Top 10 Animation School Programs in Massachusetts - 2025 College Rankings

With its signature experiential learning model and more than 3,500 employer partners, Northeastern University prepares students for immediate employment across industries. The school has established solid relationships with co-op employers such as Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Microsoft Studios, Walt Disney Company, Lucasfilm, Viacom, Electronic Arts (EA), Apple, Universal Pictures, Sony, Amazon, Adobe, CBS, and Meta. 

Partnerships such as these are especially beneficial to students in Northeastern’s animation programs in the College of Arts, Media and Design (CAMD), and Khoury College of Computer Sciences. 

Serving 2,800 students, the CAMD houses the Department of Art + Design, home to the Art + Design BFA with an Animation concentration; the Game Art and Animation BFA; and the Animation minor. 

All programs take place in a collaborative, immersive environment, with opportunities to explore other areas such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and extended reality (XR); interactive video; and game design. In both BFA programs, students will work their way through the production pipelines for animated films, simulations, games, visualizations, spatial media, and visual effects (VFX).

Course examples for the CAMD Animation concentration include Animation Basics; Character Design for Animation; Virtual Environment Design; Making with Video, Sound, and Animation; Animation 1-3; and Animation for Games. The Media Arts Degree Project course is the culminating experience for this program. 

The Game Art and Animation BFA program at Northeastern University requires 130 credit hours, with 90 in the major. Game Art/Animation students will take many of the same courses as students in the Animation concentration. Other courses may include Foundations of Game Design; Physical Computing; Games and Society; Experience and Interaction Tools; Game Concept Development; Narrative for Games; Survey of the Still Moving Image; Game Production; and Experimental Game Design. 

Students will also complete the Media Arts Degree Project course as the culminating experience for the program. 

Established in 1982 and the nation’s first computer science college, Khoury College of Computer Sciences houses the Computer Science BS (CS BS) program with a combined major in Media Arts. Consisting of 134 credit hours, the CS BS explores animation; AR/VR, artificial intelligence (AI), human-computer interaction (HCI), and machine learning; and traditional disciplines such as computer graphics, video, database design, and photography.

Course examples for the program include Making with Video, Sound, and Animation; Virtual Environment Design; Animation Basics; Introduction to Immersive Media; Animation 1-3; Experimental Video; Making with Video, Sound, and Animation Tools; Computer Graphics; Character Design for Animation; Human Computer Interaction (HCI); Animation for Games; and Animation Tools. The CS/BS/Media Arts program culminates with the Media Arts Degree Project.

Graduates of the CAMD BFA and Khoury BS/CS programs at Northeastern University have found success in areas such as animation, TV and film, game art and design, VR/AR, XR, advertising, HCI, and digital media. Program alumni have been hired by many partner companies and studios such as Apple, Amazon, CNBC, Google, Microsoft, IBM, Dolby, NBC Universal, and Meta. 

Northeastern University began as the Evening Institute of the Boston Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in 1898. Today, with 13 campuses across the U.S., Canada, and the UK, this global research university serves approximately 36,630 students from all backgrounds. Northeastern’s 10 colleges and schools provide more than 500 programs. Northeastern University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). 

Emerson College (Emerson) has a unique study abroad experience that all students can participate in. The school's overseas campus in the Netherlands consists of a restored 14th-century moated medieval castle known as Kasteel Well. Located in the small village of Well, the campus welcomes around 90 Emerson students for summer programs, and for three months each fall and spring term.

Emerson College is also home to the School the Arts, which houses the Department of Visual and Media Arts (VMA). Within the department are two paths to study animation including the Media Arts Production BA (MAP BA) and the MAP BFA. Across programs, students have access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities such as the Emerson College Emerging Media Lab (EML), where they can complete projects in areas such as 2D and 3D animation, character design, artistic anatomy, game design, rigging, and VR/AR.

Other VMA MAP benefits include hands-on work experience through Emerson College’s own in-house production company (Emerson Productions) or the Equipment Distribution Center (EDC); and opportunities to produce and screen work through film festivals and student organizations such as It’s All True – International Documentary Film Festival, Frames Per Second, Emerson Film Festival, and Women in Motion. 

All Emerson MAP students have additional opportunities to gain experience at Emerson Los Angeles (ELA). Established in 1986 and situated on Sunset Boulevard, ELA is a state-of-the-art, 120,000 square feet LEED-certified building where students live, work, and learn for an entire semester. Up to 215 students arrive at ELA each fall, with the potential to secure internships at places such as Sony, Lionsgate, Netflix, Disney, or Hulu. The program provides access to more than 200 internship opportunities.

