| Ranking | School | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ringling College of Art and Design | Florida |
| 2 | Savannah College of Art and Design | Georgia |
| 3 | University of Georgia | Georgia |
| 4 | University of Central Florida | Florida |
| 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 | Louisiana Tech University | Louisiana |
| 10 | Nossi College of Art and Design | Tennessee |
Our 2026 ranking of the Top 10 Illustration School Programs in the South. We define the South as Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas. 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 our ranking criteria, click here.
The Illustration BFA program at Ringling College of Art and Design (RCAD) has two tracks: General Illustration and Visual Development. An Author/Illustrator certificate is also available. BFA program highlights include internships with places such as Hasbro, Pixar, or the Design Center—RCAD’s in-house design firm); the option to minor Graphic Design, Creative Writing, or other area; and 24/7 access to Cintiq labs and drawing studios. Graduates have secured positions at places such as EA Games, Google, Hallmark, Lucasfilm, Hasbro, Marvel Studios, Riot Games, Apple, Disney, Cartoon Network, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Sony Pictures, United Airlines, GM, and American Greetings.
The Illustration Program at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) provides four degree options including the BA, BFA, MA, and MFA. Electives and minors such as Scientific Illustration or Advertising and Branding allow students to enhance any of the four degrees. BFA students are required to select a concentration in Dynamic Illustration and Publication, Visual Development, or Illustration for Surface Design. The MFA features two graduate internships and all SCAD students have the opportunity to spend a quarter abroad at SCAD Lacoste or any other location. Graduates have been hired at places such as Riot Games, Apple, Netflix, Disney, The New York Times, Pixar, Comedy Central, and Adult Swim.
The Lamar Dodd School of Art at University of Georgia (UGA) houses an Art BFA with a concentration in Scientific Illustration (SI). One of the few undergraduate programs of its kind in the world, the Art BFA/SI features dedicated classrooms; year-round study abroad in Cortona, Italy; New York Maymester; access to state-of-the-art studios production facilities and studios; professional internships; and the Senior Capstone and Exhibition. Graduates have secured roles with the U.S. Military, National Geographic, Scholastic, Nature Cell and Science, The Smithsonian, Pfizer, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The School of Visual Arts and Design (SVAD) at University of Central Florida (UCF) has two paths to study illustration. Options include the Art BA with a Studio track and Illustration focus, and a Studio Art BFA with a Drawing/Illustration emphasis. Students in both programs benefit from professional internships; state-of-the-art studios and labs; and study abroad experiences. The culminating experiences for the programs include the BFA Exhibit/Seminar, and a professional portfolio (BA). UCF SVAD alumni have established careers at places such as NASA, Pixar, Microsoft, Penguin Random House, Marvel, Apple, Hasbro, Scholastic, DreamWorks, Lockheed Martin, Nickelodeon, Amazon, and Universal Orlando.
The College of Arts + Architecture (COA+A) at University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) is home to the Department of Art and Art History, which houses an Art BFA with a concentration in Illustration. Program study abroad experiences in places like Italy, Poland, and Korea; paid internships; campus organizations such as the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) Student Chapter; access to the state-of-the-art studios and labs; and exhibition spaces. Graduates have landed positions with the Charlotte Hornets, Lowe’s Design Department, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, and EPAM Systems.
The College of Arts and Sciences (C&S) at University of Miami (UofM) houses the Department of Art and Art History—home to the Studio Art MFA with a focus in Digital Imaging-Illustration/Photography. Program features include field trips to studios and museums; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; seminars and critiques; and visiting artists. The Studio Art MFA culminates with an exhibition. Graduates have secured roles with The Miami HEAT, Accenture, NBCUniversal, Hilton Hotels, Univision, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 4imprint, Sandals Resorts, and Jacober Creative.
The School of Art and Design (SoAD) at East Carolina University (ECU) houses an Art BFA program with a concentration in illustration. The program highlights courses and interdisciplinary studios in areas such as letterpress, community arts, and book arts. Students also have access to state-of-the art computer and opportunities to compete an internship study abroad in United Arab Emirates (UAE). The program culminates the BFA Exhibition. Graduates have been hired at places such as Penguin Random House, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh (NCMA Raleigh), DreamWorks, Amazon, Cartoon Network, Scholastic, Gameloft, Disney, Hasbro, Sony, and Greenville Museum of Art.
Geer College of the Arts at Kennesaw State University (KSU) houses the School of Art and Design (SOAAD). Within the school is an Art BFA program with concentrations Illustration, and Comics and Sequential Art. To enhance the Art BFA, students can add a second concentration such as Graphic Communications. Other program highlights summer art intensives; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; and the opportunity to study abroad and enroll in the Comics curriculum at ESA Saint-Luc in Brussels, Belgium. SOAAD graduates have secured positions at places such as Cartoon Network, Target, Graphic Design USA (GDUSA), Yamaha Motor Corporation, Home Depot, Mohawk Industries, and KSU.
Louisiana Tech University (Louisiana Tech) provides several pathways to study illustration. Options include a Studio Art BFA; a Scientific Visual Communication BS; a Biological Visualization certificate; and minors in Medical Illustration and Scientific Visualization. All programs feature courses that cover traditional illustration. In addition, students may customize an illustration focus through electives. Other highlights across programs include access to state-of-the art labs and studios; internships; mentoring by active artists and designers; and partnerships with Graphic Packaging International and Deloitte, among others. Graduates have been hired at places such as Boeing, Disney, Amazon, IBM, Gensler, and Dell.
Nossi College of Art and Design (Nossi) houses a Bachelor of Graphic Arts (BGA) in Illustration Technologies program that features small class sizes, industry partnerships, and an accelerated format that allows students to graduate in just three years and eight months. Other program highlights include training and mentorship in the Illustration Lab; courses and real-world, hands-on projects led by working Nashville illustrators; and required internships. Nossi graduates have secured roles with the Memphis Grizzlies and the NFL, and at places such as Amazon, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. (NCVC), Visa, VoyageATL Magazine, Blackbird Media, ArtPop Street Gallery, and Cheekwood Estate and Gardens.
