Top 5 Animation School Programs in North Carolina - 2026 College Rankings
Our 2026 ranking -our fifteenth annual- of the top animation school programs in North Carolina.
Featured Articles
-
Did you know? The Savannah College of Art and Design animation program provides every resource to help students develop their signature style in 2D, 3D, and stop-motion animation, digital modeling, rigging, lighting, and look development. Learn more.
-
Did you know? Savannah College of Art and Design animation alumni join forces with the world's biggest studios such as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Pixar, and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Learn more.
-
Your future is digital! The ETSU Digital Media program bridges creativity and technology, preparing students for careers in animation, game design, and visual effects. Ranked #1 in Tennessee for Game Design, our program offers hands-on mentoring and cutting-edge tools to help students succeed in the industry. Learn More.
-
Did you know? Savannah College of Art and Design animation alumni join forces with the world's biggest studios such as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Pixar, and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Learn more.
-
Did you know? Savannah College of Art and Design animation alumni join forces with the world's biggest studios such as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Pixar, and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Learn more.
-
Did you know? Savannah College of Art and Design alumni work at top companies around the globe like Apple, IBM, Ralph Lauren, Under Armour, and Verizon. Learn more.
-
Did you know? Savannah College of Art and Design animation alumni join forces with the world's biggest studios such as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Pixar, and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Learn more.
-
Did you know? As a Savannah College of Art and Design illustration student, you’ll learn to use everything from advanced digital technology to pen and ink to create dazzling illustrations. SCAD illustration students graduate to become art directors, book illustrators, or illustrators for game design. Learn more.
-
Did you know? Savannah College of Art and Design animation alumni join forces with the world's biggest studios such as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Pixar, and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Learn more.
-
Did you know? Savannah College of Art and Design animation alumni join forces with the world's biggest studios such as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Pixar, and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Learn more.
Programs to consider
Selected Campus Locations:
- Atlanta, Georgia; Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and SCAD eLearning
Selected Programs:
- Animation – BFA, MA, MFA
- Film and Television – BFA, MA, MFA
- Graphic Design – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Illustration – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Extended Reality - BFA
- Interactive Design and Game Development – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Motion Media Design – BFA, MA, MFA
- Sequential Art – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Visual Effects – BFA, MA, MFA
- User Experience (UX) Design – BFA
- Applied AI - B.Des
- Music Production - BFA
- Robotics - B.Des
- Sound Design - BFA, MA, MFA
Animation Career Review Rankings:
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#2) - 2026
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#7) - 2026
- Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#7) - 2025
- Top 50 Nationally for Illustration (#5) - 2026
- Top 25 Nationally for Visual Effects (#2) - 2026
Selected Campus Locations:
- Johnson City
Selected Programs:
Animation Career Review Rankings:
- Top 40 Nationally for Animation among Public Colleges (#26) - 2026
- Top 25 in the South for Animation (#12) - 2026
- Top 20 in the South for Game Design (#18) - 2026
Selected Campus Locations:
- Online
Selected Programs:
Animation Career Review Rankings:
- Top 25 International Animation Training Programs (#17) - 2025
What are the top ranked North Carolina colleges for animation, game design, graphic design, and illustration?
