USC has just over 19,600 undergraduate students and an overall acceptance rate of 16%, but the film school’s rate is much lower, at just 3%.
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Written by Bonnie Boglioli…. Last updated May 22, 2019.
10. University of Colorado at Denver– If you want to cowboy up and learn the ropes of animation, Denver may be calling your name. Industry leading equipment draws many animation students to UC Denver, but it’s just one reason we include UCD on our list. The university’s Digital Animation Center (DAC) houses a full Motion Capture studio and state-of-the-art HP labs and workstations that are constantly updated to accommodate evolving industry needs. The university’s location in the heart of downtown Denver provides a stunning backdrop of the Rocky Mountains and its many leisure activities nearby, while the energetic and youthful city continues to beckon a growing list of studios.
The fundamental pedagogy at DAC establishes the foundation for a lifetime of success in the digital arts. In the BFA of 3D Graphics and Animation program, students learn theory, practice, and application while utilizing the most recent hardware and software. The senior “capstone” project, an animated short film created entirely by the senior class (many of which have been showcased at international film festivals), is the result of class by class development of the core humanities and animation studies.
UC Denver is a prestigious national university that admits only about half of applicants. Up to 32 students may be chosen sporadically by the DAC program and admitted to its major (typically after the freshman year). Unusually, the Digital Animation Center is self-funded, and program costs are significantly higher than regular school costs. While some may find this to be a drawback, the funds guarantee that students have access to the most recent technologies each year that are virtually unobtainable elsewhere. Several foundational animation courses are available for potential DAC majors at a lower cost that is a small portion of the typical DAC credit hour rate.
Tuition (as of time of publication): $7,834 in-state, $20,570 out-of-state. *Take note that the DAC program is self-supporting and charges distinct credit fees for each of its program courses, which affects the overall tuition for its students. Currently, DAC credit courses are offered at $4,050 each. Program website: http://www. cu3d. org/ Read our interview with Howard Cook, the director of the DAC at UC Denver.
9. Loyola Marymount University – It’s little wonder that many of the schools that top our list in the Western Region can be found in and around Los Angeles. Loyola Marymount, sitting on the beautiful bluffs overlooking Playa and Marina del Rey, is a top-ranked private university in California. Working within the framework of the Jesuit tradition, LMU’s Animation program takes a classical approach to the evolving art of animation.
Students advance through challenging core liberal arts coursework, as well as through work in traditional and digital animation. A variety of foundational courses integrate a broad spectrum of understanding with a nuanced approach to the craft, covering everything from history and society to aesthetics and audience. Traditional animation techniques are developed during the first year, and computer animation, multi-media, and alternative art forms are explored during the following years. Students create their own feature film for their portfolio during their senior year, writing, animating, and directing it.
LMU%20has%20a%20competitive%2053%%20acceptance%20rate%20(US%20News)%20and%20a%20low%2011:1%20student%20to%20teacher%20ratio The School of Film’s Animation program consists of:
Tuition (at time of publication): $37,605 for fulltime undergraduate year. Program website: http://sftv.lmu.edu/programs/animation.htm
8. Ex’pression College for Digital Arts – Just a hop and a skip away from industry titan Pixar, Ex’pression College for Digital Arts draws from an enviable pool of San Francisco Bay Area talent to direct and teach its Bachelor of Applied Science in Animation & Visual Effects program. Working faculty members, most of whom hold prestigious degrees from top universities themselves, have diverse animation backgrounds and teach to the assorted needs of their students accordingly. Whether freelancers, independent artists or animators at industry powerhouses, Ex’pression’s faculty can boast countless accolades and bring their savoir faire to the classrooms.
Ex’pression College, which emphasizes rigorous coursework and emulates the fast-paced production world, is not suitable for everyone and most definitely not for those who don’t have spare time available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Several general education prerequisites are required of students, but many of these can be finished online. Modern campus facilities are used to teach animation courses, which range from foundational ones like drawing and compositing to more advanced ones like concept art, reel production, and group projects. Internships at local studios are encouraged, and free media business courses are offered to give graduates an advantage in a competitive field.
Tuition (at time of publication): $11,536 (USD) per semester (B.A.S. typically runs 8 semesters). Program website: http://www.expression.edu/animation_visual_effects/
7. Brigham Young University – Ripening into a highly regarded animation program in just a decade, BYU’s Center for Animation has snagged top teaching talent from industry titans like Disney, Warner Bros. and Pixar to create an interdisciplinary program that rightly deserves a top spot. Combining faculty from multiple departments including Engineering, Fine Arts and Mathematical Sciences, students take a range of courses in animation, special effects, game design and more for a holistic approach to the craft.
Numerous honors, such as Student Emmys and Student Academy Awards, have drawn considerable interest from the animation community and the attention of some influential figures. The program’s development has been greatly aided by Pixar President Ed Catmull, who generously donated his time as a guest lecturer, encouraged Pixar animators to mentor BYU students, and hired many alumni.
