
Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, Ohio
Programs: BFA Graphic Design, BA Art - Digital Arts Specialization with a Focus in Computer Animation & Video, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality Lab; Interactive Media, Video and Reality/Virtual Reality Laboratory; BA/Minor Film Production
Rankings:
- Top 40 Nationally for Animation among Public Colleges (#27) - 2025
- Top 25 in the Midwest for Animation (#12) - 2025
- Top 25 Animation MFA Program in the U.S. (#24) - 2025
- Top 25 Animation BA Program in the U.S. (#12) - 2025
- Top 50 Animation BFA Program in the U.S. (#44) - 2025
- Top 5 Schools in Ohio for Animation (#4) - 2025
- Top 50 Public Graphic Design Schools in the US (#42) - 2024
- Top 25 in the Midwest for Graphic Design (#18) - 2024
- Top 5 Schools in Ohio for Graphic Design (#4) - 2024
- Top 5 Visual Effects (VFX) Schools and Colleges in the Midwest (#5) - 2024 Rankings

Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland, Ohio
Programs: BFA Animation, BFA Game Design, BFA Graphic Design, BFA Illustration, BFA Biomedical Art (Medical Illustration)
Rankings:
- Top 50 Animation Schools in the US (#42) - 2025
- Top 40 Nationally for Animation among Private Colleges (#27) - 2025
- Top 50 Animation BFA Program in the U.S. (#34) - 2025
- Top 25 in the Midwest for Animation (#9) - 2025
- Top 5 in Ohio for Animation (#3) - 2025
- Top 25 in the Midwest for Game Design (#12) - 2024
- Top Schools in Ohio for Game Design (#4) - 2024
- Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design among Private Colleges (#37) - 2024
- Top 25 Graphic Design Schools in the Midwest (#24) - 2024
- Top 5 in Ohio for Graphic Design (#5) - 2024
- Top 50 Nationally for Illustration (#17) - 2024
- Top 25 Nationally for Illustration among Private Colleges (#15) - 2024
- Top 20 in the Midwest for Illustration (#4) - 2024
- Top 25 Illustration BFA Program in the U.S. (#17) - 2024
- Top Schools in Ohio for Illustration (#2) - 2024

Columbus College of Art and Design Columbus, Ohio
Programs: BFA Animation; BFA Game Art & Design; BFA Advertising & Graphic Design; BFA Illustration - Concentrations: Illustration/Entertainment - Design/Drawing - Design/Modeling - Illustration/Illustrative Design
Rankings:
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#31) - 2025
- Top 40 Nationally for Animation among Private Colleges (#21) - 2025
- Top 25 in the Midwest for Animation (#6) - 2025
- Top 50 Animation BFA Program in the U.S. (#25) - 2025
- Top 25 Animation MFA Program in the U.S. (#18) - 2025
- Top 5 in Ohio for Animation (#2) - 2025
- Top 20 Schools in the Midwest for Game Design (#14) - 2024
- Top 50 Private Graphic Design Schools in the US (#39) - 2024
- Top 25 Graphic Design Schools in the Midwest (#25) - 2024
- Top 50 Nationally for Illustration (#14) - 2024
- Top 25 Nationally for Illustration among Private Colleges (#13) - 2024
- Top 10 in the Midwest for Illustration (#3) - 2024
- Top 25 Illustration BFA Program in the U.S. (#14) - 2024
- Top Schools in Ohio for Illustration (#1) - 2024
Interviews:
- Columbus College of Art & Design’s Tom Richner Talks Animation, Teaching and Working in the Industry
- Carving New Territory at Columbus College of Art and Design: Q&A with Game Art & Design Chair Charlotte Belland
- Completing the Picture: Q&A with Columbus College of Art & Design’s Illustration Chair Mike Laughead

