| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | School of Visual Arts | New York |
| 2 | Pratt Institute | Brooklyn |
| 3 | New York University | New York |
| 4 | Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester |
| 5 | The New School's Parsons School of Design | New York |
| 6 | Fashion Institute of Technology | New York |
| 7 | Syracuse University | Syracuse |
| 8 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Troy |
| 9 | New York Institute of Technology | New York |
| 10 | Queens College | Queens |
Our 2025 ranking -our fourteenth annual- of the top animation school programs in New York. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
School of Visual Arts (SVA) hosts an annual festival known as the After School Special. This decade old event highlights the work of some of SVA’s most accomplished alumni in animation, film, television, and visual effects (VFX). In addition to the After School Special, School of Visual Arts houses one of the nation’s largest animation departments.
Serving approximately 760 animation students, the Animation Department at SVA provides two undergraduate programs for animators including BFAs in Animation, and 3D Animation and Visual Effects. Both programs provide hands-on experience with latest industry software including Adobe Animate, Storyboard Pro, After Effects, Toon Boom Harmony, and Maya.
BFA students also benefit from relationships with independent animators across New York and alumni-owned studios such as Titmouse, Augenblick, and Plymptoons; and mentorships with accomplished directors, character designers, and VFX artists.
Across programs, students will take courses such as Gesture Drawing; Python Scripting for Maya Artists; Sonic Storytelling; VFX and Compositing I-II; Visual Development; History of Animation I-II; Life Drawing: Figure, Form and Function; Advanced Animation Workshop I-II; and Animation Workflow.
The culminating experience for the Animation BFA is the thesis and presentation. 3D Animation and Visual Effects students will have the option to complete a thesis in computer animation or visual effects and compositing.
Graduates of the Animation Department at SVA are prepared to pursue careers in all areas of animation, film, VFX, and more. They can be found at DreamWorks, Lucasfilm Animation, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros. Animation, Nickelodeon, Sony Pictures Animation, and Disney Animation Studios. Some alumni have also gone on to land positions at established independent studios, or they have launched their own.
For animation students seeking an advanced degree, School of Visual Arts has a Computer Arts MFA program. Established in 1986, this terminal degree program was the first in the nation to focus solely on computer arts. Program features include immersive workshops; visiting artists; guest lectures in animation, motion graphics, and experimental art; internships with local and national studios; and an active network of more than 1,200 alumni.
SVA Computer Arts MFA students may focus their studies in animation, experimental art, or motion design. The curriculum also allows students to pursue a multidisciplinary course of study. Course examples for the program include Programming for Animators; Narrative and Visual Storytelling; Animation Culture; Digital Storyboarding; Modeling and Animation; Character Animation; Compositing; Editing for Animation; Experiments in Virtual Production; Techniques in Experimental Animation; Electronic Portfolios; 3D Animation for 2D and Motion Graphics Artists; technical Direction; and Creative Programming for Artists I-II.
The culminating experience for the Computer Art MFA program at SVA is the thesis project completed across four courses: Thesis Research and Writing I-II; and Thesis I-II.
Computer Art MFA students have been nominated for 13 Student Academy Awards, and won nine. Students have also won awards at SIGGRAPH; Prix Ars Electronica; ISEA; the YouTube Awards; the Leonardo Awards for Excellence; and the Adobe Design Achievement Awards. Student works have also appeared at the New York Film Festival (NYFF); Cannes Film Festival; Tribeca Film Festival; Sundance Film Festival; Annecy International Film Festival; and the Ottawa Film Festival (OFF).
Graduates of the Computer Arts MFA program at School of Visual Arts are routinely hired at major companies and studios such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), MTV, Pixar, Google, Adobe, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Electronic Arts (EA), Disney, and DreamWorks. Some alumni have also gone on to launch their own studios and freelance businesses.
School of Visual Arts opened in 1947 with three teachers and 35 students. Today, the school serves approximately 3,815 students enrolled in dozens of BFA, MA, MFA, and MPS programs. School of Visual Arts is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), with individual program accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).
The School of Art (SoArt) at Pratt Institute (Pratt) houses eight departments and more than 30 degree, minor, and certificate programs. Students in all SoArt programs and departments benefit from the school's guest lecture series; frequent exhibitions; and courses led by creative professionals and scholars.
