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What are the best animation school programs in North Carolina for 2026?
| Ranking | School | City | Ranking by Region | National Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of North Carolina School of the Arts | Winston-Salem | #8 in the South | #43 |
| #2 | North Carolina State University | Raleigh | #9 in the South | Unranked |
| #3 | East Carolina University | Greenville | #19 in the South | Unranked |
| #4 | University of North at Carolina, Charlotte | Charlotte | #20 in the South | Unranked |
| #5 | University of North Carolina, Wilmington | Wilmington | #21 in the South | Unranked |
Our 2026 ranking -our fifteenth annual- of the top animation school programs in North Carolina.
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. University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) houses the School of Filmmaking and the School of Design and Production. Both schools provide paths to study animation. In the School of Filmmaking, students can earn an Animation BFA. The School of Design and Production (D&P) houses an Animatronics concentration within the MFA program. Across programs, students benefit from immersive courses and hands-on projects that take place in a 100,000 square feet, state-of-the-art production space, and internships at places such as Cartoon Network and Sony Pictures Imageworks. Graduates have gone on to land roles at these and other studios such as Disney, Nickelodeon, Universal Studios, Pixar, South Park Digital Studios, Paramount, HBO, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Cirque du Soleil.
University of North Carolina School of the Arts — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to UNCSA's position in Animation Career Review's 2026 animation school rankings.
Academic Peer Recognition: Strong Academic Peer Recognition (Tier 3)
Faculty Size: Small Faculty (Tier 4)
Graduate Employment: Moderate Employment Outcomes (Tier 3)
Admissions Selectivity: Selective (Tier 2)
Average Net Cost: Minimal Average Net Cost (Tier 1)
Student Indebtedness: Elevated Student debt (Tier 4)
Graduation Rate: Moderate Graduation Rate (Tier 3)
First-Year Retention Rate: Exceptional First-Year Student Retention (Tier 1)
Ranking Factor Tiers: Tier 1 represents the strongest performance and Tier 5 represents the weakest performance within each ranking factor.
2. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
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.
North Carolina State University — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to NC State'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: Selective (Tier 2)
Average Net Cost: Low-mid Average Net Cost (Tier 2)
Student Indebtedness: Moderate Student Debt (Tier 3)
Graduation Rate: Strong Graduation Rate (Tier 2)
First-Year Retention Rate: Exceptional First-Year Student Retention (Tier 1)
Ranking Factor Tiers: Tier 1 represents the strongest performance and Tier 5 represents the weakest performance within each ranking factor.
3. East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
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.
East Carolina University — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to ECU's position in Animation Career Review's 2026 animation school rankings.
Academic Peer Recognition: Moderate Academic Peer Recognition (Tier 4)
Faculty Size: Small Faculty (Tier 4)
Graduate Employment: Fair Employment Outcomes (Tier 4)
Admissions Selectivity: Accessible (Tier 4)
Average Net Cost: Low-mid Average Net Cost (Tier 2)
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.
4. University of North at Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina
University of North Carolina Charlotte (UNC Charlotte or UNCC) is home to the College of Arts and Architecture (COA+A). Within the COA+A is the Department of Art and Art History, which has Art BA and BFA programs with a concentration in Digital Media. Course examples for the program include Animation Production; 3D Modeling and Animation; Interactive Art and Design; Game Design and Graphics; and Advanced 3D Modeling and Digital Fabrication. Other program benefits include access to state-of-the-art production facilities; professional internships; and participation in the Senior Exhibition/ BFA Thesis Show. Graduates have been hired at places such as ESPN, Flying Bark Productions, NASCAR, the Charlotte Hornets, Fox Sports Studios, Epoch Games, AGBO, VAVA Graphics, and Queen City News.
University of North at Carolina Charlotte — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to UNC Charlotte's position in Animation Career Review's 2026 animation school rankings.
Academic Peer Recognition: Moderate Academic Peer Recognition (Tier 4)
Faculty Size: Small Faculty (Tier 4)
Graduate Employment: Fair Employment Outcomes (Tier 4)
Admissions Selectivity: Accessible (Tier 4)
Average Net Cost: Minimal Average Net Cost (Tier 1)
Student Indebtedness: Moderate Student Debt (Tier 3)
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.
5. University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina
University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) provides multiple paths to study animation. Options include the Digital Arts BA with a concentration in Interactive Graphics; aComputer 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.
University of North Carolina Wilmington — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to UNC Wilmington'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: Fair Employment Outcomes (Tier 4)
Admissions Selectivity: Accessible (Tier 4)
Average Net Cost: Low-mid Average Net Cost (Tier 2)
Student Indebtedness: Low Student Debt (Tier 2)
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.