Top 10 Animation Schools and Colleges in the Southwest - 2025 College Rankings

The College Station campus at Texas A&M University (TAMU) serves approximately 72,560 students, making it the largest campus by enrollment in the state and one of the largest public universities in the nation. One of the few American universities to have land-, sea- and space-grant designations, TAMU also houses one of the largest visual and performing arts colleges within a public university.   

The College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts (PVFA) is a multidisciplinary school that provides programs in film, visualization, production, dance, theater, and music. Established nearly 35 years ago, the PVFA Visualization program houses several programs for animators. These include BS, MS, and MFA degrees in Visualization.

The Visualization MFA is one of a few programs of its kind in the U.S. and possibly the only one in the state of Texas. All options allow students to explore design, computer graphics, interaction, art, and visualization. Students at all levels may focus in an area of emphasis. Options for BS students include Animation and Virtual Production; Game Creation; Interactive Design; Media Art; and Visual Computing.

BS students will also work in project-based studios on courses that explore programming, art theory, technical skills, and the production pipeline. Course examples include Principles of Design 1-3; Digital Media; Art History; 2D Visualization Techniques; Scientific and Technological Developments in Visual Arts; Computing for Visualization I-II; and Visual Studies Studio 1-3. 

BS students may also participate in the Field Study course or sign up for the TAMU Internship Program. This supervised work experience lasts 15 weeks for a total of 600 hours. TAMU Visualization students have completed internships at major animation studios, graphic design firms, and game development studios. 

The TAMU Visualization MS provides nine areas of emphasis including Computer Animation; Gaming; Augmented Reality (AR); Computer Graphics; Virtual Reality (VR); Interactive Design; User Experience Design; and Data Visualization. This program has both thesis (32 credit hours) and non-thesis (36 credit hours) options. Non-thesis students will complete a portfolio and capstone project to graduate. 

Free electives allow all MS students to develop additional (advanced) skills in their chosen focus area. Elective examples include Generative Art; 3D Modeling and Animation; Design Communication I-III; Advanced Animation; Rendering and Shading; Computer Animation; Time-Based Media; Digital Compositing; Physical Computing for Art and Design; Image Synthesis; and Computer Aided Sculpting. 

The Visualization MFA program at Texas A&M University focuses collaborative projects, innovations, team-building activities, and technical applications. In this program, students will select from eight areas of emphasis. Options include Computer Animation; Visual Storytelling; Interactive Art; Visual Effects, Gaming; Virtual/Augmented Reality (VR/AR); User Experience Design; and Data Visualization. 

Course examples across emphasis areas include Contemporary Art Studio/Seminar; Professional Study; and Professional Practice. Other courses will come from core and free electives. Examples include 3D Modeling and Animation; Computer Animation; Motion Capture Animation; Virtual Reality; Form, Installation, and Environment; Advanced Animation; Generative Art; Multimedia Web Design; Interactive Virtual Environments; Advanced Game Design; Figure Drawing for Narrative and Concept Art; Digital Compositing; Augmented Reality; Physical Computing for Art and Design; and Digital image.

Students in both the MS and MFA programs will also complete a professional internship. Graduate internships are worth eight credits. 

In addition, select Visualization graduate students will have the opportunity to participate in a Summer Industry Workshop. Students in this intensive course will work with professionals from major animation studios to produce professional-grade short films. The course takes place all day, every day, for 10 weeks. 

Across all TAMU Visualization programs, students benefit from access to state-of-the-art facilities and studios; courses taught by accomplished instructors; student organizations such as Texas Aggie Game Developers (TAGD), Women in Animation, and Viz Industry Fair (VIF); participation in the Annual Career Fair; and the Semester Away Program in Italy, Germany, and many other countries. 

A capstone project serves as the culminating experience for the TAMU Visualization BS program. MFA students will complete a professional body of work. A portion of this work must be exhibited in at least one competitive external venue approved by their advisory committee. A local exhibition of the student’s body of work is also required. This event will be coordinated with the final MFA examination.

Graduates of the Visualization programs at Texas A&M University are prepared to pursue advanced roles in the entertainment industry, among others. Visualization graduates are routinely hired at major studios such as DreamWorks Animation, Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Reel FX Animation.

Serving approximately 79,115 students, Texas A&M University is the largest university in the state and one of the top 10 largest in the nation. Founded in 1876, TAMU is also the first public institution of higher learning in the state of Texas. With two local campuses, a Health Science Center, and a campus in Doha, Quatar, Texas A&M houses 16 colleges and schools that provide approximately 415 degree programs. 

Texas A&M University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

The Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University (ASU) was created in 2009 after the ASU College of Design and the Katherine K. Herberger College of Fine Arts merged. Today, Herberger employs more than 600 faculty members that serve nearly 9,000 students enrolled in 130 different programs across the School of Art; the School of Arts, Media and Engineering; the Design School; The Sidney Poitier New American Film School; ASU FIDM; and the School of Music, Dance and Theater. The Herberger Institute also houses the ASU Art Museum.

