| Ranking | School | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ringling College of Art and Design | Florida |
| 2 | Savannah College of Art and Design | Georgia |
| 3 | University of Central Florida | Florida |
| 4 | University of Georgia | Georgia |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | North Carolina |
| 6 | University of Miami | Florida |
| 7 | East Carolina University | North Carolina |
| 8 | Kennesaw State University | Georgia |
| 9 | John Brown University | Arkansas |
| 10 | Nossi College of Art | Tennessee |
Our 2024 ranking of the Top 10 Illustration School Programs in the South. For an explanation of our ranking criteria, click here.
We define the South as Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas.
The Illustration Department at Ringling College of Art and Design (RCAD) has a BFA program with two paths including General Illustration or Visual Development. Both options provide a rigorous studio-based curriculum with a liberal arts foundation. Students also benefit from participation in real-world projects with local businesses; networking opportunities with visiting artists from DreamWorks and other major studios; and participation in the Society of Illustrators Annual Competition.
All RCAD Illustration students have the opportunity to work at RCAD’s In-House Design firm the Design Denter; connect with more than 200 unique companies thru Ringling’s experiential education initiative INDEX (Industry Experience); and internships with major companies and studios such as Disney, Hasbro, and Pixar.
The RCAD Illustration BFA program also provides access to painting and drawing studios, two Cintiq labs exclusively for illustration, and three additional Cintiq labs with 24-hour access. In addition, every RCAD Illustration student receives a laptop fully equipped with the latest Adobe Creative Suite software.
The General Illustration path explores illustration as it relates to 2D and 3D; traditional and digital media; and current techniques used in the industry. The program also explores the fundamentals of color theory, anatomy, and composition. Course examples include Figure Drawing; Illustration Media; Advanced Illustration; History of Illustration; Development of Art & Ideas; 2D Design; and Professional Practices.
Visual Development explores illustration as it relates to animated and live-action productions for film, TV, themed entertainment, advertising, publishing, and graphic novels. This area also explores illustration for comics, games, and toy design. Course examples include Figure Anatomy; 3D Design for Illustration; Visual Development I-IV; Painting I-II; Writing Studio; and Film & Narrative.
To enhance either path, RCAD provides 10 minor options that require 15 credit hours taken outside the BFA degree program. Examples include Graphic Design, Realistic Painting, Business of Art + Design, Visual Development, Creative Writing, and Film Studies.
In addition to the internship program, Illustration BFA students have the opportunity to participate in RCAD’s semester-long exchange program or a four-to-five-week summer program in Florence, Italy at Studio Arts Center International (SACI). Students may also participate in RCAD’s Annual Illustration show Illest of the Ill.
Graduates of the Illustration BFA program at Ringling College of Art and Design are prepared to pursue careers across industries. Program alumni have been hired at major companies and studios such as Lucasfilm, United Airlines, Riot Games, Marvel Comics, GM, Walt Disney, American Greetings, Cartoon Network, Apple, EA Games, Google, and Hallmark.
Ringling College of Art and Design is a private, not-for-profit college accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Founded in 1931 by Dr. Ludd M. Spivey (then president of Southern College) and circus baron John Ringling, RCAD serves approximately 1,705 students enrolled in 11 different majors leading to a BFA degree, two majors leading to a BA, and minor options in 10 areas.
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has an Illustration program that provides degrees at all levels. Across options, students have opportunities to gain skills in an additional area of interest and/or a specialized area of Illustration through a minor or single courses. Minor examples include Animated Illustration and Publication Design; Storyboarding; Illustration for Surface Design; Fashion; Themed Entertainment Design; Visual Effects; Advertising and Branding; Scientific Illustration; Animation; Illustration for Entertainment; Graphic Design; Design for 3D Action Figures; and Game UX.
Specific degree programs for students seeking an Illustration program include a Visual Communication BA with an Illustration concentration (available at the Atlanta and Savannah campuses); BFA in Illustration (Atlanta, Hong Kong, Savannah); Illustration MA (Atlanta, Savannah, eLearning); and Illustration MFA (Atlanta, Savannah, eLearning).
