Redmond-based DigiPen Institute of Technology’s Game Design program has secured the No. 2 slot on Princeton Review’s list saluting the 50 best undergraduate institutions in the United States and Canada to study game design.

DigiPen is considered to be the pioneer of digital interactive education, and The Princeton Review is one of America’s most widely known education services and test preparation companies.

While DigiPen’s game programming degree has been in place for over 14 years, its game design degrees began just two years ago.

“We collaborated with industry leaders to develop our Bachelor’s of Science and Bachelor’s of Arts degrees in Game Design in order to meet the increasing demand for a highly qualified workforce in the booming game industry,” according to Claude Comair, founder and CEO of DigiPen Institute of Technology. “It is rewarding to see that this newest program has received the highly esteemed recognition from the Princeton Review and that it is quickly becoming as successful as our other well-established degree programs.”

This recognition complements the one DigiPen received from Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) Magazine’s most recent ranking list, which named DigiPen the best school in the world to study game development.

“For many years, DigiPen’s video game programming, simulation, and animation programs have provided the industry with top-notch programmers and artists,” Comair said. “Our programming students continuously win awards in worldwide competitions, such as the prestigious International Game Festival competitions where DigiPen has won 27 awards over the years, which is over four times more than any other school has received.”

The Princeton Review developed its Top 50 Undergraduate Degrees in Game Design list in partnership with GamePro magazine. Roughly 500 programs were considered in this review. DigiPen placed second within the top eight programs ranked, which are considered to be “the best of the best” on the list.

The remaining 42 programs are listed in alphabetical order. The selection of the top 50 schools was based on surveys that were conducted in 2009 and 2010.

This summer, DigiPen will move to a new, larger campus in Redmond, allowing all of its degree programs to be under one roof.