VFX Schools in United States

Academy of Art University

The largest privately owned art and design school in the US

Founded in 1929 in San Francisco, Academy of Art University offers extensive animation and VFX programs with instructors from Pixar, Disney, DreamWorks, and Digital Domain. Ranked #14 nationally for animation.

Animation Mentor

Learn from the pros who animate your favorite films

Pioneering online animation school founded by animators from Pixar and ILM, offering 12-week mentored courses in character animation, creature animation, and acting for animation.

AnimSchool

Learn 3D animation from artists at Pixar, Disney, and DreamWorks

Founded in 2010 by David Gallagher (former Blue Sky Studios supervisor), AnimSchool is an ACCSC-accredited online school with 30+ instructors currently working at major studios teaching character animation.

ArtCenter College of Design

A Global Leader in Art and Design Education

Founded in 1930, ArtCenter is a top-ranked private art and design college in Pasadena known for its Entertainment Design program with tracks in Concept Art, Animation, and Game Design. Alumni enjoy a 95% employment rate …

Bowling Green State University - Digital Arts

#1 Student Experience in Ohio

BGSU is home to one of the nation's largest Digital Arts programs offering tracks in Animation, Gaming & Virtual Environments. Ranked top 20% nationally among public schools for animation. Graduates hired by DreamWorks, …

Brainstorm School

Brainstorm School is an online concept art education platform to train artists to professionals.

Brainstorm School is an online concept art education platform to train artists to professionals.

Brigham Young University (BYU) Center for Animation

Student Academy Award winners with a selective 20-seat cohort

BYU accepts only 20-25 students per year into its rigorous BFA. Student films have won multiple Student Academy Awards and screen at top festivals. Emphasizes storytelling and technical excellence.

CalArts (California Institute of the Arts)

Where Art Meets Innovation

Founded by Walt Disney, CalArts' Character Animation program has produced the most influential animators in Hollywood history, with alumni-directed films grossing over $29 billion at the box office.

The Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is the premiere professional graduate program for interactive entertainment and emerging media.

Carnegie Mellon University - IDeATe

Where computer science meets art and animation

Carnegie Mellon's IDeATe program offers Animation & Special Effects concentration combining art with world-class computer science and robotics. Motion capture, procedural animation, and interactive media.

CG Cookie

Learn Blender the Smart Way

The premier Blender-focused online learning platform with 100+ courses. Features industry instructors with 14+ year careers. Subscription-based model making quality CG education accessible worldwide.

CG Master Academy (CGMA) offers online courses for careers in the art, games and VFX industries. Note: a dissolution filing dated November 2024 is before the court and course operations are currently paused.

Chapman University - Dodge College of Film and Media Arts

#4 Top Film School in America

Chapman's Dodge College is ranked #4 by The Hollywood Reporter for five consecutive years. The Animation and VFX BFA offers tracks in 2D, 3D, and VFX, with mentorship from Oscar-winning director Brenda Chapman (Brave) an…

Clemson University - Digital Production Arts

Where Art Meets Computer Science

Clemson's Digital Production Arts MFA program blends art, computer science, and engineering with near-perfect job placement. Over a dozen alumni work at DreamWorks alone, and DPA graduates have contributed to over 130 fe…

Cleveland Institute of Art

Art and technology collide in state-of-the-art animation facilities

Founded in 1882, CIA offers a dedicated Animation major with motion-capture systems, green-screen studios, and drawing tablets. Graduates work in feature animation, TV, games, and advertising.

College for Creative Studies (CCS)

Detroit's creative powerhouse training entertainment artists since 1906

CCS offers a BFA in Entertainment Arts covering animation, concept design, game design. 1,300+ students from 40 states and 28 countries. Major pipeline for film, animation, and gaming industries.

Columbia College Chicago - Animation

Create Change

Columbia College Chicago offers BA, BFA, and minor programs in animation covering hand-drawn, computer, stop-motion, and cinema VFX. Ranked #5 nationally among Animation BA programs and a Top 15 film school by The Hollyw…

Concept Art Association (CAA)

Concept Art Association

Nacho Molina - HONMOON - KPop Demon Hunters - Sony Pictures Animation

DePaul University

Top-ranked Midwest animation powerhouse in Chicago

DePaul's animation program within the Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media is ranked #1 in the Midwest and #13 nationally by Animation Career Review. One of the largest full-time animation faculties in the US.

DePaul University in Chicago seeks positive career outcomes for students. Our Layered-Learning™ approach goes beyond the classroom and teaches real world skills.

DigiPen Institute of Technology

Where game development meets digital art education

Founded in 1988 in Redmond, WA, DigiPen was the first school to offer a bachelor's degree in video game programming. Its student project Narbacular Drop was recruited by Valve and became Portal.

