| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico State University | Las Cruces |
Our 2025 ranking -our fourteenth annual- of the top animation school program in New Mexico. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
New Mexico State University (NMSU) is a NASA Space Grant College and home to the state’s first Honors College. The school also houses the Creative Media Institute for Film and Digital Arts (CMI). Designed for students seeking intensive training in digital filmmaking, animation, and storytelling, the CMI is a department in NMSU’s College of Arts and Sciences.
Housed in the NMSU College of Arts and Sciences, the CMI features state-of-the-art production facilities including an animation lab, digital projection screening room, production spaces, and post-production labs. The CMI is also home to the Bachelor of Creative Media with an emphasis in Animation and Visual Effects (BCM-ANVE); the Digital Filmmaking BCM; and an 18 credit-hour Animation and Visual Effects minor.
The cross-disciplinary BCM-ANVE is a 120 credit-hour program with two paths including 2D Production, and 3D and Visual Production. The paths have a common core. Courses include Beginning 2D Animation; Foundations of 3D Animation; Storyboarding; Writing for Animation -or- Screenwriting; Digital Illustration Techniques; Principles of Story Across the Media -or- Narrative: Principles of Story Across the Media; Introduction to 3D Modeling; Screenwriting; and History of Animation.
2D Production students will take additional courses such as 2D Compositing and FX; Motion Graphics; Sets and Environments; Advanced 2D Animation; Character Design and Development; and Acting for Animation. 3D and Visual Production students will take courses such as 3D Animation; Visual Effects; Light, Shade, Render; Rigging for 3D Animation; Previsualization; and Motion Capture Techniques.
Students in both options will complete the 3D Production Studio I-II courses, culminating in a short film to be presented in a showcase.
The Digital Filmmaking BCM at New Mexico State University requires 120-123 credit hours of study. This includes 27 elective credits allowing students to specialize in animation. Of the 27 elective credits, 21 are at level 300 and above. This means, students will also develop advanced skills animation and film. Course examples include Visual Effects; Advanced Screenwriting; Sound Design I-II; Digital Video Production I-II; Directing I-II; Directed Studies; Writing for Animation; Practicum; Film Crew I-II; Storyboarding; Pre-Production Management; and Business of Filmmaking/Animation.
In the final year of the Digital Filmmaking BCM program at New Mexico State University, students will complete FDMA 497: Portfolio Design and Development. During this course, students will focus on marketing strategies, building their portfolios and resumes, and developing individual demo and promotion packages.
All BCM students are eligible to enter their films or animated productions into the Las Cruces International Film Festival. Entry is free for NMSU students.
NMSU CMI graduates are prepared to pursue careers in entertainment, television production, advertising, and more. Across programs, NMSU students have interned with, completed co-op experiences with, or been hired at companies, studios, and organizations such as Disney, Amazon, NASA, IBM, Rolls-Royce, Tyson Foods, GEICO, the City of Las Cruses, Lockheed Martin, and Cummins, Inc.
Founded in 1888 as Las Cruces College, New Mexico State University is a system of five colleges that serves approximately 22,710 students. Las Cruces serves approximately 15,410 students, making it the largest campus in the NMSU system. More than 100 programs are provided across seven colleges and the graduate school. New Mexico State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