All BA and BFA students will complete the SCAD Core before entering the major. Consisting of general education coursework and foundation studies, the SCAD Core includes courses such as Drawing I/II (Form and Space/ Composition and Media); The Geometry of Physical Space; Speaking of Ideas; Digital Communication; Design I/II/III (Elements and Organization/3-D Form in Space/Time); Applied Physics; Color: Theory and Application; Creative Thinking Theories and Processes; Psychology of Group Processes: and Visual Culture in Context: Making Modernites.
Course examples across the BA and BFA programs include Color with Intent; Animated Illustration; Illustrating Beyond the Page: The Narrative Experience; Digital Illustration; Materials and Techniques; Speaking of Ideas; Creative Concepting for World Building; Book Illustration; Illustration Business Strategies and Entrepreneurship; Advertising Illustration; Contextual Character Design; and Editorial Illustration.
The SCAD Illustration BFA also has four concentration options including Animated Illustration and Publication Design; Illustration for Entertainment; Concept Design for Animation and Games; and Illustration for Surface Design. This professional degree program includes 15 hours of electives and advanced courses such as Illustration Business Strategies and Entrepreneurship; Career Strategies for Illustration; and Professional Portfolio for Illustrators.
Both programs require 180 credit hours to graduate, including 20 credit hours of free electives for the BA Program. Across options, students have the opportunity to participate in the SCAD internship program.
The Illustration MA at Savannah College of Art and Design features a required graduate internship, the Directed Projects in Illustration course, and a final project. The program requires 45 credit hours to graduate. The SCAD Illustration MFA consists of 90 credit hours and features two graduate internships and the following courses: Directed Projects in Illustration; Advanced Studio Techniques; Illustration for Publications, Professional Practices in Illustration; and Illustration Markets. Students in this terminal degree program may develop additional skills in a specific area through the program’s four required 500- to 700-level electives.
All SCAD students have the opportunity to spend a quarter abroad at SCAD Lacoste or other study abroad locations. All SCAD students also benefit from access to studio classrooms, state-of-the-art labs, production studios, drawing rooms, and cutting tables; creative collaborations between departments and with global brands; participation in competitions and exhibits; access to Adobe Creative Cloud and master classes; visiting artists and speakers; panel discussions; and participation in SCAD’s Annual Sidewalk Arts Festival.
Graduates of the Illustration programs at Savannah College of Art and Design are prepared to pursue positions across the entertainment industry, advertising, publishing, games, architecture, design, and many others. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Walt Disney Imagineering, Comedy Central, ImagineFX, Bento Box Entertainment, A&E, The New York Times, Converse, Game Informer, and Revolver Studios.
Savannah College of Art and Design has more degree programs and specializations than any other art and design college in the U.S. In 1979, the school opened in the renovated Savannah Volunteer Guards Armory with just one classroom, an administration building, and 71 students. Today, SCAD serves more than 17,500 students across campuses in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and SCADNow. Programs include 100+ degrees and more than 75 minors and certificates.
Savannah College of Art and Design is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), and the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB).
The School of Visual Arts and Design (SVAD) at University of Central Florida (UCF) has two paths to study Illustration—the Art BA with a Studio track, and the Studio Art BFA. Both programs allow students to specialize in an area such as Illustration, Drawing + Illustration, Book Arts, or Drawing. BFA students may choose wone specialization, while BA students may select several. BA and BFA students will take courses such as Art of Walt Disney; Image, Culture, and Society; Advanced Illustration; Computer Art; History of Illustration; Procedural Animation; The Illuminated Book; Experimental Painting; Art as Interface; Drawing Intensive; Type and Design; Book Binding; Visual Storytelling & Visual Development Workshop; Design Theory and Methods; and The Professional Environment.
