| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | College for Creative Studies | Detroit |
| 2 | Ferris State University | Big Rapids and Grand Rapids |
| 3 | Grand Valley State University | Allendale |
| 4 | Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant |
| 5 | Eastern Michigan University | Ypsilanti |
Our 2025 ranking -our fourteenth annual- of the top animation school programs in Michigan. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
College for Creative Studies (CCS) is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Founded in 1944, this prestigious organization accredits less than 350 institutions nationwide. In addition to NASAD-accreditation, CCS houses a STEM-designated Entertainment Arts program that has Animation, Game Design, and Concept Design pathways.
A Toon Boom Center for Excellence, the Entertainment Arts program at CCS also features courses taught by Hollywood insiders and Unreal Authorized Instructors (UAI); access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment including PC and MAC equipment, gaming labs, editing suites, and full VR capabilities with Vive goggles and sensors; and internship opportunities with local and regional studios. Students may also participate in the study abroad program, which features faculty-led and independent experiences in places such as Paris, London, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Sweden, and India.
Leading to a BFA, the Entertainment Arts program begins with the First Year Experience (FYE), which consists of courses such as Animation I; 2D Design Principles; Digital Techniques; Process and Making; Drawing I: Rapid Concept; and Drawing II: Style and Skill.
In the second year of the program, students will begin taking courses in their chosen pathway. Animation course examples include Animation II-III; Experimental Animation; Animation Nuts and Bolts; Introduction to Filmmaking Animation Production; and History of Animation and Digital Media. Animation elective examples include Stop Motion; Sound Design; Computer Character Animation; Playing the Self; and Storyboarding for Film/Animation.
Upper division course examples include Animation Projects I-II; Professional Futures; and Advanced Story Concepts. In the final year of the program, CCS Animation students will complete several required general education electives; Entertainment Arts electives; and Senior Production Studio I-II. The studio culminates with a finished project and portfolio.
Graduates of the Entertainment Arts BFA (Animation) program at College for Creative Studies are prepared to pursue careers in the entertainment, games, advertising, and other industries. Program alumni have been hired at major studios, companies, and networks such as Nickelodeon, Lucasfilm, Disney, Pixar, Cartoon Network, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Marvel, DreamWorks Animation, Blizzard Entertainment, Google, Universal, Titmouse, EA Sports, Warner Bros. Animation, Technicolor Group, Bento Box, ABC Television Group, DC Entertainment, and WildBrain Studios.
College for Creative Studies was established in 1906 as the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts. Today, this private, nonprofit institution serves more than 1,400 students enrolled in 23 different art and design programs leading to a BFA, MA, or MFA degree. In addition to NASAD accreditation, College for Creative Studies is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) also accredits CCS.
Ferris State University (Ferris State or FSU) is home to Kendall College of Art and Design (KCAD). The school prepares students for careers in the visual arts, design, and art history. Program examples include Digital Art and Design; Illustration; Collaborative Design; Art History; Graphic Design; and Studio Arts. Across all programs, students will work and learn in classrooms, studios, and labs led by expert faculty.
Leading to a BFA, the KCAD Digital Art and Design program is the most popular option for students seeking careers in animation. The program allows students to develop portfolios in one or more areas such as 2D Animation; Interaction Design; 3D Game Art; Visual Development; and Motion Design. Concentration options in Entertainment Art and Multimedia Design are also available.
For individuals in other majors, KCAD has a Digital Art and Design minor that includes five studio courses selected by the student. This allows students to customize the program to support their interests. Studio course examples include Animation Process; Introduction to Digital 3D; Professional Studio I-II; Interactive Multimedia Design; Digital Imaging II; and Professional Practices.
The Digital Art and Design BFA consists of 120 credit hours of study. Students in this program will take required courses such as Introduction to Narrative Studies; Math in Art and Design; Writing; Global Art I: Prehistory – 14th Century; Philosophy; and Perspectives on Science. Students in both concentration areas will take the same major studio courses (42 credit hours) and at least 12 credit hours of electives.
