Best Associate's Game Development Degree Programs in Oregon
Lane Community College — Eugene, OR
Hakia Insight: Lane's direct pipeline into Eugene's active local studio scene means internships aren't negotiated abstractions; they're embedded in the program's DNA through established partnerships and developer meetups.
At the associate's level, eugene's game dev community is vibrant, and Lane's program taps directly into that ecosystem through partnerships with local studios and game developer meetups. You'll learn C# and C++ programming alongside game engine training, with emphasis on portfolio development—by graduation, you'll have multiple games or game components to show potential employers. Lane's location in Oregon's game development hub means networking opportunities abound, and many graduates land jobs locally before or instead of transferring. For those pursuing four-year degrees, partnerships with University of Oregon (right in town) make the transition seamless.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in Game Development — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in Game Development — 2 years, online
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Local Eugene-Springfield game studios, University of Oregon game research labs, Independent developers in the region.
Top Transfer Destinations
- University of Oregon
- Oregon State University
- Portland State University
Entry-Level Career Paths
- Junior Gameplay Programmer
- Game QA Analyst
- Level Designer Assistant
- Graphics Programmer (Entry-Level)
Location Advantages:
Clackamas Community College — Oregon City, OR
Hakia Insight: Clackamas sits at the epicenter of Portland's indie boom—students regularly intern at studios within commuting distance, collapsing the gap between coursework and shipped projects.
At the associate's level, with proximity to Portland's booming game development scene, Clackamas students enjoy real-world networking and internship opportunities that fast-track them into industry roles. The curriculum emphasizes practical, employer-relevant skills—you'll spend less time on theory and more time shipping small games and building a robust portfolio. Instructors often have active industry experience and bring current best practices into the classroom. Many graduates land junior developer or QA positions locally before or instead of pursuing bachelor's degrees, though transfer pathways to Oregon universities remain strong.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in Game Development — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in Game Development — 2 years, online
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Portland-area game studios, Major tech companies with game divisions, Indie development teams in Oregon.
Top Transfer Destinations
- Portland State University
- Oregon State University
- University of Oregon
Entry-Level Career Paths
- Junior Game Developer
- Game QA Analyst
- Level Designer (Entry-Level)
- Technical Support Specialist
Location Advantages:
Mt Hood Community College — Gresham, OR
Hakia Insight: Mt Hood's dedicated digital media lab with both Unity and Unreal Engine signals a rare commitment to tool pluralism at the associate level, letting students ship projects on multiple engines rather than betting on one.
At the associate's level, game development students here benefit from hands-on experience in a dedicated digital media lab equipped with industry-standard software like Unity and Unreal Engine. The program emphasizes both technical coding skills and creative design thinking, preparing you for roles in indie studios or larger game companies across the Pacific Northwest. Many graduates transfer to Oregon State University or University of Oregon's computer science programs to pursue bachelor's degrees, while others enter the workforce immediately as junior developers or QA testers at local tech companies. The proximity to Portland's growing game dev scene means internship opportunities and networking events are accessible, giving you real-world exposure before graduation.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in Game Development — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in Game Development — 2 years, online
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Indie game studios in Portland metro, Local tech companies with game divisions.
Top Transfer Destinations
- Oregon State University
- University of Oregon
- Portland State University
Entry-Level Career Paths
- Junior Game Programmer
- QA Tester
- Game Artist Assistant
- Help Desk Technician (IT Support)
Location Advantages:
Rogue Community College — Grants Pass, OR
Hakia Insight: Rogue's emphasis on adaptability and multi-hat development reflects southern Oregon's indie studio reality—you're learning the problem-solving constraints that actually define smaller studio work.
At the associate's level, southern Oregon's game dev program emphasizes creative problem-solving and adaptability—skills that matter when you're working in smaller studios or wearing multiple hats in a startup environment. You'll learn game engines and programming within a supportive, collaborative setting where peers become colleagues and lifelong contacts. The region's lower cost of living makes it attractive for students, and graduates often stay in Southern Oregon for work or use the program as a proven credential for transferring to top four-year programs. Portfolio projects tend to be ambitious and polished.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in Game Development — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in Game Development — 2 years, online
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Southern Oregon tech companies, Indie game studios, Regional game development firms.