For students seeking a degree in animation, the SoArt Department of Digital Arts houses BFA degrees in 2D Animation, and 3D Animation and Motion Arts. Students seeking a graduate degree can enroll in the 3D Animation and Motion Arts MFA program.
Across all Digital Arts programs, students benefit from small class sizes; frequent trips to festivals, screenings, exhibitions, and shows in New York City; collaborative projects; study abroad experiences in places such as Scotland and Germany; and access to digital computing facilities outfitted with state-of-the-art Apple computer stations and the latest industry software including Nuke, Adobe Suite, ToonBoom, TVPaint, ProTools, and Ableton.
Other production spaces include Dragonframe stations; a green screen room; the stop motion studio; an audio editing suite; an experimental studio; and a spatial computing lab. Studio Crit—an additional space for critiques—hosts regular sessions that allow students to present projects to professors and peers for feedback.
The Department of Digital Arts at Pratt Institute also oversees an internship program designed specifically for digital artists. Throughout the academic year, the departments designated Internship Coordinator matches students with studios and companies in the New York metro area. This allows students to gain experience and skills in areas such as animation, game design, visual effects (VFX), motion graphics, and interaction design.
The culminating experience for the 2D Animation and 3D Animation and Motion Arts programs at Pratt Institute is the senior capstone project. In semester six of the program, students will begin production with an animation development course. In semesters seven and eight, students will complete their capstone projects across the Senior Projects I and II courses. Projects must be portfolio quality to graduate from the program.
Graduates are prepared to pursue positions in all areas of animation. Alumni have gone on to direct their own independent award-winning animated films and collaborate on many other celebrated animated projects. Pratt 2D and 3D graduates can also be found at places such as Nickelodeon, Disney, Titmouse, and Cartoon Network.
The 3D Animation and Motion Arts MFA at Pratt Institute is a 60 credit-hour, two-year terminal degree program that explores a multitude of methods and techniques. Examples include animation, visual effects (VFX), rendering, audio, stop-motion, texturing, modeling, and lighting. While students may explore these areas collectively, the sheer number of available courses allows them to customize the program to their interests.
All MFA students will create narrative films, installations, and non-narrative films using 2D and 3D digital animation techniques, live action techniques, and motion graphics. Course examples for the program include 3D Modeling I; 3D Animation: Expressive Motion; 3D Character Modeling and Rigging; Lighting and Rendering; 3D Animation Studio I: First Film; Graduate Animation Seminar I-II; and 3D Animation Studio II: Performance and Acting.
The 3D Animation and Motion Arts MFA program at Pratt Institute culminates with a thesis project completed across three courses: Thesis I, Post Production, and Thesis II. Graduates are prepared to pursue teaching positions and leadership roles in the film and television, game design, advertising, engineering, forensic animation, medical animation, education, and e-learning industries.
Pratt MFA alumni have been hired at places such as Sony Pictures Imageworks, DreamWorks, New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), Walt Disney Animation Studios, Gameloft, Howard University, Cartoon Network, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), The Digital Worlds Institute at University of Florida (UF), NBCUniversal, Curious Pictures, Digital Domain, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Augenblick, Framestore, National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU), and Titmouse.
Pratt Institute was founded in 1887 by industrialist and oil magnate Charles Pratt. Additionally, in 1896 Pratt founded Pratt Free Library—Brooklyn’s first public library. Serving approximately 5,135 students today, Pratt Institute was also one of the first colleges in the U.S. to welcome students without regard to class, gender, or color.
The school provides 48 programs across six schools, The Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, and campuses in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Utica, New York. Pratt Institute is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
With locations in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai, along with 12 global academic centers and research programs across 25+ countries, New York University (NYU) sends more students overseas than any other American university. NYU Abu Dhabi serves approximately 530 students enrolled in 25 areas of study, while NYU Shanghai serves more than 1,600 students across 19 areas of study. Students across all NYU colleges, schools, and institutes are encouraged to participate in NYUs broad range of study abroad programs. This includes students in Tisch School of the Arts (Tisch).
Founded in 1965, Tisch serves more than 4,000 students enrolled in BA, BFA, MA, MFA, MPS, and PhD programs. Programs are provided across four institutes including the Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television; the Institute of Emerging Media; the Martin Scorsese Institute of Global Cinematic Arts; and the Institute of Performing Arts.
