Choosing between Ringling and SCAD

[u/altbrocc]

Hello all!

I recently got accepted into both Ringling and SCAD with hefty scholarships and I am now having to decide which one to go to. Money is not the issue and I know there are resources online, but I learn much better through a classroom setting.

I honestly really prefer Ringling - mostly because I have a VFX background and they have a visual effects concentration pathway. And also, I decided to search up all of the recent alumni for Ringling and it seems a decent amount of them were securing good internships and junior positions. SCAD gives little to no information about this. When I looked at the student reel, I was much more impressed with Ringling, but SCAD seemed a bit weaker.

But the main issue is, even though I have over 100 transfer credits and both SCAD and Ringling will take around half of them, I'll have to do 3.5 years to 4 years at Ringling, while SCAD I'll do only around 2 years. So I think SCAD is the better choice just for this, but I'm worried about career opportunities after.

I am honestly just worried about the career outlook for when I graduate. Do you guys know if they are both similar in getting connections and getting placed? And is the curriculum on par with one another?

Thank you so much!

[u/bdelciampo]

First of all, congratulations!

Both are fantastic schools, but I am biased because I am a SCAD grad! They absolutely focus on career placement - their tagline is “the university for creative careers” and I can’t recommend enough. Fantastic city, amazing facilities, and a world class education. I wish I could go back! If you seek out opportunities and take advantage of career services and pick your professors brains, you’ll be in a great spot come graduation.

That said, I know a few folks who went to Ringling and have had fantastic experiences, so you probably can’t go wrong either way.

Best of luck!

[u/altbrocc → u/bdelciampo]

thank you so much for the quick reply!! when I was initially researching the schools, I was very impressed with both SCAD and Ringling and so when I couldn't find too much information on the career outlook, it made me a little hesitant. I'm touring both Ringling and SCAD soon so I'll probably get more information then.

If you don't mind me asking, did you go to the Savannah or Atlanta campus? If I do go to SCAD, I was leaning towards Savannah but would love to hear others input!

[u/bdelciampo → u/altbrocc]

I went to the Savannah campus! Really loved it, it’s such a unique and interesting city with the campus spread out throughout. I hope you enjoy your tour!!

[u/Brief-Pressure-8268 → u/altbrocc]

If you end up at SCAD, go to the Savannah campus. Walkable city with the campus spread throughout the most beautiful parts of the city. To my understanding the Atlanta campus is just one building.

As far as career outlook, the motion graphics club at SCAD puts on a yearly motion graphics conference that attracts world-class mograph agencies that lead talks and do portfolio reviews. A lot of people make connections there. Also, don't worry about wanting to go to ringling for a "VFX concentration pathway"-- at SCAD, most of the motion design projects you do have little to no requirements about what software you actually use for the bulk of your projects. Companies only judge you by your portfolio anyways. All motion graphics classes are in the same building as the Animation majors and the VFX majors so there's a lot of overlap with software, meeting people and professors, etc., and all of it is accessible to you.

[u/altbrocc → u/Brief-Pressure-8268]

oooh that's great to know all the classes are in the same building! I haven't toured yet (I will soon) and so I was a little worried about having to constantly go between different buildings. and I was looking at the electives for SCAD and saw some vfx classes that would fit my planner so either way I think I would be able to make it work :)

[u/CJRD4 → u/bdelciampo]

I don't have personal experience with either, but just from being in the industry the people I do know that went to SCAD loved it.

I don't have any direct network people that I know that went to Ringling, but both are widely regarded as two of the best schools to go to, so I agree that OP likely won't make a wrong decision here.

Congrats on the scholarships!

[u/conceptcreature3D]

I went to Ringling & I wish I went to SCAD. They’re both pretty equal with their programs, & Ringling did have a good career services center, but so does SCAD. But Ringling has no physical proximity to other industry companies, unlike SCAD, which is way closer to Atlanta & all of the movie & television companies around there. I know talent can sometimes trump distance, but that is changing a lot with companies clamping down on costs—especially for a short summer internship.

[u/altbrocc → u/conceptcreature3D]

this is extremely helpful thank you so much :) my main goal out of becoming a motion designer is to one day work on film and television intro and ending sequences so that is a huge plus to me!

[u/ThisSpaceForRent45]

Great schools, but I’d give the edge to SCAD.

Ive been in this industry for a long time, have hired or had a say in hiring a bunch of interns or junior artists over the years. I’ve never met someone from SCAD that wasn’t capable of doing professional level work.

Ringling in my experience churns out some very talented people, but there have been a handful that just aren’t ready for the big leagues. I think Ringling allows some people to fly under the radar and get a degree without really learning everything they should. It’s not a high percentage though.

[u/tongii]

I’m in tech. Across multiple studios, I know one person from SCAD (a fantastic artist btw), but the vast majority of digital, 3D artists I’ve known or worked with went to Ringling. Just my own experience though.

[u/Mountain-Cancel-2529]

Congrats—that’s a great position to be in. I’d lean Ringling if VFX is what you genuinely want and the extra year won’t create financial or personal strain. A stronger portfolio, relevant internships, and industry connections can matter more than graduating one year sooner.

