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What are the best animation school programs in Illinois for 2026?
| Ranking | School | City | Ranking by Region | National Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | DePaul University | Chicago | #1 in Midwest | #12 |
| #2 | School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Chicago | #3 in Midwest | #18 |
| #3 | Columbia College Chicago | Chicago | #7 in Midwest | #34 |
| #4 | University of Illinois at Chicago | Chicago | #14 in Midwest | Unranked |
| #5 | Bradley University | Peoria | #19 in Midwest | Unranked |
Our 2026 ranking -our fifteenth annual- of the top animation school programs in Illinois.
The criteria we used for the animation rankings consists, in no particular order, of the following: Academic reputation, Employment data, Admission selectivity, Depth and breadth of the program, Value as it relates to tuition and indebtedness, Graduation rate, and Retention rate. For an explanation of ranking criteria, click here.
1. DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois
Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media at DePaul University (DePaul) has one of the largest full-time animation faculties in the U.S. Program options for animators include the Animation BFA with concentrations in 3D Animation, Game Art, Cinema Animation, Storyboarding and Character Design, Visual Effects Animation, and Motion Graphics; the Animation BA with the option to create a focus area such as Digital Puppet Animation, Stop Motion, or Sound Design for Animation; a Computer Science (CS) + Animation (CS+ANI) BS with an Animation Technical Director (TD) concentration; an Animation TD minor; and the Animation MA, MFA, BA/MA, and BFA/MA. Graduate concentration options include 3D Animation; Motion Graphics; Storyboarding and Character Design; Technical Artist; and Traditional Animation. Graduates of the Animation programs at DePaul University go on to land roles at places such as DreamWorks Animation, Cartoon Network, Electronic Arts (EA), Disney Animation Studios, Nickelodeon, Epic Games, Warner Bros. Animation, Blizzard Entertainment, Google, and LAIKA.
DePaul University — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to DePaul's position in Animation Career Review's 2026 animation school rankings.
Academic Peer Recognition: Elite Academic Peer Recognition (Tier 1)
Faculty Size: Expansive Faculty (Tier 1)
Graduate Employment: Strong Employment Outcomes (Tier 2)
Admissions Selectivity: Accessible (Tier 4)
Average Net Cost: Moderate Average Net Cost (Tier 3)
Student Indebtedness: Elevated Student debt (Tier 4)
Graduation Rate: Fair Graduation Rate (Tier 4)
First-Year Retention Rate: Strong First-Year Student Retention (Tier 2)
Ranking Factor Tiers: Tier 1 represents the strongest performance and Tier 5 represents the weakest performance within each ranking factor.
2. School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
The Film, Video, New Media, and Animation Department (FVNMA) at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) provides two paths to study animation. These include the Studio BFA and MFA. BFA students explore hand-drawn and digital 2D/3D animation; moving-image installation; film and video; interactive art; and AR/VR. The Studio MFA has an FVNMA pathway that allows students to specialize in one specific area or develop skills across multiple areas of study. Specialization examples include Digital 2D and 3D Animation; Moving-Image Installation; and Interactive Art. Programs culminate with a final project and exhibition. SAIC alumni have been hired at places such as Disney, the Whitney Museum, NASA, and YouTube.
School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to SAIC's position in Animation Career Review's 2026 animation school rankings.
Academic Peer Recognition: Elite Academic Peer Recognition (Tier 1)
Faculty Size: Mid-Sized Faculty (Tier 3)
Graduate Employment: Strong Employment Outcomes (Tier 2)
Admissions Selectivity: Accessible (Tier 4)
Average Net Cost: Substantial Average Net Cost (Tier 5)
Student Indebtedness: Substantial Student Debt (Tier 5)
Graduation Rate: Fair Graduation Rate (Tier 4)
First-Year Retention Rate: Strong First-Year Student Retention (Tier 2)
Ranking Factor Tiers: Tier 1 represents the strongest performance and Tier 5 represents the weakest performance within each ranking factor.
3. Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
The School of Design at Columbia College Chicago has an Animation and Computer Graphics BA program with concentrations in Traditional Animation, Computer Animation, Game Art or Computer Vision and Visual Effects (CVFX). An Animation minor is also available. BA 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 go on to land positions at places such Pixar, Bethesda, Disney, Weta FX, DreamWorks, Apple Studios, BioWare, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros. Animation, Nickelodeon, Microsoft, and Bungie.
Columbia College Chicago — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to Columbia College Chicago's position in Animation Career Review's 2026 animation school rankings.
Academic Peer Recognition: Excellent Academic Peer Recognition (Tier 2)
Faculty Size: Large Faculty (Tier 2)
Graduate Employment: Strong Employment Outcomes (Tier 2)
Admissions Selectivity: Highly Accessible (Tier 5)
Average Net Cost: Moderate Average Net Cost (Tier 3)
Student Indebtedness: Elevated Student debt (Tier 4)
Graduation Rate: Low Graduation Rate (Tier 5)
First-Year Retention Rate: Fair First Year Student Retention (Tier 4)
Ranking Factor Tiers: Tier 1 represents the strongest performance and Tier 5 represents the weakest performance within each ranking factor.
4. University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
The School of Art and Art History at University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) has two paths to study animation including the Art BFA and MFA. With faculty advisor approval, students can concentrate in an area such as New Media Arts (Animation, Interaction, Digital Technology); Moving Image (Film, Video, Time-Based Media); or Studio Arts (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture). BFA students have opportunities to complete a professional internship. MFA students can live and work in Berlin through the month-long Berlin Residency Program. Both programs culminate with a thesis project and exhibition. Graduates can be found at places such as DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, Warner Bros., Microsoft, Google, Apple, NetherRealm Studios, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago, and Adler Planetarium.
University of Illinois at Chicago — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to UIC's position in Animation Career Review's 2026 animation school rankings.
Academic Peer Recognition: Strong Academic Peer Recognition (Tier 3)
Faculty Size: Compact Faculty (Tier 5)
Graduate Employment: Strong Employment Outcomes (Tier 2)
Admissions Selectivity: Accessible (Tier 4)
Average Net Cost: Minimal Average Net Cost (Tier 1)
Student Indebtedness: Low Student Debt (Tier 2)
Graduation Rate: Moderate Graduation Rate (Tier 3)
First-Year Retention Rate: Moderate First-Year Student Retention (Tier 3)
Ranking Factor Tiers: Tier 1 represents the strongest performance and Tier 5 represents the weakest performance within each ranking factor.
5. Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois
Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts at Bradley University (Bradley) houses the Department of Interactive Media (IM). Within the department is an Animation program leading to a BA or BS. Mentors and instructors for the program are working animators who have worked on productions such as Monsters vs. Aliens, Rise of the Guardians, and Thor: Dark World. Other program benefits include Professional internships at places such as Jump Trading Simulation and Education Center and OneFire; the chance to study in Los Angeles or abroad in the Netherlands or Ireland; and opportunities to present animated productions at the Annual FUSE Exhibit. The culminating experience for the program is the Animation Capstone. Graduates have been hired at places such as DreamWorks, MGM Studios, Blizzard Entertainment, Sony Pictures Imageworks, DNEG, Meta Quest, Scientific Games, and Outpost VFX.
Bradley University — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to Bradley's position in Animation Career Review's 2026 animation school rankings.
Academic Peer Recognition: Moderate Academic Peer Recognition (Tier 4)
Faculty Size: Compact Faculty (Tier 5)
Graduate Employment: Moderate Employment Outcomes (Tier 3)
Admissions Selectivity: Accessible (Tier 4)
Average Net Cost: Moderate Average Net Cost (Tier 3)
Student Indebtedness: Substantial Student Debt (Tier 5)
Graduation Rate: Moderate Graduation Rate (Tier 3)
First-Year Retention Rate: Strong First-Year Student Retention (Tier 2)
Ranking Factor Tiers: Tier 1 represents the strongest performance and Tier 5 represents the weakest performance within each ranking factor.