| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas A&M University | College Station |
| 2 | University of Texas at Dallas | Dallas |
| 3 | Sam Houston State University | Huntsville |
| 4 | University of the Incarnate Word | San Antonio |
Our 2025 ranking, our fourteenth annual, of the top animation school programs in Texas. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
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, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), 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).
University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) is home to the state’s first arts and technology degree. Launched in 2002 and housed in the 50-year-old Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology (Bass School), the program is known as Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication (ATEC). Today, the program has expanded to include BA, MA, MFA, and PhD degrees.
Across pathways, ATEC students benefit from interactions with guest speakers from major studios such as Pixar, DreamWorks, and Disney; seminars and lectures led by industry professionals; project-based exercises; and applied and experimental research in collaboration with instructors in varying areas of expertise.
For student productions, research, and other projects, the ATEC program provides access to Bass School research labs and creative practice studios such as ArtSciLab; LabSynthE; the Narrative Systems Research Lab; The Studio for Mediating Play; the Creative Automata Lab; Fashioning Circuits; the Cultural Science Lab; the 3D Studio; the Emerging Gizmology Lab; SP&CE Media; and the Public Interactives Research Lab (PIRL).
Students also have access to the ATEC Animation Lab. A major component of the lab is the simulated animated studio experience (SASE). Over two semesters, a crew of 40 SASE students will have the opportunity to design, write, produce, and direct a two-minute CG animated short film. Examples of past productions include Bad Timing (2022), Octo Ninja (2021), Night Shift (2020), and Stargazer (2019).
Within the UT Dallas ATEC program are several options for animators. The BA program has an Animation and Games (A&G) concentration. MA and PhD students may focus their studies in animation, science and technology, games, or other areas. ATEC MFA students may specialize in Animation or Creative Practice. All graduate level programs provide advanced study in computer-based arts, interactive media, technology, digital media, and professional practices.
ATEC coursework for the BA option explores computer animation, game studies, user interface and user experience (UI/UX) design, motion graphics, and digital fabrication. Course examples include Animation Origins and Techniques; Programming for Digital Artists; Drawing for Animation; Computer Animation; Lighting and Composition; Scripting for Animation; Game Design; Rigging; Level Design; Modeling and Texturing; History of Visual Effects; Animation and Game Fundamentals; and Time-Based Media.
Students will also complete 30 semester credit hours of required electives. Examples include Animation Lab I-II; Virtual Environments; Procedural Animation; Character Design; Motion Capture Animation; Game Production Lab I-II; Stop Motion Animation; Virtual Reality; Animation Studies; Storyboarding; Experimental Animation; Motion Design Lab I-II; Topics in Animation; and Real Time Texturing.
Depending on the program, culminating experiences may include a capstone project, thesis, or research project. Most experiences have an exhibition component.
Graduates of the ATEC programs at UT Dallas are prepared to pursue careers in areas such as 3D computer animation, game design and development, virtual environments, medical and scientific visualization, advertising, modeling and simulation, architecture, publishing, law, education, and training. Program alumni have been hired at companies and studios such as Disney, Blizzard Entertainment, 900lbs of Creative, Cisco Systems, JP Morgan Chase, Texas Instruments, AT&T Foundry, and Gearbox Software.
University of Texas at Dallas began as the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest (GRCSW) in 1961. The owners of Texas Instruments established the center to create better higher-education opportunities in North Texas. Today, UT Dallas is an official member of the University of Texas System, and a Carnegie R1 Doctoral Institution.
The school also serves approximately 29,865 students enrolled in more than 150 degree programs across seven schools. University of Texas at Dallas is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Sam Houston State University (SHSU) has some of the largest and most diverse programs in the academic world. The school houses the only Professional Golf Management program in Texas and one of the nation’s oldest speech and debate programs. With a full-service courtroom, and the headquarters of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, SHSU’s criminal justice program is also one of the largest programs of its kind in the U.S.
One of Sam Houston’s most diverse programs is the Animation BFA. Housed in the College of Fine Arts and Mass Communication’s Department of Art, the program explores storyboarding, 2D and 3D animation, lighting, 3D modeling/rigging/texturing, character design, and rendering. Program highlights include the portfolio reviews by industry leaders; the guest speaker series; and SHSU SIGGRAPH. This self-governed student-run organization features on-campus exhibitions, student-led workshops, and collaborative animation and other digital art projects.
Courses and projects for the SHSU Animation BFA program take place in state-of-the-art classrooms and studios such as the PC Lab with 20 workstations and 20 Cintiq Pro 16 – creative pen displays; a dedicated production studio for stop motion and 3D printing; a dedicated space for audio recording; and an additional lab with 20 HD interactive pen displays.
