
School | City |
---|---|
DigiPen Institute of Technology | Redmond |
Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) | Seattle |
What makes a game design & development program “the best” may be different depending on whom you ask. Ask a student, and the best program would look something like this: affordable, convenient, social, and approachable. While these are all valid benefits, many college-ranking organizations would say that they are not the only benefits. In fact, organizations such as Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report rank colleges based on a completely different set of factors. These include program offerings, faculty resources, graduation and retention rates, financial resources, student selectivity, and peer assessment.
Some factors may carry more weight than others. For example, graduation and retention rates may be worth more points than say, peer assessment. Student selectivity is always a sign of a top-tier program, and financial resources equal stability. At the end of the day, the overall score determines who makes the cut. In Washington State, a number of schools did just that. Fortunately, Washington’s best schools also offer the best game design & development programs.
According to the Institute of Education Sciences National Center for Education Statistics (IES NCES), Washington State is now home to 85 accredited colleges and universities. Included in the group are DigiPen Institute of Technology and the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE). These schools offer several competitive programs for aspiring game designers & developers from Computer Science to Digital Entertainment in Virtual Worlds.
Continue reading to find out more about Washington State’s best schools for aspiring game designers & developers and what they have to offer.
Best Game Design & Development School Programs Washington State
Redmond
DigiPen Institute of Technology – Degrees Offered: B.F.A. Digital Art; B.A. Game Design; B.S. Game Design; B.S. Real-Time Interactive Simulation; B.S. Computer Engineering; M.S. Computer Science
Seattle
Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) - Degrees Offered: B.S. Digital Entertainment and Virtual Worlds (BSDEV); Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media Specializing in 3D Animation and Visual FX; Advanced Diploma of Professional Game Development Specializing in Art; Advanced Diploma of Professional Game Development Specializing in Software Development
Best Game Design & Development School Programs Washington State – Other Options
Seattle
Art Institute of Seattle - Degrees Offered: B.F.A. Media Arts & Animation; B.F.A. Game Art & Design; B.F.A. Graphic Design; B.S. Web Design & Interactive Media; B.F.A. Digital Filmmaking & Video Production; A.A.A. Graphic Design; A.A.A. Video Production; A.A.A. Web Design & Interactive Media; Diploma Web Design & Interactive Communications; Diploma Digital Design
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