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3D Artist Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a 3d artist. 3d artists usually study animation, graphic design, or computer science. 75% of 3d artists hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 3,433 real 3d artist resumes to see exactly what 3d artist education sections show.

The most common colleges for 3d artists are the Full Sail University and the Full Sail University.

There are also many online 3d artist courses to help get the education required to be a 3d artist.

What education do you need to become a 3d artist?

What degree do you need to be a 3d artist?

The most common degree for 3d artists is bachelor's degree, with 75% of 3d artists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 15% and associate degree degree at 6%.
  • Bachelor's, 75%
  • Associate, 15%
  • Master's, 6%
  • Diploma, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a 3d artist?

You should major in animation to become a 3d artist. 25% of 3d artists major in animation. Other common majors for a 3d artist include graphic design and computer science.

Most common colleges for 3d artists

3d artists often get their degrees at Full Sail University, Academy of Art University, and The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Here are the most common colleges for 3d artists in the US based on their resumes.
3D Artist Common CollegePercentages
Full Sail University18.50%
Academy of Art University11.42%
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh9.45%
Savannah College of Art and Design8.66%
The Art Institute of Philadelphia5.12%

Best majors for 3d artists

RankMajorPercentages
1Animation24.5%
2Graphic Design21.6%
3Computer Science11.4%
4Fine Arts11.1%
5Computer Applications6.0%

Best colleges for 3d artists

The best colleges for 3d artists are University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, and Northwestern University.

A 3d artist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for 3d artists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become 3d artists.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

3. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

4. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

5. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,465

Enrollment

6,483

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

7. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-State Tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

8. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

9. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,522

Enrollment

13,760

10. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

20 best online courses for 3d artists

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Top 10 most affordable universities for 3d artists

The most affordable schools for 3d artists are Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, fashion institute of technology, and california state university - los angeles.

If the best universities for 3d artists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for 3d artists.

1. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,240

Cost of Attendance

13,991

2. Fashion Institute of Technology

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,740

Cost of Attendance

17,864

3. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,749

Cost of Attendance

14,823

4. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,620

Cost of Attendance

18,136

5. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,381

Cost of Attendance

21,034

6. Lehman College of the City University of New York

Bronx, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,210

Cost of Attendance

14,359

7. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,798

Cost of Attendance

18,306

8. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,338

Cost of Attendance

14,281

9. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,992

Cost of Attendance

22,430

10. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,182

Cost of Attendance

13,998

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for 3d artists

The hardest universities for 3d artists to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for 3d artists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for 3d artists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,492

2. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

17%

SAT Average

1,507

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

4. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

5%

SAT Average

1,520

5. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions Rate

9%

SAT Average

1,516

6. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

19%

SAT Average

1,466

7. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

13%

SAT Average

1,445

8. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

20%

SAT Average

1,419

9. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

4%

SAT Average

1,497

10. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

22%

SAT Average

1,420

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for 3d artists

The easiest schools for 3d artists to get into are Cardinal Stritch University, grand view university, and notre dame de namur university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a 3d artist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for 3d artists.

1. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions Rate

71%

SAT Average

1,035

2. Grand View University

Des Moines, IA • Private

Admissions Rate

92%

SAT Average

1,060

3. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

82%

SAT Average

983

4. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

88%

SAT Average

1,044

5. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions Rate

86%

SAT Average

991

6. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions Rate

90%

SAT Average

994

7. Linfield College

McMinnville, OR • Private

Admissions Rate

81%

SAT Average

1,117

8. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

84%

SAT Average

1,031

9. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

98%

SAT Average

1,003

10. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

93%

SAT Average

1,026

Average 3d artist salary by education level

3d artists with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $87,155 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, 3d artists earn a median annual income of $84,752 compared to $70,844 for 3d artists with an Associate degree.
3D Artist education level3D Artist salary
Master's Degree$87,155
High School Diploma or Less$64,083
Bachelor's Degree$84,752
Some College/ Associate Degree$70,844

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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