In Provo, Utah, Brigham Young is a sizable private university that receives funding from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a result, a strict honor code is stressed for all students, and the focus of campus life is on responsibility and religion. However, for students who have a strong inclination toward the faith, its startlingly low tuition rate (which is heavily subsidized by Church tithing) makes it a nearly unbeatable deal.
Tuition (at time of publication): $4,560 (USD) fulltime undergraduate year. Program website: http://animation. byu. edu/frontpage More: In our most recent Q&A, we spoke with Professor Brent Adams, a founding member of the animation faculty.
6. California College of the Arts – Noted for its interdisciplinary programs of study, California College of the Arts’ history spans 100 years in the Bay Area and boasts many notable alumni across multiple artistic fields. Its Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Animation is widely regarded as among the best with core offerings in traditional, 2D animation and rapidly expanding course offerings in 3D character animation and environmental modeling. With an open-to-the-public annual animation exhibition and immediate access to the world class museums, galleries and film festivals that dot the San Francisco landscape, students enjoy a multifaceted approach to education that encourages them to take a few risks, deepen their inquiries and push the bounds.
Even though you can anticipate finding all the necessary tools of the trade, the CCA’s animation program is dedicated to the fundamental methods and principles of the trade. All students find inspiration thanks to close collaboration with classmates and a low student-to-teacher ratio. A highly skilled group of animators, working professionals, and seasoned educators make up the faculty. Associate Professor Don Crum, who worked as a traditional animator on beloved Disney films like Beauty, is one of them.
Tuition (at time of publication): $38,448 (USD) per YEAR. Program website: http://www.cca.edu/academics/animation
5. Academy of Art University – Founded in San Francisco in 1929, the Academy of Art University is the largest private art university in the country but that’s not why it makes our list. AAU offers an array of Animation and Game Design degrees including an Associate of Art, Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts that are difficult to find under one roof elsewhere. Animation & Visual Effects undergraduates take rigorous coursework in 2D and 3D animation, Stop Motion, Visual Effects, Visual Elements of Story and more to cultivate their own style while graduate students gain a refined education tailored to their interest.
Due to the fact that it is situated in the vicinity of respectable studios like LucasFilm’s Industrial Light For students who make professional demo reels, emphasis is placed on hands-on experience; as a result, the school can boast a very high job placement rating. %20Though%20it%20has%20a%20100%%20acceptance%20rate%20of%20new%20students,%20many%20drop%20off%20with%20each%20subsequent%20year%20(possibly%20not%20realizing%20just%20how%20difficult%20the%20curriculum%20is!)%20and%20its%20attrition%20rates%20are%20rather%20dismal However, AAU offers one of the best programs available anywhere in the world for dedicated animation students who are prepared to put in the work.
4. Otis College of Art & Design – Among the oldest art schools in the country, Otis College of Art & Design offers an esteemed undergraduate degree in Digital Media which includes focuses on Animation, Motion Graphics, Visual Effects and Video Game Design. Situated in the heart of Los Angeles, the intimate college, home to some 1,200 students, has fostered close connections with the local animation and digital media community which students leverage for a range of opportunities. As far as art schools go, Otis is not for the faint of heart or those unprepared for a selective admission process (currently, the school’s 50% acceptance rating ranks lower than most). Once you’re in, you’ll bask in the glory of student to teach ratios of 8 to 1 and probably become one of the 82% of freshman who continue on (among the highest retention ratings anywhere).
Students at Otis combine foundational liberal arts courses with a chosen Digital Media focus as part of the school’s integrative approach to education. The intricate details of the production process are imparted by venerable working professors, who also encourage students to become competent problem solvers. This is the perfect school for anyone looking for a small, creative community right in the middle of the world’s production hub. Industry heavyweights like Blizzard Entertainment, DreamWorks, Pixar, and Sony Works are included on a list of graduate employers. Not bad.
3. University of California at Los Angeles – Thanks to its many esteemed alumni and faculty, UCLA’s MFA in Animation program is held in very high esteem. Though more rare, the department opens a few selective seats to upper-level undergraduates who possess a proven track record for outstanding work and promise in the field. Founded by legendary Disney animator Bill Shull in 1947, this production-style curriculum has proven highly successful over the generations. Under the mantra “One person, one film,” students learn animation in an age-old tradition seldom found elsewhere.
UCLA’s Animation Workshop believes that instilling fundamentals while ensuring students receive training in the most recent industry standards makes for a successful career given how frequently animators bounce from job to job throughout the course of their careers. All students direct and produce their own movies, learning the nuances of every role they might play. With notable alumni like Gil Kenan (Monster House), Doug Chiang (an award-winning entertainment artist), and Shane Acker (whose student short film 9 garnered praise from the animation community and Tim Burton, who produced a feature-length adaptation), the program boasts a high degree of success. Students have access to cutting-edge equipment thanks to the kind donations of some of the best in the business, including the great Walter Lantz (conjure up Woody Woodpecker), ensuring they have the resources they need to foster their own inventive intellect.
UCLA boasts a high university ranking (#25 US News) which always earns points on a resume and allows for a full educational experience, diverse course offerings for undergraduates and teaching opportunities for grad students. Its tuition is very competitive for California residents. Who isn’t game for some weekend strolls through Santa Monica or a game of beach volleyball?
