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Featured Illustration Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Schools for Illustration in California
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the illustration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Illustration
Art Center College Of Design is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in illustration. Located in the city of Pasadena, Art Center College Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Art Center College Of Design graduates 79% of students within six years. Art Center College Of Design awarded about 140 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their illustration degree from Art Center College Of Design earn around $47,053 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $31,050 to complete this degree.
See the full illustration program report for Art Center College Of Design
A rank of #2 makes California College Of The Arts one of the top schools for illustration. Located in the city of San Francisco, California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit university. 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. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from California College Of The Arts generally make around $28,673. 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
Laguna College Of Art And Design came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best illustration schools. Located in the rural area of Laguna Beach, Laguna College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. Laguna College Of Art And Design graduates 52% of students within six years. There were roughly 44 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Laguna College Of Art And Design in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Laguna College Of Art And Design generally make around $27,785. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full illustration details for Laguna College Of Art And Design
Students looking for a strong illustration program will find one at Academy Of Art University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. About 34% of students finish within six years. About 85 illustration degrees were awarded at Academy Of Art University in the most recent year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $28,555 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $33,312 to complete this degree.
Read more about the illustration program at Academy Of Art University
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 7 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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