By major · Animation and Visual Effects
Where can your student actually get into animation and visual effects?
In 2022-23, 93 colleges awarded a bachelor's degree in animation and visual effects, 15 of them in California. The biggest program that year was Savannah College of Art and Design, with 519 graduates. We build this page from federal data for every college that awards the degree, so it is the whole field rather than a shortlist.
This page is assembled from federal data for every college that awards the degree. There is no hand-written analysis on it.
At a glance · All states
- 93 colleges nationwide offer a bachelor's animation and visual effects program; every one of them awarded the degree in 2022-23 (federal IPEDS completions).
- Largest programs by graduates in 2022-23: Savannah College of Art and Design (519), Columbia College Chicago (212), Ringling College of Art and Design (124).
- 15 of them are in California, the one state whose public systems (the University of California and the CSU) publish an admit rate into the major.
- Lowest average net price with aid: Atlantic University, $6,425 per year.
Only the University of California and the CSU publish an admit rate into a major, so most colleges here show no program admit rate. A blank rate is not an open door. It means the college does not report one, and your student is applying against the campus admit rate instead. Admits are not enrollees. At most UC programs students are admitted to the campus, not the major. This page as JSON → · California only (15 colleges, with the UC and CSU gates) →
Lowest net price with aid
average for aid recipients, per year
Every college, one row each
Colleges with a reported gate into the program come first, hardest first; the rest are sorted by earnings, then by graduates. Degree awarded is the program the college conferred bachelor's degrees in during 2022-23, with the number of graduates (federal IPEDS completions). Program admit rate is the college system's own number for this major (UC Information Center, CSU Chancellor's Office). Net price is the average paid by aid recipients; full price is the cost of attendance. Earnings are federal College Scorecard medians four years after the degree.
| College | Gate into the program | Degree awarded · graduates 2022-23 |
Program admit rate |
Campus admit rate |
Net price with aid |
Full price |
Earnings 4 yrs out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Savannah College of Art and Design
GA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
519 graduates
|
— | 84% | $49,430 | $63,627 | — |
|
Columbia College Chicago
IL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
212 graduates
|
— | 91% | $26,598 | $51,889 | — |
|
Ringling College of Art and Design
FL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
124 graduates
|
— | 67% | $57,742 | $80,276 | — |
|
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
AZ · Public · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
92 graduates
|
— | 90% | $14,967 | $30,111 | — |
|
Los Angeles Film School
CA · Private for-profit
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
85 graduates
|
— | — | $30,980 | — | — |
|
George Mason University
VA · Public · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
80 graduates
|
— | 89% | $17,915 | $28,604 | — |
|
Art Center College of Design
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
79 graduates
|
— | 75% | $48,661 | $75,649 | — |
|
School of Visual Arts
NY · Private for-profit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
76 graduates
|
— | 91% | $57,914 | $78,051 | — |
|
Academy of Art University
CA · Private for-profit
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
74 graduates
|
— | — | $40,613 | — | — |
|
DigiPen Institute of Technology
WA · Private for-profit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
65 graduates
|
— | 68% | $44,446 | $55,588 | — |
|
DePaul University
IL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
58 graduates
|
— | 74% | $30,902 | $63,052 | — |
|
Ferris State University
MI · Public · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
58 graduates
|
— | 81% | $8,624 | $27,048 | — |
|
Pratt Institute-Main
NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
56 graduates
|
— | 53% | $52,659 | $80,049 | — |
|
University of Hawaii at Manoa
HI · Public · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
56 graduates
|
— | 70% | $15,664 | $26,433 | — |
|
College for Creative Studies
MI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
53 graduates
|
— | 93% | $34,617 | $66,014 | — |
|
Sam Houston State University
TX · Public · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
53 graduates
|
— | 85% | $16,404 | $25,505 | — |
|
Columbus College of Art & Design
OH · Private nonprofit
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
52 graduates
|
— | — | $29,439 | — | — |
|
East Tennessee State University
TN · Public · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
49 graduates
|
— | 87% | $15,983 | $27,042 | — |
|
Clark University
MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
47 graduates
|
— | 42% | $28,714 | $68,432 | — |
|
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
HI · Public · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
47 graduates
|
— | 96% | $10,327 | $18,410 | — |
|
California College of the Arts
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
46 graduates
|
— | 73% | $53,909 | $79,776 | — |
|
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
CO · Private for-profit
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
46 graduates
|
— | — | $32,363 | — | — |
|
Chapman University
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
45 graduates
|
— | 56% | $46,555 | $83,146 | — |
|
Maryland Institute College of Art
