| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ringling College of Art and Design | Sarasota |
| 2 | University of Central Florida | Orlando |
| 3 | Full Sail University | Winter Park |
| 4 | University of Florida | Gainesville |
| 5 | Florida State University | Tallahassee |
| 6 | University of South Florida | Tampa |
| 7 | DAVE School | Orlando |
| 8 | Florida International University | Miami |
| 9 | University of Tampa | Tampa |
| 10 | Lynn University | Boca Raton |
Our 2026 ranking -our fifteenth annual- of the top animation school programs in Florida. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
Ringling College of Art and Design (RCAD) has a Computer Animation BFA program that provides internship opportunities at places such as Pixar, Nickelodeon, and DreamWorks. Other program features include courses taught by industry professionals; guest speakers; and real-world projects with area studios. RCAD also houses a Motion Design BFA that explores 2D and 3D animation, visual effects (VFX), stop motion animation, graphic design, storytelling, and sound design. Programs culminate with a polished animated production. Graduates have gone on to work on several Oscar-nominated animation feature films and for studios such as Pixar, Weta FX, Disney Animation, Electronic Arts (EA), Cartoon Network, Lucasfilm, Nickelodeon, Sony Pictures Animation, LAIKA, and Blizzard Entertainment.
University of Central Florida (UCF) provides several paths to study animation. At the undergraduate level, students can earn an Emerging Media BFA with an Animation and Visualization track (formerly Experimental Animation) or the Character Animation track. At the graduate level options include the Interactive Entertainment MS; Digital Media MA; or Emerging Media MFA with an Animation and Visual Effects track. As part of UCF’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA), students benefit from internships with major studios and 24/7 access to state-of the art production studios. UCF FIEA graduates are routinely hired at places such as Pixar, Electronic Arts (EA), Disney, Marvel, Epic Games, Google, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Apple, DreamWorks, Gameloft, and Blizzard Entertainment.
Full Sail University (Full Sail) has a Computer Animation BS program that can be completed online or in-person. While the campus-based program takes just 20 months to complete and the online program takes 29 months, the curriculums are identical. Students will complete several professional development seminar courses along with seven project and portfolio courses covering computer animation and 3D art. Hundreds of Full Sail graduates have been credited on Academy-, Grammy-, and Primetime Emmy Award-nominated projects. Alumni can also be found at places such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), MTV, Disney, HBO, Insomniac Games, Electronic Arts (EA), Pixar, Apple, Blizzard Entertainment, Nickelodeon, Epic Games, Universal Studios, Google, Warner Bros., and Sony.
The College of the Arts (COTA) at University of Florida (UF) houses an interdisciplinary Digital Arts and Sciences BA (BADAS) program that highlights courses such as 2D and 3D Digital Animation Techniques, 3D Character Animation, and Digital Storytelling. A DAS minor is also available and open to most majors. The 15 credit-hour minor can be added to most UF programs. Both programs feature project-based curriculums; access to state-of-the-art studios and production facilities; and internship opportunities. The BADAS program culminates with a final project. COTA graduates can be found at places such as DreamWorks Animation, Insomniac Games, Disney, Blizzard Entertainment, Electronic Arts (EA), Sony Pictures Imageworks, Epic Games, Microsoft, and Sony Music.
The College of Motion Picture Arts at Florida State University (FSU) has an intensive four-year conservatory program that focuses on CG animation. Leading to a BFA in Animation, the program limits each cohort to just 10 students. Courses and collaborative projects take place in an environment that functions like today's major studios. Students have 24/7 access as well as access to the Torchlight Center for Motion Picture Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Throughout the BFA program students will complete four major films. Graduates are routinely hired at places such as Disney, Cartoon Network, Epic Games, Nickelodeon, Pixar, Sony Pictures Imageworks, DreamWorks, Electronic Arts (EA), NBCUniversal, Xbox Game Studios, Warner Bros., Apple, HBO, Lucasfilm Animation, and Netflix.
University of South Florida (USF) is home to the College of Design, Art, and Performance. Within the college is the School of Art and Art History, which has a Studio Art program leading to a BA, BFA, MFA, or minor. An Animation and Digital Modeling concentration is open to students in all programs. Other Studio Art highlights include travel to Miami art fairs, London, Venice, Paris, and New York through the Summer Art Program; participation in public art exhibitions; The Paris or London Middlesex Program; museum and other internships; and self-directed projects. Programs culminate with a final project and presentation. Graduates can be found at places such as Disney, Microsoft, Google, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Universal, The Dali Museum, Rolling Stone, Dell, Vogue, Morean Arts Center, and STRAZ.
DAVE School of Digital Arts (DAVE School) provides formal programs from Digital Arts and Technology (DAT) and Visual Effects (VFX) Production to Game Production (GP) and Virtual Production (VP). Many degree-seeking animators choose the DAT BS program, which focuses on areas such as facial rigging and animation, body mechanics, motion capture, prop and world design, game interactions, and digital scene creation using industry-standard tools such as Unreal Engine, Maya, and After Effects. The program culminates with the two VFX projects and an in-house game for the student’s final demo reel. DAVE graduates have gone on to work with studios such as Sony Interactive Entertainment, Warner Bros. Games, Marvel Studios, Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Naughty Dog, MPC, and Brown Bag Films.
Florida International University (FIU) provides two paths to study animation across two schools. Options include the Digital Arts BFA with an Animation major in the School of Art and Art History, and the Digital Media and Communication BS with an Animation Media major in the Lee Caplin School of Journalism and Media. Program highlights include hands-on projects; the option to take courses from both programs; access to state-of-the-art facilities including a virtual reality lab, computer labs, television studios, and a newsroom; and professional internships. The culminating experience for both programs is an animated project. Graduates have landed positions at places such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Disney, Nickelodeon, Electronic Arts (EA), Pixar, MTV, Insomniac Games, Unity Technologies, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Warner Bros., and NBCUniversal.
The Department of Film, Animation and New Media at University of Tampa houses an Animation BFA program that focuses on 2D/3D animation, CGI, and motion effects. An Animation minor is also available. Program highlights include hands-on studio courses; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; internships at places such as Sony Music Entertainment in New York and Film Tampa Bay; the FMX Filmmaker and Artist Series; and opportunities to work on film shoots in the Tampa Bay area. Students have worked on productions such as Dolphin Tale and Not Alone. The program culminates with the Senior Project in FMX course. Graduates can be found at places such as MGM, Sony, LAIKA, Fox Corporation, Nexstar Media Group, Feld Entertainment Company, Theory Studios, and Bluewater Media.
The College of Communication and Design at Lynn University (Lynn) houses two paths to study animation—the Computer Animation BFA and a STEM-designated MFA in Virtual Production and Visual Effects Animation. The BFA has two tracks including Computer Animation and Game Art. The MFA features a multidisciplinary curriculum that explores areas such as advanced visual effects, medical animation, web and multimedia, automotive visualization, industrial design, and marketing and promotion. The Computer Animation BFA program culminates with a professional portfolio. MFA students will complete a thesis project to graduate. Across programs, graduates have been hired at places such as MTV, Amazon, Warner Bros., CBS, Univision, Fox Corporation, and United Airlines.
