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### Princeton Review Releases 2024 Rankings for Top Undergraduate and Graduate Schools in Game Design

NEW YORK, March 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ – The Princeton Review—the renowned education services company recognized for its school rankings across various categories—has unveiled its 15th annual ranking of undergraduate and graduate schools offering top-tier programs in game design studies.

In a consecutive triumph, New York University has secured the top spot on the list of undergraduate schools for the second year in a row, featuring the top 50 schools. NYU’s esteemed Game Design program is situated at the university’s Brooklyn campus.

On the graduate schools ranking, spotlighting the top 25 schools, the University of Central Florida in Orlando has clinched the coveted #1 position, rising from its #2 ranking in 2023.

The comprehensive rankings encompass the top 10 schools for both undergraduate and graduate programs, along with the #1 schools by region in seven distinct regions. The detailed lists can be accessed on The Princeton Review website.

The rankings by The Princeton Review are meticulously crafted, drawing from over 40 data points extracted from the company’s 2023 survey of administrators at 150 academic institutions offering game design courses and/or degrees. The majority of the institutions surveyed are located in the U.S., with additional representation from Canada and other international locations.

The evaluation criteria for the survey encompassed academics, faculty quality, technological resources, and career-oriented aspects. For a deeper understanding of the survey methodology and ranking parameters, visit the provided link.

Collaborating with , a prominent online and print gaming publication, The Princeton Review has been actively engaged in this initiative since 2013. The magazine’s latest issue, hitting newsstands today, features a comprehensive six-page coverage on the project. Titled “The Best Game Design Programs Ranked by The Princeton Review 2024,” the feature delves into the rankings across various categories, offering intriguing statistics and engaging insights into the schools’ alumni, faculty, and graduates. Additionally, the feature includes two articles focusing on video game creation titled “Theorycrafting & Player Choice” and “Live Service Gaming & The Infinite Narrative.”

The top 10 schools on the “Top 50 Undergraduate Schools for Game Design” list are as follows:

  1. New York University (Brooklyn)
  2. University of Southern California (Los Angeles)
  3. Clark University (Worcester, MA)
  4. University of Utah (Salt Lake City)
  5. University of Central Florida (Orlando)
  6. Rochester Institute of Technology (Rochester, NY)
  7. DigiPen Institute of Technology (Redmond, WA)
  8. Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA)
  9. Michigan State University (East Lansing)
  10. Northeastern University (Boston, MA)

The top 10 schools on the “Top 25 Graduate Schools for Game Design” list include:

  1. University of Central Florida (Orlando)
  2. New York University (Brooklyn)
  3. University of Southern California (Los Angeles)
  4. University of Utah (Salt Lake City)
  5. Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX)
  6. Abertay University (Dundee, Scotland)
  7. Clark University (Worcester, MA)
  8. Rochester Institute of Technology (Rochester, NY)
  9. Northeastern University (Boston, MA)
  10. Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA)

The regional lists highlight the #1 undergraduate and graduate schools in each region, with notable mentions such as:

  • International: Abertay University (Dundee, Scotland) – Undergrad & Grad
  • Mid-Atlantic: Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA) – Undergrad & Grad
  • Midwest: Michigan State University (East Lansing) – Undergrad & Grad
  • Northeast: New York University (Brooklyn) – Undergrad & Grad
  • South: University of Central Florida (Orlando) – Undergrad & Grad
  • Southwest: The University of Texas at Dallas – Undergrad
                       Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX) – Grad
  • West: University of Southern California (Los Angeles) – Undergrad & Grad

According to , Editor-in-Chief at The Princeton Review, “The institutions featured in our 2024 rankings exhibit exceptional game design programs, boasting outstanding faculties, cutting-edge facilities, and a distinguished alumni network comprising some of the industry’s most accomplished game designers, developers, and entrepreneurs. We highly recommend these schools to all aspiring students pursuing a career in this dynamic field.”

The rankings also shed light on the enriching game design experiences offered by these schools. Based on data from The Princeton Review’s 2023 survey:

  • 76% of undergraduate students enrolled in game design programs have contributed to a shipped game as part of their coursework, with a comparable figure of 74% for graduate students.
  • 97% of undergraduate students and 96% of graduate students enrolled in game design programs have formulated actionable plans to launch a functional game post-graduation.
  • The average starting salary for students completing their game design studies with a bachelor’s degree stands at \(64,065, while for those with a master’s degree, it amounts to \)73,947.

About The Princeton Review’s School Rankings:

The Princeton Review conducts school rankings across numerous categories. In addition to game design studies, the company publishes rankings for various other disciplines. These rankings are derived from surveys conducted with school administrators. The Princeton Review’s rankings span 50+ categories, alongside rankings for and , which encompass 14+ categories, primarily based on student surveys regarding their campus experiences.

About PC Gamer:

A leading global authority on PC games, PC Gamer is a distinguished online and print gaming publication with a legacy of over 30 years in PC gaming coverage. With worldwide print editions and a continuous stream of news, features, original reporting, and reviews on , PC Gamer stands at the forefront of PC gaming journalism. Visit PC Gamer’s to explore the international team behind its stories and events, and stay updated on , , and .

About The Princeton Review:

As a premier tutoring, test prep, and college admissions services provider, The Princeton Review aids millions of students annually in achieving their educational and career objectives. Through a wide array of education services and products, including online and in-person courses, online resources, and a vast library of print and digital publications, The Princeton Review offers invaluable support to college-bound and graduate school-bound students, as well as working professionals. The company’s  brand, operating for over two decades, stands as one of the largest online tutoring services in the U.S., boasting a community of thousands of tutors who have conducted over 26 million one-to-one tutoring sessions. Headquartered in New York, NY, The Princeton Review is independent of Princeton University. For more details, visit the company’s website and follow them on X (formerly Twitter) () and Instagram ().

SOURCE: The Princeton Review

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Note to Editors:

, Editor-in-Chief, and David Soto, Senior Director, Data Operations at The Princeton Review, are available for interviews. The ranked school lists, organized alphabetically by country/state/city/school and by school, can be accessed at .

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SOURCE The Princeton Review