Masters in Animation in USA is a 1-2 year program offered as a single course or a combination of 2 or 3 subjects. The top universities in USA provide a number of degree options across animation for various levels of study. Applicants need a GPA of around 2.5-3.0 on a 4.0 scale for admission to masters in Animation in USA. Supporting documents required for admission to the program include CV, English proficiency test score, reel or portfolio, personal statement and LOR for USA.
The average cost of studying masters in Animation in USA ranges around 30,000 USD. For an Indian student, this cost ranges up to 22.38 lakh INR. Prospective students with financial need can avail various popular scholarships to study in USA. After graduation students earn an average income of 71,800 USD per annum.
Top Universities for Masters in Animation in USA
Being a centre of the tech giants, the USA is home to numerous universities offering Masters in Animation. Some of the top universities in USA offering Masters in Animation are listed below:
| University | THE US Rankings 2022 | Course |
|---|---|---|
| University of California Los Angeles | #27 | Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television, Area: Animation |
| Ohio State University | #99 | MFA in Design (Digital Animation and Interactive Media) |
| Purdue University | #48 | MS in Computer Graphics Technology - Animation |
| University of Arizona | #131 | MFA in Art - 3D and Extended Media |
| Texas A&M University | - | MFA in Visualization |
| University of Texas - Dallas | #323 | MFA in Art, Technology and Emerging Communication - Animation |
| University of Kentucky | #302 | MFA in Art Studio - Animation and Virtual Reality |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | #=154 | MFA in Film and Animation |
| CUNY - Brooklyn College | #212 | MFA in Cinema Arts - Digital Animation & Visual Effects |
| Pratt Institute | #244 | MFA in Digital Arts - Digital Animation and Motion Arts |
| DePaul University | #231 | MA in Animation |
| New York Institute of Technology | #253 | MFA in Digital Art and Design Animation |
| Academy of Art University | - | MFA in Animation and Visual Effects |
| California State University - Northridge | #372 | MA in Visual Arts - Animation |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | #=372 | MFA in Studio - Film, Video, New Media and Animation |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | #>600 | MA in Animation |
| Lynn University | - | MFA in Visual Effects Animation |
| California State University - Long Beach | #299 | MFA in Studio Art (Illustration/ Animation) |
| University of Southern California | #19 | MFA in Animation and Digital Arts |
Why Study Masters in Animation in USA?
- In the top universities in USA, students get the opportunity to learn animation from some of the best teachers in the world with professional experience from the best organizations.
- USA is home to numerous graphics and animation hubs, making it an ideal workplace for international animators. After completion of studies in USA, students get employed by Google, Dreamworks, Salesforce, Deloitte and many more.
- The average salary of an animator in USA is around 71,800 USD per annum. Students completing Animation in USA earn around the range of 38,100-109,000 USD.
- The average salary of the professionals with Masters in Animation in USA is 103,000 USD.
- A full-time animation employee in USA tends to observe an increase in salary by 10% in every 16 months displaying demonstrated growth at the workplace.
Masters in Animation in USA Course Highlights
| Degrees Available | MA, MFA, MS |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | GPA of 2.5-3.0 (~83-86%) |
| Test Requirements | English Proficiency Test scores (variable across universities) |
| Program Duration | 1-2 Years |
| Course Type | Full-time, and accelerated |
| Average Annual Salary | 71,800 USD |
| Top Employers | Dreamworks, Pixar, Google, Deloitte, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Cartoon Network Studios and many more. |
Masters in Animation in USA Admissions
The admission process for Masters in Animation in USA involves various eligibility criteria and document requirements. The details of applying for Masters in Animation in USA are provided here.
Eligibility Criteria for Masters in Animation in USA
Eligibility criteria of each university or college for Masters in Animation in USA are distinct and slightly differ from each other. The general admission requirements and supporting documents for admission to masters in Animation in USA are listed below:
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Official academic transcripts
- An average minimum GPA of 2.5 to 3 on a 4.0 scale (~79-86%)
- English proficiency test score
- Reel or portfolio
- CV
- Personal statement
- Multiple LOR.
Masters in Animation in USA Admission Deadlines
The application deadlines of the Masters in Animation program in the top universities in USA are tabulated below:
| University | Deadlines |
|---|---|
| University of California Los Angeles | February 1, 2022 |
| Ohio State University | November 15 |
| Purdue University | Rolling |
| University of Arizona | January 10 |
| Texas A&M University | January 15 |
| University of Texas - Dallas | Fall: May 1 Spring: October 1 |
| University of Kentucky | February 1, 2022 |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | Rolling |
| CUNY - Brooklyn College | February 23, 2022, rolling admission |
| Pratt Institute | January 5 |
| DePaul University | Fall priority deadline: February 1, 2022Fall final deadline: June 15, 2022 |
| New York Institute of Technology | June 1, 2022 |
| Academy of Art University | February 6, 2022 |
| California State University - Northridge | Fall admission begins: October 1Spring admission begins: August 1 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Priority Deadline: December 1 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | Rolling |
| Lynn University | Summer: April 11, 2022 Fall: July 30, 2022 Spring: December 10, 2022 |
| California State University - Long Beach | Fall: December 1 |
| University of Southern California | Fall: November 15 |
US Student Visa
International students require the US student visa for admission to any masters program in the US universities. US student visa can be categorized into 3 types, F, M and J visa, based upon the type of program and duration of stay in USA. The general application requirements for US student visa are listed below:
- Completed admission form
- Academic transcripts
- Payment receipt of the admission form
- LOR for USA
- Personal essay
- Statement of intent
- Copy of passport
- Scores of standardized exams to study in USA.
