What are the best animation school programs in Pennsylvania for 2025?
| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh |
| 2 | Drexel University | Philadelphia |
| 3 | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia |
| 4 | Moore College of Art and Design | Philadelphia |
| 5 | Pennsylvania Western University | Edinboro |
Our 2025 ranking -our fourteenth annual- of the top animation school programs in Pennsylvania. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
1. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is the world’s only institution to have Buggy Races. Although this tradition began as something fun and silly to do back in the 1920s, the races today begin as a design project that sees student teams brainstorm, sketch plans, build from scratch, and test the vessels before the big event. For what takes long hours to complete, Design teams take the skills and knowledge they’ve acquired in the classroom and apply it to each project—all to win one of CMU’s many coveted awards.
Students in all majors are welcome to participate in the Buggy Races. This includes students in programs supported by the Integrative Design, Arts and Technology (IDeATe) Network. In collaboration with the Robotics Institute (est. 1979) in the School of Computer Sciences, the IDeATe Network manages a total of 10 undergraduate minors, including Animation and Special Effects.
Open to students from any major, the Animation and Special Effects minor helps students develop marketable skills in areas such as digital 2D and 3D animation techniques; storytelling through animation; rendering and compositing; visual effects and procedural animation; expanded and experimental animation methods; and real-time animation systems.
Courses for this 45-unit program are project-based, immersive, and led by expert faculty in Art and Robotics. Course examples include Introduction to Computing for Creative Practice; Intermediate Studio Creative Coding; Introduction to 3D Animation Pipeline; Technical Character Animation; Storytelling Through Effects Animation; Storyboarding; Bipedal Rigging for Animation Production; Character Modeling; Experimental Capture; and Advanced Animation Studio.
While the IDeATe Animation and Special Effects minor is open to students from all majors, an ideal program option for students seeking a four-year degree is the Electronic and Time-Based Media BFA (ETB BFA). Housed in the College of Fine Arts (CFA), this interdisciplinary program explores areas such as animation, video and performance, game art, and computational and interactive arts. Students will take advanced courses such as Animation, Art, and Technology; Digital Storytelling and Resistance; Experimental Game Design; and Music Video/Visual Music.
Graduates of the ETB BFA and Animation and Special Effects minor programs at Carnegie Mellon University are prepared to pursue positions at film and animation studios, game design studios, television networks, advertising agencies, and more. Program alumni have been hired at places such as DreamWorks Animation, Comedy Central, Electronic Arts (EA), Sony Interactive Entertainment, Walt Disney Studios, Zynga Games, MTV, Paramount, Blizzard Entertainment, and Warner Interactive.
Carnegie Mellon University was founded on November 15, 1900 by industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Back then, the school was known as Carnegie Technical Schools. Today, CMU is a private global research university that provides over 200 programs to more than 14,500 students from 126 countries. In addition to the main campus in Pennsylvania, Carnegie has campuses in Silicon Valley and Doha, Qatar.
Housed across seven colleges and schools, the academic programs at CMU are also provided at locations in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Mexico, and Portugal. Carnegie Mellon University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
2. Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Drexel University has one of the largest cooperative education programs in the U.S. allowing students to gain up to 18 months of work experience in their chosen field—all before graduation. Drexel University also houses one of the nation’s largest media arts and design colleges.
The Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design provides eighteen undergraduate majors, twenty-six undergraduate minors, and several STEM-designated and accelerated degree programs across the entertainment, visual art, media, design, and performing arts. In addition to the co-op program, which allows undergraduates to spend six months working full-time in the industry, students in all programs benefit from a studio-based curriculum; courses led by industry professionals; and access to state-of-the-art production facilities and studios.
Examples include the 1200 square feet Animation Capture and Effects Lab (ACE-Lab); computer labs outfitted with advanced graphics workstations; screening rooms; and the Immersive Research Lab for augmented reality, virtual reality, and immersive media projects.
The Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design at Drexel University (Drexel) has several paths to study animation including the Animation and VFX BS; the Digital Media MS; the Dual Animation and VFX BS/Digital Media MS; the Digital Media and Virtual Production BS/Digital Media MS; and the Digital Media PhD. An Animation and VFX minor are also available.
