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What are the best animation school programs in Louisiana for 2026?
| Ranking | School | City | Ranking by Region | National Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Tulane University | New Orleans | #16 in South | Unranked |
| #2 | Louisiana State University | Baton Rouge | #17 in South | Unranked |
Our 2026 ranking -our fifteenth annual- of the top animation school programs in Louisiana.
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. Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana
The Newcomb Art Department at Tulane University (Tulane) provides several paths to study animation. Options include the Studio Art BA, BFA, and MFA. Students in all programs can enroll in the Digital Arts area, which explores animation and video (time-based media), interactivity, 3D graphics, and virtual reality. Other program features include opportunities to create animated projects in the state-of-the-art Digital Arts Studio; independent study; cross-disciplinary seminars; and internships. Programs culminate with a final project and exhibit in the Carroll Gallery at Woldenberg Art Center. Tulane alumni have been hired at places such as Disney, Nickelodeon, Paramount, NBCUniversal, Pixel Magic, Meta, Google, and Amazon.
Tulane University — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to Tulane'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: Limited Employment Outcomes (Tier 5)
Admissions Selectivity: Highly Selective (Tier 1)
Average Net Cost: Substantial Average Net Cost (Tier 5)
Student Indebtedness: Moderate Student Debt (Tier 3)
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. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Louisiana State University (LSU) provides several paths to study animation. Options include the Studio Art BFA (Digital Art); Digital Art BA and MFA; the interdisciplinary Digital Media Arts and Engineering (DMAE) MS and minor; and a Digital Media Art (DMART) minor. All students have access to state-of-the-art production spaces such as the XR Studio Brain Bar; the Digital Twin Studio; and the XR Studio. All students may participate in the internship program and work in the DMAE Digital Media Center on LSU's campus. This shared space with Electronic Art’s (EA) North American Test Center allows students to collaborate with accomplished animators, digital artists, and programmers. Graduates have been hired at places such as Lucasfilm, Electronic Arts (EA), DreamWorks, Pixar, and Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Louisiana State University — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to LSU'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: Moderate Employment Outcomes (Tier 3)
Admissions Selectivity: Accessible (Tier 4)
Average Net Cost: Moderate Average Net Cost (Tier 3)
Student Indebtedness: Moderate Student Debt (Tier 3)
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.