Our fine staff of contributors at Animation Career Review includes:
Shawn Harrell
Deanna Thompson
Jen Lampton
Brad Prescott, Founder
When it comes to the official “best of” lists, exactly what makes an animation school program the best depends on the formula used to determine who’s in and who’s out.
Although for different reasons, some of the “best” animation schools are also some of the “top” animation schools—at least according to students, alums, and a bunch of ambitious bloggers! So, how does an animation school make the “best schools list?” Ask any reliable ranking organization such as Princeton Review or U.S. News & World Report and the answer is the school has to offer a variety of programs, it must have excellent graduation and retention rates, faculty resources (student-teacher ratio), excellent financial resources, and it must be selective. Peer assessment may also come into play.
An animation school with a large student body can be a good thing for many students and a bad thing when it comes to official rankings. Some students believe that the more people enrolled in school, the more popular it is, while some college ranking agencies this might have more to do with “lack of student selectivity” than popularity. In addition to student selectivity, ranking agencies consider factors such as faculty resources (student-faculty ratio), program offerings (how many and variety), financial resources, graduation and retention rates, and peer assessment.
If you’re an aspiring animator, you probably already know that there are hundreds of animation schools across the U.S. Some are free standing, while others are part of a larger art school, technical school, or traditional college. Most of these schools are accredited and many definitely have what it takes to help you start your animation career. The question is, are some animation schools better than others? Bloggers, college ranking agencies, alums, and many students think so, which is why they often create lists of the “best” schools or the “top schools” in the nation.
Some of the top animation schools (or programs) in the state of Indiana can be found in major cities such as Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, but did you know that there are a few hidden gems in smaller cities such as Kokomo and West Lafayette? These animation schools made the “Top Animation Schools” list based on a wide variety of factors such as cost, location, quality of facilities, job placement services, types of clubs and organizations, access to recreation, student body, and more. Continue reading to learn more about Indiana’s top animation schools and what they have to offer.
Being the most affordable animation school may be the number one priority for many struggling students, but for college ranking agencies, the amount of financial resources a school offers may carry more weight. When it comes to ranking schools, even having high enrollment figures may not help any given school make the cut. What makes any given school a “good” school or among the “best” schools depends on a variety of factors that have nothing to do with cost or popularity.
Animation is used to make feature films, video games, trailers, advertisements, television series, music videos, mobile apps, and training materials. Animation is even used in the medical field, engineering, architecture, and law enforcement. As a result, the demand for skilled animators is higher than ever before, and it shows no signs of slowing down. The nation’s best colleges and universities have taken notice and most art and design schools have added even more options to their catalogs.
So, what’s the difference between a “Best” animation school and a “Top” animation school? For starters, the criteria used to establish a “best” program might be different for top programs. One area that “best of” lists might not consider is the student population. These students may choose a top school for different reasons than someone that might choose a best school. For example, a top school may cost less than a best school, it might be more convenient than a best school, or the admissions process might be easier, meaning, being wait-listed might be a worry.
What does it take to become a “best” animation school? Is it cost? Location? Job placement services? Well, it really depends on the ranking agency. Many reputable college ranking agencies use a select group of factors to determine which programs deserve to be on the “best” list. These factors typically relate to the number of program offerings, graduation and retention rates, peer assessment, faculty resources (student-teacher ratio), financial resources, and student selectivity.
Nowadays, more and more gaming enthusiasts are pursuing professional work in the fields of Animation and Video Game Design. The skills required for these professions appeal as much to competitive gamers as to fine artists who can finally make a living at their craft. Many businesses in Oregon hire Animators and Video Game Designers. The vast majority of these jobs are located in the Portland area, although similar opportunities exist throughout the region, not to mention online.
