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Top Animation Programs in Florida

Written by Michelle Burton. Last updated August 01, 2021.

Florida
Examples of the Top Animation Programs in Florida
SchoolCity
The Dave School Orlando
Full Sail UniversityWinter Park
Florida International UniversityMiami
Florida State UniversityTallahassee
Ringling College of Art and DesignSarasota

Which would you rather attend: “a top animation school” or “the best animation school?”

You might be thinking “top” and the “best” are one in the same, and you’re partly correct. But there are a few things that may separate the two. For instance, the agencies behind the “best” lists consider a somewhat different set of factors to determine which schools make the cut. Top lists are a bit more lax, and they consider factors that might be a little bit closer to students on a budget—and most are!

A “best” school may be considered the best based on factors such as the number of program offerings, graduation and retention rates, peer assessment, faculty resources (student-teacher ratio), financial resources, and student selectivity. A “top” school may make the cut based on other factors such as affordability, convenience, number and types of clubs, recreation, and other similar factors. Although different factors may be considered when compiling both types of lists, many “top” schools also made the list of the “best” schools.

Continue reading to find out which Florida animation schools are “top” schools, and what they have to offer. Please note that the schools are in order from largest to smallest student population.

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Top Animation School Programs Florida Major Cities

Miami
Florida International University
Student Population: 33,786
Backdrop: Urban, 573-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. A. Art and B. F. A. Art, both with Concentration in Electronic Art and Digital Media;
M. F. A. Art with Concentration in Electronic Art and Digital Media

Tallahassee
Florida State University
Student Population: 32,201
Backdrop: Urban, 446-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. A. and B. F. A. Design with Concentration in Print Design, Interactive Design or Animation and Visual Effects; M. F. A. Art with Concentration in Design or Electronic Media

Tampa
University of South Florida
Student Population: 29,975
Backdrop: Urban, 1,561-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Studio Art with Concentration in Graphic Design or Electronic and Digital Media

Miami
New World School of the Arts
Student Population: 359
Backdrop: Urban, 5-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Visual Arts with Concentration in Electronic Intermedia or Graphic Design

Orlando
The Digital Animation and Visual Effects School (DAVE School)
Student Population: 160
Backdrop: Urban, Located on the backlot of Universal Studios, 35,000 square foot facility
Degrees Offered: One-year intensive program resulting in an Accredited Diploma in Digital Animation and Visual Effects

Top Animation School Programs Florida Cities and Towns

Gainesville
University of Florida
Student Population: 32,660
Backdrop: Suburban, 2,000-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Digital Media, Graphic Design; M. A. Digital Arts and Sciences, M. F. A. Studio Art with Concentration in Digital Media, Graphic Design

Boca Raton
Florida Atlantic University
Student Population: 24,281
Backdrop: Small city, 860-acre campus on the Florida Coast
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Graphic Design; M. F. A. Visual Art: Graphic Design and Media, Technology and Entertainment

Winter Park
Full Sail University
Student Population: 4,628
Backdrop: Small city, 91-acre campus, easy access to Orlando
Degrees Offered:  A. S. Graphic Design; B. S. Computer Animation, Digital Arts and Design, Game Art, Game Design (online only), Game Development (traditional only), Graphic Design (online only), Web Design and Development; M. F. A. Media Design (online only); M. S. Game Design (traditional only)

Sarasota
Ringling College of Art and Design
Student Population: 1,368
Backdrop: Small city, 49-acre campus, easy access to St. Petersburg and Tampa
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Computer Animation, Game Art and Design, Graphic and Interactive Communication, Illustration, Motion Design

Boca Raton
Lynn University 
Student Population: 414
Backdrop: Urban, 33,000+ square foot facility
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Computer Animation (Game Art concentration available), Graphic Design (Advertising Design concentration available); M. F. A. Visual Effects Animation, Graphic Design

More Programs to Consider:

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Ringling College of Art and Design
Selected Campus Locations:
  • Sarasota, Florida
Selected Programs: 
  • BFA Computer Animation
  • BFA Game Art
  • BFA Graphic Design
  • BFA Illustration
  • BFA Entertainment Design
  • BFA Virtual Reality Development
  • BFA Motion Design
Animation Career Review Rankings: 
  • Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#3) - 2022
  • Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#14) - 2022
  • Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#11) - 2022
  • Top 50 Nationally for Illustration (#4) - 2021
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Savannah College of Art and Design
Selected Campus Locations:
  • Atlanta, Georgia; Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and SCAD eLearning
Selected Programs: 
  • Animation – BFA, MA, MFA
  • Film and Television – BFA, MA, MFA
  • Graphic Design – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
  • Illustration – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
  • Immersive Reality - BFA
  • Interactive Design and Game Development – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
  • Motion Media Design – BFA, MA, MFA
  • Sequential Art – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
  • Visual Effects – BFA, MA, MFA
  • User Experience (UX) Design – BFA
Animation Career Review Rankings: 
  • Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#2) - 2022
  • Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#8) - 2022
  • Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#9) - 2022
  • Top 40 Nationally for Illustration (#5) - 2021
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Clemson University
Selected Campus Locations:
  • Clemson, South Carolina
Selected Programs: 
  • MS or MFA in Digital Production Arts
  • MS + PhD Computer Science with Graphics + Visualization concentration
Animation Career Review Rankings: 
  • Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#42) - 2022
  • Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#35) - 2022
  • Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design among Public Colleges (#44) - 2022
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Academy of Art University
Selected Campus Locations:
  • San Francisco & Online
Selected Programs: 
  • Animation
  • Game Development
  • Graphic Design
  • Illustration
Animation Career Review Rankings: 
  • Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#14) - 2022
  • Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#40) - 2022
  • Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#46) - 2022
  • Top 50 Nationally for Illustration (#24) - 2021
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Full Sail University
Selected Campus Locations:
  • Winter Park, FL & Online
Selected Programs: 
  • Computer Animation - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
  • Game Programs - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
  • Graphic Design & Digital Arts - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
  • Film & Digital Cinematography - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
  • Simulation & Visualization - Bachelor's - Campus
  • Game Business & Esports Bachelor’s of Science - Online & Campus
  • User Experience Bachelor's Degree – Online
Animation Career Review Rankings: 
  • Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#11) - 2022
  • Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#10) - 2022
  • Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#33) - 2022
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CG Spectrum College of Digital Art & Animation
Selected Campus Locations:
  • Online
Selected Programs: 
  • 2D Animation
  • 3D Animation
  • 3D Modeling
  • Concept Art
  • Digital Illustration
  • Game Art
  • Game Design
  • Game Programming
  • Visual Effects
  • Real-time 3D & Virtual Production
Animation Career Review Rankings: 
  • Top 25 International Animation Training Programs (#25) - 2022

Sources

Peterson’s, www.petersons.com
Princeton Review, www.princetonreview.com
U.S. News & World Report College Rankings, www.usnews.com/rankings

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