This is a ranking of the best online certificate programs in Game Design in the U.S. This ranking is designed for online students to be informed of colleges and online certificate options in Game Design and related degrees.
Most of these online Game Design and online Game Art certificate programs are available at Community and Technical colleges.
Certificate programs are short in duration, usually lasting from three to nine months, and as a result usually have high graduation rates.
Online Certificates in Game Design are highly specialized, and low in cost (compared to four year degrees). That can be a large benefit to students who may only need a certificate to work in the game design industry.
The usual degree required by professional game studios, if a degree is required, is a bachelor's degree. However, a good portfolio and game design skills can be considered the most important factors in the industry for employment.
As a strategy, online students who want to pursue working in the video game industry after graduating with a bachelor's degree, may want to get a Certificate in Game Design, and get a Bachelor's in Computer Science.
This strategy may allow for a kind of fall-back safety degree in Computer Science.
Computer Science is one of the most in-demand online degrees available. See our article The Best Online Degrees To Get For Careers.
A Certificate in Game Design that accompanies a Computer Science degree may bolster a resume for job applicants applying with professional video game developer companies.
The video game industry is one of the largest entertainment industries in the world, with billions of dollars spent each year in the U.S. and across the world.
The Best Online Certificate Programs in Game Design
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, Illinois |
| 2 | Coastal Pines Technical College | Waycross, Georgia |
| 3 | Gordon State College | Barnesville, Georgia |
| 4 | Atlanta Technical College | Atlanta, Georgia |
| 5 | Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College | Moorefield, West Virginia |
| 6 | Mid-Plains Community College | North Platte, Nebraska |
| 7 | Hillsborough Community College | Tampa, Florida |
| 8 | Rappahannock Community College | Glenns, Virginia |
| 9 | Brunswick Community College | Bolivia, North Carolina |
| 10 | Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove, Illinois |
| 11 | Clovis Community College | Clovis, New Mexico |
| 12 | Guilford Technical Community College | Jamestown, North Carolina |
| 13 | New River Community and Technical College | Beaver, West Virginia |
Ranking Methodology
This ranking was created using Successful Student's ranking algorithm. This algorithm uses the following data points to calculate a school's ranking placement:
- Acceptance rate
- Graduation rate
- Cost of undergraduate tuition
- Percentage of first time undergraduates awarded aid
- Percentage of students who are fully online
- Academic influence
| Online Undergraduate Ranking Criteria | Weight |
|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate | 15% |
| Graduation Rate | 25% |
| Undergraduate Tuition | 15% |
| First Time Undergraduates Awarded Aid | 15% |
| Undergraduate Fully Online Enrollment Percentage | 15% |
| Academic Influence | 15% |
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois
Olivet Nazarene University offers the online Digital Game Artist Certificate.
Coastal Pines Technical College
Waycross, Georgia
Coastal Pines Technical College offers the online Certificate: Digital Game Artist
Gordon State College
Barnesville, Georgia
Gordon State College offers the online Certificate Technology: Digital Game Artist.
Atlanta Technical College
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta Technical College offers the online Certificate: Digital Game Artist.
Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College
Moorefield, West Virginia
Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College offers the online Certificate: Digital Game Artist.
Mid-Plains Community College
North Platte, Nebraska
Mid-Plains Community College offers the online Certificate: Digital Game Artist.
Hillsborough Community College
Tampa, Florida
Hillsborough Community College offers the online Certificate Game Authoring.
Rappahannock Community College
Glenns, Virginia
Rappahannock Community College offers the online Career Studies Certificate: Game Design and Development.
Brunswick Community College
Bolivia, North Carolina
Brunswick Community College offers an online Certificate in Simulation and Game Development.
Waubonsee Community College
Sugar Grove, Illinois
Waubonsee Community College offers the online Certificate: Digital Game Artist, and the online Certificate in Video Game Design and Development.
Clovis Community College
Clovis, New Mexico
Clovis Community College offers the online Certificate of Achievement: Fundamentals of Game Design.
Guilford Technical Community College
Jamestown, North Carolina
Guilford Technical Community College offers the online Certificate Information Technology: Simulation and Game Development.
New River Community and Technical College
Beaver, West Virginia
New River Community and Technical College offers the online Certificate: Digital Game Artist.
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