Do you ever wonder about the best colleges with virtual reality programs? You’re not alone. VR is the next big thing, as it is projected to generate billions of dollars in the future. Many institutions have opened their doors to virtual reality, going beyond the usual tech programs. To help you save time, we’ll take a closer look at these schools below.
The top educational establishments for virtual reality studies are the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and the University of Southern California.
However, there are six more colleges worth considering besides these obvious choices. We’ll cover each school to help you choose the best one that suits your learning goals and intended career path. We’ll also teach you the jobs you can take after taking a VR college program.
Top 9 Colleges With Virtual Reality Programs
Below is a list of colleges with virtual reality programs. Each one provides access to state-of-the-art VR equipment and software.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT as some people like to call it, doesn’t need an introduction. It is a renowned private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It pioneered technology education in the United States, making it a top choice for many students.
MIT offers over 100 programs across its six colleges and schools. One of them is the MIT xPro online certification course, which you can complete in eight weeks. It suits seasoned professionals who want to expand their knowledge in the field of XR technologies. If you’re unfamiliar with them, XR or extended reality is an umbrella term that includes virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR).
Those who just got out of high school and have no experience can take any undergraduate degree at MIT. You’ll want to focus on engineering or computer science programs, so you can learn how to manage complex technologies. Or you can enroll in brain and cognitive courses to understand how VR interacts with the human mind. On top of that, you can take the MIT xPro program to acquire knowledge in virtual reality.
Address: 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139
Tuition Fee (estimated): $2,675 for the xPro Program, $56,000 per year for undergraduate degrees
Stanford University
Stanford University, officially known as Leland Stanford Junior University, is a prestigious institution in the state of California. It is one of the leading research universities not only in the United States but also in the entire world.
The Stanford School of Engineering has a computer science degree program. All CS students can take a course in augmented and virtual reality courses. They can learn about different hardware and software aspects of VR. At the end of the lessons, students are expected to build a fully functional head-mounted display.
So, if you’re looking for hands-on learning and extensive research opportunities, Stanford is the best school to attend.
Address: 450 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305
Tuition Fee (estimated): $58,000 per year
University of Southern California (USC)
The University of Southern California is another private college located in California. It is the only media school in the world that teaches all the major disciplines of the cinematic arts, from film to interactive media, such as VR. The Interactive Media and Games division offers three courses for students interested in learning virtual reality.
USC also offers graduate programs related to VR under the Institute for Creative Technologies. This school promotes collaboration across several fields, such as computer science, psychology, and interactive media. It has also developed award-winning researches, notably the Mixed Reality Lab (MxR). The MxR explored human-computer interaction, which resulted in the creation of different VR headsets like the Oculus Rift and Google Cardboard.
Address: 3551 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90089
Tuition Fee (estimated): $62,000 per year
New York University (NYU)
New York University, also called NYU, is one of the leaders in higher education. It offers a professional certificate in AR/VR Development and 3D Graphics under the Tandon School of Engineering. The program is suitable for software developers, game programmers, 3D artists, and anyone interested in extended reality (XR).
The professional certification course takes seven months to complete. It teaches you how to develop XR experiences within Unity. It also covers C# and 3D graphics programming, which help you customize and design applications.
Plus, NYU students taking an augmented and virtual reality degree have access to the NYC Media Lab. It promotes collaboration with other academic institutions and generates research about virtual environments.
Address: 6 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Tuition Fee (estimated): $56,500 per year
University of Washington
The University of Washington is a public research university founded in 1861. As one of the oldest schools on the West Coast, it provides a world-class learning experience.
Those who want to study virtual reality can take up a computer science major at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering. It tackles a wide range of subjects, such as the mathematical foundations of computing, software and hardware building, and advanced courses like VR.
Students at the Allen School also have access to the UW Reality Lab. It aims to develop all types of content in virtual and augmented reality. Plus, it provides opportunities for researching new technologies and applications.
Address: 1410 NE Campus Parkway, Seattle, WA 98195
Tuition Fee (estimated): $13,000 per year (for in-state students), $40,000 per year (for out-of-state individuals)
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
The Rochester Institute of Technology is another notable institution located in the state of New York. It comprises nine colleges. One of these is the Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences, which offers a Bachelor of Science Degree in New Media Interactive Development.
The program focuses on programming and interactive media, including augmented and virtual reality technologies. It also requires cooperative education, which allows students to gain real-world career experience while in university.
RIT also boasts one of the most advanced AR and VR lab facilities accessible to undergraduate and Ph.D. students. Feel free to create your own projects or learn about the latest innovations in the industry.
Address: One Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623
Tuition Fee (estimated): $53,000 per year
Drexel University
Similar to RIT, Drexel University allows you to have career experience in AR and VR as part of your studies. It offers a BS degree in Digital Media and Virtual Production. This major under the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design is one of the leaders in immersive media education.
Drexel University accepts remote or on-campus students. Regardless of your choice, the virtual reality degree teaches students about the theories, techniques, and skills in producing AR/VR content. It also provides specialized studios, tools, and technologies that focus on human-computer interaction.
Address: 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Tuition Fee (estimated): $58,000 per year
University of Maryland (UMD)
The University of Maryland is a public institution that offers VR programs. It allows you to choose from either BS or BA in Immersive Media Design. It also provides an MS and Ph.D. degree in Computer Science with an AR/VR specialization.
No matter which program you select, the prestigious institution prepares students to succeed in digital media. It covers cutting-edge technologies, from virtual reality to projected imagery and computer graphics. It focuses on collaborative and team-based classes, which ultimately build the communication skills of individuals.
If you choose a degree in Immersive Media Design, you can learn from both art and computer science faculty. These ecturers have real-life experience and expertise in virtual and augmented reality.
Address: College Park, MD 20742
Tuition Fee (estimated): $11,000 per year (for in-state students), $39,000 per year (for out-of-state individuals)
Georgia Institute of Technology
The last institution with the best virtual reality program is the Georgia Institute of Technology. Also known as Georgia Tech, it is a public university established in 1888.
The School of Interactive Computing under the College of Computing offers both MS and Ph.D. programs related to VR. These degrees focus on research on VR/AR environments, artificial intelligence, and robotics, among other fields.
Georgia Tech also has the GVU Center, which aims to create the next innovations and computing solutions to complex problems. It provides an Augmented Environments Lab and a prototyping eNarrative Lab, which are all about interactive computing environments. Students can access these state-of-the-art facilities to produce content that center around human-computer interaction.
Address: North Avenue NW, Atlanta, GA 30332
Tuition Fee (estimated): $13,000 per year (for in-state students), $34,000 per year (for out-of-state individuals)
What Are the Career Prospects After a VR Program?
By now, you’re familiar with the top colleges offering virtual reality program. However, you may be curious about the jobs one might get after graduation.
Career prospects in the VR field are abundant and diverse. The game development industry is a popular choice among students interested in computer game design. Graduates can also look into major tech companies, such as Google and Facebook. Finally, don’t sleep on the job opportunities in the healthcare, education, and real estate fields. These are usually related to software development or human-computer interaction.
The income in the AR/VR industry can also be lucrative. Depending on the role, the average salary of a VR graduate ranges from $80,000 to $120,000 annually. Those with more experience can earn over $130,000 per year.
Conclusion
Virtual reality is one of the emerging technologies today. It is expected to generate millions of dollars in the future. This is among the reasons why many colleges started to offer degree programs specializing in VR.
The best institutions for quality VR education are the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and the University of Southern California. However, you can also consider public educational establishments, such as the University of Washington and the University of Maryland.
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