s best schools for aspiring game designers & developers and what they have to offer.
Best Game Design & Development School Programs - Major Utah Cities
Provo
Brigham Young University - Degrees Offered: B.S. Computer Science with Graphics Specialization, B.S. Computer Science with Animation Emphasis, B. F. A. Animation, B.F.A Graphic Design, B.F.A. Illustration
Salt Lake City
*University of Utah - University of Utah’s Entertainment Arts and Engineering Program ranked number two out of 50 in game development nationwide by the Princeton Review. Degrees Offered: B.S. Computer Science with Entertainment Arts and Engineering (EAE) Emphasis, M.S. Computing with Emphasis in Entertainment Arts and Engineering: Master Games Studio (EAE: MGS), B.A. Animation, B. F. A. Art with Graphic Design Emphasis
Best Game Design & Development School Programs - Other Utah Cities and Towns
South Jordan
Neumont University - Degrees Offered: B. S. Software and Game Development
More Programs to Consider:
- San Francisco & Online
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#14) - 2021
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#37) - 2021
- Top 50 Nationally for Illustration (#24) - 2021
- Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#38) - 2021
- Winter Park, FL & Online
- Computer Animation - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
- Game Programs - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
- Graphic Design & Digital Arts - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
- Film & Digital Cinematography - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
- Mobile Development - Bachelor's - Online
- Simulation & Visualization - Bachelor's - Campus
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#11) - 2021
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#10) - 2021
- Top 25 in the South for Graphic Design (#10) - 2021
- Online