Taxonomy term

America’s top schools have a number of things in common. According to students, alumni, bloggers, and other similar groups, a top school is affordable and convenient, and it offers easy access to cultural and recreational excursions. A top school also has excellent job placement services and a variety of clubs and organizations. Other considerations may include student population, student life, and even Greek life.

Maryland is home to more than 60 Title IV degree-granting institutions. To become a Title IV school, an institution must meet five specific requirements. They must have accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, they must be in business for at least 2 years, and they must sign a participation agreement with the Department. In addition, Title IV schools must grant an associate's degree or higher and they must offer a program of at least 300 clock hours in length. The state’s Title IV schools are eligible federal financial-aid programs, which makes them more accessible to students with financial need.

From gaming to feature films to advertising, animator’s are in high demand in some of the most profitable industries in the U.S. In 2006, the country was home to 23,790 salaried animators. Today, the nation is home to nearly 30,000 salaried animators and literally thousands of freelancers. Because of the growing demand for talented animators, the number of colleges offering animation programs has grown as well. 

With a population of more than 5.7 million, Maryland is the country’s nineteenth larest state. The state has a handful of major cities including Columbia, Germantown, Silver Spring, Waldorf, and Baltimore— the state’s largest and most progressive city. While Maryland’s principal cities are home to a number of small ad agencies and design firms, most are located in Baltimore. It is here that the state’s star graphic designers converge to create designs for local firms such as The Berndt Group, which was named one of the largest one web design and graphic design firms in the Baltimore area, ADG Creative, Exit10, Alexander & Tom Inc., and Crosby Marketing Communications, to name a few. The city’s pool of graphic designers also work at full-service web design studios, PR firms, graphic design companies, and even technology firms.