| Ranking | School | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California, Los Angeles | California |
| 2 | DePaul University | Illinois |
| 3 | University of Texas at Dallas | Texas |
| 4 | The Ohio State University | Ohio |
| 5 | California State University, Long Beach | California |
| 6 | University of Florida | Florida |
| 7 | Columbia College Chicago | Illinois |
| 8 | University of Utah | Utah |
| 9 | Loyola Marymount University | California |
| 10 | North Carolina State University | North Carolina |
| 11 | University of South Florida | Florida |
| 12 | Bowling Green State University | Ohio |
| 13 | Lipscomb University | Tennessee |
| 14 | California State University | California |
| 15 | Tulane University | Louisiana |
| 16 | University of Connecticut | Connecticut |
| 17 | University of South Carolina | South Carolina |
| 18 | California State University, Northridge | California |
| 19 | Dartmouth College | New Hampshire |
| 20 | University of Advancing Technology | Arizona |
| 21 | University of Maryland, Baltimore County | Maryland |
| 22 | Harvard University | Massachusetts |
| 23 | Emerson College | Massachusetts |
| 24 | University of North Carolina, Wilmington | North Carolina |
| 25 | University of Massachusetts ,Amherst | Massachusetts |
For our undergraduate degree rankings, we have evaluated animation schools and programs with the best Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), and Bachelor of Science (BS) options. To determine which degree matches your career goals, it is important to understand how each qualification differs.
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree is the principal liberal arts degree. Most BA programs require 30-some or 40-some credits, which leaves plenty of flexibility in the form of free electives. BA students can use the free electives to sample widely from other course offerings or to earn an additional credential (a second major, a minor, or some combination of additional credentials).
The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree is offered in areas such as Computer Science, Mathematics, Psychology, Statistics, and each of the natural sciences. The BS is best suited to the student who wants to focus more on courses in the major and on 'collateral' courses (like chemistry or mathematics for a major in Geological Sciences) and is willing to give up some of the flexibility of the BA in return for the greater focus.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree is considered the most prestigious bachelor's degree that you can receive in the visual arts. This option is for students who wish to gain as much experience and skill in the arts as possible.
The School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT) at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) houses the Film, Television, and Digital Media BA (FTVDM-BA) with a concentration in Animation. The BA prepares students for careers in the entertainment industry or to apply for entry into the highly competitive UCLA Animation Workshop MFA. The BA program culminates with a professional internship and final project. UCLA TFT alumni have been hired at places such as Pixar, PBS, DreamWorks, Sony Pictures Animation, Nickelodeon, Disney, Netflix, NBCUniversal, and Titmouse.
Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media at DePaul University (DePaul) has one of the largest full-time animation faculties in the U.S. BA program options include the Animation BA and the dual Animation BA/MA. Focus areas for the BA include Digital Puppet Animation; Stop Motion; and Sound Design for Animation. Other program highlights include internship opportunities; collaborative projects; and access to state-of-the-art labs and studios. Graduates have gone on to land roles at places such as DreamWorks, Cartoon Network, Electronic Arts (EA), Disney Animation Studios, Nickelodeon, Epic Games, Warner Bros. Animation, Blizzard Entertainment, Google, and LAIKA.
The Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication (ATEC) program at University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) launched in 2002, making it the state’s first arts and technology degree. Housed in the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology (Bass School), the ATEC program houses a STEM-Designated BA with a concentration in Animation and Games (A&G). The culminating experience for the program is a capstone project and presentation. Graduates can be found at places such as Disney, Blizzard Entertainment, 900lbs, Cisco Systems, and Gearbox Software.
The Ohio State University (OSU) houses a Moving Image Production BA (MIP BA) program that highlights project-based learning; internships at places such as Netflix and YouTube; study abroad experiences in places such as London, Prague, and Rome; and access to dedicated labs, state-of-the-art production facilities, and shared studio spaces. The program culminates with a final project. Graduates have landed positions at places such as Disney, Warner Bros. Animation, Nickelodeon, Starz, ABC, Sundance, 4th Row Films, Ohio Film Group, and Myriad Pictures.
