15 of the Most Affordable Bachelor’s Degrees in Game Design

15: Columbia College-Chicago

Columbia College-Chicago building montage of Congress and Wabash buildings (sources: 1, 2)

Columbia College-Chicago is a private, not-for-profit college that was established in 1890 as the Columbia School of Oratory. The school has a non-traditional campus with multiple separate buildings located in Chicago, Illinois.

Columbia offers four Game Design (GD) related Bachelor’s programs and two minors. Its Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Game Design requires 120 credits and has two concentrations: Game Development (GDev), which requires 57 credits for it and the major; and Game Sound Design (GSD), which requires 49 for it and the major. The two path options have 27 credits of courses in common (incl. Authoring Interactive Media; Computational Media Development; Game Culture; and a Large Team Game Project). The GDev Concentration then requires 30 credits on top of that (incl. courses in Game Engine Scripting; Object Oriented Programming; and Simulation and Serious Games). The GSD Concentration, meanwhile, requires 22 credits (incl. courses in Audio Production; Sound and Music for Interactive Visual Media; and Sound Design for Games). Columbia also has three other GD-related Bachelor’s programs. Two are more programming-oriented: the 120-credit BA and BS (Bachelor of Science) in Game Programming. The other is more art-focused: the 120-credit BA in Game Art. Finally, Columbia also has two GD-related, 21-credit minors: one in Game Art, one in Game Design.

• Graduation rate: 43%.
• Transfer-out rate: n/a.
• In-state tuition: $24,344.
• Out-of-state tuition: $24,344.
• Yearly average net price: $27,839.
• Student population: 9440.
• # undergraduates: 9003.
• Campus setting: City: Large.
• Campus housing avail.: Yes.
• Areavibes.com cost of living score: D.

14: Laguna College of Art and Design

Laguna Beach (source)

The Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD) is a private, non-profit college that was established in 1961 as the Laguna Beach School of Art. LCAD is located in Laguna Beach, California, about 50 miles southeast of Los Angeles, CA.

LCAD offers one Game Design related Bachelor’s program — its Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Game Art. Admission into the BFA requires a portfolio submission and review. To graduate, the BFA requires 122 units, including 15 for art history courses. The major requires 77 units of studio work, including the choice of one of three options: 3D Character Emphasis, 3D Environment Emphasis, or Concept Emphasis. Collectively, the key courses, both common and unique, for these three options and the major include: Advanced Technologies for Game; Architectural Visualization; Art of Costume in Game; Concept Sketchbook Ideation; Creatures and Characters; Development Team Studio; Environment Design in Game; Rigging and Animation; Robots, Vehicles, and Spaceships; Professional Studies; and the two-course Senior Project capstone.

• Graduation rate: 45%.
• Transfer-out rate: n/a.
• In-state tuition: $28,100.
• Out-of-state tuition: $28,100.
• Yearly average net price: $26,980.
• Student population: 566.
• # undergraduates: 543.
• Campus setting: Rural: Fringe.
• Campus housing avail.: Yes.
• Areavibes.com cost of living score: F.

13: Woodbury University

Woodbury University (source)

Woodbury University is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian university established in 1884 as Woodbury’s Business College. Its main campus is located in Burbank, California, about 15 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, CA.

Woodbury offers one Game Design-related Bachelor’s program — its Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Game Art and Design (PDF, p.135-144). This BFA requires a minimum of 128 semester-hours, with 73 for the major. Within the major, students can choose an Emphasis/ Concentration in Game Art, which focuses on “character and environmental design and animation,” or Game Design, which concentrates on “elements of design such as game conceptualization, play mechanic creation, and prototyping.” Both options have several common courses, including: 3D Game Fundamentals; History of Games II: 20th Century; Introduction to Game Engines; Professional Practices of the Game Industry; an Internship; and the two-course Game Capstone Studio. Some of the unique courses the Game Art Concentration has are: 3D Game Animation; Environmental Design and Modeling; Materials, Lighting, and Rendering; and Visual Development. And, the Game Design Concentration’s unique courses include: Experimental Technology for Games; Game Player Analysis; User Interface Design; and Story Development for Interactive Media.

• Graduation rate: 42%.
• Transfer-out rate: n/a.
• In-state tuition: $35,048.
• Out-of-state tuition: $35,048.
• Yearly average net price: $24,474.
• Student population: 1588.
• # undergraduates: 1338.
• Campus setting: City: Large.
• Campus housing avail.: Yes.
• Areavibes.com cost of living score: F.

