2,388
Graduates Per Year
$59K
Average Salary
#137
Most Popular Major
Degree Stats
Popular
2,388
13% NATIONAL AVG
Diplomas Received Last Year
95
5% NATIONAL AVG
Colleges Offering this Degree
Most Popular Degrees
136
Construction Engineering Technology
2,391
137
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
2,388
138
Health Care Facilities Administration
2,381
Most Widely Offered Degrees
35
/
1.852
Worse
Better
Top 100 Colleges offering this degree
Degree Granting Schools that are Public
Most Graduates
By Region
Southeast
Ringling College of Art and Design
By State
Georgia
The Art Institute of Atlanta
By Conference
Pacific West Conference
Academy of Art University
By School
Coastal Alabama Community College
If you think life as a special effects artist, animation creator, or virtual reality designer sounds interesting, then a degree in animation interactive technology video graphics and special effects may just be for you. You could even become a video game developer working to make a life-like VR game!
Animation, interactive technology, video graphics and special effects is the 137th most popular degree in America, with 2,388 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #138 Health Care Facilities Administration, and narrowly lost to #136 Construction Engineering Technology
The degree is offered at a total of 95 colleges across the nation, and is the 174th most widely offered degree. It is only offered at 2% of the Top 100 Best Collegesin America.
It is also worth noting that 64% of colleges offering animation interactive technology video graphics and special effects are public making it a quite accessible field.
The southeast produces the most animation interactive technology video graphics and special effects graduates, largely led by Ringling College of Art and Design, while it’s the Pacific West Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, Georgia ranks highest, with particular help from The Art Institute of Atlantaand Savannah College of Art and Design.
All that being said, no individual school produces more animation interactive technology video graphics and special effects graduates than Coastal Alabama Community College, which graduated 381 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study animation interactive technology video graphics and special effects). More students studied animation interactive technology video graphics and special effects as a percentage of total students at Cogswell Collegethan any other college.
We wish you luck on your college search and we hope you enjoy Authority's 2022 official Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects list. Some of our picks may surprise you!
We wish you luck on your college search. We hope you enjoy Authority's 2022 official Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects list. Some of our picks may surprise you!
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#1 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
Savannah College of Art and Design is a large private art school located in Savannah, GA ranked 10thin Georgia. It has a total of 12,966 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, with a 95.91% acceptance rate. Savannah College of Art and Design offers 64 different majors and is best known for its animation interactive technology video graphics and special effects, illustration, and apparel and textiles programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With a tuition cost of $37,575 per year, Savannah College of Art and Design is rather high-priced. 60% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, entering the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $36,400 per year, which is 12% under the national median.
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Savannah, GA
www.scad.edu
B-
Rating
96%
Acceptance
16,065
Students
# 372
Ranking
$37,575
Tuition
#2 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
DigiPen Institute of Technology is a small for-profit university located in Redmond, WA ranked 279thin America. It has a total of 1,084 full-time undergraduate students and is somewhat competitive, accepting 33.5% of applicants. DigiPen Institute of Technology offers 9 different majors and is best known for its computer programming, animation interactive technology video graphics and special effects, and music theory and composition programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 11th respectively). With a tuition cost of $32,400 per year, DigiPen Institute of Technology is somewhat moderately costly. 38.01% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, joining the labor force. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $80,200 per year, which is 93% greater than the national median.
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Redmond, WA
www.digipen.edu
A-
Rating
34%
Acceptance
1,190
Students
# 3
Ranking
$32,400
Tuition
#3 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
Ringling College of Art and Design is a small private art school located in Sarasota, FL ranked 14thin Florida. It has a total of 1,570 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 63.86% acceptance rate. Ringling College of Art and Design offers 11 different majors and is best known for its animation interactive technology video graphics and special effects, illustration, and photography programs (nationally ranked 3rd, 6th, and 18th respectively). With a tuition cost of $43,710 per year, Ringling College of Art and Design is rather high-priced. 65.31% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $33,200 per year, which is 20% under the national median.
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Sarasota, FL
https://www.ringling.edu
B+
Rating
64%
Acceptance
1,570
Students
# 257
Ranking
$43,710
Tuition
#4 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
New York University is a very large private university located in New York, NY ranked 25thin the nation. It has a total of 29,902 full-time undergraduate students and is quite competitive, accepting more or less 1 in 6 applicants. New York University offers 564 different majors and is best known for its drama, radio television and digital communication, and management information systems programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With a tuition cost of $50,684 per year, New York University is very pricey. 73.93% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $61,900 per year, which is 49% greater than the national median.
