School of Design & Visual Art · Bachelor of Fine Arts

Bachelor's in Game Design

Program Overview

Learn Creative Skills for the Entertainment Industry.

The Interactive Design, Concentration in Game Design is a focused professional degree structured to facilitate the development of a capable, diverse and competitive portfolio and in-demand creative skillsets. Capturing the excitement and opportunity that game design brings with the unique element of versatility in the graphic and interactive design marketplace, this program seeks to prepare students for professions that create or implement design focusing on game-based media.

What sets the program apart

    • Interactive Design degree with a Game Design concentration
    • Portfolio-focused curriculum
    • Foundational and advanced graphic and interactive design coursework
    • Industry-focused game design coursework
    • Preparation for careers in game-based media

An Overview of Game Design at Maryville University

 
So I've always been infatuated with video games ever since I was young. But the more I got older, my passion for it got deeper and it got to the point where I was like, I wanna learn to make the thing that brought me so much joy throughout many, many years of my life. There's a separation between being a gamer and being a game developer, and that difference is really interesting to learn about. And I think it's actually made me enjoy games a lot more knowing what goes on behind the scenes. Game design is, like, is a very multimedia, field. So there's a lot of different jobs. You could code, program, do the art, music, design, all of that. And so just being able to mix all those into one field was really appealing to me. The adjunct professors, some of them are actually some of my favorite professors that I've had so far just because they come with that experience. It's almost like having a, like, an industry celebrity, like, teaching you in a way. They'll just have stories where they'll name draft different companies. They're like, oh, I know this person at Naughty Dog or EA. And it really makes you feel a little bit more involved in the industry. And this is no exaggeration when I say this. It's literally what gets me up in the morning. Just coming in with three or four of my classmates just kinda sitting next to each other, and we're all just, you know, just having a blast, just making games, talking, cracking jokes, and things of that nature. It's pretty nice. It feels like you're not just fighting solo. You've got, like, other people behind you who are doing the same things. They've got similar goals to you. It's not like in other schools, where you're you work as an individual. Instead, here, you realize you're you're a part of a unit, and that doesn't make you feel smaller. It it, in fact, it actually makes a lot of the work easier. That that's what this school really teaches, and I feel like a lot of schools don't don't do that. If you're interested in studying at Maryville, you know, just, let us know, and we would be happy to show you around.
Why Maryville

Why students choose Maryville game design

Class Size14

Average Class Size

SupportLife Coaching Team

A dedicated team of life coaches helps you personalize your education

Career Outcomes98%

Career outcomes rate for Maryville graduates

Financial Aid$59M+

Awarded in scholarships and aid last year

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  • Upcoming term starts:
  • Fall 2026 Start Date: August 24
  • Spring 2027 Start Date: January 11
Career Outlook

What can I do with this degree?

Career Paths

Design gameplay systems, mechanics, levels, and player experiences.
Build and implement gameplay features, tools, and interactive systems.
Design intuitive user interfaces and engaging digital experiences.
Create digital products and interactive experiences across entertainment and commercial industries.
8%Projected Job Growth

Employment of special effects artists and animators is projected to grow 8% from 2023–2033.

$99,060Median Salary

Median annual wage for special effects artists and animators (May 2024).

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook – Special Effects Artists and Animators. Employment projections represent national estimates for the occupation covering the 2023–2033 projection period. Wage data reflect the national median annual wage reported for May 2024 through the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. These statistics represent national employment trends and are not specific to Maryville University graduates, Missouri employment outcomes, or individual career results. The BLS does not publish a separate occupational category specifically for "Game Designers," so these statistics reflect the closest applicable occupation.

Tuition, Cost & Savings

How you can afford an education.

An investment in your future shouldn't be out of reach. Maryville offers multiple paths to reduce your out-of-pocket cost — and our team will help you find every one you qualify for.

Ways to Save

Scholarship OpportunitiesMerit and need-based awards for qualifying students.
Transfer CreditApply previously earned credits toward your degree.
Benefits for MilitaryTuition assistance and GI Bill benefits for those who served.

Estimated tuition cost breakdown

Full-Time Tuition$25,766
Fees*$2,600
Estimated total cost**$28,366

*Fees can include digital course materials and textbooks/lab materials.

**Estimated cost does not include room and board or meal plans.

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Accreditation

Maryville is accredited.

Maryville University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Honors & Rankings

  • Kiplinger Best College Values 2019Ranked among the best values in private colleges by Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
  • Forbes America's Top Colleges 2018Ranked among “America's Top Colleges” by Forbes.
  • Ranked No. 1 in social mobility among private universities in St. Louis.
  • Best for Vets Colleges  2022 Military Times. We made the list!Named Best for Vets among colleges by Military Times.
Review Maryville's full list of honors and rankings
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Frequently Asked Questions

Maryville offers Game Design as a concentration within its Interactive Design degree. The program combines foundational and advanced study in graphic and interactive design with coursework focused specifically on game design and game-based media.
Yes. The program is structured to help students develop a competitive portfolio through project-based coursework, internships, and real-world design experiences.
Students have completed internships and apprenticeships with Graphite Lab and worked on projects involving RollerCoaster Tycoon Story and brands including Hasbro, Cartoon Network, Atari, Rockstar Games, and Build-A-Bear.
Matt Raithel, Professor of Practice of Game Design and owner of Graphite Lab, teaches in the program. His name appears in the credits of more than 70 published games.
The program prepares students for professions that create or implement design focused on game-based media. Some graduates have applied these skills to app design and augmented- and virtual-reality experiences outside traditional entertainment games.
Students develop skills in design, technology, user experience and critical thinking. The program includes foundational and advanced graphic and interactive design coursework as well as targeted study in game design.