100 Best colleges for Animation in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Animation. A graph of 703K citations received by 24K academic papers made by 143 universities in the United States 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

California | Stanford

For Animation

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Animation

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

3. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Animation

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

4. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Animation

#4 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

5. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Animation

#5 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

6. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Animation

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

7. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Animation

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

8. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Animation

#10 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

9. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Animation

#11 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Animation

#12 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

11. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Animation

#13 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

12. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Animation

#14 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

13. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Animation

#15 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

14. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Animation

#16 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

15. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Animation

#17 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

16. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Animation

#18 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

17. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Animation

#19 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

18. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Animation

#21 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

19. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Animation

#22 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

20. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Animation

#23 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

21. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Animation

#24 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

22. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Animation

#25 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

23. University of Texas at Austin

For Animation

#26 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

24. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Animation

#27 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

25. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Animation

#28 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

26. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Animation

#29 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

27. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Animation

#30 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

28. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Animation

#31 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

29. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Animation

#32 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

30. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Animation

#33 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

31. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Animation

#34 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

32. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Animation

#35 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

33. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Animation

#36 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

34. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Animation

#37 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

35. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Animation

#39 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

36. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Animation

#40 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

37. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Animation

#41 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

38. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Animation

#44 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

39. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Animation

#47 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $21,202
Enrollment: 19,478

40. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Animation

#48 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

41. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Animation

#49 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,902

42. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Animation

#50 in North America

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

43. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Animation

#51 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

44. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Animation

#52 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

45. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Animation

#53 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

46. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Animation

#55 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,260
Enrollment: 34,292

47. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Animation

#56 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

48. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Animation

#57 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

49. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Animation

#58 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

50. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Animation

#59 in North America

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

51. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Animation

#60 in North America

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

52. John Brown University

Arkansas | Siloam Springs

For Animation

#61 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $20,997

53. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Animation

#62 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

54. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Animation

#63 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

55. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Animation

#64 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $22,042
Enrollment: 26,809

56. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Animation

#65 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

57. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Animation

#66 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

58. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Animation

#67 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

59. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Animation

#68 in North America

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,127

60. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Animation

#69 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

61. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Animation

#70 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

62. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Animation

#71 in North America

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

63. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Animation

#72 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

64. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Animation

#73 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

65. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Animation

#75 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

66. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Animation

#76 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

67. California University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | California

For Animation

#77 in North America

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $6,250
Enrollment: 6,885

68. Brigham Young University - Provo

For Animation

#79 in North America

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,521

69. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Animation

#82 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

70. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Animation

#83 in North America

#249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

71. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Animation

#84 in North America

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,651

72. Mississippi State University

Mississippi | Starkville

For Animation

#85 in North America

#253 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

73. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Animation

#86 in North America

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

74. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Animation

#87 in North America

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

75. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Animation

#89 in North America

#268 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,280

76. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Animation

#90 in North America

#270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

77. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Animation

#92 in North America

#273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

78. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Animation

#93 in North America

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

79. Colorado School of Mines

Colorado | Golden

For Animation

#94 in North America

#285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1409
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 98%

80. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Animation

#95 in North America

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

81. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Animation

#97 in North America

#296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

82. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Animation

#98 in North America

#307 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

83. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Animation

#100 in North America

#313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

84. Illinois Institute of Technology

Illinois | Chicago

For Animation

#102 in North America

#321 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $28,702

85. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Animation

#103 in North America

#323 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

86. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Animation

#104 in North America

#325 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

87. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Animation

#105 in North America

#336 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

88. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Animation

#106 in North America

#337 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

89. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Animation

#107 in North America

#339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

90. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Animation

#108 in North America

#340 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,827

91. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Animation

#109 in North America

#344 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,208

92. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Animation

#110 in North America

#346 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

93. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Animation

#111 in North America

#356 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

94. Wright State University

For Animation

#113 in North America

#362 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1041
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 94%

95. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Animation

#114 in North America

#370 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

96. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Animation

#115 in North America

#371 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

97. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Animation

#116 in North America

#372 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

98. College of William and Mary

Virginia | Williamsburg

For Animation

#117 in North America

#373 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Average SAT: 1448
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 79%

99. Naval Postgraduate School

California | Monterey

For Animation

#118 in North America

#375 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 2,670
Male:Female: 78:22
Founded: 1909

100. University of California - Merced

California | Merced

For Animation

#119 in North America

#376 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 86%
Average Aid: $25,868
Enrollment: 9,103

The best cities to study Animation in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Stanford, Cambridge, Atlanta, and Pittsburgh.