Drexel University

Co-op powered animation and VFX education

Drexel's Animation & Visual Effects program in the Westphal College features a 1,200 sq ft ACE-Lab with LED volume wall, motion capture, and green screen. Students gain up to 18 months of co-op experience.

Emerson College - Film, Television, and Media Arts

Expression Necessary to Evolution

Founded in 1880 in Boston, Emerson's School of Film, Television, and Media Arts offers programs in animation, VR/AR, virtual production, and film. Ranked #6 by The Hollywood Reporter, alumni include the Daniels (Everythi…

Full Sail University

Real World Education

A private university in Winter Park offering accelerated degree programs in entertainment and media, with over 100,000 graduates and 73 alumni credited on winning projects at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards.

George Mason University - School of Art

George Mason University has become Virginia’s largest, most diverse, and highest-ranked university for innovation by rejecting the traditional university model of exclusivity.

George Mason University has become Virginia’s largest, most diverse, and highest-ranked university for innovation by rejecting the traditional university model of exclusivity. We proudly admit every student who is academ…

Georgia Tech - School of Literature, Media and Communication

School of Literature, Media, and Communication at Georgia Tech

“What LMC at Georgia Tech teaches and creates is absolutely essential if you care about our future. ”

Gnomon School of Visual Effects, Games & Animation

The MIT of Visual Effects

Founded by Alex Alvarez in Hollywood, Gnomon offers specialized computer graphics education for entertainment, producing studio-ready artists in VFX, animation, and game development with a 98% BFA placement rate.

iAnimate

Professional animation workshops taught by industry veterans

Founded in 2010 by Jason Ryan (supervising animator at DreamWorks), iAnimate offers 11-week online workshops in feature, game, and creature animation taught by animators from Pixar, Disney, and DreamWorks.

Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD)

BFA Animation near the Southern California studio ecosystem

LCAD offers a BFA in Animation and Experimental Animation in Orange County, close to the SoCal studio ecosystem. Strong drawing fundamentals with modern digital tools. Alumni at Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network.

Los Angeles Film School

The Los Angeles Film School offers accredited programs in Animation, Audio, Entertainment Business, Film, Graphic Design, Media Communications, Music Production, and Writing for Film & TV.

The Los Angeles Film School offers accredited programs in Animation, Audio, Entertainment Business, Film, Graphic Design, Media Communications, Music Production, and Writing for Film & TV.

Loyola Marymount University (LMU) - School of Film and TV

At SFTV, you can master the art of filmmaking with professional tools and expert faculty guidance. Let us help your career thrive creatively and professionally., LMU

At SFTV, you can master the art of filmmaking with professional tools and expert faculty guidance. Let us help your career thrive creatively and professionally., LMU

Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)

One of America's oldest art colleges with Animation Practice MFA

MICA (1826) is one of the oldest art colleges in the US, offering an Animation Practice MFA alongside undergraduate animation concentrations. Bridges fine art and commercial animation.

At MSU's College of Communication Arts and Sciences, we believe in the power of communication. It’s part art, part science and it’s what we do best.

Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD)

Toon Boom Centre of Excellence in Minneapolis

MCAD offers a BFA in Animation as a Toon Boom Centre of Excellence. Founded in 1886, provides comprehensive 2D, 3D, and experimental animation training. ACR ranked #28 in the US for 2025.

New York Film Academy (NYFA)

New York Film Academy offers degrees, courses and workshops in acting, film, photography and more. Located in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. Learn more & apply today!

New York Film Academy offers degrees, courses and workshops in acting, film, photography and more. Located in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. Learn more & apply today!

NYU Tisch School of the Arts

World-class arts education in the heart of New York City

Founded in 1965, Tisch's animation area and Game Center produce graduates hired at Blizzard, Riot Games, Disney, and Nickelodeon. Affiliated with 22 Academy Award winners.

Ohio State University - ACCAD

Pioneering computer animation research center since 1987

ACCAD is an internationally recognized interdisciplinary research center founded by digital art pioneer Charles Csuri. Offers courses in 3D animation, motion capture, game design, and emerging technologies.

Otis College of Art and Design

LA art college with industry-connected animation program

Otis College (1918) in Los Angeles offers a BFA in Digital Media with Animation focus. Direct access to major entertainment studios. ACR ranked #22 in the US.

Parsons School of Design (The New School)

Design and technology innovation at New York's iconic design school

Parsons' Design and Technology program offers BFA/MFA degrees in animation, motion graphics, interactive media, game design, and digital filmmaking. STEM-designated MFA in Greenwich Village, NYC.

