Best Universities for Animation in North America

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Animation. A graph of 1.05M citations received by 30.4K academic papers made by 185 universities in North America was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. Stanford University

United States | California

For Animation

#1 in the United States

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Animation

#2 in the United States

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

3. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Animation

#3 in the United States

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

4. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Animation

#4 in the United States

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

5. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Animation

#5 in the United States

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

6. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Animation

#1 in Canada

#8 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

7. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Animation

#6 in the United States

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

8. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Animation

#2 in Canada

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 71,201
Founded: 1908

9. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Animation

#7 in the United States

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

10. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Animation

#8 in the United States

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

11. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Animation

#9 in the United States

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

12. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Animation

#10 in the United States

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

13. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Animation

#11 in the United States

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

14. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Animation

#12 in the United States

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

15. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Animation

#13 in the United States

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

16. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Animation

#14 in the United States

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

17. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Animation

#15 in the United States

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

18. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Animation

#16 in the United States

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

19. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Animation

#17 in the United States

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

20. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Animation

#18 in the United States

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

21. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Animation

#19 in the United States

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

22. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Animation

#20 in the United States

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

23. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Animation

#21 in the United States

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

24. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Animation

#3 in Canada

#41 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

25. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Animation

#22 in the United States

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

26. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Animation

#23 in the United States

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

27. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Animation

#24 in the United States

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

28. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Animation

#25 in the United States

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

29. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Animation

#26 in the United States

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

30. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Animation

#27 in the United States

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

31. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Animation

#28 in the United States

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

32. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Animation

#29 in the United States

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

33. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Animation

#30 in the United States

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

34. New York University

United States | New York State

For Animation

#31 in the United States

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

35. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Animation

#32 in the United States

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

36. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Animation

#4 in Canada

#74 in the World

Founded: 1957

37. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Animation

#33 in the United States

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

38. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Animation

#34 in the United States

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

39. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Animation

#35 in the United States

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

40. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Animation

#36 in the United States

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

41. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Animation

#5 in Canada

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

42. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Animation

#6 in Canada

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

43. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Animation

#7 in Canada

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

44. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Animation

#37 in the United States

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

45. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Animation

#38 in the United States

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

46. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Animation

#8 in Canada

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

47. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Animation

#39 in the United States

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

48. Rice University

United States | Texas

For Animation

#40 in the United States

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,587

49. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Animation

#41 in the United States

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

50. University of California - Santa Cruz

United States | California

For Animation

#42 in the United States

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,564
Enrollment: 19,764

51. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Animation

#43 in the United States

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

52. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Animation

#44 in the United States

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

53. John Brown University

United States | Arkansas

For Animation

#45 in the United States

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1238
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $21,464

54. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Animation

#46 in the United States

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

55. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Animation

#47 in the United States

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

56. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Animation

#48 in the United States

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

57. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Animation

#49 in the United States

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

58. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Animation

#9 in Canada

#136 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

59. Oregon State University

United States | Oregon

For Animation

#50 in the United States

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $9,922
Enrollment: 35,622

60. University of Delaware

United States | Delaware

For Animation

#51 in the United States

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

61. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Animation

#52 in the United States

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

62. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Animation

#53 in the United States

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

63. University of Houston

United States | Texas

For Animation

#54 in the United States

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

64. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Animation

#55 in the United States

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

65. George Mason University

United States | Virginia

For Animation

#56 in the United States

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

66. University of California - Riverside

United States | California

For Animation

#57 in the United States

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $21,566
Enrollment: 26,426

67. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Animation

#58 in the United States

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

68. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

United States | New York State

For Animation

#59 in the United States

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $35,940

69. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Animation

#60 in the United States

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

70. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States | South Carolina

For Animation

#61 in the United States

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

71. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Animation

#62 in the United States

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

72. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Animation

#63 in the United States

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

73. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Animation

#64 in the United States

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

74. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Animation

#10 in Canada

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

75. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Animation

#65 in the United States

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

76. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Animation

#11 in Canada

#241 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

77. University of Central Florida

United States | Florida

For Animation

#66 in the United States

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

78. Brigham Young University - Provo

United States | Utah

For Animation

#67 in the United States

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $14,643

79. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Animation

#68 in the United States

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

80. University of Oklahoma - Norman

United States | Oklahoma State

For Animation

#69 in the United States

#253 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

81. Concordia University

Canada | Quebec State

For Animation

#12 in Canada

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1974

82. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Animation

#70 in the United States

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

83. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Animation

#13 in Canada

#262 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

84. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Animation

#71 in the United States

#265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

85. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Animation

#72 in the United States

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

86. Mississippi State University

United States | Mississippi

For Animation

#73 in the United States

#271 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

87. Polytechnic School of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Animation

#14 in Canada

#272 in the World

Enrollment: 9,476
Founded: 1873

88. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Animation

#74 in the United States

#274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

89. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Animation

#75 in the United States

#277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

90. Syracuse University

United States | New York State

For Animation

#76 in the United States

#280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $51,520

91. University of New Mexico

United States | New Mexico

For Animation

#77 in the United States

#281 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

92. Carleton University

Canada | Ontario

For Animation

#15 in Canada

#285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 9,109
Founded: 1942

93. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Animation

#78 in the United States

#297 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

94. Colorado School of Mines

United States | Colorado

For Animation

#79 in the United States

#301 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 97%

95. University of Victoria

Canada | British Columbia

For Animation

#16 in Canada

#309 in the World

Enrollment: 15,999
Founded: 1963

96. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Animation

#17 in Canada

#311 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 53,000
Founded: 1959

97. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Animation

#80 in the United States

#312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

98. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Animation

#81 in the United States

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

99. George Washington University

United States | District of Columbia

For Animation

#82 in the United States

#326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

100. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Animation

#83 in the United States

#327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%