2027 Best Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics & Special Effects Schools in the Far Western Region
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics & Special Effects programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 41 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics & Special Effects in the Far Western Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics & Special Effects
No school ranked higher than University Of Southern California this year for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects program make about $75,677 in their early career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
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Chapman University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects, ranking #2. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. Chapman University graduates 82% of students within six years. Chapman University awarded about 31 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degree from Chapman University earn around $50,947 in the first couple years of their career. Chapman University graduates carry a median of $21,657 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of California Santa Cruz one of the top schools for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 140 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent data year. Graduates of the animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects program make about $25,358 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,714.
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Students looking for a strong animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects program will find one at Loyola Marymount University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. About 15 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Students who receive their animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $52,935 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,248 to complete this degree.
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Art Center College Of Design is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects, landing the #5 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pasadena. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 116 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects students who graduated with this degree at Art Center College Of Design in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degree recipients from Art Center College Of Design generally make around $67,010. Typical student debt for the program is $35,593.
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Diablo Valley College earned the #6 position for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. Set in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public institution. Diablo Valley College awarded about 35 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degree recipients from Diablo Valley College generally make around $27,813. Typical student debt for the program is $9,205.
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Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #7 position for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 29 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $80,047 in the first couple years of their career. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans.
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California Institute Of The Arts landed the #8 spot for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Valencia. About 67% of students finish within six years. California Institute Of The Arts awarded about 67 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degree from California Institute Of The Arts earn around $22,475 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,031.
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Woodbury University earned the #9 position for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. Located in the city of Burbank, Woodbury University is a small private not-for-profit university. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 16 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees were awarded at Woodbury University in the most recent year. Students who receive their animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degree from Woodbury University earn around $45,051 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $30,996 to complete this degree.
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Laguna College Of Art And Design ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects schools. Set in the rural area of Laguna Beach, Laguna College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. About 42 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees were awarded at Laguna College Of Art And Design in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degree recipients from Laguna College Of Art And Design generally make around $17,941. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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California College Of The Arts ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects schools. California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. California College Of The Arts graduates 61% of students within six years. About 60 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees were awarded at California College Of The Arts in the most recent year. Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics & Special Effects graduates of California College Of The Arts earn a median of $26,481 early in their careers. California College Of The Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Mt San Antonio College placed #12 among the best animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Walnut. About 60 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees were awarded at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent year. Students who receive their animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degree from Mt San Antonio College earn around $44,391 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,384.
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De Anza College landed the #13 spot for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Cupertino. About 16 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees were awarded at De Anza College in the most recent year. Students borrow a median of $7,271 to complete this degree.
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Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earned the #14 position for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirkland. About 41 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees were awarded at Lake Washington Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects program make about $60,000 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,695.
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Orange Coast College came in at #15 for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Costa Mesa. Orange Coast College awarded about 20 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degree from Orange Coast College earn around $46,306 in the first couple years of their career. Orange Coast College graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans.
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Santa Monica College earned the #16 position for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Monica. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. Santa Monica College awarded about 123 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees in the most recent data year.
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Southern California Institute Of Architecture landed the #17 spot for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Southern California Institute Of Architecture is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 23 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees were awarded at Southern California Institute Of Architecture in the most recent year.
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University Of Hawaii West Oahu came in at #18 for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. University Of Hawaii West Oahu is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Kapolei. University Of Hawaii West Oahu graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 59 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects students who graduated with this degree at University Of Hawaii West Oahu in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degree recipients from University Of Hawaii West Oahu generally make around $41,082. University Of Hawaii West Oahu graduates carry a median of $19,957 in student loans.
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Pasadena City College came in at #19 for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. About 49 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees were awarded at Pasadena City College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete this degree.
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University Of Hawaii At Manoa came in at #20 for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. Set in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. University Of Hawaii At Manoa awarded about 76 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees in the most recent data year. Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics & Special Effects graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of $16,556 early in their careers. University Of Hawaii At Manoa graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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College Of The Canyons earned the #21 position for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. College Of The Canyons awarded about 32 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects program make about $51,913 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete this degree.
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San Diego Mesa College placed #22 among the best animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 22 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees were awarded at San Diego Mesa College in the most recent year. Graduates of the animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects program make about $29,852 in their early career. San Diego Mesa College graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans.
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Riverside City College earned the #23 position for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Riverside. There were roughly 17 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects students who graduated with this degree at Riverside City College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degree recipients from Riverside City College generally make around $37,102. Typical student debt for the program is $8,767.
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Palomar College came in at #24 for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public institution. Palomar College awarded about 12 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees in the most recent data year.
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Cogswell Polytechnical College earned the #25 position for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. Cogswell Polytechnical College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of San Jose. Roughly 29% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects students who graduated with this degree at Cogswell Polytechnical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degree from Cogswell Polytechnical College earn around $33,727 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 41 Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics & Special Effects Schools
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 41 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
