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3D Artist Education Requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a 3d artist. 3d artists usually study animation, graphic design, or computer science. 75% of 3d artists hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 3,433 real 3d artist resumes to see exactly what 3d artist education sections show.
The most common colleges for 3d artists are the Full Sail University and the Full Sail University.
There are also many online 3d artist courses to help get the education required to be a 3d artist.
What education do you need to become a 3d artist?
What degree do you need to be a 3d artist?
- Bachelor's, 75%
- Associate, 15%
- Master's, 6%
- Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a 3d artist?
- Animation, 25%
- Graphic Design, 22%
- Computer Science, 11%
- Fine Arts, 11%
- Other Majors, 31%
Most common colleges for 3d artists
3D Artist Common College  | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Full Sail University | 18.50% |
| Academy of Art University | 11.42% |
| The Art Institute of Pittsburgh | 9.45% |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | 8.66% |
| The Art Institute of Philadelphia | 5.12% |
Best majors for 3d artists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Animation | 24.5% |
| 2 | Graphic Design | 21.6% |
| 3 | Computer Science | 11.4% |
| 4 | Fine Arts | 11.1% |
| 5 | Computer Applications | 6.0% |
Best colleges for 3d artists
The best colleges for 3d artists are University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, and Northwestern University.
A 3d artist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for 3d artists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become 3d artists.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
3. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
5. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
20 best online courses for 3d artists
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Top 10 most affordable universities for 3d artists
The most affordable schools for 3d artists are Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, fashion institute of technology, and california state university - los angeles.
If the best universities for 3d artists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for 3d artists.
1. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,240
Cost of Attendance
13,991
F
2. Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,740
Cost of Attendance
17,864
3. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,749
Cost of Attendance
14,823
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,620
Cost of Attendance
18,136
5. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,381
Cost of Attendance
21,034
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for 3d artists
The hardest universities for 3d artists to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, and Northwestern University.
Some great schools for 3d artists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for 3d artists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,492
2. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
17%
SAT Average
1,507
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,508
4. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
5%
SAT Average
1,520
5. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions Rate
9%
SAT Average
1,516
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for 3d artists
The easiest schools for 3d artists to get into are Cardinal Stritch University, grand view university, and notre dame de namur university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a 3d artist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for 3d artists.
1. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions Rate
71%
SAT Average
1,035
2. Grand View University
Des Moines, IA • Private
Admissions Rate
92%
SAT Average
1,060
3. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
82%
SAT Average
983
4. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions Rate
88%
SAT Average
1,044
5. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions Rate
86%
SAT Average
991
Average 3d artist salary by education level
| 3D Artist education level | 3D Artist salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $87,155 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $64,083 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $84,752 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $70,844 |
3D Artist Education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025