MD · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
41 graduates
|
— | 77% | $42,729 | $76,860 | — |
|
University of Baltimore
MD · Public · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
40 graduates
|
— | 86% | $13,868 | $26,406 | — |
|
California Institute of the Arts
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
35 graduates
|
— | 26% | $46,080 | $77,560 | — |
|
New Mexico State University-Main Campus
NM · Public · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
30 graduates
|
— | 76% | $8,889 | $23,274 | — |
|
Atlantic University
PR · Private nonprofit
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
27 graduates
|
— | — | $6,425 | — | — |
|
Indian River State College
FL · Public
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
27 graduates
|
— | — | — | — | — |
|
University of the Arts
PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
27 graduates
|
— | 78% | — | — | — |
|
Florida State College at Jacksonville
FL · Public
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
26 graduates
|
— | — | — | — | — |
|
Laguna College of Art and Design
CA · Private nonprofit
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
26 graduates
|
— | — | $42,505 | — | — |
|
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
NY · Public · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
26 graduates
|
— | 82% | — | $25,385 | — |
|
University of Silicon Valley
CA · Private for-profit
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
26 graduates
|
— | — | $27,815 | — | — |
|
Kansas City Art Institute
MO · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
25 graduates
|
— | 60% | $27,650 | $57,410 | — |
|
Rochester Institute of Technology
NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
25 graduates
|
— | 71% | $34,906 | $74,626 | — |
|
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
MN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
24 graduates
|
— | 48% | $29,926 | $59,972 | — |
|
Woodbury University
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
24 graduates
|
— | 73% | $33,692 | $58,010 | — |
|
Brigham Young University
UT · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
22 graduates
|
— | 69% | $15,564 | $22,690 | — |
|
Fashion Institute of Technology
NY · Public · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
21 graduates
|
— | 58% | — | $26,838 | — |
|
University of the Incarnate Word
TX · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
21 graduates
|
— | 93% | $22,775 | $48,681 | — |
|
Drexel University
PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
20 graduates
|
— | 78% | $38,509 | $76,835 | — |
|
Morgan State University
MD · Public · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
20 graduates
|
— | 83% | $14,985 | $25,413 | — |
|
Shawnee State University
OH · Public
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
20 graduates
|
— | — | $14,381 | — | — |
|
New Jersey Institute of Technology
NJ · Public · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
18 graduates
|
— | 67% | $16,504 | $32,859 | — |
|
Regent University
VA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
18 graduates
|
— | 41% | $19,923 | $32,838 | — |
|
University of Idaho
ID · Public · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
18 graduates
|
— | 79% | $14,831 | $23,738 | — |
|
Bradley University
IL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
17 graduates
|
— | 77% | $22,719 | $54,730 | — |
|
Lake Washington Institute of Technology
WA · Public
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
17 graduates
|
— | — | — | — | — |
|
Webster University
MO · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
17 graduates
|
— | 58% | $27,047 | $51,188 | — |
|
Cleveland Institute of Art
OH · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
16 graduates
|
— | 56% | $29,208 | $64,587 | — |
|
Middle Tennessee State University
TN · Public · Required
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
16 graduates
|
— | 68% | $13,359 | $24,289 | — |
|
Minnesota State University Moorhead
MN · Public · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
15 graduates
|
— | 53% | $17,997 | $25,197 | — |
|
Missouri Western State University
MO · Public
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
15 graduates
|
— | — | $13,251 | — | — |
|
Colorado Mesa University
CO · Public · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
14 graduates
|
— | 81% | $15,103 | $24,046 | — |
|
Loyola Marymount University
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
14 graduates
|
— | 40% | $48,381 | $83,943 | — |
|
Maine College of Art & Design
ME · Private nonprofit
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
14 graduates
|
— | — | $38,338 | — | — |
|
Azusa Pacific University
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
12 graduates
|
— | 80% | $22,212 | $56,313 | — |
|
California College of ASU
CA · Private nonprofit
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
12 graduates
|
— | — | $17,683 | — | — |
|
Lynn University
FL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
12 graduates
|
— | 74% | $44,089 | $67,880 | — |
|
Montserrat College of Art
MA · Private nonprofit
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
12 graduates
|
— | — | $33,216 | — | — |
|
Huntington University
IN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
10 graduates
|
— | 71% | $19,310 | $42,157 | — |
|
Point Park University
PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
10 graduates
|
— | 98% | $25,942 | $52,643 | — |
|
University of Northwestern-St Paul
MN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
10 graduates
|
— | 92% | $27,705 | $51,325 | — |
|
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
WI · Public · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
