Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects Major: Graduates, International Students, Colleges and Careers

Overview

The field of Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects encompasses a blend of creativity, technology, and storytelling. This multidisciplinary program focuses on the creation of visual content that captivates audiences through various media platforms, including film, television, video games, and online content.

Students in this program learn the fundamentals of animation techniques, including 2D and 3D animation, character design, and motion graphics. They gain hands-on experience with industry-standard software such as Adobe After Effects, Maya, and Blender, which are essential for crafting high-quality animations and visual effects. The curriculum often includes courses in interactive design, allowing students to explore how animation can be integrated into video games and interactive media.

Furthermore, students delve into the principles of visual storytelling and how to effectively convey emotions and narratives through animation. They also study the technical aspects of video production, including cinematography, sound design, and post-production processes.

As technology advances, the demand for skilled professionals in animation and special effects continues to grow, particularly in the entertainment industry. Graduates of this program find opportunities in various sectors such as film production, game development, advertising, and digital media. By combining artistic vision with technical expertise, students are well-equipped to enter a dynamic and evolving job market, contributing to the future of visual storytelling and interactive experiences.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

512 03

976 04

1,669 05

2,229 06

2,540 07

3,368 08

3,665 09

3,427 10

3,172 11

3,288 12

3,505 13

3,536 14

3,489 15

3,539 16

3,631 17

3,588 18

3,849 19

4,027 20

4,182 21

4,568 22

4,561 23

4,861 24

5,538 25

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2003 to 2025, graduates grew 982% and the international share went from 5.3% to 14.3%.

International share (%)

5 03

3 04

8 05

7 06

7 07

5 08

5 09

5 10

7 11

9 12

8 13

8 14

8 15

9 16

10 17

11 18

11 19

13 20

12 21

14 22

13 23

15 24

14 25

Graduates by group, 2025

White

38.1%

Asian

10.3%

Hispanic

20.6%

Black

7.9%

Other

8.8%

Intl.

14.3%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 194 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

Rank	School	State	Graduates	International
#27	University of Southern California	California	34	13
#31	New York University	New York	38	17
#42	Northeastern University	Massachusetts	57	39
#44	Ohio State University-Main Campus	Ohio	7	4
#52	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	Virginia	5	2
#72	Syracuse University	New York	6	1
#80	Drexel University	Pennsylvania	26	1
#85	New Jersey Institute of Technology	New Jersey	18	0
#85	Southern Methodist University	Texas	38	27
#95	Rochester Institute of Technology	New York	34	1
#100	Chapman University	California	31	0
#109	University of California-Santa Cruz	California	140	7
#109	Loyola Marymount University	California	15	1
#116	Brigham Young University-Provo	Utah	25	4
#121	Arizona State University-Tempe	Arizona	81	16
#121	The University of Texas at Dallas	Texas	9	2
#121	George Mason University	Virginia	79	5
#133	Clark University	Massachusetts	45	6
#137	Clarkson University	New York	4	0
#156	Montclair State University	New Jersey	29	0
#169	Bradley University	Illinois	22	1
#169	DePaul University	Illinois	132	21
#179	CUNY Hunter College	New York	19	3
#186	University of Hawaii at Manoa	Hawaii	76	3
#208	University of Idaho	Idaho	15	0
#227	Ball State University	Indiana	46	0
#236	Chatham University	Pennsylvania	5	0
#250	New Mexico State University-Main Campus	New Mexico	42	0
#288	University of Hartford	Connecticut	2	0
#288	University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee	Wisconsin	15	0
#299	Azusa Pacific University	California	8	0
#317	Morgan State University	Maryland	16	1
#317	Ferris State University	Michigan	60	1
#328	East Tennessee State University	Tennessee	54	0
#332	University of Baltimore	Maryland	40	0
#332	Point Park University	Pennsylvania	10	1
#382	Wilmington University	Delaware	3	0
#382	Houston Christian University	Texas	4	0
#382	Regent University	Virginia	29	1
LAC #100	Lycoming College	Pennsylvania	3	0
LAC #132	Bennington College	Vermont	6	4
—	Savannah College of Art and Design	Georgia	858	244
—	Academy of Art University	California	172	52
—	Ringling College of Art and Design	Florida	132	36
—	Pratt Institute-Main	New York	117	30
—	Art Center College of Design	California	116	60
—	School of Visual Arts	New York	116	34
—	Los Angeles Film School	California	97	1
—	CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College	New York	86	5
—	Columbia College Chicago	Illinois	76	0
—	College for Creative Studies	Michigan	72	7
—	Sam Houston State University	Texas	71	0
—	DigiPen Institute of Technology	Washington	68	4
—	California Institute of the Arts	California	67	29
—	Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design	Colorado	64	0
—	California College of the Arts	California	60	16
—	University of Hawaii-West Oahu	Hawaii	59	0
—	Dallas College	Texas	58	0
—	Miami Dade College	Florida	57	8
—	Southern Maine Community College	Maine	56	0
—	Columbus College of Art & Design	Ohio	55	0
—	Atlantic University	Puerto Rico	55	0
—	Northwest Vista College	Texas	47	0
—	Front Range Community College	Colorado	46	2
—	Laguna College of Art and Design	California	42	3
—	Florida State College at Jacksonville	Florida	42	2
—	Lake Washington Institute of Technology	Washington	41	0
—	Kansas City Art Institute	Missouri	40	1
—	CUNY Hostos Community College	New York	39	2
—	Indian River State College	Florida	37	0
—	Minneapolis College of Art and Design	Minnesota	35	1