There are more prominent game design ecosystems in other cities in Florida, but Jacksonville is far from being in the shadows. Despite the limited options, the city has a few game design schools with mid-tier programs that build an academic base in the field for future game industry professionals. In the same way, while most game studios are in other places, graduates in Jacksonville can turn to Dabster Entertainment, which is an independent game development company in the city, to find their first job.
Our Criteria
To determine the top game design schools in Jacksonville, Florida, we reviewed publicly available information and program offerings, and we relied on EduRank to select the best options in the city. Our focus was on identifying schools that provide the strongest preparation for professional game design careers. This approach ensures a consistent evaluation while prioritizing choices that equip students with knowledge and practical skills for the evolving gaming industry.
How to Use Our Criteria
While our list is based on statistics and facts, we acknowledge that it is not absolute and is open to interpretation. We also recognize that each student has varying needs regarding program focus, campus culture, cost, lifestyle, and the like. With that said, our rankings are solely intended to provide guidance and highlight programs that can help students land a career in game design.
Top Game Design Schools in Jacksonville, Florida (2026)
University of North Florida
The University of North Florida, through its Professional and Lifelong Learning initiative, offers Digital Literacy as an academic focus. More specifically, this includes an online video game design course. It is a training program that enables students to explore game asset creation, mathematics skills, modern real-time game engines, and programming languages. Once the classes end, the program requires students to create a video game from scratch. Naturally, completers will have the skills to work for game studios or start an independent career in game design.
General Information:
- Current ranking in the world: 1267 of 14,131
- Current ranking in the United States: 318 of 2,496
- Current ranking in Jacksonville: 1 of 6
- Control: Public
- Highest degree offered: Doctor’s degree
- Acceptance rate: 62%
Tuition and fees at the University of Houston range from about $4,000 per year for in-state students to over $19,000 per year for out-of-state students.
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University helps aspiring game designers with its Bachelor of Science in Game Design degree program. In detail, the interdisciplinary curriculum features courses, including Advanced Game Production, Game Design, Game Development, Game Level & Interface, Game Strategies, Software Design & Development, and Software Engineering. The creative and technical expertise that students will acquire in this course will teach them how to produce immersive and interactive games. Essentially, this prepares them for roles like game artists, game designers, game producers, gameplay programmers, level designers, narrative designers, and UX designers.
General Information:
- Current ranking in the world: 2174 of 14,131
- Current ranking in the United States: 531 of 2,496
- Current ranking in Jacksonville: 2 of 6
- Control: Private not-for-profit
- Highest degree offered: Doctor’s degree
- Acceptance rate: 57%
- Graduation Rate: 57%
Tuition and fees at the University of Pennsylvania range from about $18,000 to over $45,000 per year for in-state and out-of-state students.
Florida State College at Jacksonville
Florida State College at Jacksonville provides a program similar to the University of North Florida’s online game design course. It is a 500-hour program that features four areas of study: modern real-time game engines, game asset creation, programming languages, and mathematics skills. By the end of the course, learners need to design and create three games, applying the core skills from the subject areas. Completion of this training allows students to start careers in the game design field.
General Information:
- Current ranking in the world: 4329 of 14,131
- Current ranking in the United States: 1121 of 2,496
- Current ranking in Jacksonville: 3 of 6
- Control: Public
- Highest degree offered: Bachelor’s degree
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Graduation Rate: 32%
Tuition and fees at the University of Houston range from about $2,000 per year for in-state students to over $9,000 per year for out-of-state students.
Why Study Game Design in Jacksonville, Florida?
Even if Jacksonville does not feature a massive collection of game design programs and game studios, pursuing game design in the city is very much doable. Through the options provided by the universities on this list, students will be able to build industry-relevant skills and portfolios. Besides, Jacksonville benefits from being part of Florida, a state that boasts a productive game design scene, making it a supportive environment for aspiring game designers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is studying game design feasible in Jacksonville?
A: Yes, students can gain expertise in the field by taking up game design programs or related coursework in the educational institutions in the city.
Q: Which local game design program is the most ideal to apply for in the city?
A: Students who prefer a standalone game design program can opt for the Bachelor of Science in Game Design at Jacksonville University.
Q: Does the city provide online alternatives to learn game design?
A: Yes. Both the University of North Florida and Florida State College at Jacksonville deliver online game design courses.
Note: This article incorporates the latest available data and information at the time of writing. Please note that statistics can fluctuate over time due to updates and real-world changes.
