Translate your creative ideas through concept, design and digital media with a bachelor's in graphic design online from Southern New Hampshire University.
The illustration program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we built our Best Illustration Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Illustration School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Illustration Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Translate your creative ideas through concept, design and digital media with a bachelor's in graphic design online from Southern New Hampshire University.
Boston University tops our 2026 ranking of the best illustration schools. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Boston University awarded about 10 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $49,254. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the illustration program at Boston University
Syracuse University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best illustration schools. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. About 84% of students finish within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 23 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $46,181. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the illustration program at Syracuse University
Fashion Institute Of Technology is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in illustration, ranking #3. Located in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. About 233 illustration degrees were awarded at Fashion Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $20,692. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the illustration program at Fashion Institute Of Technology
Pratt Institute Main came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best illustration schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Brooklyn. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 104 illustration degrees were awarded at Pratt Institute Main in the most recent year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $40,880 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
More information about a degree in illustration from Pratt Institute Main
Collin County Community College District came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best illustration schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of McKinney. About 28 illustration degrees were awarded at Collin County Community College District in the most recent year. Illustration graduates of Collin County Community College District earn a median of $33,456 early in their careers. Collin County Community College District graduates carry a median of $6,900 in student loans.
Read more about the illustration program at Collin County Community College District
Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #6 spot for illustration this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Rochester. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. Rochester Institute Of Technology awarded about 47 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their illustration degree from Rochester Institute Of Technology earn around $34,709 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the illustration program at Rochester Institute Of Technology
Rhode Island School Of Design landed the #7 spot for illustration this year. Rhode Island School Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 116 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Rhode Island School Of Design in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Rhode Island School Of Design generally make around $29,489. Rhode Island School Of Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full illustration program report for Rhode Island School Of Design
Maryland Institute College Of Art ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best illustration schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 129 illustration degrees were awarded at Maryland Institute College Of Art in the most recent year. Illustration graduates of Maryland Institute College Of Art earn a median of $48,637 early in their careers. Maryland Institute College Of Art graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the illustration program at Maryland Institute College Of Art
The New School ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best illustration schools. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The New School graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 75 illustration students who graduated with this degree at The New School in the most recent data year. Students who receive their illustration degree from The New School earn around $36,279 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,606.
See the full illustration program report for The New School
Brigham Young University Provo ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best illustration schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Provo. About 81% of students finish within six years. Brigham Young University Provo awarded about 16 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $33,915. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in illustration from Brigham Young University Provo
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best illustration schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design awarded about 72 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $24,706 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
More information about a degree in illustration from Massachusetts College Of Art And Design
Virginia Commonwealth University earned the #12 position for illustration this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Richmond. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates 63% of students within six years. About 139 illustration degrees were awarded at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $36,156. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates carry a median of $25,937 in student loans.
More information about a degree in illustration from Virginia Commonwealth University
Brigham Young University Idaho came in at #13 for illustration this year. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Brigham Young University Idaho awarded about 11 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their illustration degree from Brigham Young University Idaho earn around $43,853 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,287 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in illustration from Brigham Young University Idaho
Art Center College Of Design placed #14 among the best illustration schools. Art Center College Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. There were roughly 140 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Art Center College Of Design in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Art Center College Of Design generally make around $47,053. Students borrow a median of $31,050 to complete this degree.
See the full illustration program report for Art Center College Of Design
Mesa Community College came in at #15 for illustration this year. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public university. About 25 illustration degrees were awarded at Mesa Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Mesa Community College generally make around $54,730. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete this degree.
Get the full illustration details for Mesa Community College
Lesley University placed #16 among the best illustration schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Lesley University graduates 58% of students within six years. Lesley University awarded about 17 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Illustration graduates of Lesley University earn a median of $25,227 early in their careers. Lesley University graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in illustration from Lesley University
College For Creative Studies ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best illustration schools. Located in the city of Detroit, College For Creative Studies is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. College For Creative Studies awarded about 46 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their illustration degree from College For Creative Studies earn around $32,665 in the first couple years of their career. College For Creative Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
Get the full illustration details for College For Creative Studies
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earned the #18 position for illustration this year. Set in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 illustration students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the most recent data year. Students who receive their illustration degree from University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earn around $29,660 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in illustration from University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
California College Of The Arts placed #19 among the best illustration schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Francisco. California College Of The Arts graduates 61% of students within six years. About 36 illustration degrees were awarded at California College Of The Arts in the most recent year. Students who receive their illustration degree from California College Of The Arts earn around $28,673 in the first couple years of their career. California College Of The Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in illustration from California College Of The Arts
Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best illustration schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design awarded about 88 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Illustration graduates of Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design earn a median of $28,801 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full illustration details for Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design
University Of Hartford placed #21 among the best illustration schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of West Hartford. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 33 illustration degrees were awarded at University Of Hartford in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from University Of Hartford generally make around $29,515. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full illustration program report for University Of Hartford
Ferris State University placed #22 among the best illustration schools. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. Ferris State University graduates 56% of students within six years. About 22 illustration degrees were awarded at Ferris State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their illustration degree from Ferris State University earn around $34,045 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full illustration details for Ferris State University
School Of Visual Arts earned the #23 position for illustration this year. School Of Visual Arts is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of New York. School Of Visual Arts graduates 76% of students within six years. School Of Visual Arts awarded about 318 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $32,155 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full illustration details for School Of Visual Arts
John Brown University landed the #24 spot for illustration this year. Set in the town of Siloam Springs, John Brown University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 illustration students who graduated with this degree at John Brown University in the most recent data year. Illustration graduates of John Brown University earn a median of $24,893 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full illustration details for John Brown University
Cuyahoga Community College District ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best illustration schools. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. There were roughly 12 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Cuyahoga Community College District in the most recent data year. Students who receive their illustration degree from Cuyahoga Community College District earn around $22,517 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,795.
Read more about the illustration program at Cuyahoga Community College District
Rest of the Top 48 Illustration Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s illustration ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 79 schools evaluated.
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).
