Workforce + Education

Ohio University named a top school for AR/VR Innovation

From the GRID Lab to the global stage, Ohio University is proving to be a powerhouse in immersive tech. A new national ranking places the Bobcats among the top public schools for AR/VR, validating a pipeline that feeds talent to Disney and Google.

Ohio Tech News

21 Jan 2026 — 2 min read

Image: Ohio University

Ohio University is cementing its status as a national leader in immersive technology. The McClure School of Emerging Communication Technologies has been ranked among the top 25 public schools in the United States for Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) by Animation Career Review.

The rankings were determined by evaluating over 80 institutions on academic reputation, employment data, admission selectivity, and value related to tuition.

The details

As the demand for immersive tech talent grows across sectors—from gaming to healthcare—Ohio institutions are proving to be pivotal training grounds.

In its 2025 rankings, Animation Career Review placed Ohio University:

No. 21 among public institutions nationwide.
No. 37 overall, including all private and public colleges in the U.S.

Inside the programs

This recognition highlights the university's dual-pronged approach to the industry, blending creative design with hard-hitting technical infrastructure. The ranking recognizes two specific pathways within the Scripps College of Communication:

Virtual Reality and Game Development (VRGD): A flexible, interdisciplinary major where students shape studies around game design, art, and immersive storytelling. It couples technical skills with minors in business or communication to strengthen leadership and entrepreneurial capabilities.
Information and Telecommunication Systems (ITS): A technical track focused on the "backbone" of digital communication. Students gain hands-on experience in network design, cybersecurity, and cloud systems, with a concentration available specifically for AR/VR and game development applications.

The industry opportunities

Students in these programs utilize the Game Research and Immersive Design (GRID) Lab and the university's Esports Arena. This "theory-to-practice" model has successfully placed graduates at major industry players, including Microsoft, Walt Disney Imagineering, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Google, and Ubisoft.

What's next

Ohio University continues to expand its curriculum to include certificates in esports and social media, aiming to produce graduates who are not just technically proficient, but ethically and socially aware of the impact of immersive tech.

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