Illustration Schools in Wisconsin

From animator to courtroom sketch artist, illustrators have more career options than ever before. Just a few growing career fields for illustrators include children’s book illustrator, video game illustrator, courtroom illustrator, storyboard artist, editorial illustrator, fashion illustrator, advertising illustrator, and medical illustrator. Because illustrators use a combination of manual tools and advanced software to create images, they are in high demand in the design field, architecture, technology, digital art, web design, and more.

Wisconsin-based illustrators can find work in these areas and many others depending on the city. For example, a large percentage of salaried artists and designers reside in the Milwaukee-Racine–Waukesha Metropolitan area. However, educators, researchers, and artists with a museum background may find opportunities just about anywhere.

Besides employment opportunities, Wisconsin is home to a wide variety of schools that offer excellent programs for aspiring artists and designers. They can be found just about anywhere from the small city of Platteville to the state’s largest city—Milwaukee.  Just a few of the top art and design schools here include Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), Carroll University in Waukesha, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and Viterbo University in La Crosse.

Continue reading to find out which Wisconsin schools offer the best programs for aspiring illustrators and where to find them.

Wisconsin Illustration Schools

Wisconsin is home to 84 Title IV degree-granting colleges and universities. The state’s top Title IVs are a mix of public and private institutions, and many come a hefty price tag. Fortunately, all Title IVs are eligible for federal financial aid programs, making them more accessible to students with financial need. Scroll through the list below to review Wisconsin’s top illustration schools and what they have to offer.

Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin Eau Claire – B.A. Art with Drawing + Painting, Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography, Printmaking Emphasis; Minor in Web Design & Development

Kenosha
University of Wisconsin Parkside - Degrees Offered: B. A. General Arts, Digital Arts with Concentration in Animation, Graphic Design, Illustration or Web Design; B.A. Design & Technology, Studio Arts with Concentration in Drawing, Printmaking, Crafts; Certificate in Film Studies, World Wide Web Publishing

Milwaukee
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) – B. F. A. Art, Communication Design, Drawing, Illustration, Integrated Studio Arts, Photography, Printmaking, Time-Based Media (Video & Animation); Minor in Animation, Video

Wisconsin Illustration Schools Other Options (Drawing Programs)

La Crosse
Viterbo University - Degrees Offered: B. A. Visual Communications, Digital Media, Graphic Design, Studio Art; B. F. A. Studio Art with Concentration in Design & Technical Production, Drawing, Graphic Arts and New Media, Interdisciplinary Studies, Photography, Printmaking; B. S. Communication Studies with Visual Communication Focus; Minor Art

Madison
University of Wisconsin Madison - Degrees Offered: B. S., B. F. A. Art with Emphasis in Digital Modeling, Graphic Design and Typography, Life Drawing, Multimedia, New Genres, Painting + Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, Video and Performance; M. A., M. F. A. Art with Graphics Specialization

Menomonie
University of Wisconsin Stout - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Animation, Art, Comic and Sequential Art, Digital Cinema, Entertainment Design, Graphic Design and Interactive Media, Studio Art with Drawing, Printmaking Emphasis; B. S. Game Design and Development, Graphic Communication Management, Professional Communication and Emerging Media; M. F. A. Design; Minor Art, Applied Photography

Milwaukee
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee - Degrees Offered: B.A. Studio Art; B. F. A. Design & Visual Communications, Digital Studio Practice, Film, New Genres, Photography, Painting + Drawing, Print and Narrative Forms, Video; M.A. Studio Art; M.F.A. Film, New Genres, Studio Art, Video; Minor in Art

Stevens Point
University of Wisconsin Stevens Point - Degrees Offered: B.A. Art with Studio Art Emphasis; B. F. A. Art with 2D (Drawing, Painting), 3D (Ceramics, Sculpture), Communications with Media Studies, Design & Technology, Graphic Design; B.S. Web Design & Digital Media (WDMD) with Design or Technical Focus  

Employment and Salary Trends for Wisconsin Illustrators

According to the latest report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (March 27, 2012), Wisconsin is home to 32,900 salaried artists and designers. This includes fine artists (illustrators, sculptors, painters), animators & multimedia artists, graphic designers, craft artists, actors, filmmakers, and more. The population has increased since 2002, when the state was home to 31,040 salaried artists and designers. Salaries are on the rise as well. The average salary for Wisconsin artists and designers is $42,470, up from $34,740 in 2002. Of the state’s 32,000+ salaried artists and designers, 150 are fine artists. In 2002, the state was home to 190 salaried fine artists. They average $39,500 per year, up from $33,500 in 2002.

As stated, aspiring illustrators may find it easier to secure a salaried position in the Milwaukee-Racine–Waukesha Metropolitan area. However, according to City Population ( HYPERLINK "http://www.citypopulation.de/" Citypopulation.de), the state is home to 11 principal cities. They include Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, Appleton, Waukesha, Oshkosh, Eau Claire, Janesville, and West Allis.