Tomorrow 麻豆精品 S檚 leading video game developers are聽being built today at UCF.

The university 麻豆精品 S檚 graduate video gaming program, , and undergraduate program continue to develop a pipeline of聽talent to fuel Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 economy聽at a standard of excellence few can match, affirmed by The Princeton Review and PC Gamer 麻豆精品 S檚 Top Video Game Design Schools 2026 rankings.

The Princeton Review and聽PC Gamer聽has recognized FIEA as one of the top two programs of its kind in the world six of the past seven years.

GaIM improved two spots from last year to its highest ranking, rising to No. 3 in the world. Both programs continue to hold the title of No. 1 in the South.

Strategy for Success

Since their inception, FIEA and GaIM have modeled their classrooms as close to a real-world, studio-like environment as possible, led by faculty with industry experience. That real-world perspective shapes every course, every project and every student who graduates.

麻豆精品 S淥ur program intentionally emulates a collaborative ecosystem with a range of diverse talent in artists, designers and programmers, which is crucial to developing products and intellectual property, 麻豆精品 S� says Nicholas Zuccarello, a 3D art instructor at FIEA who has previously worked for Sony Online Entertainment and Electronic Arts Tiburon. 麻豆精品 S淲e even structure projects to emulate real-world development pipelines as closely as possible within an educational setting. 麻豆精品 S�

Orlando: A Leading Tech Hub

With Electronic Arts (EA) and Iron聽Galaxy Studios located less than a mile from聽the programs 麻豆精品 S� home base in downtown 麻豆精品 S檚 , Orlando is the perfect setting to transition from college to career and now mentioned in the same breath alongside traditional tech-giant territories San Francisco, Seattle聽and Los Angeles.

Many alums go directly into the game industry including Epic, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony and more.

FIEA has graduated 1,160 students since its first class in 2006 麻豆精品 S� about 100 of whom worked on several of the most popular games sold in the U.S. in 2025, including EA SPORTS College Football 26, EA SPORTS Madden NFL 26 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

But it 麻豆精品 S檚 not just the gaming聽companies that eagerly hire聽FIEA and GaIM graduates. The skills聽taught in the two programs align perfectly聽with some of Orlando 麻豆精品 S檚 top industries.

Graduates land roles in the modeling, simulation and training sector. Others find their footing in medical technology, where interactive systems and game-based design are transforming how clinicians train and how patients heal. Knights can be found at many of the region 麻豆精品 S檚 big-name employers, including Disney, EA, Lockheed Martin, and Universal Destinations & Experiences, among others.

麻豆精品 S淥ur students don 麻豆精品 S檛 just make games, they develop the creative and technical fluency to work wherever those skills are needed. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Associate Professor Peter Smith 麻豆精品 S�05MS 麻豆精品 S�12PhD

麻豆精品 S淥ur students don 麻豆精品 S檛 just make games, they develop the creative and technical fluency to work wherever those skills are needed, 麻豆精品 S� says Associate Professor Peter Smith 麻豆精品 S�05MS 麻豆精品 S�12PhD, who serves as the associate director of GaIM. 麻豆精品 S淭hat 麻豆精品 S檚 what makes GaIM graduates competitive across industries. It is a true honor to see The Princeton Review recognizing this accomplishment of our students and faculty. 麻豆精品 S�

Nitin Bakshi 麻豆精品 S�21, who joined FIEA 麻豆精品 S檚 faculty as a technical art instructor after graduating with his master 麻豆精品 S檚 in interactive entertainment, says the program takes great pride that many of our alumni continue to live and work in Florida, contributing directly to the local economy.

麻豆精品 S淭hese companies rely on artists, designers and programmers who understand real-time production, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淭hat is exactly the kind of training our program is built around. 麻豆精品 S�

Serious Business

Interest in the program has risen in the past year. FIEA recently drew its largest applicant pool with more than 200 applicants resulting in 90 new enrollees, the largest cohort to date.

For good reason.

The average starting salary for a FIEA graduate is $83,000, and 80% of graduates are in their desired fields at over 400 companies around the world.

