100 Best colleges for Game Design and Development in the United States

Ranking by academic field

Below is the list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Game Design and Development. A graph of 604K citations received by 16.6K academic papers made by 160 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. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Game Design and Development

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,998

2. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Game Design and Development

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,759

3. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Game Design and Development

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1327
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 56%

4. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Game Design and Development

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $20,023

5. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Game Design and Development

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,983

6. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Game Design and Development

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 58%

7. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Game Design and Development

#7 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 93%

8. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Game Design and Development

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Game Design and Development

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 64%

10. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Game Design and Development

#10 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 70%

11. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Game Design and Development

#11 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

12. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Game Design and Development

#14 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 66%

13. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Game Design and Development

#15 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

14. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Game Design and Development

#16 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,254

15. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Game Design and Development

#17 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 71%

16. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Game Design and Development

#18 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 66%

17. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Game Design and Development

#20 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

18. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Game Design and Development

#21 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 85%

19. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Game Design and Development

#22 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 63%

20. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Game Design and Development

#24 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 61%

21. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Game Design and Development

#27 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,037

22. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Game Design and Development

#28 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,417

23. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Game Design and Development

#29 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

24. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Game Design and Development

#30 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $8,719
Enrollment: 40,363

25. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Game Design and Development

#31 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $15,461
Enrollment: 44,589

26. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Game Design and Development

#32 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 74%

27. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Game Design and Development

#33 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1350
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

28. University of Texas at Austin

For Game Design and Development

#34 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

29. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Game Design and Development

#35 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,126

30. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Game Design and Development

#36 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

31. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Game Design and Development

#37 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $24,167

32. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Game Design and Development

#38 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 67%

33. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Game Design and Development

#40 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

34. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Game Design and Development

#41 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 67%

35. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Game Design and Development

#42 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

36. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Game Design and Development

#44 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

37. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Game Design and Development

#47 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,522

38. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Game Design and Development

#48 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,511

39. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Game Design and Development

#49 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,344

40. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Game Design and Development

#50 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,659

41. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Game Design and Development

#51 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 94%

42. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Game Design and Development

#52 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

43. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Game Design and Development

#53 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 87%

44. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Game Design and Development

#54 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $37,738

45. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Game Design and Development

#56 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $25,804

46. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Game Design and Development

#57 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,685

47. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Game Design and Development

#58 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,241

48. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Game Design and Development

#59 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

49. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Game Design and Development

#61 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 67%

50. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Game Design and Development

#63 in North America

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1332
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 78%

51. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Game Design and Development

#64 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 96%

52. Miami University - Oxford

For Game Design and Development

#65 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

53. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Game Design and Development

#67 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

54. Naval Postgraduate School

California | Monterey

For Game Design and Development

#69 in North America

#145 in the World

Enrollment: 2,866
Male:Female: 79:21
Founded: 1909

55. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Game Design and Development

#70 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,932

56. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Game Design and Development

#71 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 93%

57. Texas A&M International University

For Game Design and Development

#72 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1010
Average ACT: 18
Receiving Aid: 98%

58. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

North Carolina | Charlotte

For Game Design and Development

#73 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 74%

59. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Game Design and Development

#74 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 60%

60. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Game Design and Development

#77 in North America

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 74%

61. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Game Design and Development

#78 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 75%

62. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Game Design and Development

#80 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $25,672

63. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Game Design and Development

#81 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $24,525

64. University of North Texas

For Game Design and Development

#82 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 85%

65. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Game Design and Development

#83 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,720

66. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Game Design and Development

#84 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 3,201
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

67. New Jersey Institute of Technology

New Jersey | Newark

For Game Design and Development

#85 in North America

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 93%

68. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Game Design and Development

#86 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 96%

69. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Game Design and Development

#87 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $29,154

70. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Game Design and Development

#88 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 86%

71. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Game Design and Development

#89 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

72. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Game Design and Development

#90 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 87%

73. Mississippi State University

Mississippi | Starkville

For Game Design and Development

#91 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

74. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Game Design and Development

#92 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $11,161
Enrollment: 37,236

75. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Game Design and Development

#93 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $31,726

76. University of Nevada - Reno

For Game Design and Development

#94 in North America

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 92%

77. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Game Design and Development

#95 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $40,308

78. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Game Design and Development

#96 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Net Price: $45,834
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,536

79. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Game Design and Development

#97 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Net Price: $12,497
Receiving Aid: 69%
Average Aid: $1,500

80. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Game Design and Development

#98 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $26,591

81. University of Texas at Dallas

Texas | Richardson

For Game Design and Development

#99 in North America

#242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

82. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Game Design and Development

#101 in North America

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 92%

83. Rochester Institute of Technology

New York State | Rochester

For Game Design and Development

#102 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $36,514

84. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Game Design and Development

#103 in North America

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

85. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Game Design and Development

#104 in North America

#260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,584

86. Ohio University

For Game Design and Development

#105 in North America

#264 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

87. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Game Design and Development

#107 in North America

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $39,463

88. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Game Design and Development

#108 in North America

#283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Enrollment: 1,607
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1900

89. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Game Design and Development

#109 in North America

#284 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 94%

90. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Game Design and Development

#110 in North America

#294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $36,002

91. Ottawa University - Ottawa

Kansas State | Ottawa

For Game Design and Development

#111 in North America

#298 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 870
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $27,504

92. DePaul University

Illinois | Chicago

For Game Design and Development

#112 in North America

#301 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Net Price: $33,319
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $24,589

93. University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Louisiana | Lafayette

For Game Design and Development

#113 in North America

#302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 96%

94. Augusta University

Georgia | Augusta

For Game Design and Development

#114 in North America

#303 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 93%

95. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Game Design and Development

#115 in North America

#314 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $40,661

96. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Game Design and Development

#116 in North America

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

97. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Game Design and Development

#118 in North America

#324 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 77%

98. Brigham Young University - Provo

For Game Design and Development

#119 in North America

#334 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $13,150

99. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Game Design and Development

#120 in North America

#336 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,215

100. University of Toledo

For Game Design and Development

#121 in North America

#338 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1098
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

The best cities to study Game Design and Development in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Stanford.