by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study illustration, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 48 colleges ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing illustration, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits (including GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon support), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Explore the best illustration colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Here are the top-ranked illustration colleges for veterans:
Leading the list is Salt Lake Community College, our #1 illustration college for veterans. It scores 86.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about illustration at Salt Lake Community College
Collin County Community College District is a great choice for veterans pursuing illustration, landing the #2 spot this year. It scores 83.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the illustration program at Collin County Community College District
A rank of #3 makes Virginia Commonwealth University one of the top illustration colleges for veteran students. Virginia Commonwealth University scores 81.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full illustration report for Virginia Commonwealth University
A rank of #4 makes Ferris State University one of the top illustration colleges for veteran students. It scores 77.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about illustration at Ferris State University
Veteran students seeking a strong illustration program will find one at Academy of Art University, which ranked #5. Academy of Art University scores 76.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 96.8, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
Read more about illustration at Academy of Art University
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Brigham Young University came in at #6 for veteran illustration students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 74.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the illustration program at Brigham Young University
John Brown University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best illustration colleges for veterans. John Brown University scores 73.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 88.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. See the full illustration report for John Brown University
Syracuse University came in at #8 for veteran illustration students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 73.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 43.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about illustration at Syracuse University
Cuyahoga Community College District placed #9 among the best illustration colleges for veterans. It scores 72.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the illustration program at Cuyahoga Community College District
Fashion Institute of Technology placed #10 among the best illustration colleges for veterans. It scores 72.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 0.0.
More about the illustration program at Fashion Institute of Technology
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University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth came in at #11 for veteran illustration students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 71.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the illustration program at University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
Rochester Institute of Technology came in at #12 for veteran illustration students this year. Rochester Institute of Technology scores 71.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 47.6, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full illustration report for Rochester Institute of Technology
SUNY at Fredonia ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best illustration colleges for veterans. SUNY at Fredonia scores 71.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full illustration report for SUNY at Fredonia
Sessions College for Professional Design ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best illustration colleges for veterans. Sessions College for Professional Design scores 70.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. Read more about illustration at Sessions College for Professional Design
Columbia College Chicago came in at #15 for veteran illustration students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 68.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 83.4, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Read more about illustration at Columbia College Chicago
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Mohawk Valley Community College placed #16 among the best illustration colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 67.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full illustration report for Mohawk Valley Community College
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best illustration colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 67.3 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. Read more about illustration at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
New England College landed the #18 spot for veterans pursuing illustration. It scores 67.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 65.2, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full illustration report for New England College
Marywood University placed #19 among the best illustration colleges for veterans. Marywood University scores 66.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 68.5, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full illustration report for Marywood University
University of Hartford came in at #20 for veteran illustration students this year. University of Hartford scores 65.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 56.9, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
Read more about illustration at University of Hartford
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Seattle Pacific University landed the #21 spot for veterans pursuing illustration. The school's overall veterans score is 65.5 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 69.9, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. See the full illustration report for Seattle Pacific University
The New School came in at #22 for veteran illustration students this year. It scores 65.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 48.1, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the illustration program at The New School
School of Visual Arts landed the #23 spot for veterans pursuing illustration. School of Visual Arts scores 61.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 55.2, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the illustration program at School of Visual Arts
Arcadia University came in at #24 for veteran illustration students this year. It scores 61.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 56.2, and veteran resources 33.3. See the full illustration report for Arcadia University
Maryland Institute College of Art landed the #25 spot for veterans pursuing illustration. Maryland Institute College of Art scores 61.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 49.2, and veteran resources 0.0. More about the illustration program at Maryland Institute College of Art
Not far behind, these illustration colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
We measure this ranking on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying illustration: affordability and veteran financial benefits (GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
