Animation and Interactive Technology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Students in this program develop advanced expertise in crafting dynamic, immersive visual experiences by integrating digital animation, interactive design, and multimedia technologies. The curriculum emphasizes the creation of compelling, realistic content through the manipulation of film, video, photography, sound, and digital data, preparing graduates for careers in entertainment, advertising, education, and emerging tech fields.
- Computer Animation and 3D Modeling: Mastery of digital tools and techniques to create lifelike characters, environments, and motion sequences using industry-standard software.
- Interactive Media Design: Development of user-driven experiences through responsive interfaces, game engines, and real-time rendering systems.
- Visual Effects (VFX) and Compositing: Integration of live-action footage with digital elements to produce seamless, cinematic illusions.
- Sound Design and Audio Integration: Strategic use of audio editing, spatial sound, and synchronization to enhance narrative impact and immersion.
- Image Capture and Digital Cinematography: Proficiency in advanced camera operations, lighting, and high-resolution digital acquisition for varied production contexts.
- Programming for Multimedia: Application of coding principles to control animation behavior, user interaction, and system functionality in digital environments.
- Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Prototyping: Utilization of design software to model physical and virtual objects for animation, simulation, and industrial visualization.
- Applied Media Production: Real-world implementation of skills across commercial advertising, educational content, entertainment, and industrial training applications.
Animation and Interactive Technology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Animation and Interactive Technology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Animation and Interactive Technology degrees, including Special Effects Artists and Animators. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 21,280 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Effects Artists and Animators 27-1014 | $99,800 | $57,220 - $174,630 | 21,280 | $47.98 |
Animation and Interactive Technology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $50,250 in New Mexico to $128,360 in California—a 155% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New Jersey, and Oregon. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 21,280 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Animation and Interactive Technology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Animation and Interactive Technology programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Animation and Interactive Technology is found at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) (724 graduates), Academy of Art University (167 graduates), Front Range Community College (FRCC) (144 graduates), Ringling College of Art and Design (139 graduates), and Columbia College Chicago (CCC) (111 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 5,104 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
724 | Savannah, Georgia | Private | scad.edu |
| Academy of Art University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
167 | San Francisco, California | Private | academyart.edu |
| Front Range Community College (FRCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
144 | Westminster, Colorado | Public | frontrange.edu |
| Ringling College of Art and Design |
Bachelor's
|
139 | Sarasota, Florida | Private | ringling.edu |
| Columbia College Chicago (CCC) |
Bachelor's
|
111 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | colum.edu |
| Santa Monica College (SMC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
107 | Santa Monica, California | Public | smc.edu |
| Los Angeles Film School (LAFS) |
Bachelor's
|
105 | Hollywood, California | Private | lafilm.edu |
| Art Center College of Design (ArtCenter) |
Bachelor's
|
95 | Pasadena, California | Private | artcenter.edu |
| DePaul University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
91 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
90 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Pikes Peak State College (PPSC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
84 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Public | pikespeak.edu |
| CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) |
Associate's
|
84 | New York, New York | Public | bmcc.cuny.edu |
| School of Visual Arts (SVA) |
Bachelor's
|
83 | New York, New York | Private | sva.edu |
| Pratt Institute |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
81 | Brooklyn, New York | Private | pratt.edu |
| College for Creative Studies (CCS) |
Bachelor's
|
80 | Detroit, Michigan | Private | collegeforcreativestudies.edu |
| George Mason University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
79 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Francis Tuttle Technology Center |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
76 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | francistuttle.edu |
| Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
75 | Dallas, Texas | Private | smu.edu |
| DigiPen Institute of Technology |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
73 | Redmond, Washington | Private | digipen.edu |
| California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
72 | Valencia, California | Private | calarts.edu |
| Northwest Vista College (NVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
72 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | alamo.edu |
| Ferris State University (FSU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
70 | Big Rapids, Michigan | Public | ferris.edu |
| California College of the Arts (CCA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
68 | San Francisco, California | Private | cca.edu |
| Dallas College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
62 | Dallas, Texas | Public | dallascollege.edu |
| Mt San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
61 | Walnut, California | Public | mtsac.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHWO) |
Bachelor's
|
59 | Kapolei, Hawaii | Public | westoahu.hawaii.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHM) |
Bachelor's
|
55 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | manoa.hawaii.edu |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
55 | Kirkland, Washington | Public | lwtech.edu |
| Sam Houston State University (SHSU) |
Bachelor's
|
51 | Huntsville, Texas | Public | shsu.edu |
| Indian River State College (IRSC) |
Bachelor's
|
48 | Fort Pierce, Florida | Public | irsc.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
48 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD) |
Bachelor's
|
46 | Laguna Beach, California | Private | lcad.edu |
| Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) |
Bachelor's
|
46 | Lakewood, Colorado | Private | rmcad.edu |
| Clark University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
45 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | clarku.edu |
| Miami Dade College (MDC) |
Associate's
|
42 | Miami, Florida | Public | mdc.edu |
| West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
42 | Paducah, Kentucky | Public | westkentucky.kctcs.edu |
| New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Bachelor's
|
41 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | nmsu.edu |
| East Tennessee State University (ETSU) |
Bachelor's
|
41 | Johnson City, Tennessee | Public | etsu.edu |
| City Colleges of Chicago (HWC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
40 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | ccc.edu |
| Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) |
Bachelor's
|
40 | Columbus, Ohio | Private | ccad.edu |
| Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) |