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New York, NY
www.nyu.edu
A+
Rating
16%
Acceptance
58,091
Students
# 25
Ranking
$50,684
Tuition
#5 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
College for Creative Studies is a small private art school located in Detroit, MI ranked 5thin Michigan. It has a total of 1,500 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 43.78% of applicants. College for Creative Studies offers 15 different majors and is best known for its industrial and product design, commercial and advertising art, and animation interactive technology video graphics and special effects programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 5th respectively). With a tuition cost of $44,400 per year, College for Creative Studies is rather costly. 57.91% of students graduate ready to the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $44,100 per year, which is 6% over the national median.
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Detroit, MI
https://www.collegeforcreativestudies.edu
A-
Rating
44%
Acceptance
1,568
Students
# 215
Ranking
$44,400
Tuition
#6 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
Pratt Institute-Main is a mid-sized private art school located in Brooklyn, NY ranked 206thin the United States. It has a total of 4,192 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting a little south of 55.5% of applicants. Pratt Institute-Main offers 73 different majors and is best known for its architectural technology, drawing, and industrial and product design programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 3rd respectively). With a tuition cost of $51,754 per year, Pratt Institute-Main is exceptionally expensive. 63.82% of students graduate ready to the next chapter of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $43,400 per year, which is 4% greater than the national median.
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Brooklyn, NY
www.pratt.edu
A
Rating
56%
Acceptance
5,683
Students
# 151
Ranking
$51,754
Tuition
#7 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
School of Visual Arts is a small for-profit art school located in New York, NY ranked 44thin New York. It has a total of 3,839 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 71.13% of applicants. School of Visual Arts offers 26 different majors and is best known for its computer software and media applications, web design, and photography programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With a tuition cost of $41,900 per year, School of Visual Arts is quite pricey. 62.36% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, joining the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $41,800 per year, which is 1% above the national median.
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New York, NY
www.sva.edu
A-
Rating
71%
Acceptance
4,541
Students
# 4
Ranking
$41,900
Tuition
#8 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
California College of the Arts is a small private art school located in San Francisco, CA ranked 50thin California. It has a total of 1,655 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, with a 85.03% acceptance rate. California College of the Arts offers 33 different majors and is best known for its industrial and product design, multimedia art, and animation interactive technology video graphics and special effects programs (nationally ranked 5th, 6th, and 8th respectively). With a tuition cost of $50,592 per year, California College of the Arts is exceptionally costly. 57.53% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, entering the labor force. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $37,200 per year, which is 10% under the national median.
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San Francisco, CA
www.cca.edu
B
Rating
85%
Acceptance
2,136
Students
# 336
Ranking
$50,592
Tuition
#9 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
Syracuse University is a very large private university located in Syracuse, NY ranked 109thin America. It has a total of 28,546 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 44.38% of applicants. Syracuse University offers 368 different majors and is best known for its broadcast journalism, public administration, and photojournalism programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 2nd respectively). With a tuition cost of $52,210 per year, Syracuse University is exceptionally pricey. 77.41% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $62,100 per year, which is 50% over the national median.
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Syracuse, NY
https://www.syracuse.edu
A
Rating
44%
Acceptance
38,110
Students
# 95
Ranking
$52,210
Tuition
#10 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
Loyola Marymount University is a mid-sized private institution located in Los Angeles, CA ranked 121stin the nation. It has a total of 6,978 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting more or less 3 out of 7 applicants. Loyola Marymount University offers 118 different majors and is best known for its playwriting and screenwriting, natural sciences, and recording arts technology programs (nationally ranked 3rd, 3rd, and 5th respectively). With a tuition cost of $49,550 per year, Loyola Marymount University is very high-priced. 75.59% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, entering the workforce. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $61,300 per year, which is 48% over the national median.
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Los Angeles, CA
https://www.lmu.edu
A
Rating
44%
Acceptance
10,698
Students
# 100
Ranking
$49,550
Tuition
#11 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
Minneapolis College of Art and Design is a very small private art school located in Minneapolis, MN ranked 11thin Minnesota. It has a total of 786 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting a touch north of 4 out of every 7 applicants. Minneapolis College of Art and Design offers 18 different majors and is best known for its printmaking, illustration, and animation interactive technology video graphics and special effects programs (nationally ranked 5th, 7th, and 11th respectively). With a tuition cost of $39,946 per year, Minneapolis College of Art and Design is rather expensive. 62.4% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, joining the labor force. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $35,400 per year, which is 15% less than the national median.