Studio course examples include Introduction to Digital 3D; Animation Process; Professional Studio I-II; Interactive Multimedia Design; Professional Practices; and Digital Art and Design Thesis I-II. Elective examples include 2D Character Animation; Storyboard Art; Motion Design; 3D Video Game Art I-II; Interaction Design; Concept and Production Art; 3D Character Design; and Video.
Graduates of the Digital Art and Design BFA program at Ferris State University’s Kendall College of Art and Design are prepared to pursue careers in animated films, television production, game art and design, advertising, and education, among others.
KCAD alumni have been hired at places such as Disney Television Animation, YouTube, Epic Games, and R/GA New York. KCAD BFA alumni have also been accepted into graduate programs at places such as Academy of Art University, Vancouver Film School, and School of Visual Arts, New York (SVA NY).
Ferris State University was established in 1884. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the school serves approximately 9,950 students enrolled in more than 190 programs across eight colleges. This includes Kendall College of Art and Design. Founded in 1928 and located in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, KCAD serves 565 students enrolled in more than a dozen degree and certificate programs.
As part of Ferris State University, KCAD is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The school is also an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) is home to the Department of Visual and Media Arts (VMA), which combines liberal arts studies with visual arts production. An accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the VMA Department serves nearly 700 students enrolled in 10 programs leading a BA or BS; minors in Art History, Photography, and Studio Art; and nearly 40 single non-credit courses.
Students in all VMA degree programs have the opportunity to participate in campus exhibitions; field trips; study abroad experiences in places such as France, the UK, Spain, and Australia; professional internships; and independent study. VMA students have interned with companies and studios such as Voyage Pictures, Michael Lynn Animation Studio, Mosaic Film Experience, Flix Premiere, Externa CGI, Paris Films, TruVision Studios, Green Sky, and Coastline Studios.
The creative programs in the VMA Department also provide access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities designed for work in traditional and new media. Through the department, students will also have opportunities to attend and present at off-campus screening events; interact with regular visiting artists; and participate in multiple student organizations.
The Department of Visual and Media Arts at GVSU has two paths to study animation including the BA and BS in Film and Video Production. Both options explore animation, sound design, film studies, scriptwriting, fiction and nonfiction, new media, and documentary. The Film and Video Production BA requires proficiency in a foreign language, while the BS requires three courses in Computer Information Systems, Statistics, or History.
Across programs, courses and projects are led by accomplished industry-professionals, with opportunities to work on productions for outside clients. Course examples for the programs include Animation I and II; 3D Computer Animation; History of Animation; New Media I-II; Film and Video Art; Digital Post Production; Experimental Film and Video; World Cinema; Lighting for Film and Video Production; Special Topics in Film and Video; Scriptwriting I-II; and Audio Production I-II.
The Film and Video Production programs at Grand Valley State University culminates with the Advanced Film Practicum – Summer Film Project; Post-Production Practicum; Producing for Clients; and the Senior Thesis Project. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in animated filmmaking, live-action filmmaking, animation for television, game art and design, and animation for advertising.
GVSU Film and Video Production alumni have worked with studios and production houses such as DreamWorks Animation, Voyage Pictures, D-Squared Creative, Coastline Studios, Match Frame Creative, M-1 Studios, Contact Light Films, A2 Creative, Detroit Public Television, 52 Watt Studios, and Allied Productions.
Grand Valley State University was established in 1960. The school serves approximately 22,010 students enrolled in more than 145 degree programs across eight colleges and schools. In addition to the main campus in Allendale, Michigan, GVSU has campuses in Grand Rapids, Michigan and regional centers across the state. Grand Valley State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
The College of the Arts and Media (CAM) at Central Michigan University (CMU) houses the Department of Art and Design. Within the department is an Art major with a concentration in Animation. Program features include access to state-of-the-art production facilities including the Animation Computer Lab and the Traditional Media and Stop Motion Animation Lab; opportunities to work on real-world projects through coursework and experiential learning such as internships; and participation in networking events.