Both the Studio Art BFA and Art BFA provide the opportunity to compete an internship and/or participate in the UCF study abroad program with experiences in places such as include London, Germany, Italy, Greece, New Zealand, France, Vietnam, Asia Pacific, Hong Kong, the UK, and Sweden.
The Studio Art BFA culminates with the BFA Exhibit/Seminar course. BA students will complete a professional portfolio of their best work.
Graduates of the Art and Studio Art programs at University of Central Florida are prepared to pursue titles such as Illustrator for Animation and Film; Comic Book Illustrator; Storyboard Artist; Game Illustrator; Medical or Scientific Illustrator; Advertising Illustrator; and Fine Artist.
UCF SVAD alumni have gone on to establish careers at places such as Pixar, Apple, DreamWorks, Google, Electronic Arts (EA), Amazon, Universal Orlando, Disney, Blizzard Entertainment, Weta FX, YouTube, and Lightstorm Entertainment.
University of Central Florida opened in 1968 as Florida Technological University. On the first day of classes, the school had less than 2,000 students. Today, UCF serves approximately 68,440 students, making it the largest university by enrollment in the state of Florida, and one of the top 10 largest universities in the U.S. The school provides 243 bachelor’s degrees, 219 master’s degrees, and 81 doctorate degrees across 13 colleges. University of Central Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at University of Georgia (UGA) is home to Lamar Dodd School of Art, which serves more than 1,000 students. Founded in 1937 and renamed the Lamar Dodd School of Art in 1996, the Dodd School is one of the largest university art programs in the U.S. The school also has a year-round Studies Abroad program in Cortona, Italy, that has served more than 4,000 students since its inception in 1969. Past Cortona students have come from 400 institutions across the U.S.
In addition to the Cortona program, the Dodd School of Art provides the opportunity to study and live in New York for three weeks during the month of May. Known as the UGA New York MAYmester program, this experiential learning opportunity also features study abroad in places such as Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand.
All Dodd School of Art students also have the opportunity to study in other locations during the summer, winter, or spring breaks through UGA Study Abroad. More than 100 options are available across 75 overseas locations. Examples include Tuscany, Italy; Ghana, West Africa; and Costa Rica, Central America.
Other School of Art features include access to state-of-the-art production facilities, labs, and studio spaces; the opportunity to work and learn in dedicated classrooms and studio spaces; and hands-on experience through the internship program.
For students seeking an Illustration degree, the Dodd School has an Art BFA with a concentration in Scientific Illustration. This program prepares students for careers in traditional, biological, and medical illustration. Students may select nine credit hours or more in electives from areas such as Studio Art & Design; Communications & Media; and Interaction & Computing.
Course examples include Drawing I: Observation and Visual Language; Drawing and Visuality; Introduction to Visual Media; Figure Drawing/Anatomy; Computer Animation for Dramatic Media; Color Techniques in Scientific Illustration; Drawing and Visuality; Three-Dimensional Design; Ideation and Methodologies; Proseminar in Studio Art; and Color/Composition.
The Art/Scientific Illustration BFA program at University of Georgia culminates with the Studio Art Capstone; Capstone Exhibition and Professional Practices; or the Graphic Design Senior Capstone.
Graduates are prepared to work in the entertainment, medical, scientific, education, and many other fields. They have been hired at advertising agencies, publishing firms (books, journals, magazines), animation studios, software and app developers, serious games studios, legal firms, device and biotech companies, medical education firms, research institutions, the U.S. Military, science communication studios, hospitals and clinics, veterinary schools, and medical practices.
Chartered by the State of Georgia in 1785, University of Georgia is the nation’s first state university. The school serves approximately 40,115 students enrolled in more than 400 programs and options across 17 colleges and schools. University of Georgia is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The school is also accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) is home to the College of Arts + Architecture (COA+A). Serving more than 1,000 students, the COA+A provides more than 30 degrees and concentrations across the Departments of Art and Art History; Music; Dance; and Theatre. The Department of Art and Art History houses four undergraduate degree programs, three major options, and an Art History minor. At the graduate level, the department has a certificate in Teaching for Art Education.