Producing more than 5,000 films per year, the Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television houses the Department of Animation and Digital Arts. Within the department is a Film and Television BFA with an Animation Area. Launched in 1980 with 80 students and five courses, the Animation Area was the first program to bring digital technology to Kanbar. Today, the Animation Area provides close to twenty different courses to more than 500 students from nearly every state and dozens of countries.
The Animation Area at NYU Tisch provides instruction in 2D, 3D, and Traditional Animation. The program begins with animation fundamentals and progresses to intermediate animation, then advanced. Course examples include Experimental Animation; Drawing and Design for Animation; Stop Motion Animation; Visual Effects for Compositing; Special Topics in 3D Animation; Advanced Animation Production; Action Analysis I-II; Writing for Animation; and Animation: From Pitching to Pipeline to Production.
In addition to providing in-demand courses, the Animation Area at NYU Tisch provides access to state-of-the-art facilities; interactions with guest speakers from the industry; participation in events hosted by the Student Animation League (SAL); and guidance, networking opportunities, and community spaces through the NYU Tisch Animation Alumni Association (AAA).
Graduates of the Film and Television BFA (Animation Area) at NYU Tisch are prepared to pursue positions at studios across the U.S. and abroad. Some program alumni also go on to launch their own independent studios and freelance businesses. Graduates can be found at places such as Walt Disney Animation, Pixar, and DreamWorks.
New York University is the largest private university in the U.S. Founded in 1831, the school serves more than 55,000 students across degree-granting campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai. With more than 19,000 employees, New York University is also one of the state’s largest employers. Students at NYU have access to more than 400 program options across 20+ colleges, schools, and institutes. New York University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is the third largest source of undergraduate STEM degrees among all private universities in the U.S. In 1983, the school became the first university in the nation to offer a BS in Biotechnology, and it enrolls more female astrophysical sciences and technology doctoral students than any other institution.
Rochester Institute of Technology also houses a School of Film and Animation, which is a designated Center of Excellence (COE) by Toon Boon. Part of the College of Art and Design, the school provides numerous opportunities to gain real world experience—all before graduation.
For starters, RIT houses the fourth-oldest and one of the largest cooperative (co-op) education programs in the world. All students are required to complete at least one co-op before graduation. Next, School of Film and Animation students may participate in RIT’s Study Away: LA Program. This includes a semester away in Los Angeles, where students can work at top studios and entertainment companies.
Finally, the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program gives students the opportunity to create content for the big screen. In 2022, RIT Film and Animation students won the program, and their short film ran nationwide in AMC and Cinemark movie theaters.
Other School of Film and Animation features include access to the 52,000 square foot MAGIC Spell Studios; classrooms and labs outfitted with state-of-the art equipment and the latest industry software such as Maya, Dragonframe, TVPaint, and Adobe Creative Suite; courses taught by award-winning industry professionals; and participation in Creative Industry Day which attracts representatives from film studios, design firms, and advertising agencies.
Undergraduate programs in the School of Film and Animation at RIT include a Film and Animation BFA that focuses on production, screenwriting, 2D animation, 3D animation, and stop motion animation; a BFA in Film and Animation with an Animation or Production option; and a Motion Picture BS that combines engineering and the arts with animation production, feature film, and television.
The Animation option has three tracks including 2D Animation, 3D Animation, and Stop Motion. Across all programs, students will have opportunities to explore AR/VR, digital effects, sound design, games, compositing, and live-action.
At the graduate level, the School of Film and Animation at RIT has a Film and Animation MFA with four options including 2D Animation; 3D Animation; Production; and Screenwriting. Students in this program have 24/7 access to a dedicated graduate lab and opportunities to gain experience while working as a faculty research assistant, graduate assistant, or other paid position.
The BFA, BS, and MFA programs culminate with the production of an industry-ready film. Finished films will be screened at a public event.
Graduates of Rochester Institute of Technology enjoy a 92% employment rate. School of Film and Animation alumni are routinely hired at major studios such as DreamWorks, Lucasfilm, Sony, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Disney Animation Studios, Electronic Arts (EA), Nickelodeon, and Dolby.
