• Online & In-Person • Tuition-Based & State-Funded • School Year & Summer
Your future shouldn’t have to wait
Earn college credit before you graduate
Explore pre-college programs for high school students in video game design, programming, art and animation, or music and sound design and interactive digital media.
Start building your future before graduation through DigiPen Academy's Pre-College Summer Programs for high school students. Our supportive, project-based approach helps students build real-world skills, complete meaningful projects, and offers the opportunity to earn early college credit in technology and creative disciplines.
For more than 20 years, DigiPen Academy has been preparing today's creators for tomorrow's careers.
The challenge
Completing a course isn’t the same as real learning.
In many programs, advancement is tied to the calendar. Students move from course to course, earn credits, and receive grades, even when important skills remain underdeveloped. Over time, it becomes harder to tell the difference between completing assignments and truly mastering a subject.
The result? Some students feel disengaged because they aren’t being challenged. Others lose confidence because they haven’t had enough opportunities to build and demonstrate real capability.
At DigiPen Academy, progress is measured by demonstrated learning, not simply by time spent in the classroom. Students develop skills through structured coursework, applied learning experiences, meaningful projects, and ongoing feedback. They refine their work, strengthen their understanding, and master the skills needed to succeed in college and beyond.
The outcome goes beyond earning college credit or a grade on a transcript. It's the confidence that comes from knowing they can actually do the work. The work speaks for itself.
Choose the program path that fits your goals
Online or in person. During the school year or summer. State-funded or tuition-based.
DigiPen Academy offers multiple pathways designed to meet students where they are and help them build skills, earn credit, and explore future academic and career opportunities.
Spend four weeks learning from DigiPen Academy instructors while collaborating with peers to design and build a game. Students develop portfolio-ready work and receive a transcript that can support college applications.
Designed for students ready for college-level academics, these individual courses provide the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school. Students receive an official transcript and gain an early start on post-secondary study.
Study during the school year through DigiPen Academy’s WANIC Skill Center Program. Students develop real skills through project-based learning, earn advanced credit, and gain experience that prepares them for college and future careers.
Explore technology and creative disciplines through introductory summer courses available to students in participating consortium school districts. Students build foundational skills and earn high school credit.
See the WANIC experience
Discover why students choose DigiPen Academy’s WANIC Skill Center programs
Watch our video to get an inside look at the hands-on learning, real-world projects, and supportive community that set DigiPen Academy apart. Hear directly from students, parents, instructors, and alumni as they share their WANIC experience.
Fields of Study
Explore interactive digital media
Students learn through college-level coursework and project-based experiences that develop creative, technical, and problem-solving skills across a range of disciplines.
Build a strong visual foundation while creating characters, environments, and assets for games and interactive media.
Design engaging player experiences through systems thinking, storytelling, and user-centered design.
Develop the technical foundation behind games using math, physics, and industry-relevant programming practices.
Create immersive audio experiences through sound effects, interactive audio, and music for games and digital media.
Student Showcase
The work speaks for itself
More than grades. Real work. Explore games, animations, soundtracks, artwork, and interactive experiences created by DigiPen Academy students.
Ready to Begin?
Choose your next step
Whether you’re looking for a summer experience, an early college credit course, or a state-funded WANIC pathway, DigiPen Academy offers multiple ways for students to build skills, earn credit, and prepare for what’s next.
Got Questions?
An Academy Coordinator will be happy to speak with you. Call (425) 629-5007 or email us at academy@digipen.edu.
Pre-College Summer Programs
Early College Credit Courses
WANIC Full-Year Programs
WANIC Summer Programs
Looking for fun, STEAM-based workshops for K-12 students?
Our partners at DigiPen Institute of Technology offer after-school clubs and day camps that allow your K-12 student to explore their passions and build their skills with fun projects and engaging teachers.