California is home to 454 Title IV degree-granting institutions. These schools are eligible for Title IV federal financial-aid programs, which makes them more accessible to students with financial need. To earn Title IV status, these schools have obtained accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, they have been in business for at least two years, they have signed a participation agreement with the Department, and they grant an associate's degree or higher. Title IV schools must also offer a program of at least 300 clock hours in length.
Many California Title IV schools offer some of the best art and design programs in the world. Because these programs are among the best, they are competitive and in many cases, expensive. However, mentioned, because these schools are Title IV, financial assistance is available. Even better is, a degree in art or animation from any of these schools will surely help you stand out from the crowd.
If you’re ready to shop and compare California animation schools, take a look at the most expensive to least expensive schools below and what you can expect to pay. Please keep in mind that, unless noted, the figures below do not include fees, room and board, etc.
Gnomon School of Visual Effects, Hollywood - Tuition Cost: Entertainment Design and Digital Production $85,992 for the three-year program, $15,432 total for terms one through four, $70,560 total for terms five through twelve; Digital Production for Entertainment, $70,560 for the eight-term/two-year program; Entertainment Design $16,400 for the four-term/one-year program. Rates are current as of 2015.
University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate $48,347; Graduate $47,562 (flat rate 15 to 18 units per semester) for the 2014-2015 school year.
Chapman University, Orange - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate $44,710 for the 2014-2015 school year.
California Institute of the Arts, Valencia - Tuition Cost: $43,400 for the 2015-2016 school year.
California College of the Arts, San Francisco - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate $41,592; Graduate $17,340 (12 units or $1,445 per unit) for the 2014-2015 school year.
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate $41,385 for the 2014-2015 school year.
San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate $39,226; Graduate $41,100 for the 2014-2015 school year.
Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate $38,290; Graduate $39,290 for the 2014-2015 school year.
Art Center College of Design, Pasadena - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate $37,330; Graduate $39,452 for Spring and Summer 2015.
Biola University, La Mirada - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate $34,498; Graduate $557 per credit hour for the 2015-2016 school year.
Woodbury University, Burbank - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate $34,448; Graduate $586 per unit for the 2014-2015 school year.
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM), Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County (Irvine), San Francisco - Tuition Cost: A. A. Digital Media, $29,815 for the 2014-2015 school year.
Laguna College of Art and Design, Laguna Beach - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate $28,100 for the 2015-2016 school year.
SAE Expression College, Emeryville - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate $23,600 for 2015.
Academy of Art University, San Francisco - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate Online & Onsite $835 per unit/$10,200 for 12 units/$20,400 for 24 units; Graduate $935 per unit/$11,220 for 12 units/$22,440 for 24 units for the 2014-2015 school year.
University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC), Santa Cruz - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate residents $13,398, nonresidents $22,878; Graduate residents $13,260, nonresidents $15,102 for 2014-2015 school year.
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate residents $13,641, nonresidents $37,665 (tuition and fees); Graduate residents $11,220, nonresidents $34,098 for the 2014-2015 school year.
University of California San Diego, San Diego - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate residents $13,456, nonresidents $36,334; Graduate residents $16,130, nonresidents $31,412 (tuition and fees) for the 2014-2015 school year.
University of California Irvine, Irvine - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate residents $11,220, nonresidents $34,098; Graduate residents $11,220, nonresidents $26,322 for the 2014-2015 school year.
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate resident $10,944, nonresidents add $248/quarter unit or $372/semester unit; Graduate residents add $169/quarter unit, $254/semester unit (professional program fee), plus $248/quarter unit or $372/semester (nonresident fee) for the 2014-2015 school year.
California State University Northridge, Northridge - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate residents $6,348, nonresidents add $372 per unit for the 2014-2015 school year; Graduate residents $6,738, nonresidents add $372 per unit for the 2014-2015 school year.
California State University Chico, Chico - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate residents $5,472, nonresidents add an additional $372 per unit for the 2014-2015; Graduate residents $8,268, nonresidents add an additional $372 per unit for the 2014-2015 school year.
California State University, Long Beach - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate resident $5,472, nonresidents add $372 per unit for the 2014-2015 school year; Graduate residents $6,738, nonresidents add $372 per unit for the 2014-2015 school year.
San Francisco State University, San Francisco - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate resident $5,472, nonresidents add $372 per unit for the 2014-2015 school year; Graduate residents $6,738, nonresidents add $254/semester unit (professional program fee), plus $372/semester unit (nonresident fee) for the 2014-2015 school year.
San Jose State University, San Jose - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate resident $5,472, nonresidents add $372 per unit for the 2014-2015 school year; Graduate residents $6,738, nonresidents add $254/semester unit (professional program fee), plus $372/semester unit (nonresident fee) for the 2014-2015 school year.
More California schools with Animation related programs to consider:
What makes California the world’s most active place for animators? For starters, most of the world’s largest animation studios can be found here including DreamWorks Animation, Sony Pictures Animation, and Walt Disney Feature Animation. The state also has the largest film industry in the world and it is home to more salaried animators than any other place in the world. Currently, the state is home to more than 9,500 salaried animators and multimedia artists, and hundreds of self-employed artists. At $82,170 per year, the state also offers the highest average annual salary for animators.
The California film and video industry employs the highest number of animators in the world, but some animators also work in game design and development, public relations, and advertising. Just a few top California companies for animators include:
Other growing career fields for animators include criminal justice, education, science, architecture, and medicine.
Awesome Animation Fact: The animated film Frozen (2013) passed the $1 billion mark the day it won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film (2014). According to Cartoon Brew, the film's $1.072 billion worldwide gross makes it the highest grossing animated film of all time.
