Illustration Schools in Michigan

The scenic state of Michigan is surrounded by four Great Lakes—Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Superior, and Lake Erie. You’ll find more than 3,000 miles of gorgeous coastline here, and unusual places that can only be created by nature. The world’s largest limestone quarry is actually located in one of Michigan’s smallest cities—Rogers City. The state is home to the world’s largest cement plant, the longest freshwater shoreline n the world, and the largest commercial deposit of copper in the world. With so many unusual places, breathtaking scenery, and major art museums such as The Detroit Institute of Arts Museum and The Museum of Contemporary Art, its no wonder nearly 45,000 artists call Michigan home.

Not only does Michigan have a large population of artists, it also has one of the most diverse groups of artists in the region. Some work in animation, gaming, or special effects, while others are painters, performance artists or illustrators. The state’s illustrators work in a number of fields from advertising and publishing to education and medicine. As aspiring artists, many illustrators (and other artists) studied at local colleges such as The College for Creative Studies in Detroit and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Besides these colleges, Michigan is home more than 100 accredited colleges. Many of them offer art programs.

Michigan Illustration Schools

Michigan is home to several art schools and traditional colleges that offer a degree in illustration or illustration “track.” These schools offer a variety of degree levels including a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B. F. A.), and a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.). Scroll through the list below see what Michigan’s illustration schools have to offer.

Allendale
Grand Valley State University - Degrees Offered: B. F. A., B. A. Art and Design with Emphasis in Graphic Design, Illustration; B. A., B. S. Communications: Film and Video Production with Animation/New Media Emphasis

Detroit
College for Creative Studies – Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Entertainment Arts/Animation, Graphic Design, Illustration; M. F. A. Design

Grand Rapids
Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University - B. F. A. Digital Media, Graphic Design, Illustration

More Illustration related programs to consider:  

Employment and Salary Trends for Michigan Illustrators

Michigan is home to 44,180 salaried artists. This figure has decreased since 2002, when the state was home to 51,460 artists. Although the number of salaried artists living in Michigan decreased overall between 2002 and 2010, the number of fine artists/illustrators was higher in 2010 than it was in 2002. In 2002, the state was home to 300 fine artists/illustrators. In 2010, the population was 460. Nationwide, there are more than 23,000 salaried fine artists/illustrators and thousands of independent artists. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 9 percent increase in the population between 2008 and 2018, when the talent pool is expected to reach 25,700.

When it comes to salaries, Michigan’s community of illustrator’s fare well. The average salary for fine artists was higher in 2010 than it was in 2002. In 2002, the average salary for illustrators/fine artists was $37,050. In 2010, it nearly doubled to $60,950. Nationwide, the median annual wages of illustrators were $42,650. The lowest paid illustrators earned less than $20,780, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $83,410. The middle 50 percent earned between $29,230 and $60,650.

Independent contractors, freelancers, and entrepreneur salaries may be higher or lower based on experience, specialization, type of company, location, and other factors. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for independent artists nationwide was $51,340 in 2010.