Top 25 Animation Schools and Colleges in the South - 2026 College Rankings

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) serves more than 18,500 students from the U.S. and and 100 different countries. Hosting one of the world’s largest student-run film festivals and home to Savannah Studios—one of the largest university film studios in the U.S.—SCAD provides multiple paths to study animation. Options include the Animation BFA, MA, and MFA programs, as well as the dual BFA/MA and BFA/MFA through Gradpath@SCAD. Programs culminate with a thesis, final project, or capstone. SCAD Animation alumni are routinely hired at places such as DreamWorks, Epic Games, Lucasfilm Animation, Nickelodeon, Electronic Arts (EA), Disney Animation, Pixar, 20th Century Studios, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros. Animation, Activision Blizzard, and Sony Pictures Animation. 

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. 

Clemson University (Clemson) provides several paths to study animation. At the undergraduate level, students can earn an Art BA with a Digital Art and Design Media emphasis or a Digital Production Arts (DPA) minor. This option is open to students in all majors. At the graduate level, the school has DPA MFA and MS programs. Across programs, students will explore area such as animation, games, visual effects, film production, human computer interaction (HCI), computer science, visualization, and virtual reality (VR). Graduates can be found at places such as Pixar, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), DreamWorks, Electronic Arts (EA), Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Reel FX.

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. 

The College of Design at North Carolina State University (NC State) houses the Department of Media Arts, Design and Technology (MADTech). Within the department are three paths to study animation including the Bachelor of Art + Design (BAD), Masters of Art + Design (MAD), and Art + Design minor. All degree-seeking students will complete the interdisciplinary first-year experience, which includes workshops and studios with other majors. Other program benefits include professional internships and participation in the study abroad program. Examples of past locations include Prague, Greece, and Chile. Programs culminate with an animation project. Graduates can be found at places such as Apple, Nike, Google, Microsoft, Razorfish, Amazon, and IBM.

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. 

Geer College of the Arts at Kennesaw State University (KSU) is home to the School of Art and Design (SOAAD). Within the school are two paths to study animation including the Digital Animation BFA and the MA in Art and Design (MAAD) with a Digital Animation concentration. The BFA has both 2D and 3D Digital Animation pathways. Across programs, students have access to state-of-the-art studios and the Bernard A. Zuckerman Museum of Art. Students also benefit from professional development through workshops, internships, and other experiential learning activities. The BFA program culminates with a professional animation reel. MAAD students will complete a final project or thesis to graduate. KSU graduates can be found at places such as Disney, Warner Bros., Microsoft, CNN, and Scientific Games.

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. 

Louisiana State University (LSU) provides several paths to study animation. Options include the Studio Art BFA (Digital Art); Digital Art BA and MFA; the interdisciplinary Digital Media Arts and Engineering (DMAE) MS and minor; and a Digital Media Art (DMART) minor. All students have access to state-of-the-art production spaces such as the XR Studio Brain Bar; the Digital Twin Studio; and the XR Studio. All students may participate in the internship program and work in the DMAE Digital Media Center on LSU's campus. This shared space with Electronic Art’s (EA) North American Test Center allows students to collaborate with accomplished animators, digital artists, and programmers. Graduates have been hired at places such as Lucasfilm, Electronic Arts (EA), DreamWorks, Pixar, and Sony Pictures Entertainment. 

The School of Art and Design (SoAD) at East Carolina University has an Art BFA program that allows students to concentrate in one of 11 areas. Examples include Animation and Interactive Design; Illustration’ Film and Video Production; Graphic Design; and Photography. Across areas, students will work and learn in a 150,000 square feet space that houses dedicated BFA studios with 24/7 access; a film and media studio; drawing and painting spaces; digital classrooms; the Image Creation and Output Resource (ICOR) Lab; and computer labs. Other program benefits include hands-on learning; partnerships with local arts organizations; internships; career development services; and study abroad experiences. The culminating experience for the Art BFA is the Senior Exhibition. Graduates can be found at places such as DreamWorks, Disney, East Carolina Art Space, and Cember Studio. 

University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) provides multiple paths to study animation. Options include the Digital Arts BA with a concentration in Interactive Graphics; a Computer Science BS with a Digital Arts concentration; the Film Studies BA that allows students to study animation through electives and other courses; the Filmmaking MFA with animation coursework and projects; and the Studio Art BA with animation and multimedia coursework. Students in all programs benefit from collaborative projects; UNCW’s partnerships with places such as Cinespace Studios Wilmington, the Cucalorus Film Festival, and Working Films; 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.

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. 

Georgia Southern University (Georgia Southern) provides three paths to study animation. Options include the Art BA with a Studio Art concentration; an Art BFA with an Animation concentration; and an Animation and New Media minor. Housed in the Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art (BFSDoArt), all programs allows students to participate in the Animation UK Summer Abroad in Sheffield. This studio course and overseas experience culminates with a collaborative exhibition of student animation projects in a gallery in Sheffield. Other program benefits include hands-on projects; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; and professional internships. The culminating experience for the program is the Senior Practicum and Artist in Studio (Capstone). Graduates have been hired at places such as Disney, Universal Studios, High Museum of Art, MDG New Media, OneKreate, Telfair Museums, and SCAD.