| School | City | State |
|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green State University | Bowling Green | Ohio |
| Brigham Young University | Provo | Utah |
| California State University Fullerton | Fullerton | California |
| California State University Long Beach | Long Beach | California |
| California State University Northridge | Northridge | California |
| San Jose State University | San Jose | California |
| University of California Los Angeles | Los Angeles | California |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando | Florida |
| University of South Florida | Tampa | Florida |
| University of Texas at Dallas | Richardson | Texas |
Let’s be honest. People like to grumble about how expensive college is today but the truth is, going to college has never been cheap. Sure, tuition has skyrocketed over the years (the average cost for tuition, fees, room and board was $21,728 for all 4-year institutions for the 2014-2015 school year, up from $10,624 for the 1985-86 school year), but parents and students have always struggled to pay tuition and related costs. Even students from affluent families often applied (and still do apply) for scholarships, grants, and other sources of “free” money to help pay for school. In 1985, $10,000 was a lot of money—and for many it still is!
Besides applying for every imaginable source of money that doesn’t have to be paid back, many families opted for public schools, which often cost less than private schools do. Another way they minimized costs was to seek out the most affordable schools—whether public or private. This is still a good way to go today because believe it or not “affordable” schools do exist, especially if you’re a resident of the same state. And fortunately, affordable doesn’t mean that the school isn’t competitive. In fact, the schools on our list rank among the best in the nation.
While it may be tough to get in, if you do, you can expect to graduate with less debt than you would if you were to graduate from a number of other top schools. Here’s why: tuition is just one part of the puzzle. These schools also do an excellent job of matching students with the right scholarships, grants, and other sources of that free money we talked about earlier. So even if you notice that tuition costs still seem a bit high at any given school on our list, it is offset because students won’t graduate with a ton of debt.
Let’s take a look at 10 of the most affordable places to score an animation degree, and a couple of bonuses at the end. Please note that the schools are not ranked, they are listed alphabetically, and “tuition” does not include fees, books, housing, transportation, or other school-related expenses. In some cases, fees are nearly as high as tuition.
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio
Established in 1910, Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is home to 19,000 students at its campuses in Bowling Green and Huron, Ohio. The school offers more than 200 undergraduate majors and programs on the main campus, and eight baccalaureate and 14 associate degree programs at BGSU Firelands in Huron. Undergraduate programs for aspiring animators include a BFA in Digital Arts and a BA in Art with a Digital Arts Specialization with three Focus Areas—Computer Animation & Video, Imaging, and Interactive Multimedia. Graduate programs include an MFA in Art with a Major in Digital Arts (Computer Animation, Digital Imaging, and Interactive Media).
Eighty percent of all entering freshmen receive financial aid and the school awards an average of 5,800 scholarships totaling approximately $20 million each year. BGSU also has a large work-study program that helps employ approximately 4,500 students on campus.
Tuition: Main Campus $10,590 for the 2014-2015 school year for Ohio residents. Non-residents must pay an additional non-resident fee of $7,308. Firelands Campus - $4,931 for the 2014-2015 school year for Ohio residents. Non-residents must pay an additional non-resident fee of $7,308.
Average Student Debt: According to College Factual, 66 percent of incoming freshmen at BGSU utilize federal student loans to help pay tuition, averaging $6,992 per year. Borrowing the average amount will result in loans of $13,984 after two years and $27,968 after four.
Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
Founded in 1875, Brigham Young University (BYU) is home to 32,615 students enrolled in 178 majors, 109 minors, 69 master’s programs and 26 doctorate programs. Programs for aspiring animators include a BS in Computer Science with an Animation Emphasis and a BFA in Animation.
Around 50 percent of incoming freshmen receive financial aid. BYU offers department and college scholarships in addition to university scholarships. The average financial aid package is $9,500.
Tuition: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) members pay $5,300 for the 2016-2017 school year. Non-LDS students pay $10,600 for the 2016-2017 school year.
Average Student Debt: According to College Factual, the average loan amount for all undergrads at BYU is $6,071 Per Year. Borrowing the average amount will result in loans of $12,142 after two years and $24,284 after four.
