Really…look at the program at UT Dallas.
1 Like
SJSU has a terrific animation program but the cost will be closer to $45k. It is impacted and very competitive for admission.
2 Likes
My DD was hoping to have cooler weather-so there’s that.
1 Like
Has she thought about design that isn’t animation? I think WPI has some game design. Many engineering schools are still trying to balance the M/F ratios so like female applicants.
Look at schools with good art programs where they’ll also like her high grades (and award merit more generally, not just for art students) like Montana or Utah. Look at a school in a consortium where one school may have a big scholarship but another might have the art and design classes she’s looking for. Look for a school that participates in an exchange program where should could attend for a semester or year and get those design classes she wants while paying the tuition to her ‘home’ college (where she could take all the gen ed classes or her minor or even the early computer or design classes she needs).
But I don’t think those are going to be in California, or at least California publics.
7 Likes
Utah might be tough to get great merit, since OP isn’t in a WUE state. The best merit requires very close to 4.0UW and 8-10 APs or full IB. But you can get residency after the first year and then the cost is close to $25K per year (vs $50K for a non-resident). Also kids with parents who have served in the military automatically get instate tuition.
1 Like
Did you answer the question about National Merit Scholar?
If you are a semi finalist or finalist, you can go do $0-10k a year if flexible. Whether those schools will be strong in animation I can’t say.
Check into RIT for your student - they have merit.
Many of the schools in Cali aren’t going to be in climates that much cooler than Tx. There are schools that offer a more generic “Art and technology” type major. Would that open up more options? Ohio State, for example, might be a thought, but it won’t offer NM money.
UNT is a wonderful Texas public for students interested in the arts. I know Texas isn’t your first choice, but I strongly suggest she look at this for a backup option.
1 Like
Check out Clark University in Massachusetts. Its interactive media program is well-regarded and has both 2-D and 3-D tracks. They can give generous merit, and coming from Texas might be extra attractive to them:
Another school that offers generous merit aid is DePaul in Chicago. It offers both a BA and a BFA in animation:
Closer to home, check out UT-Dallas (already mentioned) but also take a look at Sam Houston State.
Also in the south, she may want to check out the offerings at Georgia State and Oglethorpe to see if anything might fit. Georgia State has more of a commuter reputation, but I’ve heard that’s changing. Oglethorpe is a small residential college that’s increasing its focus on film, and it’s a good one to keep in mind because your D would likely qualify for its Flagship 50 program, meaning that tuition would cost no more than UT-Austin’s in-state tuition. Both schools also participate in the ARCHE Consortium, a group of Atlanta-area colleges which also includes Emory, Georgia Tech, Spelman, etc whereby students can take classes at the other universities. SCAD used to be one of the member institutions, but it no longer appears to be so. Atlanta is big in the movie industry, so lots of connections available there.
And though they’re far from a cooler climate, she may also want to check out U. of South Florida and U. of Central Florida, where she might be able to qualify for a waiver of out-of-state costs, making these schools possibilities to hit the budget.
https://www.usf.edu/arts/art/academics/animation/ (with options via a BFA or BA)
7 Likes
What’s your SAI?
Do you qualify for need based aid or do you need merit aid?
By “National Scholar” do you mean NMF or the AP scholar désignation?
Seconding Clark, WPI, DePaul, Utah.
If you run the NPC, is the result within budget?
If you run the NPC on Scripps, is the number within budget?
https://npc.collegeboard.org/app/scrippscollege
(Media Studies | Scripps College in Claremont California
=> Practical and theoretical study with internships in LA)
Northeastern and NYU are both supposed to meet need.
5 Likes
Agree about looking into UNT, UT-Dallas, Sam Houston, and Texas A&M as quality, affordable in-state options.
Of note, Sam Houston and Texas A&M both belong to National Student Exchange. NSE is an exchange program that allows up to 2 semesters at any other participating school, paying no more than what the student is already paying in-state. Some fun schools participate, including some in California.
https://nse.org/exchange/find-campus/
If your student is a National Merit Semifinalist as opposed to just National Merit Commended (her school should have told you in early September), this opens her up to some schools where she can get a full ride. Most of these big merit schools are not known for animation, but even so they may be worth strongly considering. Your studet is a strong student overall, and for such students it is never a bad idea to get a quality well rounded “regular” education for the bachelor’s degree; the art can be learned later. For example I have some friends who got bachelors from quality schools that did not offer their desired majors (graphic design, film etc) so instead they got degrees in subjects such as English, History, Studio Art etc. Later they took selected classes at art schools to add the specific technical skills they wanted. None of them have ever regretted this path, and feel that their “regular BA” is a big part of what made them successful.
If your D is a NMSF here is the list of big merit schools:
Big merit NMF/NMSF schools and their specialties
Best wishes to your smart and talented D!!!
4 Likes
Loyola Marymount is in Southern California, has an animation program, and offers merit awards.
1 Like
Just wanted to mention that it is very important that you get a list of schools on the table now, followed immediately by getting a strong sense of the COA before scholarships. (Which is what you are doing.)
Why? Because it is helpful to have a list of most-to-least expensive schools before even sending out applications. The best scholarships are from the schools themselves in the form of tuition discounts. Anything else is gravy and take time to apply to, scholarship-wise.
November 1 is coming up fast and knowing which schools are both appealing and financially affordable before scholarships helps. The competition for scholarships is so fierce that having a sense of what the top threshold of cost is will tell you whether what you’ve saved is enough. Or not.
USC only offers merit to students that apply by November 1, IIRC. A certain amount of scholarships are only accessible earlier in the year - check each school for their scholarship deadlines.
It is better for your kid to go to a decent school that is affordable in a less appealing state, graduating with minimal debt, than it is for them to go to school in a popular state, graduating with crippling student debt.
The quicker you can build your list of schools from the above suggestions, run the net price calculator, and see their merit scholarship deadlines, the better. Then your kid can do applications that are targeted and hopefully more successful. After awhile, the more the applications the more overwhelming it can be.
Wishing you luck on finding a great school for your kid!
4 Likes
Sheridan College in Ontario is one of the best animation programs in existence.
3 Likes
^and due to tuition being low, it would take very little scholarship to make it affordable. 
There’s even a residence where students have their own bedroom (share kitchenette and Bathroom with only one roommate).
2 Likes
Please see OP’s new thread Match my Daughter! [Art/Animation, 4.1 GPA, 1450, TX, $25k]