The curriculum for the eight-course, 24 credit-hour minor provides a foundation storytelling, design, and the technology used by 3D animators and VFX artists in the entertainment industry. Through 12 credit hours of electives, minor students may also customize the program. Elective examples include Digital Character Creation; Scripting for Animation and VFX; Technical Directing; and Lighting and Surfacing. Students can take the Animation and VFX minor alone or with just about any Westphal degree program.
The Dual BS/MS programs consist of coursework and projects in animation, interactivity, gaming, 3D modeling, and digital design. The programs also explore digital media history, theory, and methods. Westphal dual BS/MS students can also participate in three co-op experiences in the second, third, and fourth years of study. Positions may be paid or unpaid.
Past co-op positions include animation, technical direction, visual effects (VFX), and 3D production work at places such as Cartoon Network, Pixar, 3FX Medical Animations, Sony Studios, Ingenuity Studios, and FuseFX.
The Animation and VFX BS program provides instruction and hands-on training in 3D modeling, storyboarding, character design, rigging, scripting motion capture, and storytelling. Animation electives allow students to specialize in an area such as VFX, motion capture, character performance, or organic modeling. Course examples for the program include Digital compositing; Computer Programming; Scripting for Animation and Visual Effects; Character Animation; Experimental Animation Lab; History of Modern Design; Organic Modeling; Audio Production and Post; and Spatial Data Capture.
In addition to the co-op program, Animation and VFX BS students can participate in Westphal’s Drexel LA program. During this experience, students will spend an entire summer living and working in LA alongside students in the Screenwriting, Film and Television, and Playwriting programs. Drexel LA students have held internships at Riot Games, BBC Worldwide Productions, Nerdist, and ImageMovers.
The Westphal Drexel Animation and VFX BS program culminates with the Digital Media Senior Project. Students will create works in teams in a simulated real-world production environment. Final projects will be presented during a Thesis Exhibition attended by industry professionals.
The Digital Media MS at Drexel University is a STEM-designated, hybrid program that focuses on research and media applications. Areas explored include animation, gaming and digital media history, interactivity, advanced digital design, and 3D modeling. Course examples for the program include New Media: History, Theory and Methods; Designing for Interactivity; Animation and Game Design Bootcamp; Research Methods for Digital Media; and New Media Project.
Students in the MS program will complete several independent, industry-sponsored, student-created, or faculty-approved projects. Past projects have focused on areas such as animation design, advanced animation production techniques, video games, and narrative comics. This two-year program culminates with a thesis, oral presentation, and demonstration in the Department of Digital Media.
The Digital Media PhD program at Drexel University is a research-driven degree that take place in an experiential learning environment. PhD students may conduct research in entertainment, engineering, business, education, health, or other areas. Past projects have included advanced animation production techniques; theme park ride and animation design; interactive online non-linear narrative comics; multi-touch games for teaching middle-school children; Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) for video games; and a multimedia interactive dance performance with body tracking.
Graduates of the Animation/VFX and Digital Media programs at Drexel University are prepared to pursue advanced roles in the entertainment industry, game design and development, television production, advertising, and more. Program alumni have worked on projects such as The Mandalorian, How to Train Your Dragon 2, Ready Player One, and Avengers: Infinity War.
Graduates have also gone on to land positions in research and development in the fields of virtual reality, generative design, and real-time rendering solutions. Program alumni have been hired at places such as DreamWorks, Pixar, XBOX, Disney, NCSoft Corp, and Microsoft.
Drexel University was founded in 1891 by philanthropist and financier Anthony J. Drexel. Known as Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry, the school’s first graduating class was just 70 students. Today, Drexel University is an R1 Doctoral University that serves approximately 21,705 students enrolled in more than 200 degree programs across 15 colleges and schools.
Drexel University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). The school’s academic programs in art, design, and media are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD).
3. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In 2019, University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) renamed its School of Design to honor iconic footwear designer and Wharton School alum Stuart Weitzman. Students in the Weitzman School have access to dozens of programs in the fine arts, architecture, city planning, historic preservation, and spatial analytics. Leading the bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD, many of these programs are STEM-eligible, while others can be combined into a dual degree.