The global market size for gaming, hardware and software sales is more than $189 billion (NewZoo 麻豆精品 S檚 2025 Global Games Market Report), overshadowing music and movie industries combined.

麻豆精品 S淎dapting to the needs of the industry has always been one of our strengths, 麻豆精品 S� Bakshi says. 麻豆精品 S淲hether it is new real-time technologies, new platforms, or new ways of collaboration, we work hard to make sure the program grows along with the field. Seeing the program attract more talented students each year, while continuing to evolve with the industry, is what makes me most excited about the future and about the impact these programs will continue to have. 麻豆精品 S�

Climbing the Leaderboard

UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 GaIM improved two spots from last year to its highest ranking, rising to No. 3 in the world and continues to hold the title of the No. 1 program in the South.

The bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in digital media with a track in game degree design blends theory and practice with a sharp focus on industry readiness. The program stands out as one of the few programs that combine a strong emphasis on both art and technology.

Students develop skills in programming, game design, game programming, as well as 2D and 3D art and visual effects.

The GaIM Maker Space lab, located on the UCF Downtown campus, reflects that commitment in concrete terms: nearly $500,000 in mixed-reality technology including augmented and virtual reality, motion capture, physical computing, 3D printing, and web and mobile development equipment, alongside dedicated research space for applied work.

The impact on the quality of the students 麻豆精品 S� education and training is undeniable.

麻豆精品 S淭he tools the maker space provides are integrated deeply into virtually every class in GaIM, 麻豆精品 S� Smith says. 麻豆精品 S淪tudents in early classes are printing board games and 3D printing game pieces, seniors are recording audio and motion capture sequences that are integrated directly into their capstone projects. 麻豆精品 S�

The Rankings 麻豆精品 S� Methodology

The Princeton Review and PC Gamer 麻豆精品 S檚 game design school rankings are based on more than 40 data points derived from the company 麻豆精品 S檚 survey of administrators at 150 schools offering game design courses and/or degrees. Most of the institutions are in the U.S., with two in Canada and four abroad. The 50-question survey covered four areas: academics, faculty, technology and career topics.

The approval signals the board 麻豆精品 S檚 confidence in a plan that promises to bring greater academic and professional opportunities to students and serve as a catalyst for development in downtown Orlando.

麻豆精品 S淭wenty-four years ago yesterday, I became UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 president. In all the years since, few moments have been as important as today, 麻豆精品 S� UCF President John C. Hitt said. 麻豆精品 S淭oday, we can plant a seed in downtown Orlando that will benefit our students, community and state for decades to come. 麻豆精品 S�

UCF has earned $16 million in community support to help fund construction of a new academic building that will be the centerpiece of the downtown campus, which will serve about 7,700 UCF and Valencia College students. UCF intends to raise $20 million in community support to go along with $20 million from the state and $20 million in UCF resources.

The Board of Governors, which oversees Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 12 public universities, approved the proposed campus during a meeting on UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 main campus. The board 麻豆精品 S檚 vote paves the way for the Legislature 麻豆精品 S檚 approval of the state 麻豆精品 S檚 $20 million share. Pending approvals, the campus will open in fall 2018.

麻豆精品 S淯CF has put forward a persuasive proposal, making the case that this project will create a pathway to success for our students and good return on investment for our state, 麻豆精品 S� said Board of Governors Chair Tom Kuntz. 麻豆精品 S淥ur Board has asked good questions and done its due diligence, and UCF has responded to our concerns by making the project stronger. 麻豆精品 S�

UCF Board of Trustees Chairman Marcos Marchena praised the campus 麻豆精品 S� impact on the quality of education through students 麻豆精品 S� proximity to internships and field-related work downtown, which he said gives them a 麻豆精品 S渓eg up 麻豆精品 S� on job opportunities after graduation. He also lauded how the campus will bring higher education closer to students in a traditionally underserved area.

麻豆精品 S淚 grow more convinced as I get older that education is one of the few real ways to change the life of an individual, of a family, and in fact of an entire community, 麻豆精品 S� he said. 麻豆精品 S淚 believe this campus has the potential for creating that kind of change. 麻豆精品 S�

Students will be able to take classes at Valencia College and UCF on the same campus, which can save them thousands of dollars compared with the cost of enrolling only at a state university.