Housed in the Rowe Arts Building, the Department of Art and Art History provides access to three exhibition spaces including Side Gallery, Rowe Lower Gallery, and Upper Gallery. Students also have access to the Print Media Lab; Rowe 3D Studio; Painting and Ceramics Studios; performance spaces, Rowe Recital Hall; Macy Graphic Design Computer Lab; and Rowe Digital Fabrication Lab (RoFL).
All UNC Charlotte Art and Art History students have the opportunity to join on-campus organizations such as the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) Student Chapter, Cerama, and Art & Mindfulness. The department also runs a recurring study abroad summer program in Rome and paid internship opportunities at local museums and performing arts centers.
For students seeking a degree in Illustration, UNC Charlotte has an Art BFA with a concentration in Illustration. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the Art BFA requires 120 credit hours, with 79 credit hours of required courses within the Department of Art and Art History. The Illustration concentration consists of 33 credit hours. Students can reach the remaining required credits through electives.
Course examples for the concentration include Figure and Anatomy; Narrative Illustration for the Publishing Industry; Drawing/Expression in Print Media; Visual Development: Character Design; Narrative Illustration for the Entertainment Industry; Drawing I-II; and Visual Development: Environment. Students will also take major courses such as 2D Design; Digital Foundations; 3D Design; Art History Survey I-II; 3D Design; First Year Seminar; and Contemporary Art History.
In the final year of the program, students will complete Senior Seminar and the Illustration Projects course. Final projects will be presented at the BFA Illustration Exhibition. Graduates are prepared to pursue titles such as Magazine Illustrator, Book Cover Artist, Graphic Novelist, Animation Illustrator, Game Artist, Scientific and Medical Illustrator, Comic Book Artist, Storyboard Artist, and Poster Artist.
Founded in 1946, University of North Carolina at Charlotte serves approximately 30,300 students, making it the third largest school in the 16-campus UNC System. This public research university provides more than 170 programs across nine colleges. University of North Carolina at Charlotte is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
The College of Arts and Sciences (C&S) at University of Miami (UofM) employs 450 full-time faculty that serve approximately 4,840 students. The largest academic unit at UofM, the College provides more than 2,500 course options across 38 Majors, 46 Minors, and dozens of graduate programs. The C&S also houses the Department of Art & Art History, home to the Studio Art MFA.
This three-year program allows students to focus in Illustration and Multimedia. All Studio Art MFA students will take 24 credits in their chosen area, as well as 12 elective credits, and nine Art History credits. Illustration and Multimedia students will complete projects and assignments in state-of-the-art computer labs, work areas, and studio spaces; attend seminars; and participate in critiques, including a day-long experience discussing and displaying work with faculty.
MFA students will also interact with visiting lecturers; take field trips to businesses and museums; work independently and in teams on multidisciplinary projects; and take interdisciplinary classes. Course examples include Graduate Painting; Experimental Illustration for Print and Interactive Media; Computer Assisted Printmaking; Seminar in Studio Art; Graduate Digital Photography; Graphic Design; Lithography, and Multimedia. A Special Projects/Multimedia/Portfolio course allows students to design, develop, and finalize their illustration portfolios for presentation and critique.
The Studio Art MFA program at University of Miami culminates with the Thesis and Exhibition. Graduates are prepared for leadership roles in areas such as publishing, game design, animation, film, advertising, fine art, television, graphic design, consulting, and art education. Program alumni are also prepared to pursue a variety of senior level positions at art galleries, theaters, and museums.
Founded in 1925, University of Miami opened its doors with 646 full-time students enrolled in programs across the College of Liberal Arts, the School of Music, and the Evening Division. Today, this private research university serves more than 16,000 students enrolled in nearly 350 majors and programs across 12 colleges and schools, and three campuses including Coral Gables, Virginia Key, and downtown Miami. University of Miami is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
East Carolina University (ECU) is home to the College of Fine Arts & Communication (CFAC). Within the CFAC is the School of Art and Design (SoAD), which serves approximately 500 students. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design since 1962, the SoAD also has 45+ faculty members that deliver five undergraduate, graduate, and minor programs.
