Profiles of Schools/Colleges in Maine (ME) Offering Animation, Design, Gaming, and Media Related Programs

According to the Institute of Education Sciences’ most recent report, Maine is home to 32 Title IV degree-granting institutions. A Title IV school is the best option for students with financial need because they are eligible for Title IV financial aid programs. Fortunately, most of the nation’s best schools are also Title IV. To earn Title IV status a school must offer a program of at least 300 clock hours in length, have accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, sign a participation agreement with the Department, and grant an associate's degree or higher. In addition, the school must be in business for at least 2 years.

Maine is such as sweet place to live. So sweet, in fact, that the state produces 99 percent of all the blueberries in the U.S., and the honeybee is the official state insect. Not only is the Maine one of the nation’s sweetest states, it is also home to a wide variety of sprawling national parks, dozens of deep harbors, and one of the country’s largest collection of lighthouses. Besides sweets and scenery, Maine has a vibrant art scene made up of writers (Steven King lives in Bangor), poets (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland), and thousands of painters and other fine artists.

The job market is tough for everyone—even for individuals with a degree. Creative fields like animation, film, and graphic design are even tougher because companies and studios are looking for talented individuals with multiple skills, and not just in one field of interest. For example, if you’re interested in working for an advertising agency, they will likely require animation skills and web design skills in addition to a large amount of graphic design experience. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that competition in this field is keen, so graphic designers with both web and animation skills will have the best opportunities.

Maine is home to more than 30 accredited colleges, and dozens of art and design schools—including animation schools! Some art & design schools are new to the scene and may not have earned accreditation yet, while others are part of a larger, traditional college or university. Many of the larger, traditional schools offer a variety of programs for artists, including programs that can prepare you for a career in animation. Maine is also home to a top media college and a top art college that offer programs for aspiring animators.