Leading to a BAA or BFA, the Art/Animation program at CMU focuses on character design, storyboarding, effects animation, character performance, and 3D modeling and lighting. Students will work with hand-drawn animation, traditional stop-motion techniques, animated media, and 3D computer animation, among others.
The BAA requires 57 credit hours the Art major, while the BFA requires 78. Students in both programs will take courses such as Digital Design; Introduction to Animation – Traditional Media; Illustration and Concept Development; Motion Design for Animators; Storyboarding for Digital Media; 3D Computer Animation I- Foundations; Stop Motion Animation; and History of Animation.
Course examples include 2D Digital Animation; 3D Computer Animation III: Environments; Storyboarding for Digital Media; Concept Development: Characters and Environments; Animation Drawing; , Digital Sculpting for Animation; Alternative Strategies in Animation; and Stop-Motion Animation. Students will also take four studio courses in the concentration including Animation Studio I-II; Advanced Production Studio; and Independent Animation Studio.
Elective examples across programs include Digital Sculpture; 3D Computer Animation II – Characters; 2D Animation Projects; 3D Computer Animation III – Environments; Character Sculpture; Alternative Strategies in Animation; Character Performance for Animators; and Advanced Multimedia Design.
During the last year of the Art BFA program, students will complete 12 credit hours from animation studio courses and senior project development courses, culminating with a thesis project and exhibition. BAA students will complete the BAA Animation Capstone as the culminating experience for the program.
Graduates of the Central Michigan University Art BAA-Animation and BFA-Animation programs are prepared to pursue careers in areas such as 2D character animation, motion graphics, 2D animated effects for film, concept and character design, comics, game art and design, storyboarding, 3D production for character animation, and 3D prototyping.
Program alumni work in the animation and film industries; television production; game design and development; multimedia; advertising and marketing; medical, forensic, or scientific animation; visualization and simulation; architecture; design and production; and art education.
Central Michigan University was founded in 1892 as Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute. On the first day of classes, the school welcomed 31 students. Today, CMU serves approximately 14,470 students enrolled in more than 270 programs across seven colleges and schools. The school also provides more than 75 fully online programs at all degree levels. Additional programs are available at 25 satellite locations across North America. Central Michigan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
The College of Arts and Sciences is the largest academic unit at Eastern Michigan University (EMU). Serving approximately 4,430 students enrolled in more than 140 degree programs across eighteen departments and schools, the college is also home to the School of Art and Design. Within the school are five undergraduate majors, three minors, and three graduate programs. As part of the School of Art and Design, all programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
For animators, the EMU School of Art and Design has an in-person/hybrid Simulation, Animation and Gaming (SAG) BS with approximately 140 students enrolled. A 20 credit-hour SAG minor is also available. Courses for the minor include Introduction to Game Design; Graphics for Simulation I-II; Environment Design; Studio I Simulation; Web Publishing Technology; and Digital Photo Technology.
The multidisciplinary SAG BS is a STEM-designated program that combines traditional art disciplines, story development, and creative writing, with courses and projects that focus on animation, lighting, rigging, camerawork in 3D, illustration, modeling, and lighting. Course examples include Introduction to Simulation, Animation and Gaming; Story Development; 2D Animation; Organic Modeling; Advanced Principles in Animation; Introduction to Unity I-II; Animation Studio; Vector Illustration for SAG; Simulation and Animation Dynamics; Texturing and Mapping; Environment Design; and Studio I-II.
In addition to Unity, EMU SAG students will use software and development tools such as Adobe Animate, Maya, 3ds Max, and Illustrator to create several projects throughout the program. Students will also complete several studios and Senior Projects in SAG as the culminating experience for the program.
Graduates of the SAG BS program at Eastern Michigan University are prepared to pursue roles in areas such as computer animation, visual effects (VFX), game art, storyboarding, concept art, character design and development, modeling, advertising animation, and graphic design.
Founded in 1849 as the Michigan State Normal School, Eastern Michigan University is the state’s second oldest public university and America’s first teacher-training institution west of the Alleghenies. The school serves approximately 12,665 students enrolled in more than 350 majors and programs across five colleges, the Graduate School, and the Honors College. Eastern Michigan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
