Animation Career Review named Rochester Institute of Technology one of the top augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) schools in the country. RIT was ranked #8 on the list of the 50 Best AR/VR Colleges in the USA for 2022
The 2022 ranking considered 75 universities with AR/VR specialties. The annual rankings were produced by Animation Career Review, an online resource for aspiring professionals in animation, game design and development, graphic design, and digital art.
The list also named RIT #5 among private colleges and #3 on the East Coast. RIT was ranked among the best AR/VR colleges in 2021. The list is based on criteria related to academic reputation, employment data, admission selectivity, and value in terms of tuition and debt.
Animation Career Review noted that RIT students have access to the university’s AR/VR lab called Frameless Labs. Located at RIT’s MAGIC Center, the lab is designed for research and experimentation with AR/VR platforms, technologies and hardware. There, members of the Extended Reality (XR) community work together and raise awareness for research, innovation and artistic creation in the fields of AR and VR. Researchers are currently working on projects related to the development and evaluation of virtual reality paradigms for gaze-dependent visual rehabilitation, color and material appearance in AR, mixed reality theater (funded by Epic Games), historical New York stories in VR, and AR, and VR capabilities for the Cary Graphic Arts Collection.
Coursework in various RIT majors focuses on adapting digital technologies for AR/VR, touch interfaces, the web, wearable devices, social software, and other new and emerging devices, systems, and experiences. RIT offers several programs for aspiring AR/VR developers including:
As part of some coursework, RIT students are given the opportunity to work on projects for corporate clients. Students also participate in paid work experience in the industry known as cooperative education (co-op). Graduates will be prepared for careers in a variety of industries, from entertainment to aerospace. Some of the possible job titles are AR/VR Developer, Interactive Developer, UX Engineer, Technical Lead, Application Developer, and Digital Engineer.
Virtual Reality is a computer-generated experience that gives users the feeling of being immersed in the digital environment. Augmented Reality is a technology that allows users to augment their view of the real world with computer-generated information.
For the full AR/VR rankings, visit the Animation Career Review 2022 AR/VR Rankings website.
