Firstly, there is no 'best'. It's like asking what the best pair of trainers is. The only question is "where's best for you?"
If you're considering animation, try some now. The only way to see if you like it is to try it, and you don't need to wait for someone to set you a project. It's easy to do with a phone and something to hold it steady. Invent your own stories and techniques. It's something that requires huge amounts of time and patience - some people love it, some don't.
Most illustration degrees will have projects or whole modules exploring animation, so it's not necessarily one or the other.
Where would you prefer to live? Big city or somewhere quiter? North, south, east or west? Cheaper or more expensive?