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, California
In 1957, California State University Fullerton (Cal State Fullerton or CSU Fullerton) became the 12th state college in California to be authorized by the Legislature as a degree-granting institution. One of 23 campuses in the California State University system, Cal State Fullerton is home to 37,000 students enrolled in 107 degree programs across eight colleges. Programs for aspiring animators include a BFA in Art with an Entertainment Art/Animation Concentration.
Most incoming freshmen receive some form of financial aid. The school offers a wide variety of scholarships and awards to honor outstanding achievement. Nearly $2 million in scholarships and awards is paid annually at Cal State Fullerton. Students may also apply for external scholarships, internal and external grants, federal work-study, Dream Loans, Middle Class Scholarship (MCS), and federal direct loan programs.
Tuition: $5,472 for the 2015-2016 school year for residents. Non-residents must add $372.00 for each unit of credit taken or $248 per quarter unit.
Average Student Debt: According to College Factual, freshmen at CSU Fullerton take out an average of $5,445 in loans their first year. The average loan amount for all undergrads is $6,298 per year. Borrowing the average amount will result in loans of $12,596 after two years and $25,192 after four.
California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, California
California State University Long Beach (Cal State Long Beach, CSU Long Beach or CSULB) began its first day of classes on September 28, 1949. The school is home to 37,430 students enrolled in 85 baccalaureate, 64 masters, and four doctoral degree programs across eight colleges. Programs for aspiring animators include a BFA in Studio with two tracks—Animation and Illustration, MFA and MA degrees in Studio, and a BA in Film and Electronic Arts.
Most CSULB students receive some form of financial aid. Students may apply for general campus and/or university wide scholarships (open to CSULB students of any major and focus on personal attributes/activities of the applicant), external scholarships, internal and external grants, federal work-study, Dream Loans, Middle Class Scholarship (MCS), and federal direct loan programs.
Tuition: $5,472 for the 2016-2017 school year for residents. Non-residents must add $372.00 for each unit of credit taken per semester or $248 per quarter unit.
Average Student Debt: According to College Factual, freshmen at Cal State Long Beach take out an average of $5,492 in loans their first year. The average loan amount for all undergrads is $6,229 per year. Borrowing the average amount will result in loans of $12,458 after two years and $24,916 after four.
California State University Northridge, Northridge, California
California State University Northridge (CSUN) began was established by the State of California in 1958. The school is home to 41,548 students enrolled in 68 baccalaureate, 58 masters, and two professional doctorate degrees, as well as 14 teaching credential programs. Animation offerings include BA and MA degrees in Visual Arts with a Concentration in Animation.
According to CSUN’s Division of Academic Affairs, Office of Institutional Research, all students received grant/scholarship aid in 2012. Students also received aid in the form of external scholarships, federal work-study, Dream Loans, Middle Class Scholarship (MCS), and federal direct loan programs.
Tuition: $3,272 for the 2016-2017 school year for residents. Non-residents must add $372.00 for each unit of credit taken per semester or $248 per quarter unit.
Average Student Debt: According to College Factual, freshmen at CSUN take out an average of $4,957 in loans their first year. The average loan amount for all undergrads is $6,248 per year. Borrowing the average amount will result in loans of $12,496 after two years and $24,992 after four.
San Jose State University, San Jose, California
Founded in 1857, San Jose State University (SJSU) is home to 32,773 students enrolled in 145 areas of study with an additional 108 concentrations. The school houses eight colleges, including the College of Humanities and the Arts (CHA). CHA’s Department of Design offers a BFA in Animation/Illustration.
Most SJSU students receive some form of financial assistance, and some of it does not have to be paid back. Students may apply for university or SJSU campus based scholarships, department based scholarships or private scholarships such as the Middle Class Scholarship (MCS). Grants and federal work-study are also on the menu as well as Dream Loans and federal direct loan programs.
Tuition: $8,254 for the 2016-2017 school year for residents. Non-residents must add $372.00 for each unit of credit taken per semester or $248 per quarter unit.