Associate's
|
39 | South Portland, Maine | Public | smccme.edu |
| Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) |
Bachelor's
|
39 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | mica.edu |
| Chaffey College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
35 | Rancho Cucamonga, California | Public | chaffey.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
35 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Somerset Community College (SCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
35 | Somerset, Kentucky | Public | somerset.kctcs.edu |
| Middlesex College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
34 | Edison, New Jersey | Public | middlesexcollege.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| Lane Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
34 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | lanecc.edu |
| University of Baltimore (UBalt) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | ubalt.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| Atlantic University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
33 | Guaynabo, Puerto Rico | Private | atlanticu.edu |
| College of the Canyons |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
32 | Santa Clarita, California | Public | canyons.edu |
| Tulsa Technology Center (Tulsa Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
32 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Public | tulsatech.edu |
| Joliet Junior College (JJC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
31 | Joliet, Illinois | Public | jjc.edu |
| Antelope Valley Community College District (AVCCD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
30 | Lancaster, California | Public | avc.edu |
| Chapman University |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Orange, California | Private | chapman.edu |
| Florida State College (FSCJ) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | fscj.edu |
| College of DuPage (COD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
30 | Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Public | cod.edu |
| Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
30 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | slcc.edu |
| University of Silicon Valley (USV) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | San Jose, California | Private | usv.edu |
| Diablo Valley College (DVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
28 | Pleasant Hill, California | Public | dvc.edu |
| Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
28 | Santa Rosa, California | Public | santarosa.edu |
| Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Kansas City, Missouri | Private | kcai.edu |
| Houston Community College (HCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
28 | Houston, Texas | Public | hccs.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
26 | Madison, New Jersey | Private | fdu.edu |
| Orange Coast College (OCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
25 | Costa Mesa, California | Public | orangecoastcollege.edu |
| Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | New York, New York | Public | fitnyc.edu |
| Colorado Mesa University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Grand Junction, Colorado | Public | coloradomesa.edu |
| SUNY College of Technology (Alfred State) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
24 | Alfred, New York | Public | alfredstate.edu |
| Sierra College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
23 | Rocklin, California | Public | sierracollege.edu |
| Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | mcad.edu |
| Regent University |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | regent.edu |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) |
Associate's
|
23 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | matc.edu |
| Loyola Marymount University (LMU) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Los Angeles, California | Private | lmu.edu |
| Webster University |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | webster.edu |
| Los Angeles Mission College (LAMC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
21 | Sylmar, California | Public | lamission.edu |
| Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) |
Master's
|
21 | Los Angeles, California | Private | sciarc.edu |
| Moraine Valley Community College (MVCC) |
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
21 | Palos Hills, Illinois | Public | morainevalley.edu |
| Huntington University |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
21 | Huntington, Indiana | Private | huntington.edu |
| Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | cia.edu |
| University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | uiw.edu |
| Pasadena City College (PCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
20 | Pasadena, California | Public | pasadena.edu |
| Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Portland, Maine | Private | meca.edu |
| Madison Area Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
20 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | madisoncollege.edu |
| Digital Media Institute (DMI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
20 | Shreveport, Louisiana | Private | dmi.edu |
| Victor Valley College (VVC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
19 | Victorville, California | Public | vvc.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | njit.edu |
| Canada College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
17 | Redwood City, California | Public | canadacollege.edu |
| Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
17 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | sbcc.edu |
| University of Hawaii |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
17 | Kahului, Hawaii | Public | maui.hawaii.edu |
| Montserrat College of Art |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Beverly, Massachusetts | Private | montserrat.edu |
| Bergen Community College (BCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
17 | Paramus, New Jersey | Public | bergen.edu |
| CUNY Hostos Community College |
Associate's
|
17 | Bronx, New York | Public | hostos.cuny.edu |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Moorhead, Minnesota | Public | mnstate.edu |
| Canadian Valley Technology Center (CV Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
16 | El Reno, Oklahoma | Public | cvtech.edu |
| Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center (EOC Tech) |
Other Award
|
16 | Choctaw, Oklahoma | Public | eoctech.edu |
| Hartnell College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
15 | Salinas, California | Public | hartnell.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Animation and Interactive Technology programs
How much can I earn with a Animation and Interactive Technology degree?
Salaries for Animation and Interactive Technology graduates vary by role and location. Special Effects Artists and Animators earn a median of $99,800 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $128,360 compared to $50,250 in New Mexico. Approximately 21,280 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Animation and Interactive Technology programs?
Currently 243 accredited institutions offer Animation and Interactive Technology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) (724 graduates), Academy of Art University (167 graduates), and Front Range Community College (FRCC) (144 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Animation and Interactive Technology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 3,913 in 2010 to 6,026 in 2023-24. This represents a 54% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Animation and Interactive Technology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Special Effects Artists and Animators. Related occupations employ approximately 21,280 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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