University of Arizona’s Augmented and Virtual Reality Programs Rise to #20 Nationally
Animation Career Review ranks InfoSci programs #20 nationally for AR/VR, top 12 among public institutions.
Photo by Thapana_Studio, courtesy Adobe Stock.
The University of Arizona has once again secured its place among the nation’s top programs for augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), according to the 2025 rankings from Animation Career Review. Climbing one spot from last year, Arizona now ranks #20 nationally, with continued recognition as #12 among public universities and #4 in the Southwest. This marks the university’s second consecutive year in the top tier—and reflects the growing national reputation of programs housed in the College of Information Science (InfoSci).
Animation Career Review’s annual AR/VR rankings, now in their fifth year, evaluate academic programs based on a blend of criteria: depth and breadth of curriculum, faculty expertise, institutional reputation, employment and internship data, and facilities and technologies available to students. Arizona’s placement highlights the success of three core programs within the college: Bachelor of Science in Game Design and Development, Bachelor of Arts in Games and Behavior and Master of Science in Information Science (Human-Centered Computing subplan).
These programs combine technical training with interdisciplinary creativity, offering students hands-on experience in extended reality (XR), game mechanics, user interaction design and immersive storytelling—skills increasingly sought after across industries ranging from entertainment and education to healthcare and defense.
“Our students are not just learning how to build VR and AR experiences, they’re thinking deeply about how these technologies shape the way we live, work and connect with others,” says Ren Boz, assistant professor and co-director of the Extended Reality and Games (XRG) Lab. “That human-centered perspective is part of everything we do, whether it’s designing a therapeutic VR environment or developing next-generation user interfaces.”
The College of Information Science’s AR/VR curriculum is supported by cutting-edge lab facilities, collaborative research opportunities and ties to industry. The XRG Lab offers students access to the latest in motion tracking, haptic feedback and spatial computing—tools that ground theoretical learning in real-world application.
For InfoSci interim dean Catherine Brooks, this recognition underscores the college’s continued commitment to blending technical innovation with ethical and social awareness. “Extended reality technologies are reshaping how people engage with information, and our programs are helping students lead that transformation,” she says. “We’re proud to see our approach—one that emphasizes creativity, collaboration and critical thinking—continue to be recognized on the national stage.”
As immersive media continues to expand its reach and relevance, the College of Information Science and University of Arizona remain focused on preparing students to lead in a space where art, code and human experience converge.
Explore the Bachelor of Science in Game Design and Development, Bachelor of Arts in Games and Behavior and Master of Science in Information Science, or learn more about the Extended Reality and Games Lab.