12: Illinois Institute of Art-Schaumburg

Illinois Institute of Art-Schaumburg (source)

The Illinois Institute of Art-Schaumburg (Schaumburg) is a private, for-profit college that was established in 1983 (with roots that go back to 1916). It joined the The Art Institutes (Ai) in 1995 and is located in Schaumburg, Illinois, about 30 miles northwest of Chicago, IL. Schaumburg is part of a system of dozens of Ai schools in North America, including the Argosy University campuses (affiliated Ai campuses).

Schaumburg offers one Game-Design-related Bachelor’s program — its Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Game Art and Design. The BFA requires at least 180 quarter credit-hours, with 124 for the major, including 68 for core courses (feat. Advanced Hard Surface and Organic Modeling; Concept Design and Illustration; Environmental Modeling; Game Design and Game Play; Interactive Storytelling; Programming for Mobile and Social Games; Team Production; and a two-course Portfolio capstone). The other 56 hours for the major are for supporting courses (incl. Animation Principles; Character and Object Design; Digital Color Theory; Material and Lighting; and Perspective Drawing).

• Graduation rate: 51%.
• Transfer-out rate: n/a.
• In-state tuition: $17,488.
• Out-of-state tuition: $17,488.
• Yearly average net price: $24,212.
• Student population: 902.
• # undergraduates: 902.
• Campus setting: City: Small.
• Campus housing avail.: Yes.
• Areavibes.com cost of living score: D.

11: Abilene Christian University

Sewell Auditorium, Abilene Christian University (source)

Abilene Christian University (ACU) is a private, non-profit, Christian-focused university that is affiliated with the Churches of Christ and that was established in 1906 as the Childers Classical Institute. ACU’s main campus is located in Abilene, Texas, about 180 miles west and slightly south of Dallas, TX.

ACU has two Game Design-related Bachelor’s programs. Its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Digital Entertainment Technology (DET) – Game Development Concentration (GDC) requires 128 semester-hours, with 33 for major requirements (incl. such options as Applied Programming With Scripting; Narrative for Film and New Media; Two-Dimensional Design; and a Managing Technical Projects capstone). The GDC requires 15 hours of electives (incl. such options as Game Development [can be repeated]; Mobile Computing; and Web Application Development). Another 18 hours is required for an area of emphasis or a minor that complements DET and a student’s career aspirations. For those desiring a stronger programming focus, ACU has its BS in Computer Science (CS) – Game Development Concentration. It also requires 128 semester-hours, but with 30 for its major (incl. courses in Object-Oriented Programming; Software Engineering; and a Managing Technical Projects capstone). The GDC in this BS requires 33 hours (incl. courses in Computer Graphics; Digital Entertainment Technology; Game Development; and Human-Computer Interaction).

• Graduation rate: 62%.
• Transfer-out rate: n/a.
• In-state tuition: $29,450.
• Out-of-state tuition: $29,450.
• Yearly average net price: $23,949.
• Student population: 4427.
• # undergraduates: 3650.
• Campus setting: City: Midsize.
• Campus housing avail.: Yes.
• Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

10: Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale

Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale (source)

The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale (AiFL) is a private, nonprofit college established in 1968. AiFL is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, about 30 miles north and slightly east of Miami, FL. It is the second oldest of the 50-plus Ai schools in North America, a group that includes the Argosy University campuses (affiliated Ai campuses). AiFL has the lowest net price of the dozen-plus Art Institute campuses that are Top 50 candidates for this affordable Game Design related degrees list. (All costs and other data for this entry apply to AiFL. Please visit the Ai website or contact the school for details about other locations.)

AiFL offers one Game-Design-related Bachelor’s program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Game Art and Design. Entry into the program requires a portfolio submission and review. To graduate, the BS requires 180 quarter credit-hours, with 126 for program courses and electives. This includes: 3D Game Animation; Advanced Game Prototyping; Broadcast Graphics I: Animated Text and Logo; Color Application; Designing Interior Spaces and Worlds; Drawing and Anatomy; Game Production; Game Project Planning; Introduction to Programming with C++; Scriptwriting for Games; Sculpting I: Foundations; the capstone-like Game Art Portfolio Development and Presentation courses; and an Internship – Bachelor.