Masters in Animation in USA Cost
The cost of studying Masters in Animation in USA can be classified as pre-arrival cost, tuition cost and living cost. The cost breakdown to study the program is provided here.
Pre Arrival Cost to Study in USA
The pre-arrival cost includes airfare and other travel expenses, visa and related immigration costs, and standardized test fees. The following table contains the pre arrival-cost for studying masters in Animation in USA.
| Expense Type | Cost in USD | Cost Equivalent in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Visa Application Fee | 160 | 11,900 |
| SEVIS Fee | F and M visa: 350 | 26,050 |
| J visa: 200 | 14,900 | |
| IELTS Fee | 240 | 17,870 |
| TOEFL Fee | 200 | 14,900 |
| Airfare | 500-1000 | 37,220-74,440 |
Masters in Animation in USA Tuition Fee
Tuition fees for masters in animation across some of the top universities in USA are listed below:
| University | Tuition Cost in USD |
|---|---|
| University of California Los Angeles | 32,858 |
| Ohio State University | 722 per credit hour |
| Purdue University | 31,104 |
| University of Arizona | 33,600 |
| Texas A&M University | 31,428 |
| University of Texas - Dallas | 29,448 |
| University of Kentucky | 33,548 |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | 39,078 |
| CUNY - Brooklyn College | 855 per credit |
| Pratt Institute | 3,900 |
| DePaul University | ~41,000 |
| New York Institute of Technology | 40,460 |
| Academy of Art University | 24,624 |
| California State University - Northridge | 8,472 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 1798 per credit hour |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | 20,700 |
| Lynn University | 27,200 |
| California State University - Long Beach | 8,280 |
| University of Southern California | 49,147 |
Cost of Living in USA
The cost of living in USA is subjective to the location of campus and the lifestyle of the student. The following table provides an overview on the average cost of living in USA.
| Expense Type | Monthly Cost in USD | Cost Equivalent in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Student Housing | On-campus: 1000 Off-campus: 600-800 | On-campus: 74,517 Off-campus: 44,700-59,600 |
| Meals | 100-160 | 7,450-11,900 |
| Transport | 100-300 | 7,451-22,354 |
| Health Insurance | 450-700 | 33,500-52,160 |
| Personal Expenses | 300-600 | 22,354-44,708 |
Scholarships for Masters in Animation in USA
To ease the cost of studying Masters in Animation in USA, several universities offer scholarships and other financial aid to the international students. Furthermore, various organizations provide international students with need-based and merit-based scholarships to study in USA. The following table consists of some of the most popular scholarships for international students in the USA.
| Scholarships | Eligibility | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program | Indian students having 5 years of professional experience | Tuition, living cost, health insurance, travel cost and monthly stipend |
| Obama Foundation Scholars’ Program | International students making a difference in society, public sector and private sector | Tuition fee, book and coursework funding, monthly stipend |
| Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships | Meritorious Indian students completing UG program | Full tuition fee waiver, living expenses, and one-way travel cost |
| PEO International Peace Scholarship For Women | Women pursuing graduate programs in USA | 12,500 USD |
| National Overseas Scholarship | Graduate students in USA with at least 55% aggregate in UG | Tuition, living cost and miscellaneous expenses |
Masters in Animation in USA Placements
USA is one of the highest paying nations to the animation professionals. The average salary of an animator in USA is 71,800 USD. Some of the highest paying professions in USA for the masters in Animation graduates and the average annual salaries are as follows:
| Profession | Average Salary in USD |
|---|---|
| Advertising Manager | 151,000 |
| Advertising Coordinator | 72,700 |
| Advertising Account Manager | 115,000 |
| Animator | 71,800 |
| Art Director | 92,000 |
| Broadcast Administrator | 102,000 |
| Audio Visual Technician | 55,300 |
| Director of Graphic Design | 90,700 |
| Media Production Manager | 128,000 |
| Media Sales Executive | 126,000 |
| Social Media Executive | 118,000 |
Also Check: High paying jobs in USA for international students
Animation has already occupied a huge market globally. The implementation of animation in movies and the OTT platform has skyrocketed its growth and is expected to reach 39.96 billion USD by 2028. It goes without saying that the USA is one of the best art and technological centers in the world. This is why studying masters in Animation from the top universities in USA is completely beneficial for young aspirants.
![Massachusetts Institute of Technology [MIT]](https://staticstage.collegedunia.com/public/college_data/images/studyabroad/logos/college_1087_29-14:42_download.png?tr=w-50,h-50,c-force?tr=h-40,w-35,c-force)
![University of California [UC Berkeley]](https://staticstage.collegedunia.com/public/college_data/images/studyabroad/logos/college_982_24-16:13_download.png?tr=w-50,h-50,c-force?tr=h-40,w-35,c-force)
![University of Chicago [UChicago]](https://staticstage.collegedunia.com/public/college_data/images/studyabroad/logos/college_1129_06-15:23_logo.png?tr=w-50,h-50,c-force?tr=h-40,w-35,c-force){kind=logo}
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