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What are the best animation school programs in Colorado for 2026?
| Ranking | School | City | Ranking by Region | National Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Colorado, Denver | Denver | #5 in Southwest | #40 |
| #2 | Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design | Denver | #7 in Southwest | #45 |
| #3 | Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction | Unranked | Unranked |
Our 2026 ranking -our fifteenth annual- of the top animation school programs in Colorado.
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 Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado
The College of Arts and Media (CAM) at University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) houses the Department of Visual Arts (VA) and the Digital Animation Center (DAC). The department is home to the Visual Arts BFA with an emphasis in 3D Graphics and Animation. Students in the program will work and learn in the DAC, which is a state-of-the-art facility that houses labs, studios, and production areas. All students also have opportunities to complete an internship at places such as Disney and NBCUniversal.
The culminating experience for the program is the completion of an industry-ready film and screening at the Visual Arts Thesis Exhibition at Redline Contemporary Art Center or other venue. Program alumni can be found at places such as Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Disney, Paramount Pictures, Cartoon Network, DreamWorks, Lucasfilm, Warner Bros. Animation, Nickelodeon, Sony, HBO, Google, and Apple.
University of Colorado Denver — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to University of Colorado Denver's position in Animation Career Review's 2026 animation school rankings.
Academic Peer Recognition: Excellent Academic Peer Recognition (Tier 2)
Faculty Size: Small Faculty (Tier 4)
Graduate Employment: Moderate Employment Outcomes (Tier 3)
Admissions Selectivity: Accessible (Tier 4)
Average Net Cost: Low-mid Average Net Cost (Tier 2)
Student Indebtedness: Moderate Student Debt (Tier 3)
Graduation Rate: Low Graduation Rate (Tier 5)
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.
2. Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, Denver, Colorado
The Animation Department at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) houses an Animation BFA program with 2D Animation and 3D Animation emphasis areas. This collaborative program focuses on the 12 principles of animation and mastering software such as Toon Boom Harmony, Storyboard Pro, and Maya. Other program highlights include participation in intensive portfolio reviews; internship opportunities; and a final project and presentation. The program can be completed in four years, with year-round online and on-campus courses. Graduates have been hired at places such as Pixar, Nickelodeon, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Disney, Epic Games, Sony Pictures Animation, Cartoon Network, Microsoft, LAIKA, Warner Bros., and Blizzard Entertainment.
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to RMCAD'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: Moderate Employment Outcomes (Tier 3)
Admissions Selectivity: Highly Accessible (Tier 5)
Average Net Cost: Moderate Average Net Cost (Tier 3)
Student Indebtedness: Substantial Student Debt (Tier 5)
Graduation Rate: Low Graduation Rate (Tier 5)
First-Year Retention Rate: Low First Year Student Retention (Tier 5)
Ranking Factor Tiers: Tier 1 represents the strongest performance and Tier 5 represents the weakest performance within each ranking factor.
3. Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, Colorado
The Department of Art and Design at Colorado Mesa University (CMU) houses an Animation, Film, Photography and Motion Design (AFP&MD) BFA program that allows students to customize projects to their individual interests and career goals. This interdisciplinary, studio-based program also encourages experimentation and collaborative experiences with students in other departments. For example, AFP&MD students traveled to Peru with CMU Biology students to study and photograph butterflies. The experience culminated with a photo and video exhibit at the CMU Art Gallery. Other highlights include the opportunity to begin creating short films and animations in the very first year; state-of-the-art labs and studios; and internships. Graduates can be found at places such as DreamWorks and NBC Universal.
Colorado Mesa University — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to Colorado Mesa'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: Limited Employment Outcomes (Tier 5)
Admissions Selectivity: Accessible (Tier 4)
Average Net Cost: Low-mid Average Net Cost (Tier 2)
Student Indebtedness: Moderate Student Debt (Tier 3)
Graduation Rate: Low Graduation Rate (Tier 5)
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.