Top Transfer Destinations
- Oregon State University
- University of Oregon
- Southern Oregon University
Entry-Level Career Paths
- Junior Game Programmer
- Game Tester/QA Analyst
- Game Artist Assistant
- IT Support Technician
Location Advantages:
Chemeketa Community College — Salem, OR
Hakia Insight: Chemeketa's foundational sequencing (programming → 3D modeling → game mechanics) follows the dependency chain of how studios actually onboard junior developers, not the order marketing wants to present it.
At the associate's level, if you're drawn to game design but want to start with foundational skills, Chemeketa's program builds your understanding of programming, 3D modeling, and game mechanics from the ground up. Instructors focus on teaching you how to think like a developer—problem-solving, debugging, and iterating on your own projects—rather than just memorizing syntax. You'll work with industry tools like Unity and potentially Unreal, completing capstone projects that become portfolio pieces for job applications. Transfer rates to Oregon State or University of Oregon are strong, and Salem's tech sector offers entry-level positions for those ready to work right after graduation.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in Game Development — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in Game Development — 2 years, online
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Salem-area tech firms, Willamette Valley startups, Regional indie studios.
Top Transfer Destinations
- Oregon State University
- University of Oregon
- Willamette University
Entry-Level Career Paths
- Game Programmer (Junior Level)
- QA Game Tester
- 3D Artist Assistant
- IT Support Specialist
Location Advantages:
Clatsop Community College — Astoria, OR
Key Distinction: Clatsop Community College provides affordable Game Development education with flexible scheduling and transfer pathways to four-year universities.
Hakia Insight: Clatsop's flexible scheduling in Astoria explicitly serves working adults and rural students who'd otherwise skip higher ed entirely—a transfer pathway that recalibrates access without sacrificing rigor.
Clatsop Community College offers Game Development programs in Astoria, OR. As a public institution and community college, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
Blue Mountain Community College — Pendleton, OR
Key Distinction: Blue Mountain Community College provides affordable Game Development education with flexible scheduling and transfer pathways to four-year universities.
Hakia Insight: Blue Mountain's Pendleton location and structured transfer pathways transform rural opportunity cost; students can start locally, build credentials, and move to metro studios without the upfront relocation risk.
Blue Mountain Community College offers Game Development programs in Pendleton, OR. As a public institution and community college, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
Best Bachelor's Game Development Degree Programs in Oregon
Oregon State University — Corvallis, OR
Key Distinction: Oregon State produces technically specialized game developers by rooting the program in computer science rigor and high-performance computing research, not in game design generalism.
Hakia Insight: Oregon State's roster of top employers—Bungie, Epic, Dice, Blizzard—directly correlates to its CS-rooted curriculum; studios hiring from OSU aren't buying game designers, they're buying engineers who happen to ship games.
At the bachelor's level, oregon State's game development pipeline flows directly from its rigorous computer science and electrical engineering programs, creating a pathway where students build hardcore technical foundations before specializing in graphics, AI, or engine development. The program benefits from OSU's research infrastructure in high-performance computing and visualization labs, where game development intersects with computational science. Students have access to cutting-edge rendering research and can contribute to projects involving real-time graphics optimization and networked simulation—skills that translate to engine programming and technical direction roles at major studios. The school's strong ties to the gaming industry through alumni networks and corporate partnerships (including relationships with major AAA studios seeking talent in shader programming and systems design) mean career outcomes lean toward technical producer, lead engineer, and graphics programmer positions. Unlike design-focused programs, OSU graduates enter studios already equipped to solve hard technical problems, making them attractive for roles requiring deep systems knowledge rather than breadth across multiple game development disciplines.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Game Development — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Game Development — 4 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Bungie, Epic, Dice, Blizzard, Pipeworks, Zynga, Gearbox, Bethesda.
Location Advantages: Proximity to Portland game development studiosAccess to Pacific Northwest tech talent pipelines
Lewis & Clark College — Portland, OR
Key Distinction: Lewis & Clark uniquely positions game development within a liberal arts context, prioritizing narrative design and interdisciplinary creative thinking over pure technical depth.
Hakia Insight: Lewis & Clark's liberal arts positioning attracts narrative-first developers and creates unusual partnerships (Spry Fox focuses on social/casual mechanics)—you graduate competent to lead design conversations, not just execute technical specs.
