2026 Best Value Illustration Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Illustration](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/illustration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong illustration education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value illustration schools.
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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
2026 Best Value Illustration Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the illustration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Illustration Schools
Minnesota State University Moorhead tops our 2026 list of the best value illustration schools in the The Plains States Region. Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Moorhead. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,428. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Minnesota State University Moorhead generally make around $38,587. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 59%.
A rank of #2 makes Minneapolis College Of Art And Design one of the best values for illustration. Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,484. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $27,000. Illustration graduates of Minneapolis College Of Art And Design earn a median of $23,687 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Minneapolis College Of Art And Design admits about 48% of applicants.
Webster University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in illustration, landing the #3 spot this year. Webster University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $31,750. Students borrow a median of $25,550 to complete the illustration program here. Early-career illustration graduates make about $20,257. That is a strong return on a $25,550 median debt. Webster University admits about 86% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kansas City Art Institute earned it the #4 place for illustration. Set in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Art Institute is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,550. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the illustration program here. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Kansas City Art Institute generally make around $29,513. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kansas City Art Institute admits about 55% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
