| Ranking | School | City | Ranking by Region | National Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Kansas State University | Manhattan | #25 in Midwest | Unranked |
| #2 | University of Kansas | Lawrence | Unranked | Unranked |
Our 2026 ranking -our fifteenth annual- of the top animation school programs in Kansas.
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.
Kansas State University (K-State) provides several paths to study animation. Options include an Immersive Systems Design BS, which can be completed online; a Studio Art BA, BFA, or minor with a Digital and Expanded Media area; and certificates in Immersive Digital Media Design (IDMD) and Interactive 3D Application Design (Animation, 3D Modeling, and Game Design). Across programs, students benefit from state-of-the-art technology centers and labs; seminars, workshops, and studio courses; and internship opportunities. K-State graduates can be found at places such as Disney, NASA, CBS, Hallmark, Discovery, Perkins & Will, JNT Company, Pure Imagination Studios, and C3 Creative NYC.
The following factors contribute to K-State'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: 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.
The School of Architecture and Design (SAD) at University of Kansas (KU) houses the Department of Design. Within the department is a Design BFA program with a concentration in Animation. Program highlights include dedicated studio spaces; opportunities to collaborate with KU partners such as PepsiCo and AT&T; state-of-the-art production facilities and labs; short-term or semester-long internships in the U.S. and abroad; and lectures and workshops led by active industry professionals. The program culminates with an animated short and screening at the Department of Design Senior Show. Graduates have been hired at places such as Disney, Torch.AI, Pixar, Hallmark, and Pure Imagination Studios.
The following factors contribute to KU's 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: Low-mid Average Net Cost (Tier 2)
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.
