Premier art and design college in Florida with strengths in animation, film, and graphic design.
Ringling College offers Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees across animation and film, design, visual arts, and liberal arts disciplines. The college operates on a semester system and provides specialized programs in 2D/3D character animation, film, motion design, graphic design, illustration, game art, virtual reality development, entertainment design, fine arts, creative writing, and business of art and design. The institution emphasizes hands-on studio learning and creative entrepreneurship through centers like the Center for the Creative Economy and INDEX industry experience program.
The college occupies a 48-acre urban campus in Sarasota featuring the Alfred R. Goldstein Library, a $20 million facility completed in 2017 with 75,000+ books and periodicals housed in a 46,000-square-foot space. Campus amenities include studio labs, technology facilities, campus housing, dining services, and seven on-campus galleries. Students engage in varsity esports, volunteer opportunities, and activities through student government. The Sarasota Art Museum, housed in a renovated 1926 high school building, opened in 2019 as a separate museum campus division.
Ringling College accepts domestic, international, and transfer students. The admissions process requires portfolio submission and completion of admission requirements. The college offers regular decision, transfer, and international pathways. Prospective students can participate in daily campus tours, group tours, virtual tours, and online information sessions. Portfolio preparation resources and important dates are available on the admissions website.
Ringling graduates pursue careers in animation, film, design, illustration, and creative industries. The college is ranked #1 in Florida for Graphic Design (Animation Career Review), #1 Motion Graphics School in the World (The Rookies), and #3 3D Animation School in the US for Production Excellence (The Rookies). Notable alumni include Academy Award-winning directors Brandon Oldenburg and Patrick Osborne, television personality David Bromstad, and cartoonists John Marshall and John Hambrock. The college maintains a Career Services center and alumni network supporting professional development.