In a lot of cases, a higher education can mean a higher salary or even a better job. That's why we found out the best colleges for animators. We based this list on these metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of students working, ratio of working vs. non-working students 10 years after admission, average cost of attendance and median debt for graduates.
Best Colleges And Majors For Animators
Best Colleges For Animators
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
Animator Education Requirements
There are several education requirements to become an animator. Animators usually study animation, graphic design or fine arts. 74% of animators hold a bachelor's degree and 13% hold a associate degree. We found these by analyzing 4,869 animator resumes to investigate the topic of animator education more precisely.
The most common colleges for students to pursue their goal of becoming an animator are Savannah College of Art and Design and School of Visual Arts.
For those who would rather stay in your pajamas during the day, we prepared some online courses that can help in animator education paths.
What Education Do You Need To Become an Animator?
What degree do you need to be an Animator?
The most common degree for animators is bachelor's degree 74% of animators earn that degree. A close second is associate degree with 13% and rounding it off is master's degree with 8%.
- Bachelors, 74%
- Associate, 13%
- Masters, 8%
- Diploma, 3%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What Should I Major in to Become an Animator?
Most animators, 38% to be exact, major in animation. Some other common majors for an animator include graphic design and fine arts majors.
- Animation, 38%
- Graphic Design, 15%
- Fine Arts, 12%
- Computer Science, 9%
- Other Majors, 26%
Most Common Colleges For Animators
Here are the most common colleges for an animator career in the US based on their resumes. Advocates often get their degree in Savannah College of Art and Design, School of Visual Arts, and Academy of Art University .
| Animator Common College | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Savannah College of Art and Design | 18.38% |
| School of Visual Arts | 12.25% |
| Academy of Art University | 10.26% |
| Full Sail University | 7.04% |
| The Art Institute of Philadelphia | 4.75% |
Best Majors For Animators
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Animation | 37.8% |
| 2 | Graphic Design | 14.7% |
| 3 | Fine Arts | 11.6% |
| 4 | Computer Science | 9.0% |
| 5 | Photography | 7.6% |
20 Best Online Courses for Animators
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5. Storyboarding for Film & Animation Part 2
Become a Storyboard Artist, learn professional skills for story boarding for Film, Animation & Gaming...
6. 2D Character Animation: Walk Cycles
Design Characters for animation in Adobe Animate: animate a character step by step: animate a full scene...
7. The Complete Spine Game Rigging & Animation Course
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8. Learn to Animate: Animation Principles
How to Animate Level 1: the complete guide to Animation Principles in Adobe Animate...
9. Create Animated Series for YouTube in CrazyTalk Animator 3
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10. Dynamic 2D video game character animation with free tools
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11. After Effects CC: 2D Character Animation - Puppet & Rig
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12. The Ultimate 2D Game Character Design & Animation Course
Learn how to design and animate a character in Photoshop that can stand up as professional work...
13. Maya for Beginners: Complete 3D Animation Fundamentals
Complete training with practical exercises and comprehensive expert advice to mastering animation fundamentals...
14. Character Design For Animation in Illustrator
Design Memorable Character With a Strong Personality and Learn How to Prepare them for Animation...
15. Learn to Storyboard for Film or Animation
An introduction to drawing storyboards for Film, TV, Animation or Gaming...
16. Maya for Beginners: Complete Guide to 3D Animation in Maya
Learn everything you need for 3D animation in Autodesk Maya: Modeling, Texturing, Lighting, Rigging, Animation, Dynamics...
17. Rigging 101 for Video Games - Maya 2018
Learn the tools and concepts to rig props and characters in Maya 2018...
18. Adobe Flash/Animate
Learn How to Use the Animation and Interactive Media Industry Standard Software...
19. Powerpoint 4 Video Part A - Introduction+Character Animation
Explainer Videos and Marketing Videos: Chapter A: Learn how to animate characters and avatars in Powerpoint...
20. 3D Modeling & Animation with Maya
Have fun creating anything you want in Maya. Create your own 3d worlds! Learn creature & character design/animation!...
Top 10 Affordable Universities For Animators
If those top 10 were a bit out of your price range, you might want to check these schools instead. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price and mean earnings after 6 years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for animators.
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 Animators
Some people like a challenge. Well, we challenge you to get into one of these schools. It's not going to be easy. We know this based on these institutions' admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted and mean earnings of students 6 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 Easier To Apply Universities For Animators
Why make getting a job harder on yourself than it has to be? With these colleges, you're sure to be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores and average salary of students 6 years after graduation in order to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into.
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 Animator Salary by Education Level
Animators with a Masters degree earn more than those without, at $87,684 annually. With a Bachelors degree, animators earn a median annual income of $85,609 compared to $73,425 for animators with an Associate degree.
| Animator Education Level | Animator Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $67,380 |
| Master's Degree | $87,684 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $85,609 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $73,425 |