Cal State Fullerton’s animation programs rank No. 10 in the United States among public schools, according to Animation Career Review, an online resource for aspiring professionals in animation, game design, graphic design, digital art and related fields. The university also ranks No. 10 overall in California and No. 30 overall in the U.S.
Animation Career Review’s 2025 College Rankings highlights that CSUF’s Department of Art within its College of the Arts offers students experiential learning opportunities; access to state-of-the-art animation, painting, drawing and illustration studios in its Visual Arts Complex; and opportunities to connect with such major studios as Nickelodeon and Walt Disney. CSUF is also accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
In addition, many faculty members work in the industry, providing students with insights into the latest trends and professional connections.
The university offers two Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees for aspiring animators focused on entertainment art or game art. Andrew Fedak, a Cal State Fullerton professor of art who teaches classes focused on game art, animation, and immersive media, and entertainment art/animation, said the university is unique for having two animation-related programs.
“At CSUF, students can choose their pathway and how much they want to focus on a particular area of animation, be it 2D or 3D, more hand drawn, or technical.” Fedak said. “This is a radical orientation allowing for a much more nuanced approach to a career in the industry, be it game, feature, or immersive media. These industries require students to specialize, and we offer this specialization like no other school in the California State University system.”
Animation Career Review’s 2025 list features more than 200 colleges and schools. The company has published regional and national rankings since 2012 for aspiring animators and game designers considering degree programs in related fields.
The criteria used for Animation Career Review’s annual animation rankings list include academic reputation, admission selectivity, employment data, depth and breadth of the program faculty, value, graduation rate and retention rate.