Rochester Institute of Technology was founded in 1829 as the Rochester Athenaeum. With global campuses in China, Croatia, Dubai, and Kosovo, this research university serves more than 20,000 students, making it one of the largest private universities in the U.S. RIT provides 200+ academic programs across 10 colleges and institutes, and the School of Individualized Study. Rochester Institute of Technology is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
In 1926, The New School became the first American university to teach the history of film, and one of the first to provide college-level courses in jazz and photography. Courses in the creative arts were taught by the likes of artists such as Frank Lloyd Wright, W. H. Auden, and Martha Graham. Today, The New School is the only university to have a design school (Parsons School of Design), liberal arts college, performing arts college, and graduate programs and colleges under one roof.
Serving approximately 5,755 students, Parsons School of Design is the largest college at The New School. Within the school is a STEM-designated Design and Technology program with BFA and MFA pathways.
The BFA program focuses on storytelling, emerging art, design practices, and interaction. Specialization options include Creative Technology and Game Design. Course examples for this the 120 credit-hour program include Drawing/Imaging; Critical Computation Lab; Objects as History; Space/Materiality; Integrative Studio; History of Design; Core Studio Environments; Time; and Design Studies.
All New School undergraduates must also complete the 30 credit-hour first-year experience (FYE). Students will explore 2D and 3D processes, drawing, and digital design; complete liberal arts studies; and participate in seminars and studios.
The Design and Technology BFA culminates with a thesis project, completed across two courses worth a total of 12 credits.
The Design and Technology MFA at The New School requires 60 credit hours of study. Students in this program have access to studios such as xFab Lecture and Lab; Major Studio; Creative Practice Seminar; and Collaboration Studio. Other program features include immersive classes taught by industry professionals; opportunities to work on projects with external partners such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) and One Plus; and creative collaborations with Communication Design, Transdisciplinary Design, and Data Visualization students, among others.
The Design and Technology MFA program at Parsons School of Design culminates with the Thesis Studio, completed across two courses totaling 12 credit hours.
All students may participate in The New School’s internship program, as well as projects with external partners such as Samsung, Google, The New York Times, Intel, Panasonic, NYC Media Lab, IBM, Nokia, MIT, and SXSW. In addition, students in all New School programs have the opportunity to interact with and work on projects with professionals at places such as Nickelodeon, Atari, MTV, Apple, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), UNESCO, Siemens, Eyebeam Art and Technology Center, and OnePlus Technology.
The School of Continuing and Professional Education at The New School has an additional program for animators interested in a flexible, shorter course of study. The Motion Design and Animation certificate consists of just three required courses that explore the production process from start to finish. Courses include Storytelling with Motion Graphics and Animation; Motion Design 1 with After Effects; and Moton Design 2 with After Effects.
The Motion Design and Animation certificate can be taken alone or in combination with the Design and Technology BFA or MFA programs. This 100% online program takes just one year to complete.
Graduates of the BFA, MFA, and certificate programs at The New School are prepared to pursue positions in animation, 2D and 3D animation, game design, advertising, VR/AR, motion graphics, immersion experience design, digital filmmaking, graphic arts, interaction design, television production, mobile and application design, web design, software design, and media art.
The New School was founded in 1919 as the New School for Social Research. Serving approximately 10,815 students today, the school provides close to 130 degree and diploma programs across six colleges and schools. This includes Parsons School of Design; Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts; the College of Performing Arts; The New School for Social Research; the Schools of Public Engagement; and Parsons Paris.
The New School has been accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) since 1960. Parsons Paris is declared to the Rectorat de Paris as an établissement d’enseignement supérieur privé (a private higher education establishment) and has maintained its right to operate in France since 2013. This branch campus of The New School is also MSCHE-accredited.
Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) provides programs in design, technology, business, and fashion. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the school focuses on collaboration, innovation, hands-on training, and global studies.
For FIT students interested in animation, the school has an Animation, Interactive Media, and Game Design program. Housed in the School of Art and Design and leading to a BFA, the program takes place in a collaborative environment designed to mimic professional production pipelines. Students will explore animation, game design, immersive environments (AR/VR), and Interactive storytelling, while mastering the latest tools, techniques, and technologies used in the entertainment and games industries.
