100 Best colleges for Game Design and Development in the United States
Updated:
Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Game Design and Development. A graph of 784K citations received by 32.5K academic papers made by 177 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.
We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.
1. Stanford University
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $18,279
2. University of Southern California
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Average SAT
- 1500
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $36,808
3. University of Washington - Seattle
- Acceptance Rate
- 48%
- Receiving Aid
- 58%
- Average Aid
- $14,731
- Enrollment
- 52,319
4. Iowa State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Average SAT
- 1220
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
5. University of Central Florida
- Acceptance Rate
- 41%
- Average SAT
- 1280
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 96%
6. Georgia Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 17%
- Average SAT
- 1460
- Average ACT
- 33
- Receiving Aid
- 73%
7. Carnegie Mellon University
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Average SAT
- 1530
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $33,499
8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1555
- Average ACT
- 36
- Net Price
- $20,232
9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Acceptance Rate
- 17%
- Average SAT
- 1440
- Average ACT
- 32
- Receiving Aid
- 59%
10. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 57%
- Average SAT
- 1335
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 71%
11. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign
- Acceptance Rate
- 45%
- Average SAT
- 1415
- Average ACT
- 32
- Receiving Aid
- 64%
12. University of Illinois at Chicago
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Average SAT
- 1225
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 81%
13. University of Wisconsin - Madison
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Average SAT
- 1425
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 58%
14. University of California - Santa Barbara
- Acceptance Rate
- 26%
- Receiving Aid
- 59%
- Average Aid
- $20,389
- Enrollment
- 26,420
15. Pennsylvania State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- Average SAT
- 1300
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 68%
16. Columbia University
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $22,058
17. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
- Acceptance Rate
- 18%
- Average SAT
- 1440
- Average ACT
- 33
- Receiving Aid
- 74%
18. Rutgers University - New Brunswick
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Average SAT
- 1375
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 70%
19. Clemson University
- Acceptance Rate
- 43%
- Average SAT
- 1315
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 85%
20. North Carolina State University at Raleigh
- Acceptance Rate
- 47%
- Average SAT
- 1370
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
21. Michigan State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Average SAT
- 1260
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
22. University of Rochester
- Acceptance Rate
- 39%
- Average SAT
- 1465
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $39,775
23. University of Florida
- Acceptance Rate
- 23%
- Average SAT
- 1395
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
24. New York University
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $29,499
25. University of Texas at Austin
- Acceptance Rate
- 31%
- Average SAT
- 1365
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
26. Harvard University
- Acceptance Rate
- 3%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $19,491
27. University of California - Berkeley
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Receiving Aid
- 60%
- Average Aid
- $21,669
- Enrollment
- 45,307
28. Johns Hopkins University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1545
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $24,034
29. University of California - Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
- 9%
- Receiving Aid
- 57%
- Average Aid
- $21,766
- Enrollment
- 46,430
30. Texas A&M University - College Station
- Acceptance Rate
- 63%
- Average SAT
- 1270
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 74%
31. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Average SAT
- 1395
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 82%
32. Purdue University
- Acceptance Rate
- 53%
- Average SAT
- 1335
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 60%
33. University of California - Irvine
- Acceptance Rate
- 21%
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
- Average Aid
- $17,411
- Enrollment
- 35,937
34. University of California-San Diego
- Acceptance Rate
- 24%
- Receiving Aid
- 61%
- Average Aid
- $20,782
- Enrollment
- 42,006
35. Arizona State University - Tempe
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
- Average Aid
- $12,381
- Enrollment
- 80,065
36. University of Utah
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Average SAT
- 1290
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 99%
37. Cornell University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $26,060
38. University of Pennsylvania
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $26,123
39. Emory University
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Average SAT
- 1490
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $26,680
40. Yale University
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $18,647
41. University of California - Santa Cruz
- Acceptance Rate
- 47%
- Receiving Aid
- 74%
- Average Aid
- $21,202
- Enrollment
- 19,478
42. University of Maryland - College Park
- Acceptance Rate
- 45%
- Average SAT
- 1440
- Average ACT
- 32
- Receiving Aid
- 63%
43. Ohio State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 53%
- Average SAT
- 1395
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 83%
44. Vanderbilt University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1530
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $25,606
45. Providence College
- Acceptance Rate
- 53%
- Average SAT
- 1340
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $43,970
46. Miami University - Oxford
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Average SAT
- 1295
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 96%
47. Brown University
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $26,723
48. University of Missouri - Columbia
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Average SAT
- 1240
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
49. Northeastern University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1495
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $35,827
50. University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Average SAT
- 1180
- Average ACT
- 24
- Receiving Aid
- 75%
51. University of Virginia
