The 5 Best Animation Degree Online Programs in 2024

The University of Florida is a large public institution with its main campus in Gainesville. UF is known as a leader in online education, so it comes as no surprise that it offers the leading animation degree online. Its Bachelor’s of Digital Arts and Sciences provides students with a multi-disciplinary education in 3D Animation, digital storytelling, and computer animation. This degree may be best for prospective animators who want to work with video games, although graduates will also be qualified to work in films and TV.

This program only accepts new students in the fall semester. Students are expected to complete their degrees with a cohort of fellow students (students that start at the same time and progress through the program together). This ensures that students build relationships that could benefit them as they begin their careers.

Rasmussen University has multiple campuses throughout the country. The Rasmussen University – Bloomington campus is the one that runs the relevant program for those interested in getting an animation degree online. This degree is a Bachelor’s in Graphic Design with a specialization in Animation and Motion Graphics. There is also a specialization offered in Web and Interactive Design. There are 180 credits of required coursework. The program is taught by faculty members who are working professionals in the fields of graphic design and animation. Students must complete an internship course before they graduate, ensuring that they get hands-on experience to prepare them for the working world. The degree program can also help students prepare for certification exams in Premiere Pro and Photoshop.

Rasmussen also offers an associate’s degree in the field. There are multiple application dates throughout the year so that students do not have to wait very long to begin their degrees.

The Rocky Mountain College of Art is one of the leading private art schools in the Southwest. It is one of the few animation schools to offer concentrations in both 2D animation and 3D animation. The degrees offered are a Bachelor’s of Fine Art in 2D Animation and a Bachelor’s of Fine Art in 3D Animation. The courses in these degrees are taught by highly educated and professionally accomplished animators

The 2D Animation degree focuses on teaching students traditional drawing skills, while the 3D Animation degree incorporates the latest in computer animation. No matter which track students choose, they learn the fundamentals of animation, including skills like modeling, character design, stop motion, and line of action.

Full Sail University is based in Winter Park, FL, but it is a leader in online education. Full Sail is one of the best-known schools for animation, and it offers an excellent animation degree online. The relevant degree is a Bachelor’s in Computer Animation. The curriculum focuses on character design, taking students all the way from the pre-production stage to character rigging. Students also get a wide education in computer animation, including education in storyboarding, sketching, visual development, modeling, character animation, and final compositing. The program is set up to mimic the production pipeline of an animation studio to better prepare students for professional work. The skills that students learn in this program enable them to work in a variety of media, including TV, movies, and even video games.

Students must complete a portfolio before they graduate, which will help them find jobs once they’ve finished their degrees. The online program can be completed in 29 months, while the on-campus program takes only 20 months to complete. Full Sail students have access to the latest technology to help them successfully complete their degrees. The school offers a unique program called “Project Launchbox.” Students who sign up for this program can purchase a package of technology that includes a Macbook Pro, an iPad, and various powerful software programs.

The Academy of Art University is a leading private art school with its main campus in San Francisco. It is known for its diversity, with students from over 100 countries enrolled. It offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation and Visual Effects along with more than 129 accredited degree programs spanning 70 areas of study. Academy of Art’s animation program offers students five potential areas of emphasis, which is more than any other school that offers an animation degree online. The areas of emphasis at Academy of Art include 3D modeling, 3D animation, 2D animation and stop motion, visual effects, and storyboarding. No matter which area of emphasis students choose, they must complete 132 credits work of coursework. All required classes are available both online and on-campus. All students must complete a collaborative studio project before they graduate. This project is intended to simulate the experience of actually working on a professional project in an animation studio.