Courses for the program are taught by industry professionals who are active in the field. Course examples include Principles of Animation I-II; 2D Computer Animation; Design Fundamentals for Animation and Game Design; 3D Computer Modeling and Rendering; Narrative Animation Fundamentals; Design and Authoring for Interactive Media II; 3D Modeling and Animation; Storyboarding and Storytelling; History of Animation; Digital Editing for Film and Video; Advanced 3D Animation; Programming for Artists; Animation Production; and 2D Computer Image Generation.
The culminating experience for the FIT BFA program is the Senior Project. Consisting of an individual short or interactive work, final projects are presented at the Graduating Student Exhibition for the School of Art and Design.
Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in 2D and 3D animation, visual effects (VFX), game design, motion graphics, animation production, post-production, advertising and marketing, architecture, television production, publishing, recording studios, news agencies, corporations, and more.
FIT alumni have been hired at places such as Disney, LucasArts, DreamWorks, Warner Bros., Pixar, BBDO Worldwide, Electronic Arts (EA), Framestore, Weta, Blizzard Entertainment, Marvel Studios, Nickelodeon, Epic Games, Activision Blizzard, MPC, LEGO, Atlantic Records, CNN, Nike, Sony Music, Vogue, R/GA, ESPN, Psyop, Hyperkat, Think Brands, MoMA, and Harper’s BAZAAR.
Fashion Institute of Technology opened in 1944 inside the High School for the Needles Trades. On the first day of class, the school welcomed 100 students. Today, with a campus that spans 1.5 NYC blocks, FIT serves nearly 8,000 students from the U.S. and abroad. Part of the State University of New York (SUNY), the school houses five divisions that provide more than 50 majors leading to an AS, BFA, BS, MA, MFA, or MPS degree.
In addition to the NASAD, Fashion Institute of Technology is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).
When it was established in 1873, the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) at Syracuse University (SU) became the first degree-granting school of its kind in the U.S. The College of VPA went on to become one of the first in the country to grant a degree in music; one of the nation’s first colleges to require four years of study in both theory and music; and one of America’s first academic programs specifically designed for the study of rhetoric and communication.
Today, the College of Visual and Performing Arts at SU houses seven schools and departments, along with the recently launched 2022 VPA LA Semester. This program provides the opportunity for students to intern in Los Angeles while taking courses led by some of LA’s leading industry professionals. VPA departments and schools include the Department of Film and Media Arts; the School of Design; the Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies; the School of Art; Setnor School of Music; the Department of Creative Arts Therapy; and the Department of Drama.
Programs for animators are housed in the Department of Film and Media Arts (DFMA). Options include the Computer Art and Animation BFA; a Computer Art MFA; and an Animation and Visual Effects (VFX) minor. All DFMA students may participate in global studies programs such as the Italian Film Studies and Filmmaking Summer in Bologna, Italy; the semester-long Film Studies Program in Prague, Czech Republic; or the 10-day Summer Immersion Program in Venice, Italy.
Other department benefits include the visiting artist series, including past guests such as past president of Pixar Animation Studios Jim Morris, actor/director Giancarlo Esposito, Pixar post-production director Cynthia Slavens; extensive computer art and animation facilities with access to Maya, Unreal Engine, ZBrush, Substance Painter, Houdini, Creative Cloud, Unity, and TVPaint; the local Women in Animation chapter; access to Orange Shorts animation production studio; and the Canary Lab, which hosts workshops, speakers, collaborations, visiting artists, research, exhibitions, and other events.
The Animation and VFX minor at Syracuse University is a 21 credit-hour program that allows students to focus in Animation, Visual Effects, or both. Course requirements include Introduction to 3D Animation; Intermediate 3D Animation; and Advanced Animation. Other course examples include
Drawing for Illustration; Animation Workshop I-II; Introduction to Acting for Non-Majors; Drawing II: Representation to Conceptualization; Advanced 3D Animation and Visual Effects; Previz and Character Development for Animation; Film Scriptwriting; Narrative Drawing; and Visual Effects Workshop I-II.
Upon completion of the SU Animation and Visual Effects minor, students may pursue the Computer Art and Animation BFA or programs in other SU colleges. Students are also prepared to pursue entry-level positions in the entertainment industry, games, and advertising industries.