The School of Art and the School of Arts, Media and Engineering provide several paths to study animation. In the School of Art, students can enroll in the Art BFA with a concentration in Animation; the Art MFA; or the 18 credit-hour Animation minor. School of Arts, Media and Engineering students can enroll in the Digital Culture BA program; the interdisciplinary 21 credit hour undergraduate minor; or the 18 credit-hour Digital Culture certificate. 

The Digital Culture BA features a variety of courses that allow students to focus in animation. Examples include Introduction to Computer Animation; Experimental Video Art; 2D Computer Animation; 3D Tools; Stop Motion Animation; Introduction to Animation for Film; Animating Virtual Worlds; 3D Computer Imaging and Animation; Fundamentals of Sound Art; and Motion Graphics and Animation. The program culminates with a final project. 

Graduates of the Digital Culture BA program at Arizona State University are prepared to pursue roles in areas such as animation and film, video game development, media arts, computing, and graphic communications. 

The Art BFA with a concentration in Animation requires 120 credit hours of study. Courses for the program are led by industry professionals with expertise in animation filmmaking, emerging technology, and computer-generated imagery. Course examples include Animation Motion Studies; The Art Experience; Storyboarding and Narrative Sequencing; 3D Computer Imaging and Animation; Illustration; and Junior Animation Projects I-II. 

Elective options for the program allow students to gain experience in other areas such as stop motion animation, visual effects (VFX), experimental video art, game art, and screenwriting.

Other Art BFA/Animation program benefits include access to state-of-the-art facilities and resources at the Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center in Mesa, Arizona; internships with local studios, companies, and arts organizations; visiting artist lectures supported by the School of Art galleries, the Ceramics Research Center and Archive, and the ASU Art Museum; and participation in public exhibitions. 

The Art BFA program at Arizona State University culminates with the Animation Capstone completed across two courses. The capstone results in an independent short film or a full-length film produced as a team. 

The Art MFA program at ASU Herberger provides the opportunity to complete projects in a discipline of the student’s choice. Examples include animation, intermedia, drawing and painting, photography, and printmaking. Other program benefits include workshops; teaching opportunities; visiting artist lectures; and access to private, state-of-the-art studio space at Grant Street Studios. 

Located in downtown Phoenix, Grant Street houses several galleries and resources such as printmaking presses, a computer lab and 3D print lab, and a photography darkroom. 

The Art MFA program at Arizona State University culminates in a solo thesis exhibition in Step Gallery, Northlight Gallery, or Harry Wood Gallery. All galleries are part of the School of Art. 

Graduates of the Art BFA/Animation and MFA programs at Arizona State University are prepared to pursue careers in the creative, technical, and scientific industries, among others. Examples include animation and film, robotics, medical illustration, scientific and data visualization, games and game development, cinema and television, AR/VR, illustration, and fine arts. 

ASU Art and Animation alumni hold titles such as Animator, Creative Director, VFX Artist, Graphic Artist, Art Director, and Multimedia Designer.

Founded on March 12, 1885, Arizona State University is the state’s first higher education institution. The school opened its doors on February 8, 1886 as Territorial Normal School (TNS). On the first day of class, TNS welcomed 33 students to a four-classroom building in Tempe, Arizona. Today, ASU sits on 1,550 acres that house multiple campuses, 16 colleges and schools, and ASU Online. Approximately 152,810 students from across the U.S. and nearly 160 other countries have access to more than 800 degree programs. 

Arizona State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Engineering at ASU is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. 

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The school houses an Animation Department with a collaborative BFA in 2D Animation or 3D Animation. Consisting of 123 credit hours, the program curriculum has a liberal arts component that emphasizes critical awareness, information literacy, and global consciousness. 

Both 2D and 3D Animation students will take courses that explore texture mapping; storyboarding; character design; line of action; modeling; and observational drawing. Each option requires 27 credit hours. Designed for students interested in traditional animation, the 2D Animation program requires 21 credits in animation and six studio elective credits. With a focus on computer animation, the 3D Animation program requires 18 credits in animation and nine in studio electives. 

Across programs, students will learn the 12 principles of animation and master software such as Adobe Creative Cloud including Photoshop; Toon Boom Harmony; Autodesk Maya; and Storyboard Pro. 

Course examples include The Art of Villainy; Digital Painting for Film and Games; Experimental Animation; Character Animation and Motion Studies; Character Rigging; 3D Computer Lighting and Materials; Fundamentals of Animation; 3D Character and Production Design; Creative Visualization; Video Editing and Sound Design for Animation; Scriptwriting for Animation; Tools and Techniques of Contemporary Animation; 2D Computer Animation I-II; Animation Layout and Production; 3D Computer Animation Motion Studies; Stop Motion Animation; World Building; and Special Topics. 

At the sophomore, junior, and senior levels, Animation BFA students will participate in intensive portfolio reviews. The culminating experience for the programs is the final project and presentation. Programs can be completed in four years, with year-round online and on-campus courses. 

Graduates of the Animation BFA programs at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design are prepared to pursue roles across the entertainment, games, and advertising industries. Program alumni have been hired at major networks, companies, and studios such as Nickelodeon, Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Cartoon Network, Blizzard Entertainment, LAIKA, Sony Pictures Animation, Walt Disney World, Warner Bros., Microsoft, Epic Games, Adobe, Design Republic, and Pentagram. 