For students seeking an animation degree, the Weitzman School has BA degrees in Fine Arts, and Fine Arts and Design. Both programs provide access to extensive resources and state-of-the-art facilities such as computer labs with Wacom tablets; lighting and grip equipment (used with Dragonframe software for stop-motion animation); DSLR cameras; 2D and 3D animation and compositing applications such as Maya, Premiere, 3ds Max, After Effects, Mudbox, TVPaint, and MatchMover; sound recording and editing equipment; and a stop-motion and multiplane studio with a dedicated capture workstation.
Available to students in the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering, the Fine Arts BA emphasizes seminar-based instruction, project-based learning, collaboration, and interdisciplinary studies. Studio courses are provided in a variety of areas such as animation, video, drawing, print media, 3D, and painting. Animation course examples include Mixed Media Animation; Hand-Drawn Computer Animation; Environmental Animation; 3D Computer Modeling; The Animation of Disney; Digital Figure Modeling; History of Children’s TV; Art, Design and Digital Culture; Advanced 3D Modeling; and Video I.
The Weitzman School’s Fine Arts and Design program provides an interdisciplinary major in Fine Arts (FNAR) and an integrative major in Design (DSGN). Both majors combine seminar courses, studio instruction, and interactions with designers and artists through the visiting artist lecture series. Coursework for the programs allow students to study animation, digital design, 3D modeling, and more. Students have access to the same animation courses for the Fine Arts BA program as well as Immersive Media Studio; Cinema Production; Digital Figure Modeling; Procedural Design Systems for Virtual Environments; and Art of Web.
Another path to study animation at UPenn is the Digital Media Design (DMD) program. Part of the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the DMD program launched in 1998. Leading to a bachelor’s in engineering and science (BSE), this interdisciplinary program allows students to explore animation, games, interactive technologies, virtual reality (VR), and computer graphics. Course and elective examples include Computer Animation; Advanced Rendering; Mixed Media Animation; Environmental Animation; Interactive Computer Graphics; and Hand-Drawn Animation.
The School of Engineering and Applied Science at University of Pennsylvania also houses the Center for Human Modeling and Simulation (HMS). Established in 1975, the center is a leader in the fields of behavioral animation, 3D computer graphics, and human simulation. Within the center is a Computer Graphics and Game Technology (CGGT) Engineering MS (MSE) program.
Established in 2004, the interdisciplinary CGGT MSE program covers four core areas including Creative Arts and Design; Computer Science, Systems and Technology; Product Design, Development and Production; and Business and Entrepreneurship. The Creative Arts and Design area explores 3D models and animation; storytelling and narrative; film studies; visual communication; human-computer interaction (HCI); and user interface (UI) design.
Other program highlights include access to equipment and resources available through the SIG Center for Computer Graphics; courses such as Computer Animation, Physically-Based Animation, and Advanced Project Animation; and the opportunity to specialize in areas such as Art and Animation, Animation and Simulation Technology, or Creative Design.
Graduates of the Fine Arts, Fine Arts and Design, and Computer Graphics and Game Technology programs are prepared to pursue advanced roles in the entertainment industry, games, architecture, advertising, and more. Across programs, alumni have been hired at places such as DreamWorks, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Microsoft, Pixar, Walt Disney Animation, Electronic Arts (EA), DreamWorks Animation, Zynga, Activision Blizzard, and Sony.
University of Pennsylvania was founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1740. Making it the fifth oldest university in the U.S. With nearly 5,000 professors, the school serves approximately 28,710 students enrolled in more than 400 programs across 12 schools. UPenn also houses more than 170 research centers and institutes, along with nine business divisions. University of Pennsylvania is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
4. Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Moore College of Art and Design (Moore) is the only art and design college in the U.S. to provide a $1,000 paid internship for every single student. Students have interned at places such as ARG! Cartoon Animation, Viasat, Quadratron Games, and KiwiCo. Many of these internships lead to offers for full-time employment.
