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2026 Best Value Illustration Schools in Tennessee

[Illustration](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/illustration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 2 schools to find the best return on investment for illustration students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Illustration Schools in Tennessee

2026 Best Value Illustration Schools in Tennessee

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in illustration, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Illustration Schools

1

Nossi College Of Art
Nashville, TN

$20,350 In-State Tuition & Fees

$46,500 Avg Student Debt

$35,113 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is Nossi College Of Art, our #1 best value for illustration in Tennessee. Nossi College Of Art is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $20,350 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $46,500. Illustration graduates of Nossi College Of Art earn a median of $24,497 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $46,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.

2

Belmont University
Nashville, TN

$42,540 In-State Tuition & Fees

$27,000 Avg Student Debt

$55,930 Median Earnings (10yr)

Students looking for strong value in illustration will find it at Belmont University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,540. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $27,000. Illustration graduates of Belmont University earn a median of $28,702 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.

View All Illustration Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.