The MAP BA program at Emerson College has two tracks: Production and Media Studies. The Production track is the most popular option for animators. The program highlights courses such as Computer Animation; Writing the Feature Film; Game Design; Drawing for Character Design; Studio TV Production; Interactive Media; Writing the Short Subject; and Film Production. BA students have many opportunities to enhance the degree through the required 16 credit hours of Visual and Media Arts electives.

The MAP BA program at Emerson College culminates with the BA Capstone Project. This one-semester advanced production workshop allows students to produce portfolio work in any VMA area. BA Capstone students also have specialized access to facilities and unlimited production support for their projects. 

MAP BFA students will complete all of the course requirements for the BA program, along with an additional 16 credits of advanced media production courses and electives. The program culminates with the BFA Thesis Project completed across two consecutive semesters. 

Graduates of the VMA Department at Emerson College have been involved with major productions such as Everything Everywhere All At Once, Ant-Man, Fargo, Swiss Army Man, and Fantastic Four. Program alumni have also been hired at major studios such as Bunim Murray Productions, Digital Domain, MGM Studios, Searchlight Pictures, and Worldwide Pants. 

Emerson College was established in 1880. The school serves approximately 4,930 students enrolled in more than 40 degree programs across the School of the Arts, the School of Communication, and Marlboro Institute. Campuses include Boston (main), Emerson Los Angeles (ELA), and Emerson Netherlands. Emerson College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). 

University of Massachusetts at Amherst (UMass Amherst) is home to the College of Humanities and Fine Arts. Within the college is the Department of Art, which houses state-of-the-art labs, production facilities, and graduate studios for animation production, intermedia, painting, sculpting, and more. With an emphasis on art, design, and art education department also hosts the Visiting Artist and Practitioner Series, which features lectures and visits with students in their studios. 

For aspiring animators, the Department of Art provides Studio Art BA and Art and Design BFA programs with opportunities to study animation; complete an internship; and participate in UMass Amherst Art Club. Students in the BA can study animation through 21 credit hours of electives after completing the Foundations Year (FY). 

Electives examples include Visual Arts and Human Development I-II; Animation Fundamentals; Interactive Programming; Computer Animation I-II; and Moving Image. Throughout the program students will have the opportunity to complete several projects to include in their final professional portfolio. 

The BFA has a formal Animation specialization with access to studio/seminar electives in film, communications, literature, and visual studies. The program begins with FY courses such as Basic Studio/Drawing; Foundation Studio 1-2; and Drawing Composition. Students will begin the animation specialization with the Introduction to Animation course, followed by courses such as Advanced Drawing Problems; Digital Imaging; Stop Motion Animation; Media and Motion Graphics; Experimental 3D Animation; and Advanced Animation Seminar. 

As students advanced through the UMass BFA program, they will take courses such as Junior Year Writing Program; Professional Practices; and Contemporary Art. The culminating experience for the BFA program is the semester-long independent or collaborative animation project. This Advanced Animation also covers written and oral presentation skills, demo reels, film festival submissions, and research. Final projects will be presented in an exhibition or screening of works. 

Graduates of the Studio Art and Art and Design programs at University of Massachusetts Amherst are prepared to pursue positions areas such as animation, live-action film, game design, television production, and advertising. Program alumni have worked on the Harry Potter and Star Wars films, and for studios such as Nickelodeon, Lucasfilm, and Warner Bros. 

University of Massachusetts Amherst was founded as Massachusetts Agricultural College (MAC) in 1863. The school is the is the oldest member of the UMass System and part of the Five College Consortium with Hampshire College (Amherst), Amherst College (Amherst), Mount Holyoke College (South Hadley, MA), and Smith College (Northampton, MA). 

Serving 30,790 students, UMass Amherst is also the largest school in the UMass System. Students have access to more than 200 academic programs across ten colleges and schools. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). 

Wellesley College is home to the Computer Science Department and the Department of Art. Together these departments provide an interdisciplinary Media Arts and Sciences (MAS) program with tracks in Video Production; Game Development; Digital Design; and UX/UI. Students can also select courses to create a focus area that aligns with their career goals. 

Courses for the program are taught by accomplished industry professionals. Examples include Introduction to Moving Image; The Graphic Impulse-Mediated Drawing; Two-Dimensional Design; Introduction to Media and Screen Culture; Three-Dimensional Design; Computing for the Socio-Techno Web; 4D Design Intro to New Media; Digital Imaging; Intermediate Film/Video Production; Computer Graphics; Data, Analytics, and Visualization; Digital Worlds for Gaming; Interactive Sound Art with Electronics; Persuasive Images; The Art of Screenwriting; Virtual Forms; and Advanced Projects in Interactive Media. 

