Last updated August 25, 2026.

2026

What are the best animation school programs in Indiana for 2026?

Top Animation School Programs in Indiana - 2026 College Rankings
RankingSchoolCityRanking by RegionNational Ranking
#1Purdue UniversityWest Lafayette#5 in Midwest#27
#2Ball State UniversityMuncie#11 in MidwestUnranked
#3Indiana University IndianapolisIndianapolis#18 in MidwestUnranked
#4Huntington UniversityHuntingtonUnrankedUnranked

Our 2026 ranking -our fifteenth annual- of the top animation school programs in Indiana. 

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. Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
Purdue University

Purdue University (Purdue) is home to Purdue Polytechnic Institute. Serving more than 7,000 students at 11 locations across Indiana, Purdue Polytechnic houses the Department of Computer Graphics Technology (CGT), which provides several paths to study animation. Options include a CGT BS with a STEM-designated major in Animation and Visual Effects (ANFX); the CGT MS; and a Five-Year CGT BS/MS. All students have the opportunity to complete a professional internship, several animated films, and a study abroad experience. Graduates can be found at places such as Disney, DreamWorks, and Animation Mentor. Some alumni have also gone on to launch their own studios or freelance businesses. 

Purdue University — Ranking Factors

The following factors contribute to Purdue's position in Animation Career Review's 2026 animation school rankings.

Academic Peer Recognition: Excellent Academic Peer Recognition (Tier 2)
Faculty Size: Mid-Sized Faculty (Tier 3)
Graduate Employment: Strong Employment Outcomes (Tier 2)
Admissions Selectivity: Selective (Tier 2)
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: 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. Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana
Ball State University

The College of Fine Arts at Ball State University (Ball State) is home to the School of Art. A Toon Boom Center of Excellence (COE), the school houses a Visual Arts/Animation BFA program with concentrations in Animation Production; VFX Animation; Game Art/Design; and Illustration. Program highlights include access to 57,000 square feet of state-of-the-art studios and classrooms; collaborative courses led by artists from Disney and other major studios; internship opportunities; and study abroad experiences. The program culminates with a completed demo reel and senior project presented at a student exhibition. Graduates have gone on to pursue roles at places such as DreamWorks, Nintendo, Disney, Amazon, Pixar, MTV, Google, PlayStation, Comedy Central, Oracle, and Minnetrista Museum & Gardens.

Ball State University — Ranking Factors

The following factors contribute to Ball State University's position in Animation Career Review's 2026 animation school rankings.

Academic Peer Recognition: Strong Academic Peer Recognition (Tier 3)
Faculty Size: Mid-Sized Faculty (Tier 3)
Graduate Employment: Strong Employment Outcomes (Tier 2)
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: 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.

3. Indiana University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana
Indiana University Indianapolis

Indiana University Indianapolis (IU Indianapolis) is home to the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering. Within the school is a Media Arts and Sciences BS (MAS BS) program with a specialization in 3D Graphics and Animation. All MAS students have access to state-of-the-art production facilities such as Media Arts Research and Learning Arcade (MARLA), the Emerging technologies Lab, and Video Editing Lab (VELa). Students may also participate in the study abroad experience in Greece and the internship program. The MAS BS culminates with a final project and exhibition. Graduates can be found at places such as Pixar, Rockstar Games, Electronic Arts (EA), Blizzard Entertainment, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Digital Domain, Owlchemy Labs, and Gearbox Software. 

Indiana University Indianapolis — Ranking Factors

The following factors contribute to Indiana University Indianapolis' position in Animation Career Review's 2026 animation school rankings.

Academic Peer Recognition: Moderate Academic Peer Recognition (Tier 4)
Faculty Size: Mid-Sized Faculty (Tier 3)
Graduate Employment: Moderate Employment Outcomes (Tier 3)
Admissions Selectivity: Accessible (Tier 4)
Average Net Cost: Minimal Average Net Cost (Tier 1)
Student Indebtedness: Low Student Debt (Tier 2)
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.

4. Huntington University, Huntington, Indiana
Huntington University

Huntington University (HU) has an Animation BS program that allows students to begin animating in the very first semester. With access to state-of-the-art computer, stop motion, editing, and traditional labs, students can also focus in solely on Animation or Visual Effects. Other program highlights include team projects in simulated studio settings; the Internship in Digital Media Arts; participation in film festivals; local, national, and international animation trips during spring break; and the Junior Animation Studio class, where students have the opportunity to work alongside real clients to create marketing materials or public service announcements. The program culminates with a final project and portfolio. Graduates can be found at places such as DreamWorks, Riot Games, Disney, Amazon, Eli Lilly, and ABC Network. 

Huntington University — Ranking Factors

The following factors contribute to HU'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: Moderate Employment Outcomes (Tier 3)
Admissions Selectivity: Accessible (Tier 4)
Average Net Cost: Minimal Average Net Cost (Tier 1)
Student Indebtedness: Elevated Student debt (Tier 4)
Graduation Rate: Fair Graduation Rate (Tier 4)
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.

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