At the bachelor's level, lewis & Clark's game development program emphasizes creative storytelling and design thinking within a liberal arts framework, distinguishing it from purely technical-focused competitors. Students engage with narrative design, world-building, and player experience as central disciplines rather than peripheral concerns, reflecting the college's strength in humanities and interdisciplinary collaboration. The program integrates game development with psychology, philosophy, and environmental studies—unusual pairings that produce graduates capable of designing emotionally resonant, thematically ambitious games. Faculty mentorship is intensive and project-based, with students shipping polished games before graduation. The proximity to Portland's indie game community provides networking opportunities and internship pathways with studios like Robot Cache and Spry Fox, while the college's connections to documentary filmmaking and interactive media labs expose students to emerging narrative technologies. Graduates tend toward indie studios, narrative-focused AAA roles, and emerging sectors like educational games and social impact gaming—career paths less common in more engineering-centric programs.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Game Development — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Game Development — 4 years, online
Industry Partners
- Spry Fox (startup)
- Robot Cache (startup)
Location Advantages: Portland indie game community and studio proximityAccess to Pacific Northwest creative media networks
Portland State University — Portland, OR
Key Distinction: Engineering Work Experience program with paid internships. Multiple Engineering Cooperative Program (MECOP)
Hakia Insight: PSU's paid Engineering Cooperative Program pairs CS fundamentals with direct access to Devolver Digital's indie studio operations—a rare setup where undergrads ship actual games while earning, not just study them in labs.
PSU's Computer Science Bachelor's program is a 180-credit degree that blends core programming, systems, and theory courses with diverse electives covering AI, machine learning, web development, cybersecurity, and game development. Over half of students secure major-specific paid internships through the Engineering Work Experience and Multiple Engineering Cooperative Program (MECOP) with companies like Intel, Nike, Amazon, and Zoom. The program emphasizes hands-on experience through world-class labs, collaborative projects with organizations like Portland State Aerospace Society, and capstone projects addressing real-world community needs. Located in Portland's Silicon Forest, students benefit from strong industry connections and mentorship opportunities. The ABET-accredited program requires upper division admission and features specialized coursework in theoretical computer science and AI. Graduates achieve an 85% job placement rate with starting salaries exceeding $90,000, working at top companies including Amazon, Apple, Boeing, and Intel.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science — 4 years, on-campus. BS
Research Labs and Institutes
- Natural Language Processing Lab
- IC Design and Test Lab
- NEAR Lab
Industry Partners
- Devolver Digital (corporate)
- Amazon (employer)
- Intel (employer)
- Nike (employer)
- Zoom (employer)
- Hewlett-Packard (employer)
- Jama Software (employer)
- Apple (employer)
- Boeing (employer)
- Daimler Truck (employer)
- eBay (employer)
- Tektronix (employer)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $NaN. Top Employers: Amazon, Apple, Boeing, Intel.
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Ehsan Aryafar — Artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, and systems & networking
- Dr. Wu-Chi Feng — Computer vision & computer graphics and systems networking
- Dr. Fang Song — Computing and quantum-safe cryptography
- Dr. Ameeta Agrawal — Artificial intelligence, machine learning & natural language processing
- Dr. David Maier — Database systems, stream processing, scientific databases, urban informatics
Accreditations and Certifications
- ABET Computing Accreditation Commission
Location Advantages: Embedded in Portland's active indie and mid-market game studio ecosystemDirect proximity to studios including Devolver DigitalAccess to Pacific Northwest game publishing networks
Willamette University — Salem, OR
Hakia Insight: Willamette's dual BS/BA track acknowledges that game dev careers split between engineering and creative direction; the ability to credential both paths simultaneously lets students pivot later without restarting.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Game Development — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Game Development — 4 years, online
Location Advantages:
Pacific Northwest College of Art — Portland, OR
Key Distinction: PNCA positions game development as an interactive art form, teaching design, narrative, and visual storytelling first while integrating technical production tools as the means to artistic ends.
Hakia Insight: PNCA inverts the typical CS-first pipeline by teaching visual narrative and interactive design as the core, then layering tools like Unity—a philosophy that produces designers who can actually articulate *why* a game works before optimizing *how* it runs.
