New York University is the best university for game design, ranked #1 on The Princeton Review’s 2026 Top Undergraduate Schools for Game Design, with the University of Southern California at #2 and the University of Central Florida at #3.
#10 (Top Undergraduate Schools for Game Design, 2026)
The best game design program in the Midwest
Pick by what you want
Best overall
New York University (NYU Game Center)
Best on the West Coast
University of Southern California (USC Games)
Best in the South
University of Central Florida (UCF Game Design)
Best outside the US
Abertay University (Games Degrees)
Best in the Midwest
Michigan State University (GameDev at MSU)
The ranking
1
New York University (NYU Game Center)
Photo: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Princeton Review’s #1.
Princeton Review rank: #1 (Top Undergraduate Schools for Game Design, 2026)Location: Brooklyn, New YorkFounded: 1832Type: Private research universityGame program: Runs its undergraduate and graduate game design programs at the Brooklyn-based NYU Game Center; on the Princeton Review lists every year since 2013
New York University, a private research university founded in 1832, runs its undergraduate and graduate game design programs at the Brooklyn-based NYU Game Center, and ranks #1.
Go ifThe top-ranked game design program in the country
Skip ifYou want a campus away from a big city
Why #1 over #2: It sits at #1, one place above USC at #2.
2
University of Southern California (USC Games)
Photo: Joe Mabel / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe West’s #1.
Princeton Review rank: #2 (Top Undergraduate Schools for Game Design, 2026)Location: Los Angeles, CaliforniaFounded: 1880Type: Private research universityGame program: USC Games offers undergraduate and graduate degrees that bring together game design, computer science, art, animation, audio, production and user research
The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, founded in 1880, ranks #2 and is the top West Coast program on the list.
Go ifThe best West Coast game design program
Skip ifYou want a small, quiet campus
Why #2 over #3: It sits at #2, one place above UCF at #3.
3
University of Central Florida (UCF Game Design)
Photo: JennywithaG / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe South’s #1.
Princeton Review rank: #3 (Top Undergraduate Schools for Game Design, 2026)Location: Orlando, FloridaFounded: 1963Type: Public research universityGame program: B.A. in Digital Media, Game Design track, in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media
The University of Central Florida in Orlando, a public research university founded in 1963, ranks #3 and is the top program in the South.
Go ifA public-university route to game design in the South
Skip ifYou want a small student body
Why #3 over #4: It sits at #3, one place above RIT at #4.
4
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT Game Design)
Photo: Stilfehler / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe co-op pick.
Princeton Review rank: #4 (Top Undergraduate Schools for Game Design, 2026)Location: Rochester, New YorkFounded: 1829Type: Private research universityGame program: Game Design and Development BS: two blocks of cooperative education give full-time, paid experience in the games industry
The Rochester Institute of Technology, founded in 1829, ranks #4 and builds two blocks of co-op into its Game Design and Development BS.
Go ifGame design with built-in co-op work experience
Skip ifYou want a liberal-arts campus
Why #4 over #5: It sits at #4, one place above Abertay at #5.
5
Abertay University (Games Degrees)
Photo: Bill Harrison / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe international #1.
Princeton Review rank: #5 (Top Undergraduate Schools for Game Design, 2026)Location: Dundee, ScotlandFounded: 1888 (as Dundee Institute of Technology; university status 1994)Type: Public universityGame program: Launched the world’s first computer games degree in 1997
Abertay University in Dundee, Scotland, ranks #5 and is the top international program; it launched the world’s first computer games degree in 1997.
Go ifThe best game design program outside the US
Skip ifYou want to study in the US
Why #5 over #6: It sits at #5, one place above DigiPen at #6.
6
DigiPen Institute of Technology (DigiPen Game Design)
Photo: DigiPen Institute of Technology
Answrs VerdictThe games-only specialist.
Princeton Review rank: #6 (Top Undergraduate Schools for Game Design, 2026)Location: Redmond, WashingtonFounded: 1988Type: Private for-profit universityGame program: Degrees include the BA in Game Design, the BS in Computer Science and Game Design, and the BS in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation
DigiPen Institute of Technology in Redmond, Washington, founded in 1988, ranks #6 and offers a BA in Game Design alongside two computer science degrees.
