April 1, 2025 — For the 10th straight year, Marist has been featured as a top gaming design program in the country.

The annual list, published by The Princeton Review, ranks Marist in the top 10 in the Northeast and the top 50 nationally for undergraduates. Marist’s No. 9 spot regionally is an improvement of one spot from last year’s No. 10 ranking, showing the program continues to be on the rise and competitive among the best in the field.

Marist’s Games and Emerging Media program instills in students the skills to become designers, writers, animators, and programmers as well as leaders in their field, and features industry experts and top-level facilities. The program is shared between the School of Communication and the Arts and the School of Computer Science and Mathematics.

“At Marist, our Games and Emerging Media program isn’t just about making games—it’s about building a vibrant, inclusive community where creativity, collaboration, and curiosity thrive,” said Dr. Karen Schrier, Director of Games. “We explore and push the boundaries of games and media, and support each other in the process. I’m deeply honored to see our innovative approach recognized once again.”

Students test their game design creations at the 2024 Marist Summer Pre-College Program. Photo by Carlo de Jesus/Marist University.

The interdisciplinary approach of the program offers concentrations in technical development and programming, as well as design, writing, and culture, which supports individualized career goals for students.

“When I arrived at Marist, I was accepted as an art major in digital media, but my passion for games led me to explore the Games and Emerging Media program, where I ultimately chose to dual major,” said Annadaliah Guarino '25. “The program not only expanded my knowledge but also gave me the opportunity to collaborate with and support fellow students as we prepared for careers in the industry. After graduation, I plan to create assets for my own games, animations, and art while also contributing to studio projects.”

The Princeton Review's game design school rankings are based on more than 40 data points from a survey of administrators at 150 schools offering game design courses 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. Detailed information about the survey methodology and ranking criteria is available here.