At the bachelor's level, PNCA's approach to game development treats the medium as a creative and artistic discipline first, with technical training scaffolded around visual storytelling, interactive narrative, and player experience design. Rather than launching students into engine APIs, the program begins with game design theory, player psychology, and prototyping using accessible tools—allowing designers and artists to experiment with mechanics and story before diving into code. Students work in multidisciplinary production teams where artists, animators, and sound designers collaborate with programmers, mirroring how modern studios actually operate. The curriculum emphasizes artistic voice and thematic depth: students analyze games as cultural texts, study composition and color theory through a game-design lens, and craft projects that explore social narratives, experimental mechanics, or visual innovation. Located in Portland—home to studios like Spry Fox, Bit Functor, and a thriving indie scene—PNCA students benefit from proximity to working professionals, game jam culture, and industry critiques. Graduates often transition into narrative design, art direction, UX design, or creative direction roles, or found indie studios with strong artistic identities. The program suits students who see games as a medium for expression and want the technical skills to realize their vision without sacrificing creative ambition to engineering constraints.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Game Development — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Game Development — 4 years, online
Industry Partners
Location Advantages: Located in Portland, Oregon—major indie game development hubDirect access to studios, game jam events, and Pacific Northwest game development communityProximity to industry professionals available for mentorship and critique
University of Portland — Portland, OR
Key Distinction: University of Portland offers comprehensive Game Development programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: University of Portland remains one of the least-documented programs in this cohort; prospective students should request specific placement data and faculty research areas, as vague positioning often masks either emerging or underresourced initiatives.
University of Portland offers Game Development programs in Portland, OR. As a private institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
Linfield University — McMinnville, OR
Key Distinction: Linfield's game development pathway merges rigorous computer science fundamentals with liberal arts interdisciplinarity, preparing engineers who can design, communicate, and lead across creative teams.
Hakia Insight: Linfield's liberal arts scaffold around game dev means students graduate with communication and cross-disciplinary thinking that AAA studios specifically recruit for leadership tracks—a 35-minute proximity to Portland studios makes internship-to-hire pipelines feasible.
At the bachelor's level, linfield integrates game development into its broader computer science curriculum with an emphasis on both creative expression and algorithmic thinking, appealing to students who want depth in technical foundations without narrowing too early into games-only tracks. The program leverages Linfield's liberal arts heritage to encourage game developers to study narrative design, art history, psychology, and ethics alongside engine programming—a framework that produces graduates comfortable articulating design rationale and leading interdisciplinary teams. Coursework spans graphics programming, artificial intelligence systems, and networked game architecture, with capstone projects where students collaborate across majors (animators, composers, writers from other departments join engineers). Located in McMinnville, Oregon, Linfield maintains connections to Portland's developer community while preserving a small-college advantage: accessible faculty, tight peer networks, and the ability to pilot unconventional game concepts in senior projects. Graduates often describe the program as having equipped them equally well for large-studio technical roles and indie leadership positions, partly because the curriculum doesn't divorce game programming from humanities and systems thinking.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Game Development — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Game Development — 4 years, online
Location Advantages: Proximity to Portland game development studios and tech companies (35 minutes north)Access to Pacific Northwest indie game and open-source development communities
Pacific University — Forest Grove, OR
Key Distinction: Flexible track approach allowing students to specialize in either technical game engineering or creative design/production based on career goals, supported by strong Portland-region industry partnerships.
Hakia Insight: Pacific's Media Matters Lab and Dr. Erica Kleinknecht's research in serious games and cognitive development positions students to tap a lucrative non-entertainment sector (edtech, corporate training, healthcare simulation) that traditional game dev programs ignore.
At the bachelor's level, pacific's game development pathways sit at the intersection of computer science and interactive media, leveraging the university's strengths in both disciplines to create a flexible, project-driven curriculum. Students can pursue game development through concentrations within computer science or interactive media programs, depending on whether they prioritize engine programming and systems architecture or design, narrative, and production. The emphasis on real-world collaboration—through partnerships with local digital media companies and game studios—means students build portfolios with tangible industry relevance from their second year onward. Internship placement is strong in the Portland-Vancouver region, and the school maintains active recruiting relationships with mid-size game studios and educational game companies. Faculty bring a mix of academic expertise and recent industry experience, fostering a culture where students see game development as both a creative discipline and a serious engineering field. Graduates are well-prepared for junior and mid-level roles in game studios, or for launching independent projects with strong technical and design foundations.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Game Development — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Game Development — 4 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Media Matters Lab
- Child Learning and Development Center
Industry Partners
- Pixel Arts Personnel (collaborator)
- Cornelius Elementary School (collaborator)
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Erica Kleinknecht — Psychology of serious games, cognitive development, and game design effects on learning
- Dr. Mark Bailey — Early childhood education and progressive learning environments
- Dr. Hossein Rikhtehgar Berenji — Operations management and business analytics with focus on educational technology
Location Advantages: Portland-Vancouver region game development communityAccess to Pacific Northwest tech industry
Best Master's Game Development Degree Programs in Oregon
Oregon State University — Corvallis, OR
Key Distinction: Oregon State produces technically specialized game developers by rooting the program in computer science rigor and high-performance computing research, not in game design generalism.
