Graduate Degrees In Game Design

Level up with one of the nation's best master's in game design degrees!

Do you love the imaginative worlds and inspiring narratives that make up the newest games? Can you envision yourself designing such stories through detailed coding as well as creative character development?

Whether you're more interested in the technical or creative aspects of game design, one of these degrees will help you launch your career in a competitive, exciting industry.

What kind of master's degree in game design should you get?

Game design programs can vary widely, so you'll want to choose wisely. Seek out those programs that not only emphasize your areas of interest, but also those that will provide the type of learning opportunities you need.

Some of these programs are MFAs (Master of Fine Arts) degrees. MFAs are more focused on creativity and portfolio/project development. while Master of Science degrees are concerned with the technical aspects of game design, such as coding and software development.

Regardless of program, rest assured that each of these will give you a strong foundation in gaming fundamentals. You'll gain insight into gaming theory as much as you will practical development.

You should also consider online education. Not only is it a flexible way to earn your degree, it's often one of the most affordable ways to advance your career. Check out College Choice's Best Online Colleges and Universities.

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Accredited Online College Programs

Explore our featured online programs and find the right match for you today.

How much money do people make with a master's in game design?

With a degree in game design you you have many career options, each of which pay well and are in demand.

For example, those who go into the creative field of game development, such as multimedia artists and animators, have salary averages hovering around $70,500 a year. For those interested in coding and software development, average salaries are around $103,500 a year.

And, depending on job title, the projected growth rate of game design lands between 8 and 24 percent for the next few years.

What can you do with a master's in game design degree?

Whether you want to work behind the scenes, writing lines of code, or at the writer's table developing compelling stories, a master's in game design will help you get there.

The gaming industry, like other sectors within the larger media and entertainment markets, is competitive. But having a graduate degree will set you a notch above the rest. You'll graduate ready for several potential careers:

Graphic designer
Computer programmer
Multimedia Artist/Animator
Computer Network Architect

What are the requirements for a master's in game design?

These 20 programs vary in length, requirement, and emphasis. However, here's what you can expect regardless of program.

You'll spend the first semester or year building a sturdy foundation in game design. This likely entails classes on graphics, prototyping, animation, and more. Once you have firm grounding in the fundamentals you will go on to take specialized coursework in an area corresponding to your personal career goals.

Many programs will require a capstone project or portfolio. These are a great way to illustrate your technical skills, career plans, and creativity to future employers. We've been sure to note which programs make it a requirement.

Finally, whenever possible seek out hands-on experience through colloquiums, workshops, gaming conventions, and networking events.

The best master's in game design degrees

As we wrote above, some of these programs are creative while others are technical. Some are offered through polytechnic, research-based universities while others are offered through small arts and design colleges. However, all 20 share one thing in common: they are the nation's best Master's in Game Design programs.

To determine the best we first extensively researched all programs across the nation specializing in game design. From there we factored in academic reputation as well as student retention, which is a sign of student satisfaction. Then we looked at tuition rates and salaries of graduates to get an idea of the return on investment.

What we found are the nation's best Master's in Game Design programs.

Our figures and information come from the university and colleges' websites, PayScale, and nationally recognized U.S. News & World Report and The National Center for Education Statistics.

Rankings

See our rankings methodology page.

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