The Computer Art and Animation BFA at Syracuse University is a 121 credit-hour program consisting of major requirements, studio electives, culture studies, free electives, and academic electives. All students will complete the First Year Seminar (FYS), which explores areas such as ethics, health and wellness, socialization, and development of identity. Upon completion of the FYS, students will begin taking major and other courses.
Course examples for the program include Introduction to Programming for Visual Art; Intermediate 3D Animation; Drawing for Illustration; Advanced Animation; Conversations in Film and Media Arts I-II; Art and Craft of Animation; Film and Media Arts Advanced Studio; and Topics in Computer Gaming. Students will also complete History of Animation; Studio 1: Practices of Academic Writing; and Studio 2: Critical Research and Writing.
Examples of studio electives include Visual Effects Workshop I-II; Previz and Character Development for Animation; Special Topics in Digital Art; Animation Workshop I-II; and Topics in 3D Animation.
The Computer Art and Animation program at Syracuse University culminates with a senior project and portfolio completed across two courses. Graduates are prepared to pursue roles across the entertainment, games, and advertising industries, among others.
Program alumni have been hired at places such as Sony Pictures Imageworks, Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Cartoon Network, Pixar, Blizzard Entertainment, Tippett Studio, MPC, and Filmworks/FX.
Founded in 1980 by computer artists Edward Zajec, the Computer Art MFA program at Syracuse University consists of 60 credit hours completed over three years. Focus areas include Computer Animation; VFX; Sonic Art; Gaming; Physical Computing; Software Art; Electronic Objects; and Multi-Channel Installation.
All students may participate in the residency program in LA known as the Turner Semester. All MFA students also have 24/7 access to computer art facilities; audio production, video post-production, and recording studios; dedicated Apple Mac Pro workstations; video camcorders and field audio recorders; and facilities outfitted with range of industry software and physical computing gear.
The Computer Art MFA program at Syracuse University culminates with an oral examination, final project, and presentation. Graduates are prepared to pursue advanced roles in all areas of entertainment, game design and development, advertising, education, and research.
Program alumni have been hired at major networks and studios such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Cartoon Network, Pixar, Blizzard Entertainment, MPC, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Filmworks/FX, and Tippett Studio.
Founded in 1870, Syracuse University is an R1 research university that serves approximately 22,000 students from all 50 states and 120 countries. The school provides more than 500 majors, minors, and advanced degree programs across 13 colleges and schools. In addition to campuses in Syracuse, Manhattan, DC, and Los Angeles, Syracuse University operates overseas centers in Chile, London, France, Spain, Italy, and Poland. Syracuse University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is one of the oldest technical universities in the U.S. In addition to being a leader in engineering and computer science programs, RPI focuses heavily on experiential learning through paid co-op experiences, summer research fellowships, and undergraduate research. This allows students enrolled in all RPI schools to gain real-world experience with major companies and organizations in New York and across the region.
The School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is an interdisciplinary Houdini Certified School that houses the Departments of Communication and Media; Arts; Science and Technology Studies; Economics; Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences (GSAS); and Cognitive Science. Programs for animators are housed in the Department of Art and the Department of GSAS.
Department of Arts program options include the BS, PhD, and 16 credit-hour minor in Electronic Arts. Program options in the Department of GSAS include the BS in Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences.
RPI is a designated New York State Center of Excellence in Digital Game Development. The school’s GSAS BS has six concentration options including Electronic Arts; Computer Science; Music; Writing; Cognitive Science; and Management. With a curriculum that focuses on the animated and visual components of games, the Electronic Arts concentration is ideal for animators.
The program provides advanced coursework in 3D animation, visual effects (VFX), character modeling, rendering, and lighting. Course examples for the program include 2D Experimental Animation; 3D Animation; Graphic Storytelling; Game Animation; 3D Digital Modeling; Animation Production; 3D VFX; Interactive Visualization; 3D Technical Direction; Art in Context; and Advanced Digital Imaging.
The GSAS BS program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute culminates with a final project and presentation. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in animation, interactive simulation and visualization, and game design and development. Program alumni can also pursue graduate study in areas such as game design artificial intelligence (AI), computer science, and fine arts.