麻豆精品 S淔or me and many of my peers, every dollar matters 麻豆精品 S� and this model is an exciting way to become a UCF Knight even more affordably, in a professionally focused environment. It 麻豆精品 S檚 a win-win, 麻豆精品 S� said Student Government Association President Cait Zona, who also noted that many students already live, work and volunteer in downtown Orlando.

UCF Downtown will be built on a portion of the Creative Village, a 68-acre parcel in the Parramore community that was cleared for redevelopment when Orlando 麻豆精品 S檚 old NBA arena was torn down.

UCF Downtown will offer students an innovative learning environment within walking distance of a wide array of internship and job opportunities in fields such as digital media, communication, public service and health-related programs.

麻豆精品 S淭his project best aligns academic offerings with industry needs and neighborhood synergies, 麻豆精品 S� said UCF Provost and Executive Vice President Dale Whittaker. 麻豆精品 S淎nd it provides our students with hands-on, high-impact learning experiences in a way that is just not possible on our main campus. 麻豆精品 S�

During the past two months, several community partners have contributed to UCF Downtown.

On Tuesday, Dr. Phillips Charities announced a $3 million donation. The Orlando Magic, CFE Federal Credit Union and Florida Hospital each pledged $1.5 million. University leaders and board members have made personal contributions totaling more than $1 million. Orange County commissioners voted unanimously to contribute $3 million, and Valencia College will contribute $2 million.

Other contributors to the campus include Creative Village Development, Orlando philanthropist Alan Ginsburg, Orlando City Soccer Club, CNL Financial Group, Universal Orlando Foundation and Universal Orlando Resort, Dr. Bruce Douglas of Winter Park, and Coca-Cola.

Additionally, the value of in-kind contributions of land and infrastructure by the City of Orlando and the developers of Creative Village is approximately $75 million.

UCF will share the campus with Valencia College, which will offer programs in digital media, health information technology and culinary and hospitality, including workforce training and other certificates to increase access to education in the immediate downtown area.

麻豆精品 S淲e believe we have the most powerful partnership in higher education here in Orlando, 麻豆精品 S� Valencia President Sandy Shugart said of the relationship between UCF and Valencia. 麻豆精品 S淭his project is the next step in realizing that vision fully. 麻豆精品 S�

The new academic building at UCF Downtown will complement a renovated Center for Emerging Media building where UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 nationally ranked graduate video gaming school, the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy, is located.

The gifts will help fund construction of a new academic building that will be the centerpiece of the UCF Downtown campus serving about 7,700 UCF and Valencia College students.

The new contributions are:

These donations bring the total amount of community support to $13 million.

Today 麻豆精品 S檚 announcement comes just two days before university leaders will present plans for the campus on Wednesday in Orlando to the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the State University System.

麻豆精品 S淢any of our community partners have responded generously to our request for $20 million in philanthropy supporting UCF Downtown, 麻豆精品 S� UCF President John C. Hitt said. 麻豆精品 S淲e appreciate our community 麻豆精品 S檚 strong commitment as we look forward to making our case for a downtown campus to the Board of Governors. 麻豆精品 S�

One-third of the new $60 million downtown academic building will be funded through community support. The university also is contributing $20 million from its resources and asking the state for an additional $20 million.

The Orlando Magic, CFE Federal Credit Union and Florida Hospital each pledged $1.5 million toward the construction of the new academic building that UCF would share with Valencia College. University leaders and board members have made personal contributions totaling more than $1 million. Orange County commissioners voted unanimously to contribute $3 million, and Valencia College will contribute $2 million.

Additionally, the value of in-kind contributions of land and infrastructure by the City of Orlando and the developers of Creative Village is approximately $75 million.

Pending approvals, the campus will open in fall 2018. UCF Downtown will offer students an innovative learning environment within walking distance of a wide array of internship and job opportunities in fields such as digital media, communication, public service and health-related programs.

UCF will share the campus with Valencia College, which will offer programs in digital media, health information technology and culinary and hospitality, including workforce training and other certificates to increase access to education in the immediate downtown area.

