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Top Animation Programs in North Carolina

Written by ACR Staff. Last updated August 01, 2021.

North Carolina
Examples of the Top Animation Programs in North Carolina
SchoolCity
North Carolina State UniversityRaleigh
University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte
University of North Carolina School of the ArtsWinston Salem
East Carolina UniversityGreenville

If you’re an aspiring animator, you probably already know that there are hundreds of animation schools across the U.S. Some are free standing, while others are part of a larger art school, technical school, or traditional college. Most of these schools are accredited and many definitely have what it takes to help you start your animation career. The question is, are some animation schools better than others? Bloggers, college ranking agencies, alums, and many students think so, which is why they often create lists of the “best” schools or the “top schools” in the nation.

To determine which schools belong on the “best” lists, college ranking agencies may examine factors such as number of program offerings or student selectivity, while students and ambitious bloggers might place price and job placement services at the top of the priority list. In the end, even with different assessment formulas, many of the schools that end up on the “best schools” list, also end up on the “top schools” list!

Continue reading to find out which North Carolina animation schools made the top schools list and what they have to offer. Please note that the top schools listed below are in order by student population from largest to smallest.

Top Animation School Programs North Carolina Major Cities

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Raleigh
North Carolina State University
Student Population: 34,000+
Backdrop: Urban, 2,110-acre campus
Degrees Offered: Bachelor of Graphic Design; Bachelor of Art and Design, New Media and Animation; B. S. Computer Science – Game Development; Master of Graphic Design; Master of Art and Design with Animation/New Media Concentration

Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Student Population: 20,283
Backdrop: Urban, 1,000-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Art with Concentration in Digital Media, Graphic Design, Illustration

Greensboro
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Student Population: 14,638
Backdrop: Urban, 357-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Art with Concentration in Design

Greensboro
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University
Student Population: 12,000
Backdrop: City, 200-acre campus, easy access to Charlotte
Degrees Offered: B. A.  Visual Arts (Visual Media Design), B. S. Graphic Communication Systems

Wilmington
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Student Population: 11,770
Backdrop: City, 656-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. S. Computer Science with Concentration in Digital Arts

Durham
Duke University
Student Population: 6,071
Backdrop: Urban, 8,500-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Visual Arts; M. F. A. Experimental and Documentary Arts

Durham
North Carolina Central University
Student Population: 6,028
Backdrop: Urban, 130-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. A. Art with Concentration in Visual Communications

Asheville
University of North Carolina at Asheville
Student Population: 3,814
Backdrop: City, 365-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B.A. New Media

Fayetteville
Fayetteville State University
Student Population: 3,807
Backdrop: City, 136-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. A. Visual Arts with Concentration in Graphics

Winston-Salem
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Student Population: 1,144
Backdrop: Urban, 57-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Animation and Production Design

Top Animation School Programs in North Carolina

Greenville
East Carolina University
Student Population: 21,589
Backdrop: Small town, 1,379-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Art with Concentration in Graphic Design, Animation/Interactive Design, Illustration; M. F. A. Art with Concentration in Graphic Design, Illustration

Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Student Population: 18,430
Backdrop: Suburban, 729-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Studio Art with Concentration in Electronic Media

Boone
Appalachian State University
Student Population: 15,460
Backdrop: Small town, 1,300-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Graphic Design; B. S. Graphic Arts and Imaging Technology

Pembroke
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Student Population: 5,494
Backdrop: Rural, 161-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. A. Art with Concentration in Digital Arts

Elon
Elon University
Student Population: 5,225
Backdrop: Suburban, 600-acre campus, easy access to Raleigh
Degrees Offered: B. A., B. F. A. Art

Elizabeth City
Elizabeth City State University
Student Population: 2,133
Backdrop: Small town, 125-acre campus, easy access to Norfolk
Degrees Offered: B. A. Art, Graphic Design

Wilson
Barton College
Student Population: 1,179
Backdrop: Small city, 76-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Art and Design with Concentration in Visual Design, B. A. Visual Communications

Murfreesboro
Chowan University
Student Population: 886
Backdrop: Rural, 300-acre campus, easy access to Norfolk
Degrees Offered: B. S. Graphic Design; B. S. Graphic Communications with Concentration in Graphic Design, Digital Printing, Information Systems/Networking, Package Design and Production and Print Management

Brevard
Brevard College
Student Population: 627
Backdrop: Small town, 120-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. A. Art with Concentration in Graphic Design

More Programs to Consider: 

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Academy of Art University
Selected Campus Locations:
  • San Francisco & Online
Selected Programs: 
  • Animation
  • Game Development
  • Graphic Design
  • Illustration
Animation Career Review Rankings: 
  • Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#14) - 2021
  • Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#37) - 2021
  • Top 50 Nationally for Illustration (#24) - 2021
  • Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#38) - 2021
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Full Sail University
Selected Campus Locations:
  • Winter Park, FL & Online
Selected Programs: 
  • Computer Animation - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
  • Game Programs - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
  • Graphic Design & Digital Arts - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
  • Film & Digital Cinematography - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
  • Mobile Development - Bachelor's - Online
  • Simulation & Visualization - Bachelor's - Campus
Animation Career Review Rankings: 
  • Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#11) - 2021
  • Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#10) - 2021
  • Top 25 in the South for Graphic Design (#10) - 2021
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CG Spectrum College of Digital Art & Animation
Selected Campus Locations:
  • Online
Selected Programs: 
  • 2D Animation
  • 3D Animation
  • 3D Modeling
  • Concept Art
  • Digital Illustration
  • Game Art
  • Game Design
  • Game Programming
  • Visual Effects

Sources

Peterson’s, www.petersons.com
Princeton Review, www.princetonreview.com
U.S. News & World Report College Rankings, www.usnews.com/rankings

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