For students seeking an animation degree, Moore college of Art and Design has an Animation and Game Arts BFA that features a hands-on, project-based curriculum; access to state-of-the-art facilities such as animation labs, Mac studios, editing bays, stop-motion studios, a gaming lounge, and a green screen studio; and participation in “AniJams” with fellow students and alumni. Moore also provides an Animation minor.
All Moore College programs begin with the First-Year Foundation Experience. This includes courses such as 2D and 3D Design; Animation I; Visual Thinking; Creative Design; and Color Theory. After the Foundation Year, students will enter their chosen major. Second year course examples for the Animation and Game Arts major include 3D Modeling; Storyboarding; History of Animation and Game Arts; Animation II; and Time-Based Media Projects.
In the third year of the Moore College Animation and Game Arts program, students will begin taking more advanced courses and electives, as well as Junior Production in preparation for the paid summer internship. Course and elective examples include Digital Sculpting; Stop-Motion Animation; Design for Tabletop Games; Animated Short Film; and Professional Development.
In the final year of the program, students will complete the summer internship requirement, and the Senior Studio and Senior Thesis courses. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in all areas of animation and game art.
Around 97% of Moore College BFA alumni are employed or in graduate school within one year of graduating. Examples of companies that have hired Moore graduates include Nickelodeon, Twitch, Brazen Animation, the Smithsonian Institution, Penguin Group, KingsIsle Entertainment, mock5 design, Tyco Toys, Studio Yotta, Kodable, Flight Safety International, Deux Wave, Duolingo, the Philadelphia Zoo, Super Signs, Carter’s, Dynamite Entertainment, and Quad.
Founded in 1848, Moore College of Art and Design is the nation’s first and only historically all-women’s visual arts college. Moore is also a private, nonprofit college that serves approximately 400 students enrolled 25 BFA and minor programs. Moore College of Art and Design is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
5. Pennsylvania Western University, Edinboro, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) houses an Animation concentration that features hands-on experiential learning opportunities, mentorship, and an immersive curriculum. As part of the Media Arts BFA, the program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) accreditation.
Other Animation program highlights include access to state-of-the-art facilities such as the 2D Cintiq Lab; travel to animation conferences and festivals in New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles; participation in the Animation Club; opportunities to engage with professional animators, storyboard artists, and directors during special on-campus events; participation in regular exhibitions of peer and faculty work; and internships with local, regional, and national production studios.
Animation students also benefit from opportunities to tour major studios such as Sony, Warner Bros., DreamWorks, Universal, Nickelodeon, Disney, and Stoopid Buddy Stoodios; dedicated studio spaces; and access to multiple galleries with frequent exhibitions.
The Animation concentration explores traditional hand-drawn and computer-generated animation; storyboarding; character design; stop-motion; audio recording; visual development; camera operation; and post-production. Courses for this 120 credit hour program are taught by accomplished industry professionals. Course and elective examples include Digital Audio-Moving Image; Cinema History; Drawing I-II; 3D Dynamics and Simulations; Space and Perspective; 2D Design; Storyboard and Character Design; Digital Visual Effects; Animated Performance; 3D Modeling and Rigging; Action Analysis Animation; Stop Motion and Experimental Animation; 2D Animation Special Topics; 2D Digital Animation; and Animation Pipeline.
Media Arts-Animation BFA Students will also complete the Animation Portfolio Prep course, where they will have the chance to work with 3D computer modeling, animation, sound, and special effects through lectures and demonstrations.
The culminating experience for the program is the Animation Production Capstone course, which consists of a computer animation project and presentation. Graduates of the Media Arts-Animation BFA program are prepared to pursue careers across the entertainment, game design, and advertising industries. Program alumni have been hired at major studios such as Nickelodeon, Pixar, Disney, Blizzard Entertainment, and DreamWorks.
Pennsylvania Western University was founded in 1857 as a private raining school for teachers. Serving approximately 10,205 students across three campuses, PennWest is western Pennsylvania’s second largest university. The school provides more than 100 majors, minors, and certificate pathways across three academic colleges. Pennsylvania Western University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).