All MAS students have access to state-of-the-art labs and spaces such as the Media Arts Lab; Video Editing Suites; the Human Computer Interaction Lab; the Digital Fabrication Studio; the Flex Media Room; Playable Media Lab; and the Printmaking Studio. In addition, each summer Wellesley College funds over 250 students to work in internships around the world. This provides opportunities for MAS students to intern with Wellesley partners such as Peabody Essex Museum; Musee Yves Saint Laurent; the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC); and Tangier American Legation Institute for Moroccan Studies. 

Other MAS program benefits include study abroad experiences in places such as France, Italy, and Spain; participation in the Wellesley Game Development Club; and the student-run initiative Wellesley in Product, which hosts the SPARKS designation in the spring, networking events, workshops, career exploration, and mentorships. 

The Wellesley College MAS program culminates with a final project and presentation. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in industries such as entertainment, game design, arts and culture, design, advertising, scientific visualization, computing, media and information, and architecture. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Google, Accenture, Microsoft, and The New York Times. Some graduates have gone on to pursue a graduate degree at places such as Harvard University, New York University (NYU), Columbia University, Cornell University, and University of Notre Dame. 

Wellesley College was established in 1870. The school opened with 314 students served by a president, educators, and administrators who were mostly women. Today, Wellesley College is still a private institution committed to educating women. The school houses 30 departments that serve approximately 2,350 students enrolled in 60 majors across the liberal arts. Wellesley College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). 

The College of Visual Performing Arts (CVPA) at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (UMass Dartmouth) is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the national accrediting body for the visual arts. The CVPA serves approximately 540 students enrolled in more than 30 programs leading to a BA, BFA, BS, MFA, certificate, or a minor. 

Across programs, students have access to the digital media labs, including five computer labs, featuring software for 2D and 3D animation, 2D imaging, 3D modeling, web design, and graphic design; graphic design and illustration facilities which provide individual workspace for graduate students, analog photo labs, and software for animation, 3D modeling, and web design; and the Painting-2D Medial Lab, featuring three studio classrooms and all types of media projects. 

Other CVPA facilities and features include Hall-Hildreth IDEAStudio (a collaboration between the College of Engineering and the CVPA); two student gallery exhibition spaces; and other resources such as the Visual and Media Literacy Hub (VML HUB); and the Innovative Learning Collaborative (ILC), which provides access to MakerBots, a CNC router for digital fabrication, 3D printers, and laser engravers. 

The CVPA at UMass Dartmouth also provides three paths to study animation including the Art and Design BFA: Animation and Game Art (AGA BFA); the Art and Design: Integrated Studio Arts BFA (ISA BFA); and the 18 credit-hour Animation minor. 

The Art and Design BFA at UMass Dartmouth requires 120 credit hours, with 78 credit hours in the major. All first year CVPA degree-seeking students must complete the Foundations program before entering the BFA with a concentration. Examples of Foundations courses include 2D Form and Surface; 3D Form and Space; Structural Drawing; Visual Arts Seminar; and Digital Essentials. 

In the AGA major in minor, students will take courses such as Principles of Animation and Story Structures, while working with digital tools such as Photoshop, Maya, and Unity3D. Common electives include Digital Video Production and Advanced Topics in Animation and Game Arts. AGA BFA students will also take 3D Modeling and 3D Animation, with access to other electives such as Visual Design for Games, and Illustration: Character Design and Environments. 

In the last two years of the AGA BFA, students will have opportunities to complete an internship and/or study abroad experience. In the final year, students will complete the Professional Design Practice course and the culminating A+GA Capstone and Exhibition. 

The Art and Design: Integrated Studio Arts BFA at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth provides the unique opportunity to mix-and-match studio courses from other CVPA programs to create-your-own study plan. Courses may come from Animation and Game Arts; Illustration; Graphic Design; Drawing; Painting; Photography; and Sculpture. 

ISA BFA students may also explore fields across UMass Dartmouth. Examples include Engineering, Business, and Computer Science. This 120 credit hour program begins with the Foundations program and ends with the Studio Art Capstone and Exhibition. 

With a 91% employment rate, AGA and ISA BFA graduates are prepared to pursue positions in traditional, new, and emerging fields such as animation, scientific visualization, VR/AR, forensic animation, visual effects (VFX), software design, video editing, special effects (SFX), multimedia, art direction, UI/UX, game design, advertising, environmental design, and art education.

Program alumni have been hired at places such as Microsoft, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Razorfish, White Rhino, Jack Morton Worldwide, iFactory, Sametz Blackstone Associates, Zak Pak, and BORN XDS (formerly Mad*Pow). 

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth began as New Bedford Textile School in 1895. The school serves approximately 7,460 students enrolled in more than 120 undergraduate and 42 graduate fields of study across seven colleges and schools. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).