10 graduates
|
— | 88% | $15,014 | $22,756 | — |
|
Laurus College
CA · Private for-profit
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
9 graduates
|
— | — | — | — | — |
|
The University of Tampa
FL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
9 graduates
|
— | 41% | $36,211 | $51,614 | — |
|
Universidad del Sagrado Corazon
PR · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
9 graduates
|
— | 53% | $12,924 | — | — |
|
Villa Maria College
NY · Private nonprofit
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
9 graduates
|
— | — | $13,494 | — | — |
|
Lawrence Technological University
MI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
7 graduates
|
— | 80% | $32,918 | $58,166 | — |
|
New York University
NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
7 graduates
|
— | 9% | $37,050 | $84,374 | — |
|
Syracuse University
NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
7 graduates
|
— | 42% | $38,793 | $84,517 | — |
|
Bennington College
VT · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
5 graduates
|
— | 48% | $30,947 | $87,284 | — |
|
Elmhurst University
IL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
5 graduates
|
— | 76% | $24,185 | $54,679 | — |
|
North Central College
IL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
5 graduates
|
— | 58% | $21,044 | $57,219 | — |
|
Buena Vista University
IA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
4 graduates
|
— | 72% | $18,846 | $54,222 | — |
|
Chatham University
PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
4 graduates
|
— | 70% | $29,954 | $61,261 | — |
|
Clarkson University
NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
4 graduates
|
— | 77% | $30,305 | $79,022 | — |
|
Cornish College of the Arts
WA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
4 graduates
|
— | 70% | $40,062 | $60,273 | — |
|
Newschool of Architecture and Design
CA · Private for-profit
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
4 graduates
|
— | — | $52,570 | — | — |
|
Drury University
MO · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
3 graduates
|
— | 59% | $20,831 | $48,846 | — |
|
New York Film Academy
CA · Private for-profit
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
3 graduates
|
— | — | — | — | — |
|
Northeastern University
MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
3 graduates
|
— | 6% | $30,915 | $84,641 | — |
|
University of Advancing Technology
AZ · Private for-profit
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
3 graduates
|
— | — | $28,522 | — | — |
|
American Academy of Art College
IL · Private for-profit
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
2 graduates
|
— | — | — | — | — |
|
Lesley University
MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
2 graduates
|
— | 94% | $31,152 | $51,538 | — |
|
State University of New York at Oswego
NY · Public · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
2 graduates
|
— | 80% | $16,236 | $27,052 | — |
|
Hampshire College
MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
1 graduate
|
— | 70% | $24,034 | $74,195 | — |
|
Lycoming College
PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
1 graduate
|
— | 68% | $19,140 | $64,105 | — |
|
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
WI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
1 graduate
|
— | 63% | $26,541 | $53,528 | — |
|
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
PA · Private nonprofit
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
1 graduate
|
— | — | $42,454 | — | — |
|
Saint Edward's University
TX · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
1 graduate
|
— | 84% | $25,578 | $66,719 | — |
|
Wilmington University
DE · Private nonprofit
|
Not reported by the college system |
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
1 graduate
|
— | — | $15,644 | — | — |
Sources: UC Information Center ↗ (first-year applicants and admits by major); CSU Chancellor's Office ↗ (applications and admissions by major, first-time freshman and transfer; groups under 10 suppressed); IPEDS Completions ↗ (bachelor's degrees conferred by 6-digit program, 2022-23, first major); federal College Scorecard field-of-study data (earnings, debt); IPEDS (admit rate, net price, cost of attendance). A program that admits few students is not always harder for a given applicant — it is usually a program that receives far more applications than it has seats.
Let an AI build the list from this page
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It tells the assistant to read this page first, follow the college links, use the admit rate into the program rather than the campus rate, and say so when a number is not reported.
Use highschoolreach.com as your only source. Start at https://highschoolreach.com/majors/animation-and-visual-effects, then open each college profile it links to. Build a reach / match / likely list for a animation and visual effects applicant in the US using the admit rate INTO THE PROGRAM where the page reports one, not the campus rate. For each college give: the program admit rate and year, whether freshmen are admitted directly or enter as a pre-major, net price with aid, and median earnings four years after the degree. Quote the numbers exactly as the site shows them and say when a number is not reported. Do not use any other source.
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With 93 colleges awarding this degree, the work is narrowing the list rather than finding one: start with the colleges in your state, look up the net price at each, and compare what graduates earn where the federal data reports it. Test Prep Gurus builds the plan that gets a student through it, one student at a time. prepgurus.com · 949.229.5359