Animator Education Requirements
Animator Education Requirements And Degrees
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 Degree Should I Get to Become 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%
Most Common Level Of Education For Animators
| Animator Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelors | 74.3% |
| Associate | 12.5% |
| Masters | 7.7% |
| Diploma | 3.3% |
| High School Diploma | 1.1% |
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 Majors For Animators
| Animator Major | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Animation | 37.8% |
| Graphic Design | 14.7% |
| Fine Arts | 11.6% |
| Computer Science | 9.0% |
| Photography | 7.6% |
Check Jobs That Match To Your Education
Most Common Colleges for Animator
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 .
Most Common Colleges
| 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% |
Average Animator Salary by Education Level
Animators with a Bachelors degree earn more than those without, at $96,805 annually. With a Masters degree, Animators earn a median annual income of $87,736 compared to $86,180 for Animators with an Associate degree.
Salary By Education Level
| Animator Education Level | Animator Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $70,397 |
| Master's Degree | $87,736 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $96,805 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $86,180 |
Animator JOBS
10 Best Universities For Animators
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.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
2. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
3. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
5. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
7. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
8. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
9. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
10. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Best Colleges For Animators
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA |
| 2 | Harvard University | Cambridge, MA |
| 3 | Duke University | Durham, NC |
| 4 | New York University | New York, NY |
| 5 | Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA |
20 Best Online Courses for Animators
Sometimes things are just better when you get to stay in your pajamas all day. That includes school. We found top courses for Animators from Udemy, Coursera, EDX, and ed2go that will help you advance in your career. Here are essential skills you need to be a Animator:
- Graphic Design
- Storyboard
- Adobe Creative Suite
Learn how to animate characters using your video camera and microphone! No prior animation experience required!...
Learn to rig a biped character and animate a walk cycle for film, TV and video games for beginner Maya users...
Become a Storyboard Artist, learn professional skills for story boarding for Film, Animation & Gaming...
Start creating fantastic game animations today!...
How to Animate Level 1: the complete guide to Animation Principles in Adobe Animate...
Learn to use PSD Characters and Animate Each Episode 3X Faster...
Adobe After Effects CC - Master the two most important techniques for 2D animations in Adobe After Effects...
Learn how to design and animate a character in Photoshop that can stand up as professional work...
Design and animate characters for your game with Inkscape and DragonBones today!...
Design Memorable Character With a Strong Personality and Learn How to Prepare them for Animation...
An introduction to drawing storyboards for Film, TV, Animation or Gaming...
Learn everything you need for 3D animation in Autodesk Maya: Modeling, Texturing, Lighting, Rigging, Animation, Dynamics...
Learn How to Use the Animation and Interactive Media Industry Standard Software...
Learn the tools and concepts to rig props and characters in Maya 2018...
Explainer Videos and Marketing Videos: Chapter A: Learn how to animate characters and avatars in Powerpoint...
Have fun creating anything you want in Maya. Create your own 3d worlds! Learn creature & character design/animation!...
Complete training with practical exercises and comprehensive expert advice to mastering animation fundamentals...
Animation can be a fast process if you know the secret: Do Animation with rigged characters, with a few clicks and drags...
Learn to create professional 2D character animations for Games!...
Best Animator Certifications in 2022
1. Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT)
The technician certification designations of ALAT, LAT, and LATG are well known and widely used throughout the varied fields of laboratory animal care. In fact, these certifications have come to be a common requirement for a lab animal care position.
The technician certification designations of ALAT, LAT, and LATG are well known and widely used throughout the varied fields of laboratory animal care. In fact, these certifications have come to be a common requirement for a lab animal care position.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required? Every 2 year(s)
Entry Level Jobs For Becoming An Animator
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
2. Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY • Private
3. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
5. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
6. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
7. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
8. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
9. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
10. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
Most Affordable Colleges For Animators
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brooklyn College of the City University of New York | Brooklyn, NY |
| 2 | Fashion Institute of Technology | New York, NY |
| 3 | California State University - Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA |
| 4 | Brigham Young University | Provo, UT |
| 5 | University of Florida | Gainesville, FL |
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
2. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
4. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
5. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
6. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
7. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
8. New York University
New York, NY • Private
9. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
10. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Elite Colleges For Animators
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA |
| 2 | Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 3 | Northwestern University | Evanston, IL |
| 4 | Harvard University | Cambridge, MA |
| 5 | Duke University | Durham, NC |
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
2. Grand View University
Des Moines, IA • Private
3. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
4. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
5. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
6. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
7. Linfield College
McMinnville, OR • Private
8. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
9. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
10. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Good Colleges For Animators
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardinal Stritch University | Milwaukee, WI |
| 2 | Grand View University | Des Moines, IA |
| 3 | Notre Dame de Namur University | Belmont, CA |
| 4 | University of the Incarnate Word | San Antonio, TX |
| 5 | Kean University | Union, NJ |