100 Best colleges for Animation in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 928K citations received by 26K academic papers made by 158 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: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Animation

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Animation

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

4. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Animation

#4 in North America

#6 in the World

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

5. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Animation

#5 in North America

#7 in the World

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

6. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Animation

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

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

7. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Animation

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

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

8. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Animation

#10 in North America

#15 in the World

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

9. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Animation

#11 in North America

#17 in the World

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

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: 66%

11. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Animation

#13 in North America

#19 in the World

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

12. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Animation

#14 in North America

#21 in the World

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

13. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Animation

#15 in North America

#22 in the World

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

14. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Animation

#16 in North America

#23 in the World

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

15. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Animation

#17 in North America

#27 in the World

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

16. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Animation

#18 in North America

#28 in the World

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

17. University of Texas at Austin

For Animation

#19 in North America

#32 in the World

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

18. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Animation

#20 in North America

#33 in the World

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

19. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Animation

#21 in North America

#35 in the World

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

20. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Animation

#22 in North America

#38 in the World

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

21. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Animation

#23 in North America

#39 in the World

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

22. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Animation

#25 in North America

#44 in the World

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

23. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Animation

#26 in North America

#46 in the World

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

24. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Animation

#27 in North America

#47 in the World

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

25. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Animation

#28 in North America

#48 in the World

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

26. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Animation

#29 in North America

#49 in the World

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

27. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Animation

#30 in North America

#50 in the World

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

28. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Animation

#31 in North America

#56 in the World

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

29. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Animation

#32 in North America

#60 in the World

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

30. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Animation

#33 in North America

#63 in the World

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

31. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Animation

#34 in North America

#64 in the World

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

32. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Animation

#35 in North America

#70 in the World

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

33. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Animation

#37 in North America

#75 in the World

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

34. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Animation

#38 in North America

#76 in the World

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

35. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Animation

#39 in North America

#80 in the World

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

36. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Animation

#40 in North America

#81 in the World

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

37. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Animation

#44 in North America

#95 in the World

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

38. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Animation

#45 in North America

#100 in the World

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

39. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Animation

#47 in North America

#103 in the World

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

40. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Animation

#48 in North America

#108 in the World

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

41. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Animation

#49 in North America

#110 in the World

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

42. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Animation

#50 in North America

#113 in the World

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

43. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Animation

#51 in North America

#114 in the World

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

44. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Animation

#52 in North America

#115 in the World

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

45. John Brown University

Arkansas | Siloam Springs

For Animation

#53 in North America

#120 in the World

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

46. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Animation

#54 in North America

#121 in the World

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

47. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Animation

#55 in North America

#124 in the World

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

48. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Animation

#56 in North America

#125 in the World

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

49. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Animation

#57 in North America

#132 in the World

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

50. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Animation

#59 in North America

#137 in the World

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

51. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Animation

#60 in North America

#143 in the World

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

52. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Animation

#61 in North America

#150 in the World

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

53. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Animation

#62 in North America

#151 in the World

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

54. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Animation

#63 in North America

#153 in the World

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

55. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Animation

#64 in North America

#179 in the World

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

56. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Animation

#65 in North America

#185 in the World

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

57. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Animation

#66 in North America

#197 in the World

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

58. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Animation

#67 in North America

#205 in the World

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

59. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Animation

#68 in North America

#207 in the World

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

60. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Animation

#69 in North America

#210 in the World

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

61. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Animation

#70 in North America

#212 in the World

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

62. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Animation

#71 in North America

#214 in the World

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

63. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Animation

#72 in North America

#218 in the World

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

64. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Animation

#73 in North America

#225 in the World

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

65. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Animation

#75 in North America

#235 in the World

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

66. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Animation

#77 in North America

#246 in the World

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

67. Brigham Young University - Provo

For Animation

#78 in North America

#251 in the World

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

68. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Animation

#79 in North America

#252 in the World

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

69. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Animation

#80 in North America

#253 in the World

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

70. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Animation

#82 in North America

#255 in the World

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

71. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Animation

#84 in North America

#265 in the World

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

72. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Animation

#85 in North America

#266 in the World

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

73. Mississippi State University

Mississippi | Starkville

For Animation

#86 in North America

#271 in the World

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

74. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Animation

#88 in North America

#274 in the World

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

75. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Animation

#89 in North America

#277 in the World

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

76. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Animation

#90 in North America

#280 in the World

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

77. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Animation

#91 in North America

#281 in the World

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

78. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Animation

#93 in North America

#297 in the World

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

79. Colorado School of Mines

Colorado | Golden

For Animation

#94 in North America

#301 in the World

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

80. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Animation

#97 in North America

#312 in the World

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

81. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Animation

#98 in North America

#316 in the World

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

82. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Animation

#99 in North America

#326 in the World

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

83. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Animation

#100 in North America

#327 in the World

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

84. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Animation

#101 in North America

#328 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

85. Rochester Institute of Technology

New York State | Rochester

For Animation

#102 in North America

#334 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $39,753

86. University of California - Merced

California | Merced

For Animation

#104 in North America

#344 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $24,868
Enrollment: 9,147

87. Illinois Institute of Technology

Illinois | Chicago

For Animation

#105 in North America

#346 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $25,001

88. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Animation

#106 in North America

#353 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

89. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Animation

#107 in North America

#357 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

90. College of William and Mary

Virginia | Williamsburg

For Animation

#108 in North America

#358 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Average SAT: 1438
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

91. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Animation

#110 in North America

#368 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

92. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Animation

#111 in North America

#372 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,891
Enrollment: 30,205

93. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Animation

#112 in North America

#374 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,770

94. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Animation

#113 in North America

#376 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

95. Wright State University

For Animation

#114 in North America

#378 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1072
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 94%

96. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Animation

#115 in North America

#380 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,322

97. University of Texas at Dallas

Texas | Richardson

For Animation

#116 in North America

#383 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 72%

98. Seattle University

Washington | Seattle

For Animation

#117 in North America

#387 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $37,103

99. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Animation

#118 in North America

#399 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

100. Naval Postgraduate School

California | Monterey

For Animation

#119 in North America

#401 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 2,600
Male:Female: 79:21
Founded: 1909

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.