Pratt Institute

Pushing boundaries of digital storytelling since 1887

Pratt Institute in Brooklyn offers BFA and MFA programs in 2D Animation, 3D Animation, and Interactive Arts. Ranked #7 nationally for animation and #6 globally for Art & Design by QS.

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)

Pioneering art school blending fine art with animation since 1877

RISD's Film/Animation/Video department offers a BFA cultivating media makers across animation, live-action, and open media. Graduates include Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy). Consistently top 10 US animation programs.

Ringling College of Art and Design

Where Creativity Meets Career

A private art college in Sarasota whose Computer Animation program is among the top in the world, with alumni contributing to 45 of the 50 highest-grossing animated films of all time.

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)

Where technology meets creative storytelling

RIT's School of Film and Animation offers BFA and MFA programs in 2D animation, 3D animation, production, and screenwriting. Alumni hold credits on Frozen, Rogue One, and The Simpsons.

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SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design)

The University for Creative Careers

The largest art and design university in the US, SCAD offers more creative programs than any other institution and operates the largest university-owned film studio complex.

School of Motion

The leading online school for motion designers

Founded in 2013 by Joey Korenman, School of Motion is the only dual-certified Adobe and Maxon training center with 30+ courses, 400k+ YouTube subscribers, and a 4,000+ alumni network.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)

Experimental animation at one of America's most influential art schools

SAIC's Film, Video, New Media, and Animation department offers BFA and MFA in Animation within one of the most respected art schools in the world (1866). Emphasizes conceptual rigor and interdisciplinary practice.

School of Visual Arts (SVA)

New York's Premier Art College

Founded in 1947 in Manhattan, SVA's animation and 3D VFX programs have produced two-time Oscar-nominated animator Bill Plympton, the creator of Steven Universe, and graduates at Pixar, DreamWorks, Disney, and Cartoon Net…

Founded in 1964, Shoreline Community College offers more than 100 academic, professional/technical and job training programs to meet the community’s lifelong learning needs.

Texas A&M University - Visualization

Where Art Meets Technology

Established in 1989, Texas A&M's Visualization program is #1 in Texas for eight consecutive years. About 35 alumni currently work at Pixar alone, with graduates at ILM, DreamWorks, Disney, and Blue Sky Studios.

The Animation Collaborative

Workshops Taught by Pixar, Disney, and ILM Animators

Co-founded in 2011 by Pixar veterans Andrew Gordon and Michal Makarewicz. Offers 12-week workshops from working professionals at Pixar, Disney, ILM, DreamWorks, Sony, and Blue Sky. Located steps from Pixar's campus in Em…

The DAVE School (Digital Animation & Visual Effects School)

Career-Ready Artists from Universal's Backlot

Located on the backlot of Universal Studios Florida, The DAVE School offers immersive VFX and game production training with hands-on access to motion capture, virtual production LED stages, and industry-standard pipeline…

UCF - Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA)

The World's #1 Graduate Game Design Program

Established in 2005 through a partnership between UCF, Florida, Orlando, and EA, FIEA is a 16-month accelerated MS program ranked #1 in the world for graduate game design by The Princeton Review. 85% of graduates find em…

UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television

World-class Animation Workshop at America's top public university

UCLA's Animation Workshop offers an MFA in Animation training animators since 1948, led by Emmy-winning Simpsons director Chuck Sheetz. Known for experimental and artistic approaches. ACR top public university animation …

University of Central Florida (UCF) - Digital Media

Explore UCF in Orlando, where innovative degree programs, research and partnerships turn ideas into action and build the future at scale.

UCF unleashes the potential of students, faculty & the community. As Florida's next-generation public research institute, we are shaping the future & working to solve the world’s most challenging problems.

University of Utah - Entertainment Arts & Engineering

The Utah Division of Games at the University of Utah is a top-ranked program in video game education and research and is a national...

The Utah Division of Games at the University of Utah is a top-ranked program in video game education and research and is a national...

USC School of Cinematic Arts

The oldest and most prestigious film school in the nation

Founded in 1929, USC's John C. Hench Division of Animation + Digital Arts covers character animation, VFX, motion graphics, stop-motion, and experimental filmmaking. Alumni include Robert Zemeckis.

Vertex School

Unreal Authorized Training Center for Game Art & Virtual Production

Fully online bootcamp-style school specializing in Unreal Engine, game art, and technical art. Graduates hired at Ubisoft, Crystal Dynamics, Unity, CD Projekt Red, and Xbox studios. Official Unreal Authorized Training Ce…

Watts Atelier provides students a structured art education with 35 years of proof in results.