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School | City |
---|---|
Regent University | Virginia Beach |
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Blacksburg |
Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond |
Virginia is home to a whopping 129 recognized colleges and universities. Many offer excellent programs for aspiring artists and designers of all kinds—including animators.
Organizations such as U.S. News & World Report, Princeton Review, and Forbes review these schools each year to determine which ones deserve a spot on the list of best schools in the U.S. Each year, dozens of Virginia schools make the cut based on faculty resources, graduation and retention rates, financial resources, student selectivity, number/variety of program offerings, and peer assessment.
Just a few of Virginia’s finest Title IVs include the University of Virginia, Norfolk State University, Virginia Tech, George Mason University in Fairfax, and Virginia Intermont College. Continue reading to find out which Virginia schools offer top-tier programs for artists and designers.
Best Animation School Programs Virginia
Virginia’s 129 recognized colleges and universities have also been evaluated by the U.S. Department of Education. The Department grants Title IV status to schools that meet five requirements. They must (1) grant an associate's degree or higher, (2) offer a program of at least 300 clock hours in length, (3) have accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, (4) sign a participation agreement with the Department, and (5) be in business for at least 2 years prior to assessment.
Not only does Title IV add credibility, it allows schools to participate in federal financial aid programs. This means, even the best and most expensive schools are more accessible to students with financial need. Scroll through the list below to find out which Virginia schools are the best schools for aspiring animators and what they have to offer.
Best Graphic Design School Programs Virginia – Major Cities
Virginia Beach
Regent University - Degrees Offered: B. A. Animation
Best Graphic Design School Programs Virginia – Other Cities and Towns
Blacksburg
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Studio Arts with Concentration in Digital Art, B. F. A. Visual Communication Design; M. F. A. Creative Technologies. NOTE: Studio Arts majors can choose a concentration from disciplines including animation, ceramics, creative technologies, digital art, drawing, painting, and sculpture. Visual communication and graphic design offers concentrations in 3D animation, creative technologies, visual communication design, graphic design, and modeling.
Petersburg
Virginia State University - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Visual Arts with Concentration in Animation, Graphic Design
More Programs to Consider:
Selected Campus Locations:
- San Francisco & Online
Selected Programs:
Animation Career Review Rankings:
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#10) - 2024
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#34) - 2024
- Top 50 Nationally for Illustration (#24) - 2024
- Top 25 Nationally for UX/UI/HCI (#13) - 2024
- Top 25 Nationally for Visual Effects (#5) - 2023
Selected Campus Locations:
- Winter Park, FL & Online
Selected Programs:
Animation Career Review Rankings:
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#14) - 2024
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#12) - 2024
- Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#36) - 2024
Selected Campus Locations:
- Atlanta, Georgia; Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and SCAD eLearning
Selected Programs:
- Animation – BFA, MA, MFA
- Film and Television – BFA, MA, MFA
- Graphic Design – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Illustration – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Immersive Reality - BFA
- Interactive Design and Game Development – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Motion Media Design – BFA, MA, MFA
- Sequential Art – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Visual Effects – BFA, MA, MFA
- User Experience (UX) Design – BFA
Animation Career Review Rankings:
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#2) - 2024
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#8) - 2024
- Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#6) - 2024
- Top 50 Nationally for Illustration (#5) - 2024
- Top 25 Nationally for Visual Effects (#2) - 2023
Selected Campus Locations:
- Online
Selected Programs:
Animation Career Review Rankings:
- Top 25 International Animation Training Programs (#18) - 2024
Selected Campus Locations:
- Online