The Electronic Arts (EART) program at RPI focuses on theory and practice. All students have opportunities to work one-on-one with faculty. BS students may select from five concentrations including Animation and Algorithmic Art; Sonic Arts; Integrated Visual Art; Video, Performance and Social Practice; and DIY (Do It Yourself). All students (BS, PhD, and minor) have access to resources such as the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC), the Center for Deep Listening (CDL), the CRAIVE Lab, and the Emergent Reality Lab (ERL).
Across undergraduate programs students also have access to courses such as 2D Experimental Animation; Graphic Storytelling; 3D Animation; Interactive Arts Programming; Animation Production; Art and Coda and Interactivity; 3D Digital Modeling; Experimental Game Design; Advanced Digital 3D Projects; 3D VFX; Digital Imaging; Digital Filmmaking; Basic Drawing; and Introduction to Game Art.
The EART BS culminates with the Senior Thesis worth eight credit hours. Students will complete this final project across the Creative Seminar I and II courses. Upon completion, projects will be presented in a public exhibition designed and marketed by the students.
Graduates are prepared for to pursue careers as animators, game artists, storyboard artists, advertising animators, and educators, among others. Program alumni have been hired at companies and studios such as DreamWorks Animation, Microsoft, Hasbro, Amazon, Google, AMC Networks, IBM, Meta, The Creative Advantage, Branch VFX, 1st Playable, F2 System, Something Digital, and FDM Group.
The EART PhD program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is one of the first programs of its kind. Consisting of 48 credit hours, this interdisciplinary program allows students to select courses from animation, performance, video, computer science, architecture, communication studies, and more. Required courses include Electronic Arts Overview; Research Methods; and the Arts Graduate Colloquium.
The EART PhD Dissertation (final project) for the program, culminates with a gallery show or performance. Graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles in the entertainment industry, game design and development, advertising, research, and education. RPI alumni have been hired at places such as Raytheon, Apple, Google, Adobe, Microsoft, Dell, Oracle, and Boeing.
Established in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the nation’s first technological research university. Serving approximately 6,970 students, RPI provides more than 145 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across five schools. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MCSHE) and the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
New York Institute of Technology (NYIT or New York Tech) launched a Computer Graphics Laboratory (CGL or "The Lab") back in 1974. This pioneering facility had a hand in producing one of the world’s first computer animated films—Tubby the Tuba (1975).The production was directed by NYIT founder Alexander Schure, and Pixar co-founders Alvy Ray Smith and Ed Catmull.
Today, NYIT houses facilities such as The HIVE (Home for Innovation, Visualization, and Exploration); Dell Precision 3D graphics animation workstations; labs equipped with the latest industry-standard software and hardware; 3D motion capture studios; and Macintosh workstations.
In The HIVE, collaborative teams of NYIT students, faculty, and visionaries from partnering schools utilize motion capture, immersive environments, 3D printing, scanning, and other emerging technologies for creative research and professional development.
NYIT also houses six distinct colleges and schools, including the School of Architecture and Design. Within the school is the Department of Digital Art and Design, which has two paths to study animation. Options include the Digital Arts BFA, and the Digital Art and Design MFA. This terminal degree program has a Fine Arts and Technology concentration.
All School of Architecture and Design students benefit from internship opportunities at places such as Google, MTV, HBO, and NBCUniversal; participation in workshops and seminars; hands-on projects and other immersive learning activities; summer abroad experiences in places such as Italy, the UK, and France; and access to state-of-the-art production facilities and labs equipped with gaming technologies, motion capture, 2D, 3D and graphics software applications, printing capabilities, and emerging technologies.
Both BFA and MFA students also have opportunities to show their work at the Annual New York Institute of Technology Film and Animation Festival.
The NYIT Digital Arts BFA may be completed at the New York City or Long Island campuses. The program requires 120 credit hours of study that explores computer animation, digital arts production, and related areas. Course examples include Motion Graphics; Communication for Art and Design; Drawing I-II; Digital Compositing; Computer Graphics I-II; Form and Space; and Art History.