Average Student Debt: According to College Factual, freshmen at SJSU take out an average of $5,477 in loans their first year. The average loan amount for all undergrads is $6,149 per year. Borrowing the average amount will result in loans of $12,298 after two years and $24,596 after four.
University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
Founded in 1919 as the Southern Branch of the University of California, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) is home to 43,301 students enrolled more than 5,000 courses in 124 undergraduate majors, 98 master’s programs, 109 doctoral and professional programs, and 91 minors through UCLA College and 12 professional schools. Programs for aspiring animators include the Animation Workshop, which is a three-year MFA program (Animation MFA), and a BFA with a Concentration in Animation.
Most UCLA students receive some form of financial assistance, and some of it does not have to be paid back. The school offers a tremendous amount of financial support. In fact, more than 40 percent of undergraduates pay no tuition at all. About 39 percent of undergraduates receive Pell Grants—federal aid for students from low-income families.
Tuition: $11,220 for the 2016-2017 school year for residents. Non-residents must pay an additional Non-resident Supplemental Tuition (NRST) fee of $26,682.
Average Student Debt: According to College Factual, freshmen at UCLA take out an average of $6,243 in loans their first year. The average loan amount for all undergrads is $6,125 per year. Borrowing the average amount will result in loans of $12,250 after two years and $24,500 after four.
University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
The University of Central Florida (UCF) was founded in 1963. With a student population of 60,810, UCF is the nation’s second largest university. The school offers 175 bachelor’s and master’s degrees and 31 doctoral programs across 13 colleges. Animation offerings include a BFA in Art with an Emerging Media Track/Character Animation Specialization and an Emerging Media Track/Experimental Animation Specialization, and an MFA in Emerging Media with a Digital Media, Entrepreneurial Digital Cinema, or “Studio Art and the Computer” Track.
Around 77 percent of the school’s students receive financial aid. More than $437 million in financial aid has been awarded at the school along with $44.9 million to Bright Futures students (second-largest amount in Florida), and 275 National Merit Scholars enrolled, a UCF record. Students may apply for grants, loans, work-study and a range of external scholarships.
Tuition: $105.07 per credit hour for the 2016-2017 school year for residents. Non-residents must pay an additional $511.06 per credit hour for the 2016-2017 school year.
Average Student Debt: According to College Factual, freshmen at UCF take out an average of $5,694 in loans their first year. The average loan amount for all undergrads is $7,011 per year. Borrowing the average amount will result in loans of $14,022 after two years and $28,044 after four.
University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
The University of South Florida (USF) was founded in 1956. The school is home to 36,463 students enrolled in 180 undergraduate majors and concentrations across 14 colleges. The school also has a Sarasota-Manatee campus and a smaller waterfront campus in St. Petersburg that offers more than 40 graduate and undergraduate programs in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business and Education. Programs for aspiring animators include BA and BFA degrees in Studio Art with a Focus in Video, Animation, and Digital Arts.
Most USF students receive some form of financial aid, with the average award totaling $10,134. The school offers several forms of public and private financial aid including scholarships, fellowships, grants, work-study programs and loans.
Tuition: Main campus (Tampa) $211.19 per credit hour for fall 2015, summer 2016 for residents. Non-residents paid $575.01 per credit hour for fall 2015, summer 2016.
Average Student Debt: According to College Factual, freshmen at USF take out an average of $7,489 in loans their first year. The average loan amount for all undergrads is $8,106 per year. Borrowing the average amount will result in loans of $16,212 after two years and $32,424 after four.
University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas
Founded in 1969, the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) houses eight schools that offer 136 academic programs to a population of 24,554 students. The School of Arts and Humanities houses the Department of Arts and Technology (ATEC), which offers several programs for aspiring animators. Options include a BA in Arts and Technology (BA ATEC), an MA in Arts and Technology (MA ATEC), an MFA in Arts and Technology (MFA ATEC), and a PhD in Arts and Technology (PhD ATEC).
Most UT Dallas students receive some form of financial assistance and the school offers many scholarship opportunities. According to UT Dallas, some scholarship programs provide funding throughout the student’s undergraduate or graduate career provided the student meets continuing eligibility requirements. Students may also apply for grants, work-study, and student loans.