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Minneapolis, MN
MCAD.EDU
B
Rating
59%
Acceptance
909
Students
# 361
Ranking
$39,946
Tuition
#12 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
Rochester Institute of Technology is a large private college located in Rochester, NY ranked 190thin the nation. It has a total of 15,118 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 70.73% acceptance rate. Rochester Institute of Technology offers 201 different majors and is best known for its mechanical engineering technology, civil engineering technologies, and computer systems networking and telecommunications programs, which are all nationally ranked 2nd. With a tuition cost of $45,244 per year, Rochester Institute of Technology is extremely expensive. 62.58% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $62,400 per year, which is 50% greater than the national median.
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Rochester, NY
www.rit.edu/
A
Rating
71%
Acceptance
18,660
Students
# 140
Ranking
$45,244
Tuition
#13 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
Drexel University is a very large private university located in Philadelphia, PA ranked 174thin the United States. It has a total of 17,591 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting a shade below three quarters of applicants. Drexel University offers 360 different majors and is best known for its accounting and finance, accounting and business management, and culinary arts programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 4th respectively). With a tuition cost of $52,146 per year, Drexel University is extremely pricey. 56.25% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $68,800 per year, which is 66% above the national median.
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Philadelphia, PA
https://drexel.edu
A
Rating
75%
Acceptance
28,249
Students
# 128
Ranking
$52,146
Tuition
#14 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
Arizona State University-Tempe is a very large public university located in Tempe, AZ ranked 1stin Arizona. It has a total of 46,314 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, accepting about 6 out of 7 applicants. Arizona State University-Tempe offers 353 different majors and is best known for its physical sciences, urban planning, and family and consumer economics programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 4th, and 5th respectively). With a tuition cost of $10,710 for in-state students and $28,800 for those from out-of-state, Arizona State University-Tempe is reasonably expensive. 60.21% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, joining the labor force. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $47,700 per year, which is 15% greater than the national median.
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Tempe, AZ
www.asu.edu/
A-
Rating
86%
Acceptance
56,567
Students
# 87
Ranking
$28,800
Tuition
#15 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
Fashion Institute of Technology is a mid-sized public college located in New York, NY ranked 196thin the nation. It has a total of 9,832 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 53.89% acceptance rate. Fashion Institute of Technology offers 49 different majors and is best known for its fashion merchandising, public relations advertising and applied communication, and advertising programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With a tuition cost of $5,190 for in-state students and $15,570 for those from out-of-state, Fashion Institute of Technology is moderately priced. 68.35% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $48,900 per year, which is 18% greater than the national median.
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New York, NY
www.fitnyc.edu
A
Rating
54%
Acceptance
10,065
Students
# 53
Ranking
$15,570
Tuition
#16 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
Brigham Young University-Provo is a very large private university located in Provo, UT ranked 233rdin the United States. It has a total of 35,951 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 67.49% of applicants. Brigham Young University-Provo offers 310 different majors and is best known for its family systems, portuguese language and literature, and spanish language teacher education programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With a tuition cost of $5,790 per year, Brigham Young University-Provo is very affordable. 66.32% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $59,700 per year, which is 44% over the national median.
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Provo, UT
www.byu.edu
A-
Rating
67%
Acceptance
39,233
Students
# 168
Ranking
$5,790
Tuition
#17 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
University of Hawaii at Manoa is a large public university located in Honolulu, HI ranked 262ndin America. It has a total of 15,221 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 58.47% of applicants. University of Hawaii at Manoa offers 232 different majors and is best known for its japanese language and literature, native american studies, and teaching english as a second language programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With a tuition cost of $11,304 for in-state students and $33,336 for those from out-of-state, University of Hawaii at Manoa is reasonably costly. 58.75% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $45,800 per year, which is 10% over the national median.
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Honolulu, HI
https://manoa.hawaii.edu/
A-
Rating
58%
Acceptance
20,653
Students
# 70
Ranking
$33,336
Tuition
#18 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
George Mason University is a very large public university located in Fairfax, VA ranked 285thin the nation. It has a total of 34,722 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, with a 86.74% acceptance rate. George Mason University offers 272 different majors and is best known for its rhetoric and composition, peace studies and conflict resolution, and health teacher education programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 4th respectively). With a tuition cost of $9,060 for students from Virginia and $32,520 for those from out-of-state, George Mason University is somewhat moderately pricey. 72.25% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $59,900 per year, which is 44% above the national median.