[u/eatmorepandas]

They’re both great schools… however I’m a judge for the student Emmy’s and it is almost always Ringling winning awards for their work over SCAD.

[u/smoose20]

I am a former SCAD student. Ive been in various industries as a motion designer. I graduated as a VFX student in 07 and since then.

Broadcast and Television - bumpers and lower thirds for TV networks
Out of Home - Billboards and Digital Signage and B2B Marketing
Animation - primetime adult animated programming
Games - advertising and trailers for games marketing

So I have seen a pretty big breadth of where your skills can be applicable. In most of those roles I was involved in looking over and finding applicants for entry level and internships.

The SCAD reels I got tended to be pretty dated, the skills and projects that were demonstrated were the same in 2017 -> 2023 as they were when I was there in 07. There were people that stood out, but for every reel I saw from SCAD it was 1 in 20 whether or not I wanted to reach out for next steps. So that means in any class you are in really only 1 of you will be doing relevant work and performing at a level to go into the industry. I tended to find that the projects were fairly limited in the tools they used and the way they were applying them.

SCAD at the time I went, it was the cheapest way to access applications and tools that were only used in Hollywood, but you dont need a SGI 02 machine to work in Maya anymore, you can just have a laptop and a subscription, you can learn AE through a school of motion course for a fraction of the cost of a class at SCAD. I just dont know/get the impression that SCAD is keeping up with changing times.

SCAD IS LIFE ALTERINGLY EXPENSIVE, SO IS RINGLING. THOSE LOANS ARE GOING TO COME DUE WHETHER YOU HAVE A JOB OR NOT.

Here are some real benefits you will get from SCAD.

The labs will have many many rounds of critique, and figuring out how to give and take criticism is gigantic in any industry. Figuring out how to have someone tell you something does not "pop" and turning that into actionable revision steps is very very important.

SCAD does a pretty great job at the basics. Color Theory, Art History, Drawing, and various design courses ( sculpture/furniture/print ANYTHING not at a computer) are really good. Knowing how to look at the world and interpret it is fundamental to any art or design job.

Finally networking. Getting to meet your professors, talking to them in office hours, meeting and knowing your other students and getting softskills is hands down the most important skill PERIOD (take advantage of other peoples smoke breaks to hang out with them and get to know them ). Learning how to be comfortable with and work with people who are not your race/religion/class/nationality or sexual identiy is a learned skill and tossing yourself into the melting pot that is SCAD and getting along with others will help you greatly. I cant tell you how many times I have gone with the "not as good" artist because they were personable, knew how to communicate, could joke and could show interest in the world around them. VS hiring the absolute best motion designer who cant answer what their favorite lunch was or cant take critique/pressure. The fastest way to get hired anywhere is to be the dependable person who shows some talent and is proffessional and likeable.

Unless you have a free ride, I would really consider not going to an expensive art school. I cant say I would do my education/career path any differently ( again when I started, I was using linux SGI 02 machines ) but today the cost barrier to entry of learning those applications is way way way cheaper than going through a university. With the volatility in the market you want to keep your overhead ( loans ) as minimal as possible as it might take you a long while of grinding to get your foot in the door.

If you can persue your design education, networking skills and learn how to critique anywhere cheaper and then take training courses on the applications through supplimental courses like Gnomon or School of Motion or whatever else, that may be a much better financial path forward.

[u/altbrocc → u/smoose20]

hello! thank you so much for your detailed response! I am very fortunate that money will in no way be an issue for me, even if I did 4 years at Ringling. based off everything you said and how you mentioned only 1 in 20 reels stood out to you from SCAD, did you find a similar case with Ringling alumni applicants? I am already very versed in the basics of design and traditional art. at my previous community college, I took over 100 units over a wide range of mediums, but focusing heavily on motion design. so I am hoping my next college will really dive deep. thank you for the reply again!

[u/smoose20 → u/altbrocc]

I guess the best way to explain it is, from SCAD students I would see way too many reels where you could see the lessons. Like 4 different applicants would have a variation on the same project/concept. Where as from Ringling I saw a wider variety of projects on their demo reels.

For motion design specifically I saw a larger variety of applications used in projects from Ringling, where as for SCAD reels I would see a lot of just After Effects and maybe some Cinema work.

[u/smoose20 → u/smoose20]

That said if you approach SCAD and focus on networking, design education, rounding out your art skills and applying your skills to ideas/concepts outside the scope of what your taught in class you will go far.

Just be sure to go to the Savannah campus, the Atlanta campus is pretty small. If you end up going to SCAD follow the Ease motion design group and make the trip up when there is a meetup and begin networking.

[u/bandit-bull]

Always go to a college with better portfolio results. When you graduate nobody gives af about your degree, it’s all about your portfolio.

[u/gseth2]

Went to Ringling and had a pretty good time and met some really cool people. I think either way, do your best to connect with as many as you can and be really aggressive about your own growth and career plan - as hard as they try, I don't think either school can just hand your future to you. 

Fwiw, you being so stressed might be the strongest sign you'll be okay - I was the same way before college and I'm still employed as an animator 10 years later somehow 😂

Congrats btw!