Tuition: $11,192 (12 credit hours per semester) for the 2016-2017 school year for residents and $28,808 for the 2016-2017 school year for non-residents.
Average Student Debt: According to the UT Dallas website, in 2012, the school’s graduates were among those with the least student debt in the country. The school also had one of the lowest percentages of graduates who carry debt after graduation. Around 36 percent of UT Dallas undergraduate alumni who graduated in 2012 owed payment on loans taken out to support their education. Their average amount of debt, which included the cumulative amount borrowed by students who incurred debt, was $17,516. The national average was $26,000 according to the school.
Here’s a Tip: Did you know that in addition to seeking out more affordable schools to save money, you can also save by enrolling in a shorter program? We found two excellent schools that offer programs that will allow you to graduate in a shorter amount of time, resulting in much less debt. And because you can complete many of these programs online, you will save on the costs that come with commuting to and studying on campus. The two schools include Animation Mentor and The DAVE School.
Animation Mentor, Emeryville, California
Animation Mentor: The Online Animation School opened in 2005 “to address the need for industry-trained animators by uniting students with industry professionals in a production environment.” The longest on-campus program the school offers is 72 weeks. Students take six 12-week classes to earn a Certificate of Completion. Each class costs $2,499 for a total of $14,994 for the program. Students may apply for student loans, grant reimbursement programs, and corporate discount programs to help offset tuition costs. At the end of the day, because the program is shorter and online, students graduate with around 50 percent less debt than the national average.
Animation Mentor also offers six to twelve-week workshops, including Maya Workshop: Animation Basics ($699). Animation Mentor and The ACME Network have partnered to provide animation scholarships to young and talented animators who wish to enroll in the Maya Workshop. According to the school, “both organizations have committed to working together to give back and bring ongoing education opportunities to young people across the U.S.” Depending on the workshop, costs are $699, $899, or $2,499 for the entire program.
The DAVE School, Orlando, Florida
The Digital Animation & Visual Effects School (The DAVE School) was founded on June 8, 2000 and it is a division of Florida Technical College (FTC). The school is located at Universal Studios Florida, Sound Stage 25, and average class sizes range from 20 and 30 students. Max is 40. The DAVE School offers a 48-week Visual Effects Production program that costs $33,500 (2015). A Game Production program, which takes 60 weeks to complete, also costs $33,500 (2015). There are no additional costs or supplies required for the completion of the programs. Both programs award an Accredited Diploma.
Other offerings include bachelor’s degrees in Motion Graphics ($50,040) or Production Programming with a track in Game Programming or Productivity. Total tuition for both programs is $50,040 and both programs are offered online only. This helps save money on housing, transportation, campus-related fees, and other similar costs.
Financial aid is available for those who qualify. The Pell Grant, Federal Student Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG), and Federal Work Study (FWS) are the types of aid listed on The DAVE School website. The DAVE School is also approved by the applicable State Approving Agency for Veterans Affairs and participates in many Veterans Educational Benefit programs. DAVE also awards one scholarship to cover the entire amount of tuition for the Visual Effects Production or Game Production program. In addition, three graduating seniors from every high school in the U.S. and Puerto Rico will receive a $1,000 Imagine America Scholarship.
Note: With the exception of student debt information obtained from College Factual, all school, program, and tuition information has been obtained directly from each the schools website. At the time this article was published, all information was accurate.
Other Schools to Consider:
Sources
"Average Undergraduate Tuition and Fees and Room and Board Rates Charged for Full-time Students in Degree-granting Postsecondary Institutions, by Level and Control of Institution: 1963-64 through 2014-15." National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences. National Center for Education Statistics, n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2016.
"Financial Aid Received by Students Enrolled in Fall 2012." CSUN Division of Academic Affairs, Office of Institutional Research. California State University Northridge, 2012. Web. 22 Sept. 2016.
"Paying for College, Student Loan Debt." College Factual. Media Factual, n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2016.
"UT Dallas Graduates Among Those with the Least Student Debt in the Country." UT Dallas News. UT Dallas, 10 Sept. 2013. Web. 22 Sept. 2016.