The new academic building at UCF Downtown will complement a renovated Center for Emerging Media building where UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 nationally ranked graduate video gaming school, the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy, is located.

The new FIEA Ventures program will initially be available to academy alumni and will be housed at UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Center For Emerging Media in downtown Orlando. It is expected that some of the first clients to come into FIEA Ventures will be working on video games, animated film, simulation and mobile and web products.

Scheduled to open this fall, the 5,000-square-foot space will provide office and meeting space, a 20-seat theater, mentorships, equipment, and access to technology and expertise. Tenants will also have access to the center 麻豆精品 S檚 audio, motion capture and film studios, collectively called Studio 500, all at 500 W. Livingston St.

麻豆精品 S淔IEA 麻豆精品 S檚 success in developing graduates for high-wage, local industries has increased entrepreneurship, and this new program will place our recent graduates in a perfect atmosphere to start a successful small business, 麻豆精品 S� said FIEA executive director Ben Noel.

Companies and individuals will be picked using an application process in which clients will be asked to detail their concept, technology needs, potential staffing, market prospects and business plan. If accepted, the applicant can stay in FIEA Ventures for up to one year.

Clients will also have access to the center 麻豆精品 S檚 faculty and staff, who will help with development and access to industry partners.

麻豆精品 S淎s the No.2 ranked graduate school for game development, FIEA is an anchor for the Creative Village, 麻豆精品 S� said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. 麻豆精品 S淣ow, with the launch of FIEA Ventures, the University of Central Florida is taking an innovative approach to ensure its talented alumni become Orlando’s聽next generation of successful tech entrepreneurs. 麻豆精品 S�

FIEA Ventures is a part of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Office of Research and Commercialization, which supports economic growth by being a liaison between UCF and local and national economic-development partners.

Other partnerships include UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Business Incubation Program, which has grown into one of the biggest and best in the world; the UCF Venture lab, where technology entrepreneurs transform ideas and intellectual property into business plans; The GrowFL program that serves second-stage companies, and the Blackstone LaunchPad, which focuses on student entrepreneurs.

麻豆精品 S淭his innovative facility will boost both UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 presence downtown and Orlando 麻豆精品 S檚 vision of a Creative Village in the city 麻豆精品 S檚 core, 麻豆精品 S� said Tom O 麻豆精品 S橬eal, UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 associate vice president for Research and Commercialization and director of the UCF Business Incubation Program. 麻豆精品 S淭his partnership will be an incubator of ideas and commerce to benefit both the university and the community. 麻豆精品 S�

This is the first time that The Princeton Review has ranked graduate-level video game development schools, placing UCF’s 麻豆精品 S� or FIEA 麻豆精品 S� behind only the University of Southern California.

“This ranking is another sign of the hard work done by our faculty and staff to prepare the next generation of game developers and interactive entrepreneurs,” said Ben Noel, executive director of FIEA.

Since opening its doors in 2005, FIEA has graduated 191 alumni working at 83 companies around the world, including Google, Electronic Arts, Zynga, Ubisoft, Disney, Bioware and Orlando-based company n-Space.

The average starting salary for FIEA graduates is $50,852.

FIEA graduates are working on some of today’s most popular games including Call of Duty World at War, Call of Duty Black Ops, Rock Band, Rock Band 2, James Bond: Quantum of Solace, Guitar Hero, Tiger Woods Golf, Madden NFL Football, NCAA Football, Hannah Montana, NBA Ballers and NHL.

The school is one of the foundations of downtown Orlando’s Creative Village concept and is designed to graduate talented and well-qualified professionals to work in Central Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 digital and simulation industries.

“We continue to work with the video game industry, local government and state leaders to ensure that UCF provides the best-educated workforce for this growing industry,” Noel said.

The Princeton Review ranked schools based on a comprehensive survey it conducted in the 2010-2011 school year of administrators at 150 institutions offering video game design classes and/or degrees in the United States and Canada. Note that the FIEA tuition listed in the GamePro feature is for the total cost of the 16-month program and not annual tuition.

In addition to being published today on The Princeton Review and GamePro Media’s websites, the listing also will be featured in the April issue of GamePro magazine, on newsstands March 8.