The USC School of Cinematic Arts ranks No. 1 on a list saluting the 50 best undergraduate institutions in the United States and Canada to study game design, according to The Princeton Review, one of America’s most widely known education services and test preparation companies.

The Princeton Review developed its “Top 50 Undergraduate Game Design Programs” list – the first project of its kind – in partnership with GamePro, one of the most respected brands in the video game industry, reaching over 3 million gamers a month.

The list is reported in the April issue of Game Pro and on the Web sites of The Princeton Review (www.princetonreview.com) and GamePro (www.gamepro.com). It names eight programs for top honors as the best of the best. They are identified in order, one to eight. The remaining 42 programs are listed in alphabetical order and not ranked.

Of the roughly 500 programs at which students can study game design in the U.S. and Canada, The Princeton Review selected these 50 programs based on a survey it conducted in 2009-10 of administrators at institutions offering game design coursework and/or degrees.

The survey numbered more than 50 questions and covered areas from academics and faculty credentials to graduates’ employment and career achievements. Criteria included the quality of the curriculum, faculty, facilities and infrastructure. The Princeton Review also looked at data on scholarships, financial aid and career opportunities.

“This is an incredible validation of the remarkable work done by the students, faculty and staff in our Interactive Media Division,” said dean Elizabeth M. Daley. “We’re honored to be recognized as the premier educational environment for aspiring game designers, and we’re looking forward to continuing the expansion and evolution of the program.”

Princeton Review publisher Robert Franek said: “We salute the USC School of Cinematic Arts’ Interactive Media Division and the other outstanding institutions on our list for their exemplary work in game design education. It has long been our mission at The Princeton Review to help students research and get in to the education programs best for them.

“We are also committed to helping them carry that training to rewarding careers in fields they are passionate about,” Franek added. “For the burgeoning numbers of students aspiring to careers in the rapidly growing field of game design and the companies that will need their creative talents, we hope our list will inspire many wonderful candidates to apply to these programs.”

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