- Acceptance Rate
- 19%
- Average SAT
- 1470
- Average ACT
- 33
- Receiving Aid
- 54%
52. Northwestern University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1530
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $22,095
53. Florida State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 25%
- Average SAT
- 1290
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
54. University of Arizona
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Average SAT
- 1255
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 98%
55. University of Pittsburgh
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Average SAT
- 1375
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 87%
56. University at Buffalo
- Acceptance Rate
- 68%
- Average SAT
- 1285
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 86%
57. George Mason University
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Average SAT
- 1245
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
58. Naval Postgraduate School
- Acceptance Rate
- 23%
- Enrollment
- 2,670
- Male:Female
- 78:22
- Founded
- 1909
59. University of North Texas
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Average SAT
- 1120
- Average ACT
- 23
- Receiving Aid
- 95%
60. Duke University
- Acceptance Rate
- 6%
- Average SAT
- 1530
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $23,694
61. University of California - Davis
- Acceptance Rate
- 37%
- Receiving Aid
- 63%
- Average Aid
- $20,548
- Enrollment
- 39,679
62. New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Average SAT
- 1320
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
63. University of Iowa
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Average SAT
- 1235
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
64. Georgia State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 67%
- Average SAT
- 1135
- Average ACT
- 23
- Receiving Aid
- 95%
65. San Diego State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 39%
- Receiving Aid
- 98%
- Average Aid
- $9,934
- Enrollment
- 37,402
66. University of Nevada - Reno
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
- Average Aid
- $7,829
- Enrollment
- 20,945
67. Seattle University
- Acceptance Rate
- 85%
- Average SAT
- 1265
- Average ACT
- 27
- Net Price
- $35,412
68. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Acceptance Rate
- 65%
- Average SAT
- 1440
- Average ACT
- 32
- Net Price
- $39,127
69. Mississippi State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Average SAT
- 1175
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 98%
70. Old Dominion University
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Average SAT
- 1170
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 92%
71. Drexel University
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Average SAT
- 1330
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $39,267
72. University of South Florida
- Acceptance Rate
- 44%
- Average SAT
- 1235
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 90%
73. Syracuse University
- Acceptance Rate
- 52%
- Average SAT
- 1345
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $43,651
74. University of Texas at Dallas
- Acceptance Rate
- 85%
- Average SAT
- 1300
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 75%
75. George Washington University
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Average SAT
- 1410
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $42,723
76. Texas Tech University
- Acceptance Rate
- 67%
- Average SAT
- 1185
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 88%
77. University of New Mexico
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Average ACT
- 22
- Receiving Aid
- 97%
- Average Aid
- $9,280
78. Rochester Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 67%
- Average SAT
- 1360
- Average ACT
- 31
- Net Price
- $39,600
79. Tufts University
- Acceptance Rate
- 10%
- Average SAT
- 1500
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $30,479
80. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- Acceptance Rate
- 57%
- Net Price
- $46,876
- Receiving Aid
- 97%
- Average Aid
- $27,059
81. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
- Enrollment
- 2,354
- Male:Female
- 45:55
- Founded
- 1943
82. University of Cincinnati
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Average SAT
- 1260
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 84%
83. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Average SAT
- 1150
- Average ACT
- 24
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
84. Indiana University - Bloomington
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Average SAT
- 1290
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 83%
85. University of Houston
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Average SAT
- 1245
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 83%
86. Temple University
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
- Average Aid
- $11,575
- Enrollment
- 33,196
87. Brigham Young University - Provo
- Acceptance Rate
- 67%
- Average SAT
- 1374
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $13,521
88. University of Colorado Boulder
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Average SAT
- 1275
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 68%
89. University of California - San Francisco
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Enrollment
- 3,140
- Male:Female
- 35:65
- Founded
- 1864
90. University of Miami
- Acceptance Rate
- 19%
- Average SAT
- 1395
- Average ACT
- 32
- Net Price
- $36,467
91. Wright State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Average SAT
- 1041
- Average ACT
- 21
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
92. Northern Illinois University
- Acceptance Rate
- 71%
- Receiving Aid
- 99%
- Average Aid
- $12,552
- Enrollment
- 15,649
93. Boston University
- Acceptance Rate
- 14%
- Average SAT
- 1425
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $27,829
94. University of Connecticut
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- Average SAT
- 1330
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
95. University of Alabama
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Average SAT
- 1270
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 87%
96. Washington University in St Louis
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $23,432
97. Princeton University
- Acceptance Rate
- 6%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $18,698
98. University of Georgia
- Acceptance Rate
- 43%
- Average SAT
- 1320
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
99. Washington State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Receiving Aid
- 88%
- Average Aid
- $10,689
- Enrollment
- 27,539
100. John Brown University
- Acceptance Rate
- 57%
- Average SAT
- 1245
- Average ACT
- 26
- Net Price
- $20,997
The best cities to study Game Design and Development in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Stanford, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Ames.