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What are the top animation school programs in Washington for 2026?
| Ranking | School | City | Ranking by Region | National Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | DigiPen | Redmond | #12 on West Coast | #42 |
| #2 | University of Washington | Seattle | #15 on West Coast | Unranked |
| #3 | Academy of Interactive Entertainment | Seattle | Unranked | Unranked |
| #4 | Cornish College of the Arts | Seattle | Unranked | Unranked |
Our 2026 ranking -our fifteenth annual- of the top animation school programs in Washington.
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. DigiPen, Redmond, Washington
DigiPen was the first school in the world to launch a bachelor’s degree in video game programming. A Certified Partner of SideFX, the school houses a Digital Art and Animation BFA program, and a Digital Arts MFA. Across programs, students benefit from courses taught by independent Disney and Lucasfilm animators; semester- or 12-month long interdisciplinary team-based projects; and opportunities to study abroad at the DigiPen Singapore or Spain campuses. Programs culminate with a professional film or other creative work. To date, DigiPen graduates have been hired by more than 1,250 companies around the world. Examples include Walt Disney Imagineering, Apple, Electronic Arts (EA), DreamWorks, Blizzard Entertainment, Google, Warner Bros. Games, Sony, Nintendo, Amazon, and Riot Games.
DigiPen — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to DigiPen'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: Moderately Selective (Tier 3)
Average Net Cost: Substantial Average Net Cost (Tier 5)
Student Indebtedness: Substantial Student Debt (Tier 5)
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. University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
The Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at University of Washington (UW) houses the Computer Science BS (BS CS); Computer Engineering BS (BS CE); the Professional Master’s Program (PMP) in CSE; or the CSE PhD. These highly interdisciplinary programs provide access to the Animation Research Labs (ARL); the Center for Game Science; and the UW Graphics and Imaging Lab (GRAIL). Activities and events in the labs explore animation, computer game science, and more. Across programs, students will work in interdisciplinary teams to complete the Animation Pre-Production and Animation Capstone courses. Graduates have gone on to establish careers at places such as Disney, Epic Games, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), DreamWorks, Pixar, Nickelodeon, Google, Amazon MGM Studios, Blizzard Entertainment, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Microsoft, Weta FX, Nintendo, and Titmouse.
University of Washington — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to UW'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: Strong Employment Outcomes (Tier 2)
Admissions Selectivity: Selective (Tier 2)
Average Net Cost: Minimal Average Net Cost (Tier 1)
Student Indebtedness: Minimal Student Debt (Tier 1)
Graduation Rate: Strong Graduation Rate (Tier 2)
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.
3. Academy of Interactive Entertainment, Seattle, Washington
Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) is a Houdini Certified School that houses a Game Art and Animation diploma program, and an advanced diploma in 3D Animation and Visual Effects. Programs take place in a hands-on, collaborative, studio-environment led by industry professionals. Other program highlights include opportunities to gain extensive experience through AIE’s studio partnerships; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; participation in the Games and Animation Workshop Day; and an active career placement division. Across programs, students will graduate with an industry-ready short film and online portfolio. Graduates have landed positions at places such as DreamWorks, Weta FX, Riot Games, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Ubisoft, Sledgehamer Games, Unity, and BioWare.
Academy of Interactive Entertainment — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to AIE'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: Strong Employment Outcomes (Tier 2)
Admissions Selectivity: Moderately Selective (Tier 3)
Average Net Cost: Elevated Average Net Cost (Tier 4)
Student Indebtedness: Minimal Student Debt (Tier 1)
Graduation Rate: Strong Graduation Rate (Tier 2)
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. Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, Washington
The Film and Media Department at Cornish College of the Arts (Cornish) houses an Animation BFA program that explores other areas such as VR/AR, interaction design, and web design. Students in this project-based program have the option to explore additional areas through studio and open electives along with minor options such as Game Art or Experience Design. Other program benefits include access to state-of-the-art labs, digital workstations, and studios; immersive workshops; visiting artists and guest lectures; industry partnerships; field trips; and professional internships. The program culminates with the BFA Capstone and Exhibition Seminar. Cornish graduates have been hired at places such as Pixar, Microsoft, LAIKA, Disney, Warner Bros., Electronic Arts (EA), Nintendo, Amazon, and Big Fish Games.
Cornish College of the Arts — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to Cornish'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: Fair Employment Outcomes (Tier 4)
Admissions Selectivity: Accessible (Tier 4)
Average Net Cost: Elevated Average Net Cost (Tier 4)
Student Indebtedness: Low Student Debt (Tier 2)
Graduation Rate: Low Graduation Rate (Tier 5)
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.