The School of Art at California State University, Long Beach (Cal State Long Beach or CSULB) has several BA programs for aspiring animators. Options include the multidisciplinary Art BA with an option in Studio Art and a Cinema BA with a Post-Production track. Across programs students benefit from industry partnerships, guest lecturers, and professional internships. Programs culminate with an animated film or studio project. Graduates are routinely hired with partners such as Pixar, DreamWorks, Activision Blizzard, Cartoon Network, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Sony Pictures Animation.
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. Other program benefits include a project-based curriculum; 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, Insomniac Games, Disney, Blizzard Entertainment, Electronic Arts (EA), Sony Pictures Imageworks, Epic Games, and Microsoft.
The School of Design at Columbia College Chicago has an Animation and Computer Graphics BA program with concentrations in Traditional Animation; Computer Vision and Visual Effects (CVFX); Game Art; and Computer Animation. Program highlights include specialized classes led by industry professionals; the opportunity to present capstone films at Columbia's Manifest Festival; participation in the Animation Studios in LA Program with past partners such as Disney, Nickelodeon, DreamWorks, and Cartoon Network; and access to state-of-the-art production studios. Graduates have secured positions at places such Pixar, Bethesda, Disney, Weta FX, DreamWorks, Apple Studios, BioWare, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros. Animation, Nickelodeon, Microsoft, and Bungie.
The Department of Film and Media Arts at University of Utah (U of U or The U) has two paths to study animation including the Film and Media Arts BA (F&MA BA) with an Animation emphasis. Program features include state-of-the-art classrooms, studios, and production facilities; immersive workshops; professional internships; seminars; and optional study abroad experiences across 26 countries. Programs culminate with an animation project. Graduates have gone on to land positions at places such as Pixar, Lucasfilm, Warner Bros., Nickelodeon, and Paramount.
The School of Film and Television (SFTV) at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is home to the Walter and Grace Lantz Undergraduate Animation BA program. This was the nation’s first program to build a motion-capture lab with courses in virtual cinematography (production method used in the film Avatar) and pre-visualization. This Animation BA program features opportunities to complete an internship with partners such as DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, Disney, HBO, and Netflix. Students also benefit from faculty-led study abroad experience experiences in places such as Kyoto, Paris, Amsterdam, and Seoul. The BA program culminates with the Senior Thesis Project/Production course worth three credit hours.
Graduates have gone on to create animated series such as Johnny Bravo (1997- 2004, Cartoon Network) or to work on major productions and series such as Superman, The Simpsons, and Wonder Woman.
Alumni have also been hired at places such as Walt Disney Animation Studios, Cartoon Network, DreamWorks, Warner Bros., Amazon MGM Studios, Sony Pictures Animation, and Nickelodeon.
The College of Design at North Carolina State University (NC State) houses the Department of Media Arts, Design and Technology (MADTech). Within the department is a Bachelor of Art + Design (BAD) that features an interdisciplinary first-year experience, including workshops and studios with other majors. BAD students may also participate in the internship and study abroad programs. Examples of past locations include Prague, Greece, and Chile. The program culminates with an animation project. Graduates can be found at places such as Razorfish, Apple, Nike, Google, Adidas, Microsoft, Amazon, IBM Design, and Red Hat.
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 BA program with an optional Digital Modeling concentration. 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.
The School of Art at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) has a Digital Arts BA program that provides opportunities to gain hands-on experience through internships at places such as Disney, Pixar, and the Museum of Modern Art. Other program highlights include access to dozens of state-of-the-art spaces modeled after real-world production studios, labs, and research centers; opportunities to study abroad at BGSU’s partner school in Florence, Italy; and the option to work in BGSU’s professional large-format printing studio. The program culminates with a final project to be screened at School of Art's Annual Exhibition and Film Festival. BGSU alumni have been hired at places such as DreamWorks, Blizzard Entertainment, Apple, Epic Games, and American Greetings.