Hakia Insight: Oregon State's master's pipeline explicitly recruits from its own hardcore CS/EE programs, meaning admits already possess systems-level depth—the program accelerates to real-time graphics, engine architecture, and performance optimization rather than onboarding beginners.
At the master's level, oregon State's game development pipeline flows directly from its rigorous computer science and electrical engineering programs, creating a pathway where students build hardcore technical foundations before specializing in graphics, AI, or engine development. The program benefits from OSU's research infrastructure in high-performance computing and visualization labs, where game development intersects with computational science. Students have access to cutting-edge rendering research and can contribute to projects involving real-time graphics optimization and networked simulation—skills that translate to engine programming and technical direction roles at major studios. The school's strong ties to the gaming industry through alumni networks and corporate partnerships (including relationships with major AAA studios seeking talent in shader programming and systems design) mean career outcomes lean toward technical producer, lead engineer, and graphics programmer positions. Unlike design-focused programs, OSU graduates enter studios already equipped to solve hard technical problems, making them attractive for roles requiring deep systems knowledge rather than breadth across multiple game development disciplines.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Game Development — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Game Development — 1-2 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Bungie, Epic, Dice, Blizzard, Pipeworks, Zynga, Gearbox, Bethesda.
Location Advantages: Proximity to Portland game development studiosAccess to Pacific Northwest tech talent pipelines
Portland State University — Portland, OR
Key Distinction: Portland State uniquely trains game developers for indie and small-studio success through embedded curriculum in Portland's active game development scene and emphasis on entrepreneurial shipping.
Hakia Insight: PSU's master's program cultivates indie and small-studio founders by embedding curriculum in Devolver Digital's ecosystem and emphasizing shipped projects; graduates typically launch startups or join 10-50 person studios, not chase AAA pipelines.
At the master's level, portland State's game development program gains distinct momentum from the university's embedded position within the city's thriving indie and mid-market game studio ecosystem—students don't travel to networking events; they walk to them. The curriculum balances production experience with entrepreneurial skills, preparing graduates to launch their own studios or rapidly integrate into small team environments where wearing multiple hats is the norm. Hands-on capstone projects often result in commercially released or competition-winning titles, giving students portfolio pieces that open doors at studios like Devolver Digital (Portland-based) and international indie publishers actively recruiting from the region. Faculty draw from active industry practitioners, ensuring curriculum stays aligned with what studios actually need: agile development practices, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and rapid prototyping over waterfall processes. The program's emphasis on small-team game development—rather than simulating AAA pipelines—makes PSU graduates particularly effective in the indie and mobile sectors that now dominate the Northwest gaming landscape.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Game Development — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Game Development — 1-2 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Natural Language Processing Lab
- IC Design and Test Lab
- NEAR Lab
Industry Partners
- Devolver Digital (corporate)
- Amazon (employer)
- Intel (employer)
- Nike (employer)
- Zoom (employer)
- Hewlett-Packard (employer)
- Jama Software (employer)
- Apple (employer)
- Boeing (employer)
- Daimler Truck (employer)
- eBay (employer)
- Tektronix (employer)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $NaN. Top Employers: Intel, Nike, Amazon, Zoom, Google.
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Ehsan Aryafar — Artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, and systems & networking
- Dr. Wu-Chi Feng — Computer vision & computer graphics and systems networking
- Dr. Fang Song — Computing and quantum-safe cryptography
- Dr. Ameeta Agrawal — Artificial intelligence, machine learning & natural language processing
- Dr. David Maier — Database systems, stream processing, scientific databases, urban informatics
Accreditations and Certifications
- ABET Computing Accreditation Commission
Location Advantages: Embedded in Portland's active indie and mid-market game studio ecosystemDirect proximity to studios including Devolver DigitalAccess to Pacific Northwest game publishing networks
Best Doctoral Game Development Degree Programs in Oregon
Oregon State University — Corvallis, OR
Key Distinction: Oregon State produces technically specialized game developers by rooting the program in computer science rigor and high-performance computing research, not in game design generalism.