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Fairfax, VA
https://www2.gmu.edu/
A-
Rating
87%
Acceptance
48,678
Students
# 80
Ranking
$32,520
Tuition
#19 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
DePaul University is a very large private university located in Chicago, IL ranked 13thin Illinois. It has a total of 16,625 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 68.22% acceptance rate. DePaul University offers 263 different majors and is best known for its general studies, computer systems networking and telecommunications, and computer programming programs (nationally ranked 3rd, 3rd, and 5th respectively). With a tuition cost of $40,551 per year, DePaul University is rather high-priced. 65.8% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $53,300 per year, which is 28% above the national median.
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Chicago, IL
https://www.depaul.edu
A-
Rating
68%
Acceptance
26,721
Students
# 224
Ranking
$40,551
Tuition
#20 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
Bennington College is a very small private liberal arts college located in Bennington, VT ranked 249thin the nation. It has a total of 783 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting close to 3/5ths of applicants. Bennington College offers 134 different majors and is best known for its literature, ceramics, and visual and performing arts programs (nationally ranked 3rd, 5th, and 14th respectively). With a tuition cost of $55,200 per year, Bennington College is exceptionally expensive. 70% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, joining the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $29,500 per year, which is 29% less than the national median.
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Bennington, VT
www.bennington.edu
A-
Rating
61%
Acceptance
886
Students
# 182
Ranking
$55,200
Tuition
#21 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
Art Center College of Design is a small private art school located in Pasadena, CA ranked 43rdin California. It has a total of 2,699 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 70.84% of applicants. Art Center College of Design offers 18 different majors and is best known for its graphic design, illustration, and photography programs (nationally ranked 3rd, 4th, and 9th respectively). With a tuition cost of $44,272 per year, Art Center College of Design is quite expensive. 65.07% of students graduate moving on to the next phase of their lives, joining the labor force. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $53,600 per year, which is 29% over the national median.
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Pasadena, CA
www.artcenter.edu
B+
Rating
71%
Acceptance
2,970
Students
# 253
Ranking
$44,272
Tuition
#22 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
New Jersey Institute of Technology is a large public university located in Newark, NJ ranked 229thin America. It has a total of 9,769 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 72.81% acceptance rate. New Jersey Institute of Technology offers 110 different majors and is best known for its engineering technologies, information technology, and architectural technology programs (nationally ranked 10th, 11th, and 11th respectively). With a tuition cost of $14,448 for in-state students and $30,160 for those from out-of-state, New Jersey Institute of Technology is somewhat moderately costly. 64.27% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $68,500 per year, which is 65% over the national median.
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Newark, NJ
www.njit.edu/
A-
Rating
73%
Acceptance
13,236
Students
# 62
Ranking
$30,160
Tuition
#23 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
Bradley University is a mid-sized private institution located in Peoria, IL ranked 17thin Illinois. It has a total of 4,714 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting in the region of 7 out of 10 applicants. Bradley University offers 161 different majors and is best known for its sports communication, construction engineering, and manufacturing engineering programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 3rd, and 3rd respectively). With a tuition cost of $34,200 per year, Bradley University is somewhat moderately pricey. 68.9% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $53,600 per year, which is 29% over the national median.
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Peoria, IL
www.bradley.edu
B+
Rating
70%
Acceptance
6,323
Students
# 279
Ranking
$34,200
Tuition
#24 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
Kansas City Art Institute is a very small private art school located in Kansas City, MO ranked 14thin Missouri. It has a total of 689 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting just above five in every nine applicants. Kansas City Art Institute offers 13 different majors and is best known for its ceramics, sculpture, and fiber textile and weaving arts programs (nationally ranked 1st, 4th, and 4th respectively). With a tuition cost of $38,700 per year, Kansas City Art Institute is quite high-priced. 57.67% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $31,200 per year, which is 25% under the national median.
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Kansas City, MO
www.kcai.edu
C+
Rating
57%
Acceptance
689
Students
# 473
Ranking
$38,700
Tuition
#25 Best Colleges for Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
Webster University is a mid-sized private institution located in Saint Louis, MO ranked 11thin Missouri. It has a total of 3,522 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting barely over five in nine applicants. Webster University offers 227 different majors and is best known for its game and interactive media design, musical theatre, and legal studies programs (nationally ranked 11th, 20th, and 24th respectively). With a tuition cost of $28,500 per year, Webster University is somewhat moderately expensive. 59.7% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $42,300 per year, which is 2% above the national median.
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Saint Louis, MO
www.webster.edu
B
Rating
57%
Acceptance
14,581
Students
# 308
Ranking
$28,500
Tuition