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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 New England 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
No school ranked higher than Boston University this year for illustration. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 illustration degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Students who receive their illustration degree from Boston University earn around $49,254 in the first couple years of their career. Boston University graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in illustration from Boston University
Rhode Island School Of Design is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in illustration, ranking #2. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 116 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Rhode Island School Of Design in the most recent data year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $29,489 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the illustration program at Rhode Island School Of Design
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in illustration, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 72 illustration degrees were awarded at Massachusetts College Of Art And Design in the most recent 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
Lesley University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in illustration, ranking #4. Located in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 17 illustration degrees were awarded at Lesley University in the most recent year. Illustration graduates of Lesley University earn a median of $25,227 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete this degree.
See the full illustration program report for Lesley University
Students looking for a strong illustration program will find one at University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth, which ranked #5. 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. About 10 illustration degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the most recent year. Illustration graduates of University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earn a median of $29,660 early in their careers. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in illustration from University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
University Of Hartford ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best illustration schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of West Hartford. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 33 illustration degrees were awarded at University Of Hartford in the most recent year. Illustration graduates of University Of Hartford earn a median of $29,515 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in illustration from University Of Hartford
Maine College Of Art placed #7 among the best illustration schools. Set in the city of Portland, Maine College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. Maine College Of Art graduates 52% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Maine College Of Art in the most recent data year. Illustration graduates of Maine College Of Art earn a median of $29,001 early in their careers. Maine College Of Art graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the illustration program at Maine College Of Art
Montserrat College Of Art landed the #8 spot for illustration this year. Set in the suburb of Beverly, Montserrat College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Montserrat College Of Art awarded about 21 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their illustration degree from Montserrat College Of Art earn around $19,865 in the first couple years of their career. Montserrat College Of Art graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full illustration details for Montserrat College Of Art
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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 · 12 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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