Kent State University Kent, Ohio
Programs: BS Animation Game Design; BS Computer Design, Animation and Game Design Engineering Technology, BFA Visual Communication Design, BA Visual Communication Design, MA Visual Communication Design, MFA Visual Communication Design, BS Computer Science, Game Design and Programming Concentration, BA Computer Science, Game Design and Programming Concentration, MS UX Design, Minor UX Design
Rankings:
- Top 25 Animation BS Program in the U.S. (#17) - 2025
- Top 25 Animation Schools in the Midwest (#23) - 2025
- Top 20 in the Midwest for Game Design (#13) - 2024
- Top 5 in Ohio for Game Design (#5) - 2024
- Top 50 Graphic Design Schools in the US (#49) - 2024
- Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design among Public Colleges (#26) - 2024
- Top 25 in the Midwest for Graphic Design (#13) - 2024
- Top 5 in Ohio for Graphic Design (#3) - 2024

Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio
Programs: BFA/MFA Art, Emphasis Art and Technology; Bachelor of Science in Design - Visual Communication Design; MFA - Digital Animation and Interactive Media (DAIM) Track; Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design (ACCAD)
Rankings:
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#19) - 2025
- Top 40 Nationally for Animation among Public Colleges (#3) - 2025
- Top 25 in the Midwest for Animation (#2) - 2025
- Top 5 Schools in Ohio for Animation (#1) - 2025
- Top 50 Animation BFA Program in the U.S. (#15) - 2025
- Top 25 Animation BA Program in the U.S. (#3) - 2025
- Top 25 Animation MFA Program in the U.S. (#11) - 2025
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#32) - 2024
- Top 25 Nationally for Game Design among Public Colleges (#14) - 2024
- Top 20 in the Midwest for Game Design (#4) - 2024
- Top Schools in Ohio for Game Design (#1) - 2024
- Top 10 Game Design MFA Program in the U.S. (#8) - 2024
- Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#28) - 2024
- Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design among Public Colleges (#11) - 2024
- Top 25 in the Midwest for Graphic Design (#5) - 2024
- Top 25 Graphic Design MFA Program in the U.S. (#18) - 2024
- Top 5 in Ohio for Graphic Design (#2) - 2024
- Top 50 Colleges for Augmented/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) in the US (#29) - 2024
- Top 25 Public Colleges for Augmented/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) in the US (#17) - 2024
- Top 10 Colleges for Augmented/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) in the Midwest (#6) - 2024

Ohio University Athens, Ohio
Programs: BFA Graphic Design, MFA Graphic Design, BS in Communication in Media Arts and Studies (Games And Animation emphasis); BS Communication, Emphasis Games and Animation, BS Information and Telecommunication Systems - VR/AR Specialization, Game Research and Immersive Design (GRID) Lab
Rankings:
- Top 40 Nationally for Animation among Public Colleges (#33) - 2025
- Top 25 in the Midwest for Animation (#15) - 2025
- Top 20 Animation BS Program in the U.S. (#11) - 2025
- Top 5 in Ohio for Animation (#5) - 2025
- Top 25 in the Midwest for Game Design (#19) - 2024
- Top 10 Graphic Design Schools and Colleges in Ohio (#9) - 2023
- Top 50 Colleges for Augmented/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) in the US (#36) - 2024
- Top 25 Public Colleges for Augmented/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) in the US (#21) - 2023
- Top 10 Colleges for Augmented/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) in the Midwest (#8) - 2023

Shawnee State University Portsmouth, Ohio
Programs: BFA Visualist Design and Interactive Media: Design Track , BFA Visualist Design and Interactive Media Concentration with a 3D Design Track; BS Digital Simulation and Gaming Engineering Technology; BFA Game and Simulation Development Arts

University of Toledo Toledo, Ohio
Programs: BFA Studio Art/Minor Animation and Visual Effects, BFA Graphic and Interactive Design/Minor Animation and Visual Effects, BA Visual Art (BAVA)/Minor Animation and Visual Effects; BA Film/Video/Minor Animation and Visual Effects
Rankings:
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