• Graduation rate: 40%.
• Transfer-out rate: n/a.
• In-state tuition: $17,704.
• Out-of-state tuition: $17,704.
• Yearly average net price: $23,590.
• Student population: 1514.
• # undergraduates: 1514.
• Campus setting: City: Midsize.
• Campus housing avail.: Yes.
• Areavibes.com cost of living score: D.

9: Southwestern College

Southwestern College (source)

Southwestern College (SC) is a private, non-profit college that is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, but accepts students of all faiths. It was established in 1885 as Southwest Kansas Conference College. SC’s main campus is located in Winfield, Kansas, some 45 miles southeast of Wichita, KS, and around 150 miles north and slightly east of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

SC has one Game Design-related Bachelor’s program and one minor. Its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Science and Digital Arts with an Emphasis in Computer Game Development requires 124 semester hours, with 51 for the major, including 9 for common core courses (Business Communications; Introduction to Computer Systems; and Persuasion). The remaining 42 are for the Computer Game Development Emphasis, with at least 18 for two courses (Computer Game Concepts and Computer Game Planning and Production) that are taken multiple times. The other 24 or so hours are for the selection of one of three tracks: Game/ Level Design; Image and Sound Design; or Software Design. Finally, students in other majors can take SC’s Minor in Computer Game Development, which offers the same three tracks to choose from (Game/ Level Design, Image and Sound Design, or Software Design) and requires about 21 hours.

• Graduation rate: 54%.
• Transfer-out rate: n/a.
• In-state tuition: $24,835.
• Out-of-state tuition: $24,835.
• Yearly average net price: $22,622.
• Student population: 1627.
• # undergraduates: 1323.
• Campus setting: Town: Distant.
• Campus housing avail.: Yes.
• Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

8: Saint Edward’s University

Saint Edward’s University (source)

St. Edward’s University is a private, not-for-profit Roman Catholic university that admits students of all faiths. It was established in 1877 as St. Edward’s Academy, and is located in Austin, Texas, some 80 miles northeast of San Antonio, TX, and about 165 miles northwest of Houston, TX.

St. Edward’s has two Game Design (GD) related Bachelor’s programs. Its Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Interactive Games Studies (IGS) requires 120 semester hours, including 3 for a Capstone course. The major requires 67 hours, with 6 for general education support courses, 12 for art and English foundations, 14 for computational foundations, and 3 for math foundations. The remaining 32 hours of the major comprises 6 for digital media foundations and 26 for IGS foundations (incl. such courses as Computer Graphics and Animation; Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence for Games; GD Studio Labs; and Interactive Storytelling). St. Edward’s other GD-related Bachelor’s program is its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Interactive Games Management (IGM). This degree also requires 120 semester hours, with 3 for a Capstone course. The major requires 68 hours, with 7 for general education support courses, 39 for business core requirements, and 22 for IGM courses (incl. the Business of Gaming; Digital Media Production Planning; Game Design Studio; Interactive Storytelling; and Principles of Digital Media and Entertainment).

• Graduation rate: 67%.
• Transfer-out rate: 27%.
• In-state tuition: $36,550.
• Out-of-state tuition: $36,550.
• Yearly average net price: $21,960.
• Student population: 4686.
• # undergraduates: 4003.
• Campus setting: City: Large.
• Campus housing avail.: Yes.
• Areavibes.com cost of living score: C.

7: Daniel Webster College

Daniel Webster College (source)

Daniel Webster College (DWC) is a private, for-profit college established in 1965 as the New England Aeronautical Institute. DWC is located in Nashua, New Hampshire, about 20 miles south and slightly east of Manchester, NH, and some 45 miles northwest of Boston, Massachusetts.

DWC offers two Game-Design-related Bachelor’s programs. Its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Game Design and Development (GDD) requires 123 semester credit-hours, including 15 for business management courses (to support the growing entrepreneurial side of the gaming industry). CS (computer science)/ GDD electives account for 9 hours and the GDD/ CS core accounts for 43 (incl. courses in 3D Game Development; Advanced Web Design and Development; Game Design; Storyboarding/ Game Animation; Vector Imaging for Game Design; and Visualization and Concept Art). The BS’s capstone experience requires 6 hours: two Capstone Project and Portfolio courses or two GDD Internships. DWC’s other Game Design-related Bachelor’s program is its BS in Game Programming (GP). This degree also requires 123 semester-credit-hours, with 15 for business management courses, 6 for CS/ GDD electives, and 44 for the CS/ GDD core (incl. 2D Game Development; 3D Game Modeling; Data Structure and Algorithms; and Programming Language Concepts). This BS’s capstone experience also requires 6 hours: two Capstone Project and Portfolio courses or two GP Internships.

