Game Design Careers Start at Columbia
Build Your Future at a Top College for Game Development
Create immersive worlds with a Game and Interactive Media Design BA degree from Columbia College Chicago. As one of the innovative game design colleges preparing students for modern game development, Columbia helps game design students bring ideas from concept to reality across platforms and genres.
As a game design major, you can expect to:
- Build from day one. Start developing in your first semester using industry-standard tools—applying coding, prototyping, and interaction and development principles in hands-on projects.
- Customize your path with a concentration. Specialize in Game Design, Game Programming, or UX/UI to deepen your expertise and sharpen your skills in your preferred niche.
- Collaborate like a real studio. In your junior and senior years, work across disciplines to design and develop a complete portfolio-ready game, managing every aspect of the process from concept to delivery.
- Connect with the industry. Learn from faculty who are experienced game developers, hear from industry pros, attend events, and connect with your peers through student organizations (like Columbia Game Forge!).
You'll graduate ready to thrive in game development, immersive experience, software programming, and other interactive technologies. In fact, our alumni are shaping the industry at studios like BioWare and NetherRealm Studios. If you are looking for a college focused on game design and development, connect with Columbia today and start building your creative future.
Learn More About Columbia College Chicago
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Live in a City at the Forefront of Arts and Culture
At Columbia, your campus is the city. Our South Loop location puts you steps from world-class museums, theaters, design firms, and media outlets, meaning inspiration and opportunity are never far away. Chicago is a living lab where you'll test ideas, build meaningful connections, and gain real-world experience.
Plus, as a full-time student, you'll have a Ventra U-Pass, giving you unlimited access to the city's transit system so you can explore every area of Chicago with ease. From grabbing food with friends to walking through exhibits at the Art Institute, the city is part of everyday life.
A High-Level Look at the Game Design Degree
(Illinois) Animation Career Review 2025
Develop a Complete Game for Your Portfolio
Game Design, Game Programming, and UX/UI
Creative Careers Start at Columbia
Columbia grads launch creative careers across industries—from design and media to performance, business, and tech. 96% of recent graduates reported being employed, continuing their education, or achieving success in their creative practice within a year.
Graduates of the game design degree program are prepared for a wide range of creative careers, including game designer, narrative designer, game programmer, software developer, ux/ui designer, and technical designer.
"The teachers at Columbia are very knowledgeable and caring, so I felt supported in every class I took."
— Karen Spriggs '23, Programming
Columbia Makes a Creative Education More Affordable
A Columbia degree is an investment in your creativity—and we're committed to making it accessible. With 99 percent of first-year students receiving financial aid, you'll find the support you need to focus on what matters most: creating.
Ways Columbia helps you save:
- Merit-Based Scholarships: You're automatically considered for these when you apply to Columbia.
- Talent-Based Scholarships: You can choose to apply by submitting a portfolio or completing an audition.
- Visit and FAFSA Awards: Up to $8,000 over four years for visiting campus, plus $1,000 just for filing the FAFSA.
Faculty Spotlight: Tom Dowd
Tom Dowd is an associate professor and Associate Dean in Columbia College Chicago's School of Media Arts. A veteran game designer with more than 30 years in the game development industry, he's known for his work on influential titles, including the award-winning Shadowrun role-playing game, BattleTech, and EarthDawn.
“At Columbia, our students have a wide variety of real-world opportunities."