The Global Gaming League (GGL), a worldwide leader in organized competitive online and live video game tournaments and events, has named the Top 10 Gaming Colleges in the United States. Students may choose colleges for their diverse student bodies, football teams or active Greek life, but a growing number of students are choosing colleges based on their compatibility with video gaming.
The appeal of super hi-speed connections and dedicated servers, big-screen TVs in lounges, gaming-related classes, social events centering around LAN parties and perks like free download licensing are increasingly part of the lure of certain schools.
All of the institutions across the U.S. were evaluated by the GGL staff on seven factors: size of the student body; geographical location; student organizations; tournaments and LAN parties; tech-friendliness; Internet connections; and curriculum.
The GGL Top 10 Gaming Colleges Survey:
1. University of Texas, Austin
2. Penn State University, State College, PA
3. Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
4. University of California, Los Angeles, CA
5. Digipen Institute of Technology, Redmond, WA
6. University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
7. Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
8. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus, Minneapolis, MS
9. University of Michigan, Dearborn Campus, Dearborn, MI
10. Full Sail Real World Education, Orlando, FL
The University of Texas, Austin reached the number one spot not only for amazing Internet connection at the dorms, but two separate arcades on campus that specialize in old school and new school games (such as Dance Dance Revolution). Austin is also home to two very active LAN centers: TekRepublik and Cyberjocks. If that's not enough, The Texas Gaming Association is on hand to throw 100-man LAN parties, and numerous gaming organizations, such as the Texas Gaming Festival, exist outside the university.
Honorable mentions include: VirginiaTech, Blacksburg, VA; University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA; University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE and Arizona State University, AZ.