Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Special effects specialist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a special effects specialist. Special effects specialists usually study business, psychology, or management. 51% of special effects specialists hold a bachelor's degree, and 19% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 417 real special effects specialist resumes to see exactly what special effects specialist education sections show.
The most common colleges for special effects specialists are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online special effects specialist courses to help get the education required to be a special effects specialist.
What education do you need to become a special effects specialist?
What degree do you need to be a special effects specialist?
- Bachelor's, 51%
- Associate, 19%
- Master's, 14%
- High School Diploma, 9%
- Other Degrees, 7%
What should I major in to become a special effects specialist?
- Business, 21%
- Psychology, 9%
- Management, 8%
- Graphic Design, 6%
- Other Majors, 56%
Most common colleges for special effects specialists
| Special effects specialist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 9.09% |
| San Jose State University | 6.82% |
| University of California - Davis | 6.82% |
| DeVry University | 6.82% |
| University of New Mexico | 6.82% |
Best majors for special effects specialists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 20.9% |
| 2 | Psychology | 8.8% |
| 3 | Management | 8.1% |
| 4 | Graphic Design | 6.1% |
| 5 | General Studies | 5.4% |
Best colleges for special effects specialists
The best colleges for special effects specialists are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
A special effects specialist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for special effects specialists. 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 special effects specialists.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
5. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
6. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
7. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
8. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
9. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
10. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
20 best online courses for special effects specialists
Advertising disclosure
1. Learn 2D Game Special Effect Animation in Photoshop
The best Game special effects animation course on the market...
2. Financial Accounting - Subsidiary Ledgers & Special Journals
Mastering Special Journals and Subsidiary Ledgers: A Comprehensive Guide to Streamlined Accounting Practices...
3. Educational Psychology & Special Education (Certificate)
Informational content for educators and parents to learn about teaching and understanding exceptional children...
4. Photoshop Effects - How to Create Photo Effects
Create Photoshop Effects from scratch. Make popular photographic effects in Adobe Photoshop by doing practical projects...
5. Customer Service Mastery: Delight Every Customer
Master Customer Service using this practical customer care course...
6. Complete Adobe After Effects Megacourse: Beginner to Expert
Learn how to create visual effects and motion graphics and animate like a pro with this step-by-step course!...
7. Adobe After Effects CC For Beginners: Learn After Effects CC
Adobe After Effects CC For Beginners: Create Motion Graphics, Animate Text, Key Framing, Importing, Exporting & More!...
8. Effective Bookkeeping and Payroll
Effective Bookkeeping and Payroll...
9. Project Charter Specialist (Accredited) Project Management
What is Project Charter? Components? Template? Example? Document Project Charter? Project Charter Specialist Earn PDUs...
10. After Effects for Beginners Complete Intro to After Effects
Complete Intro to After Effects - Learn After Effects CC typography and animation...
11. Customer Service
How to Approach New Customers and Maintain Existing Ones...
12. Learn Adobe After Effects CC 2019 for Beginners
Dive in the world of Visual Effects in this exciting and themed hands-on course...
13. After Effects - Motion Graphics & Data Visualization
Using Adobe After Effects create beautiful VFX Visual Effects, data visualization & VFX Compositing...
14. Learning Adobe After Effects CC Tutorial Videos
Learn How To Use After Effects To Create Stunning Digital Motion Effects. Taught By Leading Adobe Effects Trainer...
15. After Effects: Create Motion Graphics & Advertising Videos
Learn how to create stunning motion graphic & advertising videos using After Effect with project based learning approach...
16. Photoshop CC Retouching and Effects Masterclass
Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud Retouching and Effects for Portrait Photography & More. Learn the Essentials to Advanced!...
17. [2023] Customer Service 2.0: Learn Digital Customer Service
Used by Chase®, Intel®, & more! Learn soft skills, social media customer service, diagnosing user problems, & more...
18. Adobe After Effects Ultimate Guide
Ultimate A-Z Guide for Adobe After Effects Go From Basic to Advanced with 30 Projects + 30 Assignments From Scratch...
19. The Complete Adobe After Effects Bootcamp: Basic to Advanced
Learn Adobe After Effects CC: Master Motion Graphics, VFX Visual Effects & VFX Compositing - 50+ Real World Project...
20. Character Animation: Walk Cycles in Adobe After Effects CC
Master how to animate the most common Walk Cycles in Adobe After Effects...
Top 10 most affordable universities for special effects specialists
The most affordable schools for special effects specialists are University of Florida, fashion institute of technology, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for special effects specialists 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 special effects specialists.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$5,740
Cost of attendance
17,864
3. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
5. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
6. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
7. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
8. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
9. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
10. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for special effects specialists
The hardest universities for special effects specialists to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
Some great schools for special effects specialists 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 special effects specialists 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. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
4. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
5. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
8. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
9. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
10. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for special effects specialists
The easiest schools for special effects specialists to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, notre dame college, and wayland baptist university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a special effects specialist 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 special effects specialists.
1. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
2. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
3. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
4. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
5. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
6. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
7. Grand View University
Des Moines, IA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,060
8. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
9. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
10. Marymount University
Arlington, VA • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,065
Average special effects specialist salary by education level
| Special effects specialist education level | Special effects specialist salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $72,560 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $51,634 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $70,350 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $57,695 |
Special effects specialist education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common arts, entertainment, sports, and media questions.
Search for special effects specialist jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025