Go ifA school built around games, with separate design and engineering degrees
Skip ifYou want a traditional liberal-arts curriculum
Why #6 over #7: It sits at #6, one place above Clark at #7.
7
Clark University (Game Design)
Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe small-school pick.
Princeton Review rank: #7 (Top Undergraduate Schools for Game Design, 2026)Location: Worcester, MassachusettsFounded: 1887Type: Private research universityGame program: Game design programs are housed in the Center for Media Arts, Computing, and Design, with an AR/VR lab, recording areas, a multimedia gallery and a makerspace
Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, founded in 1887, ranks #7 and houses its game design programs in the Center for Media Arts, Computing, and Design.
Go ifGame design inside a small research university
Skip ifYou want a large public university
Why #7 over #8: It sits at #7, one place above Utah at #8.
8
University of Utah (Utah Games)
Photo: Daderot / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe mountain-west pick.
Princeton Review rank: #8 (Top Undergraduate Schools for Game Design, 2026)Location: Salt Lake City, UtahFounded: 1850 (as the University of Deseret)Type: Public research universityGame program: Utah Games offers a BS in Games, a minor in Games, a CS degree with a games emphasis, and a Master of Entertainment Arts and Engineering
The University of Utah in Salt Lake City, founded in 1850 as the University of Deseret, ranks #8 and offers a BS in Games and a Master of Entertainment Arts and Engineering.
Go ifSeveral routes into games, from a BS to a master’s
Skip ifYou want an East Coast campus
Why #8 over #9: It sits at #8, one place above SCAD at #9.
9
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD Game Development)
Photo: Ebyabe / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe art-school pick.
Princeton Review rank: #9 (Top Undergraduate Schools for Game Design, 2026)Location: Savannah, GeorgiaFounded: 1978Type: Private art schoolGame program: Offers a B.A. and B.F.A. in game development and an M.A. and M.F.A. in interactive design and game development
The Savannah College of Art and Design, founded in 1978, ranks #9 and offers game development degrees from the B.A. to the M.F.A.
Go ifAn art-school approach to game development
Skip ifYou want a science-and-engineering campus
Why #9 over #10: It sits at #9, one place above Michigan State at #10.
10
Michigan State University (GameDev at MSU)
Photo: Iswzo / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Midwest’s #1.
Princeton Review rank: #10 (Top Undergraduate Schools for Game Design, 2026)Location: East Lansing, MichiganFounded: 1855Type: Public land-grant research universityGame program: The Game Design and Development Program was founded in 2005
Michigan State University in East Lansing, founded in 1855, ranks #10 and is the top Midwest program; its Game Design and Development Program was founded in 2005.
Go ifThe best game design program in the Midwest
Skip ifYou want a coastal campus
How we ranked these
We ranked the universities in the order of The Princeton Review’s Top Undergraduate Schools for Game Design for 2026, released March 24, 2026, which is based on more than 40 data points from its annual survey of administrators at 150+ institutions. The list does not label any school as paid or sponsored; the release names PC Gamer as the reporting partner. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What is the best university for game design?
New York University is #1 on The Princeton Review’s 2026 list of Top Undergraduate Schools for Game Design, followed by the University of Southern California at #2 and the University of Central Florida at #3.
What is the best university for game design outside the US?
Abertay University in Dundee, Scotland, is #5 on the 2026 list and is the international #1. It launched the world’s first computer games degree in 1997.
How is this ranking made?
The Princeton Review bases its game design lists on more than 40 data points from an annual 50-question survey of administrators at 150+ institutions covering academics, faculty, technology and career topics.
Is the Princeton Review game design list paid for by schools?
The release does not label any school as paid or sponsored. It names PC Gamer as The Princeton Review’s reporting partner on the project since 2013.
Year each university was founded at a glance
Rochester Institute of Technology1,829 year
New York University1,832 year
University of Utah1,850 year
Michigan State University1,855 year
University of Southern California1,880 year
Clark University1,887 year
Abertay University1,888 year
University of Central Florida1,963 year
Savannah College of Art and Design1,978 year
DigiPen Institute of Technology1,988 year
Year each university was founded, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