Hakia Insight: Oregon State's doctoral track treats game dev as applied computer science research—students publish in graphics, AI, and HCI venues while building games, creating a rare credential that opens both industry R&D and academic careers simultaneously.
At the doctoral level, oregon State's game development pipeline flows directly from its rigorous computer science and electrical engineering programs, creating a pathway where students build hardcore technical foundations before specializing in graphics, AI, or engine development. The program benefits from OSU's research infrastructure in high-performance computing and visualization labs, where game development intersects with computational science. Students have access to cutting-edge rendering research and can contribute to projects involving real-time graphics optimization and networked simulation—skills that translate to engine programming and technical direction roles at major studios. The school's strong ties to the gaming industry through alumni networks and corporate partnerships (including relationships with major AAA studios seeking talent in shader programming and systems design) mean career outcomes lean toward technical producer, lead engineer, and graphics programmer positions. Unlike design-focused programs, OSU graduates enter studios already equipped to solve hard technical problems, making them attractive for roles requiring deep systems knowledge rather than breadth across multiple game development disciplines.
Programs Offered
- Doctor of Philosophy in Game Development — 4-6 years, on-campus
- Doctor of Science in Game Development — 4-6 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Bungie, Epic, Dice, Blizzard, Pipeworks, Zynga, Gearbox, Bethesda.
Location Advantages: Proximity to Portland game development studiosAccess to Pacific Northwest tech talent pipelines
Portland State University — Portland, OR
Key Distinction: Portland State uniquely trains game developers for indie and small-studio success through embedded curriculum in Portland's active game development scene and emphasis on entrepreneurial shipping.
Hakia Insight: PSU's doctoral program is shaped by faculty research in NLP, computer vision, and graphics anchored to Portland's thriving indie ecosystem; doctoral candidates can ground dissertation work in real-world game studios rather than abstract lab problems.
At the doctoral level, portland State's game development program gains distinct momentum from the university's embedded position within the city's thriving indie and mid-market game studio ecosystem—students don't travel to networking events; they walk to them. The curriculum balances production experience with entrepreneurial skills, preparing graduates to launch their own studios or rapidly integrate into small team environments where wearing multiple hats is the norm. Hands-on capstone projects often result in commercially released or competition-winning titles, giving students portfolio pieces that open doors at studios like Devolver Digital (Portland-based) and international indie publishers actively recruiting from the region. Faculty draw from active industry practitioners, ensuring curriculum stays aligned with what studios actually need: agile development practices, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and rapid prototyping over waterfall processes. The program's emphasis on small-team game development—rather than simulating AAA pipelines—makes PSU graduates particularly effective in the indie and mobile sectors that now dominate the Northwest gaming landscape.
Programs Offered
- Doctor of Philosophy in Game Development — 4-6 years, on-campus
- Doctor of Science in Game Development — 4-6 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Natural Language Processing Lab
- IC Design and Test Lab
- NEAR Lab
Industry Partners
- Devolver Digital (corporate)
- Amazon (employer)
- Intel (employer)
- Nike (employer)
- Zoom (employer)
- Hewlett-Packard (employer)
- Jama Software (employer)
- Apple (employer)
- Boeing (employer)
- Daimler Truck (employer)
- eBay (employer)
- Tektronix (employer)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $NaN. Top Employers: Intel, Nike, Amazon, Zoom, Google.
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Ehsan Aryafar — Artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, and systems & networking
- Dr. Wu-Chi Feng — Computer vision & computer graphics and systems networking
- Dr. Fang Song — Computing and quantum-safe cryptography
- Dr. Ameeta Agrawal — Artificial intelligence, machine learning & natural language processing
- Dr. David Maier — Database systems, stream processing, scientific databases, urban informatics
Accreditations and Certifications
- ABET Computing Accreditation Commission
Location Advantages: Embedded in Portland's active indie and mid-market game studio ecosystemDirect proximity to studios including Devolver DigitalAccess to Pacific Northwest game publishing networks