• Graduation rate: 53%.
• Transfer-out rate: n/a.
• In-state tuition: $15,630.
• Out-of-state tuition: $15,630.
• Yearly average net price: $17,109.
• Student population: 732.
• # undergraduates: 648.
• Campus setting: City: Small.
• Campus housing avail.: Yes.
• Areavibes.com cost of living score: D.

6: Dakota State University

Dakota State University arch (source)

Dakota State University (DSU) is a public university established in 1881 as a normal school (teacher education). DSU is located in Madison, South Dakota, about 50 miles northwest of Sioux Falls, SD, and some 240 miles southwest of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

DSU offers one Game-Design-related Bachelor’s program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Game Design. This BS requires at least 120 credits, including 60 for required courses (feat. Computer Game Analysis and Development; Computer Graphic Effects; Data Structures; Storyboarding; Structured Systems Analysis and Design; Web Application Programming; and the capstone-like Project Development I and II). Students can also take extra courses and complete one of three optional, 30-credit areas of emphasis in game design/ development. The Game Art Emphasis features such course options as Digital Photography, Figure Drawing, and Motion Graphics and Compositing. The Narrative Design Emphasis features courses like Classical Myth and Media, Game Genres, and Game Mechanics. Finally, the Software Development Emphasis features options such as Database Programming, Mobile Development Environments, and Programming Graphical User Interface.

• Graduation rate: 41%.
• Transfer-out rate: 38%.
• In-state tuition: $7,506.
• Out-of-state tuition: $9,986.
• Yearly average net price: $14,166.
• Student population: 3047.
• # undergraduates: 2736.
• Campus setting: Town: Distant.
• Campus housing avail.: Yes.
• Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

5: Wilmington University

Wilmington University

Wilmington University is a private, nonprofit research university established in 1968 as Wilmington College. Its main campus is located in New Castle, Delaware, about six miles southwest of Wilmington, DE, and about 35 miles southwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Wilmington has two Game Design-related Bachelor’s program options, both based on its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Game Design and Development. This BS requires 120 credits, with 18 for media design requirements (incl. courses in Advanced Digital Image Manipulation; Concept Development; Fundamentals of Motion Graphics; and Non-Linear Editing). The Game Design and Development program core, meanwhile, accounts for another 57 credits (incl. courses in 3D Texture, Rendering, and Lighting Techniques; Advanced JavaScript for Unity3D; Character Rigging; Environment Creation for Games; Soundtracks for Film, Video, and Games; Story Design Methods; and a Game Design and Development Senior Project). Students also have the option to switch out two Game Development courses within the program core for two semesters of Co-op work assignments. Finally, Wilmington also allows students who already have an Associate’s degree to take the BS as a completion degree.

• Graduation rate: 35%.
• Transfer-out rate: n/a.
• In-state tuition: $10,190.
• Out-of-state tuition: $10,190.
• Yearly average net price: $13,359.
• Student population: 14467.
• # undergraduates: 8810.
• Campus setting: Suburb: Large.
• Campus housing avail.: No.
• Areavibes.com cost of living score: D+.

4: Fitchburg State University

Hammond building, Fitchburg State University (source)

Fitchburg State University is a public university that was established in 1894 as the State Normal School in Fitchburg. Its main campus is located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, about 45 miles northwest of Boston, MA.

Fitchburg State has two Game Design-related Bachelor’s programs and one minor. Its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Game Design (GD) requires 120 credits, with 60 for the major, including 36 for GD core courses (feat. 3D Game Development; an Advanced Game Workshop; Game Level Design; a Game Studies Seminar; and a full-time Internship capstone). The remaining 24 credits of the major are for required electives (incl. such options as Computer Graphic Design; Creative Writing for Games; Object Oriented Programming; and Interactive Media Project Design). Fitchburg State’s other GD-related program is its BS in Computer Science with a Game Programming Concentration (GPC). This BS also requires 120 credits, with around 77 for the major and 18 for the GPC (incl. courses in Elements of Game Design; a Game Design Workshop; Game Programming; and Mobile Application Development). Finally, for students in other majors, Fitchburg State has its 18-credit Minor in Game Design (which requires students to be accepted into the minor).