Among SoAD’s undergraduate programs is a 120 credit hour Art BFA with an Illustration concentration. Students in this program will complete the 30 credit hour Common Core, which includes courses such as Form, Space, and Color; Visual Organization; Translation as Making; Topics in Multidisciplinary Art; and the Art and Design Capstone. The concentration requires 30 credit hours as well, including courses such as Illustration I: Survey; Illustration II: Concepts and Metaphors; Illustration III; Illustration Principles; Illustration IV: Professional Practice; and Illustration V: Portfolio.
In addition, the concentration, students are required to select up to three courses from five different emphasis areas, and 18 credit hours of electives. Emphasis areas include Animation; Graphic Design; Painting; Printmaking; and Textile Design. ECU’s School of Art and Design also provides interdisciplinary studios and coursework in Book Arts, Letterpress, and Community Arts.
Other SoAD features include internships with local, regional, and national companies; the Art and Design in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) study abroad program; additional study abroad experiences in places such as Tuscany and Poland; and participation in the BFA Exhibition.
Graduates of the Art BFA program at East Carolina University are prepared to pursue roles across many creative industries. Sample job titles include Children’s Book Illustrator, Comic Book Artist, Graphic Novelist, Storyboard Artist, Game Artist, Concept Artist, Exhibition Designer, Advertising Illustrator, Textile Designer, Printmaker, Muralist, Exhibition Designer, Fine Artist, Educator, Surface Designer, and Freelance Illustrator.
Founded as a teacher training school in 1907, East Carolina University serves approximately 26,785 students, making it the fourth largest institution in the University of North Carolina System. ECU students come from all 100 North Carolina counties, 46 states, and the District of Columbia. ECU provides more than 270 degree and certificate programs across 19 colleges and schools. East Carolina University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
The School of Art and Design (SOAAD) at Kennesaw State University (KSU) provides 12 undergraduate degree programs, two minors, and four graduate programs to more than 1,200 students. As part of the SOAAD, all programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Options for Illustrators include the Art BFA with concentrations in Illustration and Comics and Sequential Art. Program features include access to state-of-the-art resources and brand new computer studios in the Visual Arts Building; interactions with visiting artists; participation in summer art intensives; and internship opportunities.
BFA students also benefit from KSU’s partnership with ESA Saint-Luc in Bruxells, Belgium. This long-running study abroad program provides unique opportunities such as the Comics curriculum at ESA St. Luc Brussels.
Consisting of 120 credit hours, the interdisciplinary BFA emphasizes Studio Art Practice and Fine Arts. Students in both concentrations will complete general education and beginning courses such as Drawing I-II; Renaissance Through Modern Art; Computer Applications in Art; and English Composition.
Course examples for the Illustration concentration include Illustration I-II; 2D Design and Color Theory; Electronic Illustration; Printmaking; Computer Applications in Art; Advanced Illustration and 3D Design. Course examples for the Comic and Sequential Art concentration include Sequential Art I-II; Figure Drawing; Illustration I; Storyboarding and Composition; Electronic Illustration; and 3D Design.
All BFA students have the option to enhance the degree by adding an additional concentration in an area such as Graphic Communications, Painting and Drawing, Art History, Photography, Printmaking, Textile and Surface Design, Art History, Ceramics, or Art Education.
The Art BFA program at Kennesaw State University culminates with the Senior Exhibition. Graduates will leave the program with a professional portfolio of their best work. Program alumni go on become Illustrators for Animation, Television, and Film; Book Designers; Product and Packaging Illustrators; Multimedia Artists; Art Directors; Storyboard Artists for Animation and Games; and Advertising Illustrators.
