News and Media

Published: Mar 7, 2011


SAVANNAH, Georgia - SCAD has been named to The Princeton Review's second annual list saluting the best schools in the United States and Canada to study video game design. The university's interactive design and game development graduate degree program ranked eighth, while the undergraduate degree program earned an honorable mention.

Compiled by The Princeton Review, one of America's best-known education services companies, the list, "Top Schools for Video Game Design Study for 2011," salutes 30 institutions in all (15 undergraduate and 15 graduate) for their outstanding game design education programs.

The Princeton Review developed its "Top Schools for Video Game Design Study" list in 2009-10 in partnership with GamePro magazine.

The list for 2011 names 10 undergraduate and 10 graduate schools in ranked order one to 10.  Five schools in each group are recognized as honorable mentions. Reported in the April GamePro magazine (on newsstands March 8), the list is also accessible on the websites of The Princeton Review and GamePro.

The Princeton Review chose the schools based on a survey of administrators at 150 institutions offering video game design coursework and/or degrees in the United States and Canada.

Conducted during the 2010-11 academic year, the Princeton Review survey included more than 50 questions. Topics ranged from academics, curriculum and faculty credentials to graduates' employment and career achievements. School selections were based on a comprehensive analysis of data that analyzed the quality of the curriculum, faculty, facilities and infrastructure, plus the school's scholarships, financial aid and career services.

"The SCAD interactive design and game development department is honored to be considered among such good company," said Luis Cataldi, program chair. "We take pride in our students, faculty, academic initiatives and strong ties to industry that make us a leader in this rapidly evolving field."

"It has long been our mission to help students find - and get into - the schools best for them to pursue their interests and develop their talents. For the burgeoning number of students aspiring to become game designers, we highly recommend SCAD as one of the best and most innovate places to study and succeed in this exciting field," said Robert Franek, Princeton Review senior vice president and publisher. "We also salute the faculty and administrators at SCAD and the other schools on our 2011 list for their extraordinary programs and commitment to students."

The Princeton Review received assistance on this project from a 10-member national advisory board formed in 2009 to help design the survey instrument and methodology. Board members included administrators and faculty from respected game design programs, and professionals from some of the top gaming companies.

About The Princeton Review

The Princeton Review (Nasdaq: REVU) has been a pioneer and leader in helping students achieve their higher education goals for more than 28 years through college and graduate school test preparation and private tutoring. With more than 165 print and digital publications and a free website, the Company provides students and their parents with the resources to research, apply to, prepare for, and learn how to pay for higher education. The Princeton Review partners with schools and guidance counselors throughout the U.S. to assist in college readiness, test preparation and career planning services, helping more students pursue postsecondary education. The Company also owns and operates Penn Foster Education Group, a global leader in online education. Penn Foster provides career-focused degree and vocational programs in the fields of allied health, business, technology, education, and select trades through the Penn Foster High School and Penn Foster Career School.