Chippewa Valley Times

The academic programs in game design at the University of Wisconsin-Stout have received high accolades from the prestigious Princeton Review for 2024. According to the rankings, UW-Stout's Bachelor of Fine Arts in game design and development-art and Master of Fine Arts in design-game design focus have been recognized as the best in Wisconsin and Minnesota, ranking in the top five in the Midwest and among the top 10 in the nation for public colleges.

Dave Beck, the director of the School of Art and Design at UW-Stout, expressed his pride, stating, "We’re again honored to continue to be considered a top-tier institution in these categories, both on the undergraduate and graduate level."

The Princeton Review Editor-in-Chief, Rob Franek, commended the schools selected for their remarkable game design programs, emphasizing the superb faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and successful alumni in the industry.

Associate Professor Kim Loken, program director at UW-Stout, highlighted the growth and stability of their undergraduate program, attributing the success to the students' achievements in exhibiting at conferences and competitions, and finding success in the games industry.

Professor Erik Evensen, program director of the Master of Fine Arts in design, expressed his enthusiasm for the program's consistent performance on the national and international stage, praising the graduate students' engagement in interdisciplinary research within the field of game design.

The rankings by Princeton Review and Animation Career Review solidify UW-Stout's position as a leader in game design programs, with accolades for both undergraduate and graduate offerings. The university's commitment to providing top-tier education in the field is evident through their cutting-edge facilities, such as the Vicon Motion Capture Studio and the semiannual Stout Game Expo.

UW-Stout's dedication to excellence in game design education is further underscored by their upcoming program in illustration, recently approved by the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents, adding to their lineup of successful B.F.A. programs.