2027 Best Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics & Special Effects Schools in California
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics & Special Effects is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 36 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects schools.
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Best Schools for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics & Special Effects in California
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
University Of Southern California tops our 2027 ranking of the best animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. University Of Southern California awarded about 34 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 University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
See the full animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects program report for University Of Southern California
Students looking for a strong animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects program will find one at Chapman University, which ranked #2. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Orange. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 31 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $50,947. Students borrow a median of $21,657 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects from Chapman University
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects schools. University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. About 75% of students finish within six years. 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. Soon after graduation, animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $25,358. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates carry a median of $20,714 in student loans.
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Loyola Marymount University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects, landing the #4 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects program make about $52,935 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,248.
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Art Center College Of Design came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects schools. Set in the city of Pasadena, Art Center College Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. About 116 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees were awarded at Art Center College Of Design in the most recent year. Students who receive their animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degree from Art Center College Of Design earn around $67,010 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $35,593.
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Diablo Valley College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects schools. Set in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 35 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects students who graduated with this degree at Diablo Valley College 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. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 29 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics & Special Effects graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete this degree.
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California Institute Of The Arts came in at #8 for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Valencia. California Institute Of The Arts graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 67 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects students who graduated with this degree at California Institute Of The Arts in the most recent data year. Graduates of the animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects program make about $22,475 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,031 to complete this degree.
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Woodbury University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Burbank. Woodbury University graduates 60% of students within six years. Woodbury University awarded about 16 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees in the most recent data year. Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics & Special Effects graduates of Woodbury University earn a median of $45,051 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $30,996 to complete this degree.
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Laguna College Of Art And Design landed the #10 spot for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. 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. Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics & Special Effects graduates of Laguna College Of Art And Design earn a median of $17,941 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects from Laguna College Of Art And Design
California College Of The Arts placed #11 among 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. About 61% of students finish within six years. California College Of The Arts awarded about 60 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 $26,481 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Mt San Antonio College earned the #12 position for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. Mt San Antonio College awarded about 60 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 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 came in at #13 for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. Set in the city of Cupertino, De Anza College is a very large public institution. De Anza College awarded about 16 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $7,271.
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Orange Coast College placed #14 among the best animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects schools. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public institution. 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. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete this degree.
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Santa Monica College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects schools. Located in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public university. About 81% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 123 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects students who graduated with this degree at Santa Monica College in the most recent data year.
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Southern California Institute Of Architecture ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Southern California Institute Of Architecture graduates 71% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects students who graduated with this degree at Southern California Institute Of Architecture in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects from Southern California Institute Of Architecture
Pasadena City College earned the #17 position for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Pasadena City College awarded about 49 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees in the most recent data year. Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics & Special Effects graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Pasadena City College graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans.
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College Of The Canyons ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. About 32 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees were awarded at College Of The Canyons in the most recent year. Students who receive their animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degree from College Of The Canyons earn around $51,913 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,776.
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San Diego Mesa College came in at #19 for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 22 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects students who graduated with this degree at San Diego Mesa College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects program make about $29,852 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete this degree.
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Riverside City College placed #20 among the best animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects schools. Located in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public university. Riverside City College awarded about 17 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 Riverside City College earn around $37,102 in the first couple years of their career. Riverside City College graduates carry a median of $8,767 in student loans.
More information about a degree in animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects from Riverside City College
Palomar College came in at #21 for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. Palomar College is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. About 12 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees were awarded at Palomar College in the most recent year.
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Cogswell Polytechnical College landed the #22 spot for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of San Jose. Roughly 29% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees were awarded at Cogswell Polytechnical College in the most recent 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.
More information about a degree in animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects from Cogswell Polytechnical College
Chaffey College landed the #23 spot for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. Located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public university. About 29 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects degrees were awarded at Chaffey College in the most recent year. Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics & Special Effects graduates of Chaffey College earn a median of $23,532 early in their careers. Chaffey College graduates carry a median of $6,952 in student loans.
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Academy Of Art University placed #24 among the best animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 172 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects students who graduated with this degree at Academy Of Art University in the most recent data year. Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics & Special Effects graduates of Academy Of Art University earn a median of $27,481 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $36,717 to complete this degree.
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Rio Hondo College earned the #25 position for animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects this year. This very large public university is located in the rural area of Whittier. There were roughly 10 animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects students who graduated with this degree at Rio Hondo College in the most recent data year. Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics & Special Effects graduates of Rio Hondo College earn a median of $95,666 early in their careers. Rio Hondo College graduates carry a median of $15,510 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 36 Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics & Special Effects Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong animation, interactive technology, video graphics & special effects education:
More Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics & Special Effects Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 36 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.
