Start your career as a 2D animator for film, TV and games! CG Spectrum’s offers specialized online career training and mentorship from expert animators working at top studios. Get access to career services and a supportive community. Learn more.
What are the best animation school programs in Washington, DC for 2026?
| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Howard University | District of Columbia |
Our 2026 ranking -our fifteenth annual- of the top animation school programs in Washington, DC.
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. Howard University, Washington, DC
The Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University (HU) houses the Department of Art. Within the department is an Electronic Studio (eStudio) program with BFA, MFA, and minor options. The multidisciplinary eStudio program features coursework and projects in areas such as 2D animation; motion graphics; 3D animation and modeling; visual storytelling; narrative driven art; digital art creation; illustration; UX/UI design; and interactive media. Other program highlights include courses taught by industry professionals; access to state-of-the-art labs and studios; and internship opportunities. The program culminates with a final project and portfolio. Graduates have gone on to establish careers at places such as Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Sony Pictures Imageworks, Google, Studio Lambert, Reddit, and Isometic Studio.
Howard University — Ranking Factors
The following factors contribute to Howard'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: Selective (Tier 2)
Average Net Cost: Substantial Average Net Cost (Tier 5)
Student Indebtedness: Elevated Student debt (Tier 4)
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.