When exploring options for training in motion graphics, prospective design professionals have a myriad of choices to consider. Of course, the cost associated with whichever path a person decides on can vary greatly. The price for learning motion graphics will depend on the method of training that a student has decided to take, ranging from a four-year undergraduate or graduate degree, continuing education courses, online classes, bootcamps, and certificate programs. Learning motion graphics requires training across a wide range of graphic design applications and software such as Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, or Cinema 4D, in courses that can cost about $975 each with an education provider like Noble Desktop.
Many schools that offer courses in motion graphics also provide access to the Adobe Creative Cloud for training to learn related applications. However, some online schools do not supply that access, which means students must subscribe or purchase the Adobe Creative Cloud themselves. Accessing these applications requires an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, which costs $59.99 monthly for a licensing fee that varies depending on the payment method and number of software programs licensed. An individual subscription to Adobe After Effects, for example, through Adobe Creative Cloud costs $22.99 a month, which also allows users access to Cinema 4D for learning 3D modeling and rendering to use with motion graphics projects. Subscribing individually to any of the Adobe Creative Cloud applications includes a free trial period that allows access to training resources.
The Most Expensive Training Options for Learning Motion Graphics
If time or money is not an obstacle, a person may opt for applying to a college degree program in graphic design or film to learn motion graphics. The cost of a college education related to motion graphics will vary widely depending on the type of school a prospective Designer chooses. Of course, if a person decides to take on a college major in graphic design for training in motion graphics, that choice may be fairly expensive. A public college like the University of Georgia, for example, is among the top-ranked public research universities in the country and offers a graphic design BFA or MFA through the Lamar Dodd School of Art. Tuition at the University of Georgia averages around $11,000 annually for in-state residents and about $30,000 a year for out-of-state students.
By contrast, if someone decides to enroll at a private college like the University of Southern California to major in animation to learn motion graphics at the John C. Hench Division of Animation + Digital Arts, the tuition and fees will total around $68,000 a year.
Certificate Programs for Motion Graphics
Ambitious Graphic Designers who cannot afford the expense of a college degree in graphic design or filmmaking to learn motion graphics have several options for gaining skills with the appropriate techniques and tools without having to spend years on campus or going into debt. New learners and professional Designers looking for training in motion graphics may want to consider certificate training.
Certificate programs related to motion graphics can provide new skills for experienced Graphic Designers and related professions to work in film, television, web design, online video, or digital media. Newly acquired skills in motion graphics can lead to work as an independent contractor or working full-time or part-time as part of a company’s in-house design team. Motion graphics facilitate designing animation and visual effects or editing videos for securing careers as Motion Graphics Designers, Animators, 3D Animators, or Video Editors.
For example, Noble Desktop offers the Motion Graphics Certificate for live online training for people living anywhere. This program focuses on training in motion graphics and animation for creating visual effects or editing videos using After Effects, Cinema 4D Lite, and Premiere Pro. This certificate program provides hands-on training for working with motion graphics software. This course can be taken inside Manhattan classrooms or live online from anywhere in the world for $3,495, with financial options available.
Certificate training in motion graphics can also include advanced courses with related design tools through Ledet Training with the Adobe After Effects 201—After Effects Advanced course for high-level training in motion graphics and visual effects. This course provides lessons on keying, advanced color correction, motion tracking, expressions, and advanced 3D modeling that could help with finding a career in motion graphics, animation, or visual effects. This course costs $1,299 for live online training or learning inside classrooms in cities throughout the U.S.
It should be noted that while training in certificate programs and gaining certification are not the same thing, certificate training might help in eventually passing a certification exam. Passing a certification exam verifies expertise.
In-Person Motion Graphics Training
For anyone looking for training in motion graphics, there are options available with in-person classes through continuing education programs at local colleges. In Los Angeles, for instance, UCLA Extension offers the Motion Graphics I course to learn how to integrate digital graphics into After Effects for creating motion graphics content that can be used in visual effects or animated 3D typography through training in this 11-week course for $875.
In Atlanta, a school like Emory University offers the Graphic Design and Visual Communications Certificate program through its continuing education division for $2,495 for this three-month program.
The advantage of learning in-person is that students are allowed to interact directly with instructors and classmates. While there can undoubtedly be interaction between teachers and students in a live online setting, there is something more fulfilling about sharing personal space, the ability to read body language, or simply experiencing the chemistry of physical contact that comes from occupying the same room. Traveling can be the biggest difficulty for people attending class in-person, with obstacles like traffic, weather, or unforeseen events making commuting challenging.
Live Online Motion Graphics Training
Live online courses can help students learn skills in motion graphics, although some people may feel more comfortable in a classroom. However, virtual learning provides scheduling flexibility for those who have to work full-time or have other obligations. Enrolling in live online courses allows individuals to pursue learning options without having to deal with the stress of driving somewhere or searching for a parking space, not to mention getting to class on time.
Noble Desktop offers training for motion graphics in New York City classrooms as well as options for live online training. For example, you can enroll in Noble Desktop’s After Effects Bootcamp, focused on learning motion graphics to create animated graphics, animations, and visual effects. This live online course costs $975 and includes the opportunity for a free retake within one year.
Students may also choose to enroll at Certstaffix Training for the Premiere Pro CC (2024) Course, which provides live online training in fundamental skills associated with Adobe Premiere Pro, including how to add transitions, video effects, and titles to videos, as well as putting clips in motion, organizing media, and performing basic video editing functions. This three-day course costs $1,330.
On-Demand Motion Graphics Classes
Graphic Designers hoping to enhance their skills in motion graphics can enroll in on-demand courses that offer flexibility that can fit any work schedule. Training through on-demand motion graphics classes allows students to access assignments at their own pace and on their own time within the timeframe of the course. For example, Udemy offers the self-paced Become a Motion Graphics Artist: The Complete Course, providing training in motion graphics through nine-and-a-half hours of on-demand video tutorials. Students will learn motion graphics from scratch, including training in After Effects expressions, puppet tools, and exporting GIFs, at a cost of $49.99, with discounts often available.