Choosing the Right Creative Degree: What Sets Animation Apart From Other Art Programs

Choosing an art degree is one of the most crucial decisions students will ever make.

Here’s the problem…

There is a common misconception amongst prospective students that all art degrees are created equal. “Fine arts degree.” “Graphic design degree.” “Animation degree.” Swap out the major, and you end up with the same result, right?

WRONG.

The degree you choose defines the career opportunities available to you, the skills you learn along the way, and even the salary you can expect after graduation. Choose correctly and the pieces start to fall into place. Choose wrong, it’s an expensive lesson to learn.

Here is why animation stands out as the best choice…

What You’ll Discover:

Why Choosing The Right Creative Degree is Important
What Makes Animation Different From Other Art Programs
Animation vs. General Art Programs: Let’s Compare
Career and Salary Opportunities Gap
How to Choose the Right Animation Program

Why Choosing The Right Creative Degree is Important

Here’s the cold hard truth that the average art school brochure won’t mention right up front…

Not all creative degrees lead to the same place. Some will open doors and lead to high-paying careers that are in-demand. Others will close doors and leave graduates competing against massive pools of applicants for entry level jobs that don’t require a degree.

An animation degree from a specialized animation school is one of the most direct routes from college to career. Classrooms are built around industry-standard tools and workflows, and teach real-world skills that translate into portfolio pieces that can actually be shown to studios and agencies.

Therein lies the difference between an animation program and a general art school.

Animation Degrees Focus on Marketable Skills

Here’s something else most students won’t realize until they’re already in too deep…

General art programs are typically designed to teach artistic technique and develop artistic sensibilities. Animation schools focus on developing artists who can translate their creativity into marketable skills. They’re not the same thing!

Students in a general fine arts program will learn about drawing, painting, art history, sculpting, etc. Those are all fantastic skills to have. But they are very different from the training received in an animation program.

Students enrolled in an animation program learn applicable, marketable skills like:

Software — Maya, After Effects, ZBrush, Illustrator, etc.
3D modeling & rigging — creating characters and preparing them for animation
Storyboarding & visual storytelling
Character animation & motion

…and more! These are real-world skills that can be leveraged into a career after graduation.

Compare that to a traditional fine arts program or even a graphic design program. General degrees won’t cover nearly this much animation-specific training. And that lack of experience is going to hurt when up against candidates who’ve graduated from an animation program.

That’s why the program you choose matters.

Animation vs. General Art Programs: Let’s Compare

Alright, let’s really drive this home by comparing how each degree path leads to different outcomes.

Traditional fine arts degrees focus primarily on old school art classes like drawing, painting, sculpting, printmaking, etc. Graphic design deals more with typography, layout design, and brand development. But here’s the kicker…

The job prospects for someone with a general art degree are not great. In fact, Federal Reserve Bank of New York data shows fine arts majors face a 7.9% unemployment rate and a 55.5% underemployment rate. Over half of graduates are working in jobs that don’t require a college degree.

Now let’s look at animation…

Demand for animators is exploding everywhere. Gaming, video on demand, commercials, digital media — at no point in human history have there been more opportunities for animators around the world. The US animation industry alone was valued at $59.27 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to $131.16 billion by 2034.

Animation students graduate with skills that are needed worldwide. And because of how the animation curriculum is developed, those skills will stay relevant for years to come.

Classes are taught using industry-standard software. Students build portfolios full of work they can show to potential employers. Everything learned in an animation program is designed to lead toward a career in the animation industry.

General arts degrees don’t offer this level of career specificity. And that is something to consider when deciding on a major.

Career & Salary Opportunities Are Bigger & Better

Now here’s where the numbers start to show just how much better off choosing an animation degree can be.

The skills learned at animation school open up careers that have better salaries and are in high demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median animator wage hit $99,800 in May 2024. Entry level positions for graphic designers and fine artists can typically expect to make half of that, if that.

$99,800 is just the median salary. Animation careers that fall into specific industries (game art, film and TV, ads, software) can see salaries well above $149,000 per year. And that’s just in the United States!

Globally, the demand is just as high. Roughly 5,000 animator job openings are projected each year for the next decade. That number is expected to grow as the industry continues to expand.

The pipeline from animation school to working in the animation industry is strong and has opportunities for graduates in nearly every specialization.

Finding that level of demand for “general artist” positions is a much harder task. And again, that is something to consider when evaluating degree options.

The Best Animation Schools Focus on Careers

Picking the right animation program is just as important as choosing animation in the first place.

When comparing schools and programs look for:

Training that uses industry-standard software. If it’s not used by studios today, will it really be needed?
Courses that emphasize portfolio and reel building. The reel is how animators get jobs.
Instructors who have real world experience. Skills learned should be leverageable into the industry immediately.
Specialization options. Character animation, motion graphics, game animation — the best programs let students choose a focus.
Career support and industry connections. Do they have partnerships with game studios, production companies, or companies known to hire graduates?

Real animation schools do everything they can to ensure graduates are prepared for a career in animation. Their courses and programs are designed with that specific outcome in mind.

Compare that to general art degrees. They teach students how to be artists. Animation programs teach students how to become animators.

So… What’s The Verdict?

Animation is one of the most versatile degrees available.

The job prospects are everywhere. Salaries are high. Artists are needed in every industry — from Hollywood to gaming, you name it. And students who graduate from an animation degree program have a distinct advantage over regular fine art or graphic design graduates.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking all art degrees will lead to the same place.

They won’t.

The right program can mean the difference between struggling to find a job after graduation and walking into a career.