| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ArtCenter College of Design | Pasadena |
| 2 | San Jose State University | San Jose |
| 3 | Otis College of Art and Design | Los Angeles |
| 4 | California State University, Long Beach | Long Beach |
| 5 | California State University, Fullerton | Fullerton |
| 6 | Laguna College of Art and Design | Laguna Beach |
| 7 | Academy of Art University | San Francisco |
| 8 | California State University, Northridge | Northridge |
| 9 | California State University, Fresno | Fresno |
| 10 | California State University, East Bay | Hayward |
Our 2026 ranking of the top illustration schools in California. The criteria we used for the animation rankings consists, in no particular order, of the following: Academic reputation, Employment data, Admission selectivity, Depth and breadth of the program, Value as it relates to tuition and indebtedness, Graduation rate, and Retention rate. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
The Illustration BFA program at ArtCenter College of Design (ArtCenter) has five tracks. Options include Illustration Design; Entertainment Arts; Fine Art Painting; Motion Design; and Surface Design. For students seeking an advanced degree, the school has a customizable Art MFA program with private, individual studios, and the opportunity to participate in up to five exhibitions, including a solo show. Across programs, graduates have been hired at places such as Wieden + Kennedy, Google, Marvel Studios, Riot Games, DreamWorks, Apple, The Los Angeles Times, Disney, Nike, BMW, and Adidas.
The Department of Design at San Jose State University (SJSU) provides two paths to study illustration including an Animation and Illustration BFA, and the Design Studies BA with a specialization in Animation and Illustration. Thanks to partnerships with studios such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Sony, and DreamWorks, Design Department students have opportunities to intern with some of the world’s top production studios. Other program highlights include guest lecturers from major studios; immersive workshops; and access to state-of-the-art production facilities and labs. In addition to ILM, Sony, and DreamWorks, graduates are routinely hired at places such as Lucasfilm Animation, Electronic Arts (EA), Warner Bros., Disney, Blizzard Entertainment, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Pixar, and Riot Games.
Otis College of Art and Design (OTIS) has an Illustration BFA program that allows students to focus in multiple areas through electives and minors. Popular examples include Book Arts, Digital Media, and Advertising Design. Housed in the Communication Arts Department, the program also features field trips to conventions and production studios; visiting artists and lecturers; immersive workshops; access to state-of-the-art facilities and labs; and professional internships and study abroad experiences. Program alumni can be found at places such as Condé Nast, Hallmark, Ogilvy, Disney, WB Network, Nike, Apple, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Sony, Mattel, Netflix, LA Weekly, and 20th Century Studios.
The School of Art (SoA) at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) houses the Art BFA and Studio Art MFA programs with an Illustration option. A one-year Biomedical Illustration certificate is also available. BFA and MFA students have the opportunity to focus in areas such as visual development, concept art, and storyboarding. They can also collaborate with students in the SoA Animation program. Graduates can be found at places such as DreamWorks, Penguin Random House, The New York Times, Disney, Blizzard Entertainment, DC Comics, Nickelodeon, Sony, Netflix, Warner Bros., Marvel, Hallmark, The Los Angeles Times, Simon & Schuster, Mattel, Wired, Nike, HarperCollins, and The Atlantic.
The College of the Arts at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) is home to the Department of Visual Arts, which houses the Art BFA and MFA programs with an Illustration concentration. Program highlights include immersive workshops; internships and study abroad experiences; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; seminars; and visiting artists. Graduates can be found at places such as Electronic Arts (EA), Lucasfilm, Penguin Random House, DreamWorks, Blizzard Entertainment, Cartoon Network, Riot Games, Disney, Nickelodeon, Hasbro, Netflix, Marvel, and Dark Horse Comics.
Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD) provides several paths to study illustration. Options include an Illustration BFA; a BFA in Drawing and Painting with an Illustration emphasis; a Graphic Design and Digital Media (GD+DM) BFA with an Illustration emphasis; and an Illustration minor. Courses for all programs are taught by industry professionals, combined with hands-on design projects with LCAD partners such as Nike and Sony. Students also benefit from professional internship opportunities and engagement with guest artists and designers. Graduates have been hired at places such as Blizzard Entertainment, HarperCollins, DreamWorks, Epic Games, Pixar, Nike, Google, Hasbro, Simon & Schuster, Marvel, Cartoon Network, Rockstar Games, Saatchi & Saatchi, Microsoft, and Electronic Arts (EA).
The School of Illustration at Academy of Art University (Academy of Art) provides multiple paths to study illustration that can be completed entirely online. Options include a certificate, AA, BFA, MA, and MFA. Across programs, students have opportunities to work on collaborative projects with working designers and artists, and complete a professional internship. Other program highlights include guest lecturers and speakers; the opportunity to work with WRiTE BRAiN BOOKS; and study abroad experiences in Florence, Italy. Graduates have gone on to establish careers at places such as The New York Times, DreamWorks, Marvel, The New Yorker, Penguin Random House, National Geographic, Riot Games, and DC Comics.
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication at California State University, Northridge (CSUN or Cal State Northridge) is home to the Department of Art. Within the department is an Illustration concentration open to students in the Art BA/BFA programs, and the Visual Arts MA/MFA programs. All students may join the CSUN Illustration Society and IntersectLA (IXLA); complete an internship; attend club events; and study abroad in Japan or Italy. CSUN alumni have been hired at places such as IDEO, DreamWorks, Wolff Olins, Apple, Universal Pictures, Amazon, Disney, Microsoft, Netflix, Warner Bros., Google, Atlassian, Sony, American Express, the LA Phil, Autodesk, Honda, Paramount, and Fox.
The School of Art, Design and Art History at California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) houses a Graphic Design BFA program with an Illustration emphasis. In addition to courses such as UI/UX and Advanced Illustration, the program features smart classrooms; state-of-the-art labs and production facilities; internships and study abroad opportunities; and several galleries. The program culminates with a capstone project and portfolio. Graduates have been hired at places such as Nexstar Media Group, Cohen Communications, Fast signs, Cumulus Media, Golden Charter Academy, and Fresno State.
The Art Department at California State University, East Bay (CSUEB) has an Art BFA program with a concentration in Illustration. Students in this intensive program benefit from small class sizes and desiccated studios; field trips to galleries, artist studios, and museums; courses led by industry artists and designers; internships; and galleries for showcasing solo or group exhibitions. CSU Art Department graduates have been hired by the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland A’s, Blizzard Entertainment, Google, DreamWorks, Marvel, Discord, Apple, Red ventures, Gilead Sciences, and Instagram.