At the time of publication, in-state full-time undergraduate tuition was $11,604 (USD). Program website: http://animation. filmtv. ucla. edu/ More: We recently spoke with the Academic Advisor for the program.
2. University of Southern California – Perhaps no university can tout as many esteemed cinematic and interactive entertainment programs as does USC, and it should come as no surprise given its location in the world’s production mecca. Want to hobnob with animation executives and media moguls in your free time (what little of it you have, that is) or take in a guest lecture from any number of countless alumni and animators who help make the program so distinguished? USC may just be your ticket.
Its John C. Hisch Animation School Award-winning artists offer their insight as faculty, and students have access to facilities and pedagogy that are at the forefront of the industry. At USC, it’s easy to find frequent guest lecturers because both renowned animators and film producers frequently visit the campus.
The chief animator and billionaire of DreamWorks, Jeffrey Katzenberg, recently donated the state-of-the-art Marilyn and Jeffrey Katzenberg Center for Animation to the university. Over the years, he has frequently hired recent USC graduates to fill positions in his company. The animation program’s new location features cutting-edge equipment from numerous sponsors, including Adobe, HP, and Pixar, as well as numerous cutting-edge workstations for 2D and 3D art, a visual effects lab, stop-motion and production rooms, and more. But don’t be fooled by the tools; USC’s animation program is based on the fundamental theories of animation that prioritize the development of imagination, historical context, and critical thinking along with a strong theoretical approach.
USC also has the distinction as a world renowned research institution and one of the nation’s top universities (#23, US News 2012), adding considerable value to the education students receive and the opportunities that come their way. %20Its%20park-like,%20architecturally%20rich%20campus%20is%20ripe%20with%20student%20offerings%20and%20may%20be%20one%20reason%20why%20the%20freshman%20retention%20rating%20is%20an%20unparalleled%2096% And you don’t have to attend a small university to benefit from having small classes; USC’s student-teacher ratio of 9 to 1 is among the lowest you’ll find. However, because of these distinctions, there is fierce competition. Expect one of the lowest acceptance rates (there are currently 24). 4%) among some of the brightest high school seniors. Even though the cost of tuition can be intimidating for some, receiving a degree in animation from the University of Southern California will help you to overcome most obstacles on your path to becoming the next industry leader.
Tuition (at time of publication): $42,160 (USD) for one full time undergraduate year. Program website: http://cinema.usc.edu/animation/index.cfm
1. California Institute of the Arts – Cal Arts is to animation what M.I.T. is to Physics- it just doesn’t get any better. Ask anyone in the animation industry for their choice of top 3 animation programs and they will inevitably concur. Its legacy is steeped in a rich tradition that fills the annals of animation history: the founders of the college included none other than Walt Disney, his brother Roy and several of the ‘Nine Old Men’ (Disney’s legendary animators) during the so-called ‘Golden Years of Animation’. But history alone isn’t the only reason to believe us when we say Cal Arts is number one in the West.
The alumni list of Cal Arts, which has a long history of producing highly esteemed animators, reads like a “who’s who” of the industry and features the legendary John Lasseter (of Pixar fame). Start with a traditionally-oriented framework (consider illustration, storytelling, and design) and then layer on layers of nuanced studies, which may include work on graphic novels, computer-generated animation, and advanced visual design. Individualized instruction completes students’ education and equips them for a lifetime of frequently fulfilling, successful career roles, with the help of the university’s working faculty members of international renown.
California Institute of the Arts attracts not only the best and brightest out of high school but also those who are willing to put up with four years of demanding but immersive animation studies. It offers a BFA in Character Animation and a BFA and MFA in Experimental Animation. Additionally, high school students should be ready for a difficult admissions process with a low 30 percent acceptance rate with only 900 undergraduate students. 6%%20acceptance%20rate%20made%20even%20more%20daunting%20by%20the%20fact%20that%20most%20students%20applying%20have%20outstanding%20scores%20and%20recommendations%20(US%20News%20Best%20Colleges%202012) However, graduates go beyond what is considered ‘excellent job placement rates’ by getting hired by studios that make most animators drool at the ripe age of 23… now might be a good time to discover what your financial realities are and to check into available grants.
HOW TO GET INTO ANIMATION SCHOOL (ACCEPTED TO USC, SCAD, PRATT, SVA ANIMATION)
FAQ
Is USC a good animation school?
USC is a top film school in part due to its location in Los Angeles. %20The%20School%20of%20Cinematic%20Arts%20is%20extremely%20selective,%20with%20only%20about%203%%20of%20applicants%20being%20admitted Animation, screenwriting, critical studies, media arts, interactive media, and film production all have their own undergraduate programs.
What is the hardest film school to get into?
According%20to%20the%20College%20Gazette,%20USC%20SCA%20has%20a%20historical%20acceptance%20rate%20of%20just%203%%20vs the overall university’s acceptance rate of 19%. Having a competitive GPA may help you increase your chances of admission in addition to developing a strong film portfolio.
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