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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Illustration Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

14 Colleges in the United States
1,036 Illustration Degrees Awarded
$30,002 Avg Early-Career Salary

Illustration degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their illustration programs.

College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best illustration schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Illustration in the Middle Atlantic 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

1
Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University tops our 2026 ranking of the best illustration schools. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 23 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse University in the most recent data year. Illustration graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $46,181 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in illustration from Syracuse University

2

Fashion Institute Of Technology came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best illustration schools. Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of New York. About 233 illustration degrees were awarded at Fashion Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their illustration degree from Fashion Institute Of Technology earn around $20,692 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500. See the full illustration program report for Fashion Institute Of Technology

3
Pratt Institute Main crest
Pratt Institute Main
Brooklyn, NY

A rank of #3 makes Pratt Institute Main one of the top schools for illustration. Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. Pratt Institute Main graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 104 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Pratt Institute Main in the most recent data year. Students who receive their illustration degree from Pratt Institute Main earn around $40,880 in the first couple years of their career. Pratt Institute Main graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Get the full illustration details for Pratt Institute Main

4

Rochester Institute Of Technology is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in illustration, ranking #4. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates 72% of students within six years. About 47 illustration degrees were awarded at Rochester Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $34,709 in their early career. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in illustration from Rochester Institute Of Technology

5

Students looking for a strong illustration program will find one at Maryland Institute College Of Art, which ranked #5. Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. About 72% of students finish within six years. Maryland Institute College Of Art awarded about 129 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $48,637 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full illustration program report for Maryland Institute College Of Art

6
The New School crest
The New School
New York, NY

The New School earned the #6 position for illustration this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The New School graduates 70% of students within six years. About 75 illustration degrees were awarded at The New School in the most recent year. Students who receive their illustration degree from The New School earn around $36,279 in the first couple years of their career. The New School graduates carry a median of $23,606 in student loans. Get the full illustration details for The New School

7

School Of Visual Arts came in at #7 for illustration this year. This mid-sized private for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 76% of students finish within six years. School Of Visual Arts awarded about 318 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Illustration graduates of School Of Visual Arts earn a median of $32,155 early in their careers. School Of Visual Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full illustration details for School Of Visual Arts

8
Suny At Fredonia crest
Suny At Fredonia
Fredonia, NY

Suny At Fredonia landed the #8 spot for illustration this year. Set in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Suny At Fredonia awarded about 22 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $19,451 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the illustration program at Suny At Fredonia

9
Marywood University crest
Marywood University
Scranton, PA

Marywood University earned the #9 position for illustration this year. Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 illustration degrees were awarded at Marywood University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Marywood University generally make around $25,727. Typical student debt for the program is $27,362. Get the full illustration details for Marywood University

10

Mohawk Valley Community College placed #10 among the best illustration schools. Located in the city of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 16 illustration degrees were awarded at Mohawk Valley Community College in the most recent year. Illustration graduates of Mohawk Valley Community College earn a median of $21,012 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,534 to complete this degree. Get the full illustration details for Mohawk Valley Community College

11

Moore College Of Art And Design earned the #11 position for illustration this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Moore College Of Art And Design graduates 57% of students within six years. About 22 illustration degrees were awarded at Moore College Of Art And Design in the most recent year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $20,587 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in illustration from Moore College Of Art And Design

12

Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts earned the #12 position for illustration this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 illustration degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts in the most recent year. Students who receive their illustration degree from Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts earn around $17,887 in the first couple years of their career. Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. More information about a degree in illustration from Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts

13

Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best illustration schools. Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lancaster. About 68% of students finish within six years. Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design awarded about 24 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design generally make around $25,830. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Get the full illustration details for Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 17 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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