Minneapolis, MN (population: 386,751) has four animation schools within its city limits. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, the highest ranked school in the city with an animation program, has a total student population of 51,659. It is the 31st highest ranked school in the USA and the highest in the state of Minnesota.
Animation students from Minneapolis schools who go on to become animation artists, animators, animation designers, game designers, etc. have a good chance at finding employment. Also, Multimedia artists and animators make on average $62,810 per year and there are about 28,800 of them employed in the US today.
Minneapolis lies in Hennepin county, which is one of the 61 counties in Minnesota. Overall, the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington-WI area has 1,729,750 total employed workers according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a 0.4% unemployment rate, $23.40/hr average worker wage, and a $48,670 average annual salary.
Of the 4 animation schools in Minneapolis, only 2 have a student population over 10k. After taking into account tuition, living expenses, and financial aid, Minneapolis College of Art and Design comes out as the most expensive ($30,527/yr) for animation students, with Minneapolis Community and Technical College as the lowest, reported at only $13,072/yr.
| Name | State | Population | # of Schools | Avg School Rank | Total Programs | Distance from Minneapolis |
| St Louis Park | MN | - | 1 | 8.81324 | 12 | 3.9 miles |
| Saint Louis Park | MN | 46,353 | 2 | 11.1178 | 24 | 4.5 miles |
| Edina | MN | 45,900 | 0 | - | 0 | 6.5 miles |
| Mendota Heights | MN | - | 2 | 22.3643 | 19 | 8.3 miles |
| Saint Paul | MN | 281,501 | 17 | 26.5648 | 744 | 8.4 miles |
| Brooklyn Center | MN | - | 2 | 15.2653 | 32 | 8.6 miles |
| Bloomington | MN | 81,380 | 8 | 29.5654 | 333 | 9.3 miles |
| Plymouth | MN | 72,954 | 4 | 34.6308 | 185 | 10.2 miles |
| Eagan | MN | 64,507 | 4 | 19.0283 | 31 | 11.1 miles |
| Brooklyn Park | MN | 72,758 | 3 | 8.3746 | 127 | 11.1 miles |
| Eden Prairie | MN | 62,379 | 2 | 4.18307 | 19 | 12.0 miles |
| Inver Grove Heights | MN | - | 1 | 10.5306 | 43 | 13.6 miles |
| Burnsville | MN | 59,309 | 1 | 29.2107 | 2 | 13.8 miles |
| Maple Grove | MN | 63,633 | 0 | - | 0 | 13.9 miles |
| Blaine | MN | 56,366 | 2 | 20.1744 | 20 | 14.8 miles |
| White Bear Lake | MN | - | 1 | 10.7099 | 66 | 15.4 miles |
| Woodbury | MN | 58,631 | 2 | 26.3629 | 27 | 17.5 miles |
| Lake Elmo | MN | - | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 19.3 miles |
| Saint Peter | MN | - | 1 | 36.7798 | 76 | 56.1 miles |
| Saint Cloud | MN | 67,771 | 3 | 25.374 | 204 | 59.9 miles |
| Pine City | MN | - | 1 | 14.515 | 24 | 62.2 miles |
| Mankato | MN | - | 3 | 19.0215 | 174 | 65.8 miles |
| North Mankato | MN | - | 1 | 14.452 | 54 | 66.2 miles |
| Willmar | MN | - | 1 | 19.0395 | 78 | 87.7 miles |
| Eau Claire | WI | 66,106 | 3 | 29.3261 | 160 | 87.8 miles |