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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 the Great Lakes Region
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
Our analysis ranked College For Creative Studies the best school in the country for a degree in illustration. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Detroit. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 46 illustration degrees were awarded at College For Creative Studies in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from College For Creative Studies generally make around $32,665. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Get the full illustration details for College For Creative Studies
Students looking for a strong illustration program will find one at Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design, which ranked #2. Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design graduates 67% of students within six years. About 88 illustration degrees were awarded at Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design in the most recent 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.
Read more about the illustration program at Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design
A rank of #3 makes Ferris State University one of the top schools for illustration. This large public university is located in the town of Big Rapids. Ferris State University graduates 56% of students within six years. Ferris State University awarded about 22 illustration degrees in the most recent data 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.
More information about a degree in illustration from Ferris State University
Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best illustration schools. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public university. Cuyahoga Community College District awarded about 12 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $22,517 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,795 to complete this degree.
Read more about the illustration program at Cuyahoga Community College District
A rank of #5 makes Columbia College Chicago one of the top schools for illustration. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 52% of students finish within six years. Columbia College Chicago awarded about 55 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Illustration graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $29,630 early in their careers. Columbia College Chicago graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in illustration from Columbia College Chicago
Cleveland Institute Of Art earned the #6 position for illustration this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland Institute Of Art is a small private not-for-profit university. Cleveland Institute Of Art graduates 58% of students within six years. Cleveland Institute Of Art awarded about 34 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their illustration degree from Cleveland Institute Of Art earn around $23,358 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full illustration program report for Cleveland Institute Of Art
Columbus College Of Art And Design landed the #7 spot for illustration this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 78 illustration degrees were awarded at Columbus College Of Art And Design in the most recent year. Students who receive their illustration degree from Columbus College Of Art And Design earn around $27,970 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 Columbus College Of Art And Design
Art Academy Of Cincinnati landed the #8 spot for illustration this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Art Academy Of Cincinnati is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 41% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Art Academy Of Cincinnati in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Art Academy Of Cincinnati generally make around $20,921. Art Academy Of Cincinnati graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full illustration details for Art Academy Of Cincinnati
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 14 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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