The George Shinn College of Entertainment and the Arts (CEA) at Lipscomb University houses The Animation Program. Courses for the program are led by Disney Animators, award-winning independent filmmakers, and experts in industry-standard software. Leading to a BA, the program highlights field trips to places such as Los Angeles and Italy to attend animation events; opportunities to work with real clients in the CEA’s Imagine House; and internships at major studios. The program culminates with a final project. Graduates are often hired at places such as Pencilish Animation Studios, the Tennessee Titans, and Imagine House.
The College of Arts and Letters at California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA) is home to the Department of Art. Within the department is an Art Ba with an Animation option. Program features include access to state-of-the-art production facilities; internship opportunities; and the study abroad experiences in places such as Japan, Italy, and the UK. The program culminates with a final project and presentation, exhibit, or screening. Graduates can be found at places such as DreamWorks, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Cartoon Network, Pixar, Electronic Arts (EA), Blizzard Entertainment, Disney, Riot Games, NBCUniversal, Nickelodeon, and Lionsgate Entertainment.
The Newcomb Art Department at Tulane University (Tulane) has a Studio Art BA program with a Digital Arts (DA) area. Students in the DA area will explore animation and video (time-based media), interactivity, 3D graphics, and virtual reality. Other program features include opportunities to create animated projects in the state-of-the-art Digital Arts Studio; independent study; cross-disciplinary seminars; and internships. The program culminates with a final project and exhibit in the Carroll Gallery at Woldenberg Art Center. Tulane alumni have been hired at places such as Disney, Nickelodeon, Paramount, NBCUniversal, Pixel Magic, Meta, Google, and Amazon.
The School of Fine Arts at University of Connecticut (UConn) houses the Digital Media and Design BA (DMD BA) and Art BA programs. The DMD BA allows students to customize a concentration area. Examples include Animation and Video Production. The Art BA has an optional Illustration/Animation concentration. Programs are collaborative and project-based with access to state-of-the-art production facilities and internship opportunities. Students will complete a final project and participate in an exhibition to graduate. The event is held in the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. Graduates have landed positions at places such as Disney, Epic Games, Lego, HBO, Pixar, XVIVO Scientific Animation, Google, NBCUniversal, Viacom, Stoopid Buddy Studios, World Wide Wrestling Entertainment (WWE,) YouTube, Blur Studio, CBS, NBC, and Bit Fry Game Studios.
The School of Visual Art and Design (SVAD) at University of South Carolina (USC) has a Media Arts BA program that allows students to focus in animation through electives and collaborative projects. Other SVAD highlights include participation in SVAD Studio, which hosts exhibitions, workshops, and visiting artist talks; internships; study abroad experiences such as Art and Culture of Japan, and Kenya: Enhancing Perceptions Through Art and Art Making; access to an 85,000 square feet facility customized for projects in the visual arts; and opportunities to design and install works at Passage Gallery. The program culminates with a final project and exhibition. Graduates have established careers at places such as Disney, Marvel, HBO, Blizzard Entertainment, Pixar, NBCUniversal, Amazon MGM Studios, Nickelodeon, Boeing, Warner Bros., Netflix, and Showtime.
California State University Northridge (CSUN) houses the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication (MCCAMC or Mike Curb College). Within the college is an Art BA program with three tracks including 2D Animation, 3D Animation, and Game Design. The Game Design track builds on 3D computer animation coursework, so all options are suitable for aspiring animators. Program highlights include partnerships with studios such as DreamWorks and Disney; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; internships; and interactions with industry insiders through lectures and workshops. The Art BA culminates with an animated work or game. Graduates have been hired at places such as Pixar, Nickelodeon, Riot Games, Disney, Cartoon Network, DreamWorks, Activision Blizzard, and Warner Bros.
