Western isn’t playing around when it comes to game design as the university was named today among the top destinations in the world to study – and launch a career in – the popular discipline, according to The Princeton Review’s seventh annual rankings of the best undergraduate and graduate schools. Ranked the No. 44 undergraduate program in the world, Western was one of only three Canadian schools on the list and the only Ontario university.
“For students aspiring to work in game design, the 58 schools that made one or both of our 2016 lists offer extraordinary opportunities to learn and to hone one’s talents for a successful career in this burgeoning field,” said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review’s Senior VP-Publisher. “The faculties at these schools are outstanding. Their facilities are awesome. And their alumni include legions of the industry’s most prominent game designers, developers, artists, and entrepreneurs.”
The University of Utah captured the No. 1 spot on the undergraduate schools list (up from No. 2 in 2015). The University of Central Florida ranked No. 1 on the graduate schools list (also up from No. 2 last year). In Canada, only The Art Institute of Vancouver (Undergrad No. 6) and Vancouver Film School (Undergrad No. 14) joined Western on the list.
Princeton Review chose the schools based on its 2015 survey of 150 institutions in the United States, Canada and abroad offering game design degree programs or courses. The 40-question survey gathered data on everything from the schools’ academic offerings and lab facilities to their graduates’ starting salaries and career achievements. More than 40 data points in four areas (academics, faculty, technology, and career) were analyzed to tally the lists.
The Princeton Review has reported its game design program rankings annually since 2010. It has teamed up with PC Gamer as its reporting partner on this project since 2013. PC Gamer’ s May issue has a feature on the ranking lists that details the schools’ unique programs, prominent professors and alumni. The issue lands in subscriber mailboxes this week and on newsstands March 29.