Program facilities are outfitted with other equipment and software such as professional studio lighting; ZBrush, Dragonframe, Maya, iPi Motion Capture, Mudbox, and Pixar’s RenderMan; animation lightboxes; and HD-TVs for displaying student work.
The SHSU Animation BFA program requires 120 credit hours including the University Core Curriculum; the Art Department Foundation; the Art Department Core, and 45 credit hours of Animation coursework. Upon completion of Foundation requirements, all BFA students will participate in the Art Department BFA Portfolio Review before being admitted to the Animation major.
The major includes the following required courses: History of Animation; Experimental Animation; Character Animation; 2D Animation; Shading, Lighting and Rendering; Introduction to 3D Animation; Animation Concepts and Techniques; Advanced 3D Animation; and Animation Preproduction. The program culminates with the final Animation Portfolio course.
Graduates of the Animation BFA program at Sam Houston State University are prepared to pursue careers in animation, filmmaking, video games, television, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), interactive media, advertising, and education. Graduates may also pursue roles in emerging areas for animators such as AI-powered animation, UX design, healthcare, and sustainability. Others have gone on to pursue graduate studies at SHSU, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Florida State University (FSU), Texas A&M University (Texas A&M), Southern Methodist University (SMU), and University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas), among others.
SHSU Animation BFA alumni can be found at places such as Zynga, EA Mobile, Powerhouse Animation, 900lbs of Creative, Kiloo Games, Perkins+Will, Rio Bravo Productions, Next Level Design Company, Stoic Studio, Jacobs Visual Media Group, JHT Incorporated, Softway Solutions, Brown Distributing Company, and the Texas Public School System.
Sam Houston State University was founded in 1879 as the Sam Houston Normal Institute. When it opened, the institute became the first teacher preparation program in Texas. Today, SHSU serves approximately 21,040 students enrolled in baccalaureate, professional, and graduate degree programs in more than 170 fields of study. This includes America’s first PhD in Forensic Science. Programs at SHSU are housed across eight colleges.
Sam Houston State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) is home to the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. Within the college is the School of Media and Design, which houses the Department of 3D Animation and Game Design (ANGD). One of five departments in the School of Media and Design, ANGD features programs led by professionals working in all areas of the 3D Animation and Game Industry; annual on-campus presentations led by game and film industry professionals; class sizes of no more than 14 students; and opportunities to complete a professional internship at a local studio or other business.
Within the department is the 3D ANGD BFA program with specializations in Animation; Programming for Games; Modeling; and Production Management. An ANGD minor is also available with options in Programming for Games and Production Management. At the graduate level, the 3D ANGD Department houses a Master of Game Development (MGD) with an Animation track.
The UIW ANGD BFA program requires 120 credit hours of study. Course examples include Visual Narrative Conventions; Animation I: Advanced Body Mechanics; Performance for Animators; History of Animation; Animation II: Animation for Games; Previsualization and Storytelling; Technical Direction; Animation III: Advanced Pantomime Acting; Organic Modeling; Animation Industry Seminar; Animation IV: Performance Animation; Motion Capture for Animators; and Business of Animation and Game Design.
ANGD BFA students will spend the final year of program working in teams to conceive, design, produce, and submit a final animated film or game for festival consideration. This team project takes place across two courses—Senior Thesis Production I-II. In addition, students will create a professional portfolio on their own during the Senior Portfolio course.
Graduates of the ANGD BFA program at University of the Incarnate Word are prepared to pursue positions in areas such as animation for film, animation for television, VFX animation, game art, multimedia animation, advertising animation, forensic animation, and animation for information technology.
Program alumni have been hired at places such as Sony, Weta FX, BioWare, Naughty Dog, Infinity Ward, Booz Allen Hamilton, and the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
The Master of Game Development with an Animation track highlights learning experiences and courses led by industry professionals from studios such as DreamWorks and Naught Dog. This fully online, 60 credit-hour program also features small class sizes, personalized faculty support, and collaborative projects. The Animation track consists of courses such as Graduate Animation I-IV; Story – Elements and Structure; Prototyping and Game Design; MoCap Animation; Visual Narrative Conventions; Elements of Game Play; Industry Seminar; and History of Games.
The culminating experience for the MGD-Animation program is the Graduate Portfolio and Thesis Production courses. Graduates are prepared to pursue advanced roles in the film, games, and television industries, and 3D education. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Weta FX, Crystal Dynamics, Naughty Dog, The Third Floor, High Moon Studios, Infinity Ward, and San Diego Studio.
University of the Incarnate Word was founded in 1881 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. The school serves approximately 9,255 students across campuses in Texas, Mexico City, and Strasbourg, France, making it the largest Catholic University in Texas and the fourth largest private university in the state. UIW provides more than 150 majors, minors, and concentrations across 11 colleges and schools. University of the Incarnate Word is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