The Department of Film and Media Studies (F&MS) at Dartmouth College (Dartmouth) has an F&MS BA program that allows students to create their own emphasis area. Popular options include Animation, Games, Film History, Video, Graphic Arts, and Screenwriting. Other program highlights include access to state-of-the-art production facilities; the Animation Studio; and the Digital Applied Learning and Innovation (DALI) Lab. The culminating experience for the F&MA BA is a final project and presentation. Graduates can be found at places such as Pixar, Electronic Arts (EA), HBO, Warner Bros., Microsoft, Amazon MGM Studios, Google, Apple, Searchlight Pictures, Netflix, and Lone Wolf Media.
As a 100% STEM-based institution, University of Advancing Technology (UAT) is one of the few universities of its kind in the U.S. For animators, the school has a Game Art and Animation (GAA) BA program that provides the opportunity to work in a real game production environment with designers and programmers. Other highlights include community projects, internships, and apprenticeships. The program culminates with a final project, portfolio, and presentation. UAT graduates can be found at places such as Blizzard Entertainment, Sony, Electronic Arts (EA), Sony, Gearbox Software, Bethesda, Amazon, Lockheed Martin, eBay, Boeing, GoDaddy, Cisco, Northrop Grumman, and Honeywell.
The College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) at University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) is home to the Department of Visual Arts. Within the department is a Visual Arts BA with the option to add an Animation concentration. Program highlights include hands-on projects; advanced level courses that explore 2D and 3D, hybrid processes, and emerging technologies; and the opportunity to gain work experience through Imaging Research Center Internship (IRC). The program culminates with a final project to be presented at the Senior Exit Exhibition. Graduates have landed positions at places such as DreamWorks, Marvel, Disney, and DC Comics.
The Department of Art, Film, and Visual Studies (AFVS) at Harvard has an AFVS BA program that allows students to customize a study plan. Students looking to focus in animation can select from courses such as Fundamentals of Animation; Coding and Interactivity for Artists; Experimental Animation; Drawing as Visual Language; Intermediate Animation; Film Sound/Film Music; and AI and Art. Other program highlights include internships; opportunities to work with faculty in focused seminars and studios; and access to the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, which houses state-of-the-art production studios, shops, and classrooms. The program culminates with a final project and presentation. Graduates can be found at places such as DreamWorks, Disney, Google, NBCUniversal, MoMA, Warner Bros., Netflix, Apple, Meta, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and The Met.
The School of Film, Television, and Media Arts at Emerson College (Emerson) Houses the Media Arts Production (MAP) BA program. Students with junior standing have the option continue on to complete the four-year BA or they can apply for entry into the professional MAP BFA program. In addition to this unique opportunity, BA students benefit from hands-on work experience through Emerson Productions and the Equipment Distribution Center (EDC); access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities such as the Emerson College Emerging Media Lab (EML); and participation in Emerson Los Angeles (ELA). This experiential learning opportunity provides the opportunity to work with studios such as Disney, Sony, and Lionsgate. MAP graduates have been hired at places such as MGM Studios, Searchlight Pictures, Bunim/Murray Productions, Digital Domain, and Worldwide Pants.
University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) provides several paths to study animation. Options include the Digital Arts BA with an optional concentration in Interactive Graphics; a Film Studies BA that allows students to study animation through electives and other coursework; and the Studio Art BA with animation and multimedia coursework. Program highlights include partnerships with places such as Cinespace Studios Wilmington, the Cucalorus Film Festival, and Working Films; collaborative projects; and professional internships. Across programs, graduates will have the skills needed to pursue roles at places such as Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Epic Games, and IDEO.
The College of Humanities and Fine Arts at University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) houses the Department of Art. Within the department is a Studio Art BA that features advanced coursework in animation and intermedia. Department of Art highlights include access to state-of-the-art labs, animation production facilities, and student studios; internships; and the Visiting Artist and Practitioner Series, featuring lectures and visits with students in their studios. Graduates go on to secure positions at places such as DreamWorks, Lucasfilm, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Nickelodeon, The Jim Henson Company, Hasbro, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Amazon.