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design opened in 1963 as Rocky Mountain School of Art. Serving more than 1,000 students, RMCAD provides 16 degree and certificate programs in campus/hybrid and online formats. In addition to NASAD accreditation, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). 

University of Utah (The U) houses the College of Fine Arts. Within the college is the Department of Film and Media Arts, which provides two paths to study animation: the Animation emphasis in the Film and Media Arts BA program and the Animation Studies minor. The BA requires 122-123 credits, with at least 39 in the emphasis. The Animation Studies minor requires a minimum of 19 credit hours, with at least 12 credit hours in animation. 

Required courses for the minor include Making Movies and Introduction to Animation Techniques. Students may select one course from four drawing and mapping courses. For the remaining credits, students will select from the following courses: Introduction to 3D Animation; 3D Character Animation; Traditional Animation Production; Animation: Then, Now, and Next; Animation Film History; Japanese Anime; Storyboarding/Visual Storytelling; and Exploring Movement Through Animation. The culminating experience for the minor is an animation project. 

To kick off the Film and Media Arts BA program, students will complete four courses. These include Introduction to Film and Media Arts; History of Film and Media Arts: Origins to 1952; Making Movies; and History of Film and Media Arts: 1952 to the Present. For the Animation emphasis, students must also complete Introduction to Animation Techniques; Storyboarding/Visual Storytelling; Introduction to 3D Computer Animation; and Exploring Movement through Animation. 

For the remaining courses, students will select from at least 15 different courses. Examples include Contemporary Animation: The Simpsons to South Park; Digital Effects and Compositing for the Screen; Japanese Anime; 3D Character Animation; Drawing the Human Head and Hands; Traditional Animation Production; Animation: Then, Now, and Next; Digital Drawing; and Animation Film History. 

All Animation students will work and learn in state-of-the-art production facilities, classrooms, and studios. Students will also have opportunities to compete an internship, participate in workshops, and attend seminars. And thanks to The U’s Learning Abroad program with University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC), Animation students have access to more than 50 programs in 26 countries.

The Film and Media Arts BA at University of Utah culminates with the Animation Project. Completed across an advanced four-credit course, the project allows students to complete an independent animated production using the techniques of their choice. 

Graduates of the creative and technology programs at University of Utah have found success as animators, game artists, directors, filmmakers, advertising animators, storyboard artists, and VFX artists. Some alumni have been hired at places such as Lucasfilm and Nickelodeon. Others have gone on to launch their own studios. This includes Pixar Animation Studios, which was co-founded by University of Utah Computer Science alum Edwin Catmull. 

University of Utah is the state’s flagship institution of higher learning. The school opened on February 28, 1850 as University of Deseret. Classes were held in private homes for $8 per quarter. Today, University of Utah is a Tier 1 research university that sits on 1,534 acres. The school also serves more than 36,000 students enrolled in over 200 programs across 17 colleges and schools. University of Utah is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The school is also a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). 

University of Advancing Technology (UAT) is one of the few 100% STEM-based universities in the U.S. The school also follows a Synchronic Learning Model that emphasizes independent and collaborative learning in real-world environments. While UAT programs are provided on-campus, online, or a combination of the two, all students have access to mentors and state-of-the-art production facilities. And whether students study on-campus or online, internships are a graduation requirement. 

For aspiring animators, University of Advancing Technology has a Game Art and Animation (GAA) BA program that allows students to work in real game production environments with programmers and designers. Consisting of 120 credit hours, the program focuses on immersive courses that teach students how to create 2D/3D art and animation for mobile, virtual reality (VR), PC, online, and console games. 

Course examples for the program include Introduction to Game Art and Animation; Visual Effects Compositing; Game Art and Animation Fundamentals; Virtual Reality World Building; UI Design and Animation; 3D Modeling Environments and FX; Materials, Shaders and Lighting; 3D Modeling Characters and Vehicles; Storyboarding; VR/AR User Experience Design; and Production Studio.

The UAT GAA BA program also requires completion of the Student Innovation Project courses I-III. Though not required, courses such as Introduction to AI and Analytics, Digital Asset Creation, and Java Programming are highly recommended. In addition to the required internship, students will have opportunities to participate in community projects and apprenticeship experiences. 

The Game Art and Animation BA program at University of Advancing Technology culminates with a final project, portfolio, and presentation. Graduates are prepared to pursue positions in all areas of animation and game design. Sample job titles include Animator, Character Animator, Game Artist, Texture Artist, Senior Animator, Storyboard Artist, Art Director, and Environment Animator. 

UAT alumni can be found at places such as Sony Entertainment, Gearbox Publishing, FabCom, Amazon, American Gaming Systems, eBay, and GoDaddy. 

Founded in 1983 as the CAD Institute, University of Advancing Technology is a private, family-owned institution that serves around 1,000 students from the U.S. and overseas. The school provides nearly 25 degree programs in areas from business and innovation to cybersecurity and virtual reality. Programs lead to the associate, bachelor, or master’s degree. University of Advancing Technology is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).