Founded in 1963 as Kennesaw Junior College, Kennesaw State University serves approximately 43,270 students, making it the third largest university in Georgia. More than 180 degree and certificate programs options are provided across 11 colleges, KSU Journey Honors College, and two suburban campuses in Kennesaw and Marietta, Georgia. Kennesaw State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
John Brown University (JBU) houses the Visual Arts Department, which provides majors in Art and illustration; Film (Digital Cinema); Photography; and Graphic Design. All programs take place in creative environments across three art buildings including two three-story facilities that house classrooms, a cinema studio, two galleries, a photo studio, and a theater; the Studio Project Barn; Mac labs; and printmaking workshops. The Studio Project Barn houses individual artist stations; drawing and painting classrooms; a woodshop; a state-of-the-art photo studio; and a ceramics studio.
Leading to a BS, the Art and Illustration major requires 120 credit hours, with 18 in the Illustration concentration, 27 in the Art and Illustration Core, 10 in the Visual Arts Department Core, and 45 in the University Core. For the remaining credits, students may add a minor, an additional area of interest of electives.
Course examples for the program include Digital Illustration; Figure Drawing I-II; Comic Book and Sequential Art; Illustration I-II; 3D Modeling for Designers and Illustrators; Oil Media I-II; Screenprinting; Advanced Studio I-II; Color Theory and Application; Computer Graphics; and Irish Art and Culture.
The Art and Illustration BS program culminates with the Portfolio and Presentation. This on-campus known as the JBU Portfolio Show, attracts numerous recruiters and hundreds of spectators. Graduates are prepared to pursue roles across fields such as traditional book publishing, animation and film, advertising, comic book publishing, toy design, product design, architecture, graphic design, game art and design, multimedia art, brand design, courtroom illustration, mural art, and art education.
Founded in 1919 by the evangelist John Brown Sr., John Brown University serves approximately 2,255 students from 37 states and 48 countries. With campuses in Siloam Springs (main) and Little Rock, Arkansas, JBU provides close to 150 programs across dozens of study areas and departments. John Brown University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The school is also an Institution of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU).
Nossi College of Art (Nossi) is the only college in Tennessee designed specifically as an art school. In 2010, the school expanded to a 55,000 square-foot facility that houses classroom, computer labs, production spaces, and a commercial-grade kitchen for culinary students.
For artists seeking an Illustration degree, Nossi has a Bachelor of Graphic Arts (BGA) in Illustration Technologies program that requires 133 credits to graduate. Taught by Illustration professionals, the program consists of courses such as Book Publishing Illustration; Sequential Art; Adobe for Illustrators; Motion Graphics; Illustration Environments; Design Composition; Advertising Illustration; Production Art; Illustration for Stock Art; Advanced Photoshop; Graphic Design Advertising; and Exploring 3D.
During the last semester of the program, students will compete an internship, where they will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience working part-time with cooperating employers for class credit.
Also during the final year of the Nossi Illustration Technologies program, students will complete the Independent Study, Portfolio and Promotion, and Capstone courses. In the Capstone course, students will have the opportunity to create a body of illustrations that can be used in a promotional campaign. Student works are also presented to Illustration industry professionals at the Senior Showcase.
Graduates of the Illustration Technologies BGA program at Nossi College of Art are prepared to pursue titles such as Comic Illustrator, Editorial Illustrator, 3D Modeling Artist, Political Cartoonist, Exhibition Designer or Illustrator, Children’s Book Illustrator, Advertising Illustrator, Concept Artist, Multimedia Artist Package Designer, Game Artist, Sketch Artist, Storyboard Artist, Sequential Artist, Animator, and Fashion Illustrator.
Nossi College of Art was established in 1973 by Nossi Vatandoost, an artist listed in Who’s Who of American Women and Who’s Who in America. Nossi launched as a Fine Art School in Madison, Tennessee with Painting, Airbrush, and Photography. Today, Nossi College of Art provides programs in Illustration, Graphic Design, Photography, Filmmaking, and Culinary Arts to approximately 300 students each year. Nossi College of Art is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
