School and Ranking Information
Nearly 40 schools within 50 miles of Los Angeles offer programs in animation and video graphics. Over half of these schools are public, with a few private schools offering high-quality programs as well. We picked the following school as the best choice in the area because of its rankings, in-depth programs and very low student-to-faculty ratio:
- Winner: The University of Southern California (USC) is located in Los Angeles, California. Students interested in animation and video graphics may obtain their bachelor's or master's degree from USC's School of Cinematic Arts.
School Info Chart
| Category | University of Southern California |
|---|---|
| Rankings | #25 in National Universities (2015)* #8 in Best Multimedia/Visual Communications Graduate Programs (2012)* |
| Location | Los Angeles, CA |
| School Type | 4-year; private; not-for-profit |
| Tuition & Fees (2014-2015) | Undergrad: $48,280* |
| Game and Interactive Media Design Degrees Offered | Bachelor's; Master's |
| Game and Interactive Media Design Degrees Awarded (all levels) in 2013 | 29** |
| Most Popular Game and Interactive Media Design Degree Level in 2013 | Bachelor's (23 awarded)** |
| Undergraduate Graduation Rate (in 150% of normal degree time) for 2007 Entering Class | 91%** |
| Noteworthy | USC's video game design graduate program is ranked #1 in the nation*** |
Sources: *U.S. News and World Report, **NCES College Navigator, ***Princeton Review
University of Southern California
- Students in the interactive media master's program have the opportunity to complete a relevant internship before graduation
- The College of Cinematic Arts has an Animation Library, an Animation Research Center and an Animation Camera Room
- Undergraduates in the interactive entertainment program will be able to produce their own movies
Los Angeles offers an exciting atmosphere for students attending the University of Southern California. A school renowned among private research universities, USC was founded in 1880 and has grown to enroll approximately 41,000 students. Despite the large student body, USC has an impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1.
Available bachelor's degree concentrations in the animation and digital arts program include experimental animation, visual effects, visualizing science, interactive animation, 3-D computer animation and character animation. Throughout their last four semesters, students propose and design a senior project, which must include unique research and demonstrate a command of their concentration.
The Bachelor of Arts in Interactive Entertainment program covers topics in cinema, game design, programming for interactivity and cinematic communication. Graduates may pursue careers in video game design, animation for film, production and animation, graphic advertising and Web-based animation.
The 3-year Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program in animation and digital arts includes courses such as history of animation, writing for animation, expanded animation and contemporary topics in digital arts. A committee-approved master's thesis must be completed within three years in order to graduate. The 3-year interactive media MFA program focuses on computer animation and video game design. Completion of a thesis project is necessary to graduate with this MFA degree.