Digital Arts BFA students can enhance the degree through electives or the Game Design concentration. Elective examples include 2D Animation; Motion Capture; Game Design I-II; Concept and Visual Storytelling; Advanced 3D Modeling and Animation; Traditional to Digital Media; Illustration; and Special Topics. Students in the Game Design concentration will take courses such as Introduction to 3D Modeling and Animation; Emerging Technologies for Games and Interactive Applications; Level Game Design; Game Design I-II; and Game Design III: Technical Artist Studio. Most of these courses help students develop skills that can be utilized in animation production and many other creative fields.
The culminating experience for the Digital Arts BFA is the thesis completed across three courses (Thesis Proposal, and Thesis I-II), and the portfolio course. Graduates of the NYIT Digital Arts BFA are prepared to pursue titles such as Animator, 3D Modeler, Storyboard Artist, Video Game Designer, Motion Capture Artist, Multimedia Producer, Motion Graphics Designer, and Digital Artist.
The 60 credit hour Digital Art and Design MFA at New York Institute of Technology emphasizes classroom projects that utilize industry-standard 3D modeling software to create environments and characters. Students will also use motion capture to bring characters to life, and virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) to create interactive art.
Course examples for this NYC-based program include Contemporary Art; Aesthetics and Theory; Drawing; Critical Thinking and Writing About the Arts; History of Art and Technology; and Business of Creative Industries. MFA students also have the opportunity to develop a focus area through the required 21 credit hours of electives. Elective examples include Visual Effects (VFX); Computer Programming; Stop-Motion Studio; Experimental Media; and UX/UI Design.
The Digital Art and Design MFA at New York Institute of Technology culminates with the Thesis Paper and Exhibition completed over four courses totaling 12 credit hours. Among these courses is Professional Critiques. In this course, students will attend lectures of visiting animators, designers, and other artists. Students will arrange individual meetings with these visiting professionals for critiques of their ongoing thesis projects. Results of the critiques are discussed at length with the student's thesis advisor.
Graduates of the Digital Art and Design MFA at New York Institute of Technology are prepared to pursue leadership roles in animation and film, television production, games, advertising, architecture, research, education, and more. NYIT alumni have been hired at places such as Amazon, Google, Boeing, Microsoft, and IBM.
New York Institute of Technology was founded in 1955 by PhD, creative, and entrepreneur Alexander Schure. Serving approximately 8,000 students from 40 states and 72 countries, the school provides more than 90 degree programs across campuses in NYC and Long Island; Jonesboro, Arkansas; and Vancouver, Canada. New York Institute of Technology is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Queens College (QC) is home to the School of Arts (SoA). Founded in 2022, this multidisciplinary art school houses programs leading to a BA, BFA, MA, or MFA. Among these programs is a Design BFA with four concentration options including Animation; Interaction Design; Illustration; and Communication Design.
The SoA also houses an Animation and Illustration minor that requires 21 credit hours of study. This flexible program allows students to build their own curriculum by selecting courses that align with their goals. Twenty-five options are available. Examples include Animation and 3D Modeling; VT: Vector-Based Imagery; Motion Graphics I-II; VT: Video Graphics and Compositing; Illustration I-II; and Children’s Book Illustration. The minor is open to students in all SoA programs.
The Design BFA at Queens College requires 63 credits in the major. Concentrations consist of five electives chosen from recommended lists. All students will take courses such as History of Western Art; Drawing I or Illustration I; Design Foundations; Motion Graphics I; Interaction Design; Design 1-3; Basic Software for Design; and Typography 1-2.
Examples of Animation concentration and design electives include Traditional Animation; Storyboarding and Storytelling; Digital Moviemaking I-II; Creative Coding; Video Graphics and Compositing; Game Design; Shoot, Edit, Post; Physical Computing; VT/3-D Animation; Motion Graphics; VT/Pixel-Based Imagery; and Digital Imagemaking. Design BFA students may also complete an internship and/or study abroad for a semester over the summer or for a full year.
The Design BFA at Queens College culminates with the Senior Capstone course and a professional portfolio. Graduates are prepared to pursue titles such as Animator, Multimedia Artist, Game Artist, Advertising Animator, Digital Artist, Medical Animator, Creative Director, Storyboard Artist, Forensic Animator, and Art Director.
Founded in 1937, Queens College is part of the City University of New York (CUNY) System. QC serves approximately 16,400 students annually across seven schools, interdisciplinary studies, and the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute. Programs include more than 75 majors and 100+ master’s degrees. Queens College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