• Graduation rate: 57%.
• Transfer-out rate: n/a.
• In-state tuition: $9,260.
• Out-of-state tuition: $15,340.
• Yearly average net price: $12,715.
• Student population: 6810.
• # undergraduates: 4204.
• Campus setting: Suburb: Midsize.
• Campus housing avail.: Yes.
• Areavibes.com cost of living score: D.

3: University of California-Irvine

Science Library, UC Irvine (source)

Third on our list of schools offering the most cost-effective Game Design related degrees is the University of California, Irvine (UCI or UC Irvine), a public research university established in 1965. UCI is part of the University of California System and its main campus is in Irvine, California, about 45 miles southeast of Los Angeles, CA.

UCI offers one Game Design related Bachelor’s program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Game Science (CGS). This BS requires at least 180 quarter units, with about 74 for lower-division requirements (incl. such courses and options as Data Structure Implementation and Analysis; Game Systems and Design; Game Technologies and Interactive Media; Introduction to Film and Visual Analysis; and Programming in C/ C++ as a Second Language). Upper-division (UD) requirements account for about 64 units, with 44 for the CGS and computer science cores (incl. such courses and options as Game Design; Modeling and World Building; Multiplayer Game Systems; Software Design: Applications; and a two-course Capstone Game Project). The remaining 20 units for UD requirements are for electives chosen from one (or more) of 15 department-approved tracks (incl. Artificial Intelligence; Computational Biology; Computer Graphics and Vision; Human-Computer Interaction; and Social Impacts of Computing), 5 non-track subject areas (incl. Business Management; Cognitive Science; and Film and Media Studies), or an approved student-designed track.

2: Southern Arkansas University

Celebration of Lights outside Overstreet Hall at Southern Arkansas University. (source)

The second-most economical Game Design-related degrees on our list come from Southern Arkansas University (SAU), a public, comprehensive university established in 1909 as the Third District Agricultural School. SAU is part of the two-campus Southern Arkansas University System and is located in Magnolia, Arkansas, about 140 miles southwest of Little Rock, AR, and some 75 miles northeast of Shreveport, Louisiana.

SAU offers two Game-Design-related Bachelors programs. Its Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art and Design with a Concentration/ Emphasis in Game, Animation, and Simulation Design requires 120 semester-hours. Seventy-nine (79) of those hours are for the core curriculum (incl. such courses and options as 3D Character Design and Sculpture; Advanced Level Visual Design; an Art History Seminar; Figure Drawing; Multimedia and Web Design; World Creation and Design; a Game Development Senior Project; and a Senior Capstone Review). A minor, requiring about 18 hours, is not required, but is recommended. SAU also offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Science (CS) with an Option/ Concentration in Computer Gaming and Animation Design (CGAD). This BS also requires 120 semester-hours, with 39 for the CS major (incl. courses in Computer Architecture; Operating Systems; Programming Languages and Compilers; and Software Engineering). The CGAD core requires 27 hours of courses (incl. Fundamentals of Game Programming; Game Design Management; a Game Modification Workshop; and a Game Development Senior Project).

1: University of Texas at Dallas

Visitor Center, University of Texas at Dallas (source)

Topping our list of schools offering affordable Game Design-related degrees is the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas), a public research university established in 1969. UT Dallas is part of the University of Texas System and is located in Richardson, Texas, about 20 miles north and slightly east of Dallas, TX.

UT Dallas offers one Game-Design-related Bachelor’s program — its Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Arts and Technology with a Gaming Concentration. This BA requires 120 semester-/ credit-hours, with 21 for lower-division major requirements (incl. Basic Design Principles and Practices; Computer Science I and II for Non-Majors; and Fundamentals of Game Design and Development). Another 24 hours goes toward upper-division major requirements (incl. such options as Computer Graphics for Artists and Designers; Digital Content Design and Usability; Game Design; Project Management for Arts and Technology; and a Capstone Project). Finally, the BA requires 15 hours for prescribed Game Design-related electives (incl. such options as a Game Production Lab; Scripting for Games; User Experience Design for Games; and Topics in Game Development).