| Ranking | School | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brigham Young University | Utah |
| 2 | Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design | Colorado |
| 3 | University of Colorado Denver | Colorado |
| 4 | University of Arizona | Arizona |
| 5 | University of Utah | Utah |
| 6 | Southern Utah University | Utah |
| 7 | University of Central Oklahoma | Oklahoma |
| 8 | Utah Valley University | Utah |
| 9 | Texas State University | Texas |
| 10 | Oklahoma Baptist University | Oklahoma |
Our 2026 rankings of the top illustration programs in the Southwest US. We define the Southwest as Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. 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 ranking criteria, click here.
The Design Department at Brigham Young University (BYU) houses an Illustration BFA program that highlights professional internships, study abroad experiences, and local field trips. Other program highlights include national and internationally-known artists; immersive workshops; and an individual capstone project to be presented in the Design Department Gallery. Graduates of the program have established careers at places such as Disney, The New York Times, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Pixar, Apple, HarperCollins Publishers, DreamWorks Animation, Hallmark, and Bento Box Entertainment.
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) has two paths to study illustration including an Illustration BFA that can be completed on campus or online, and an online Illustrative Design BFA. The Illustration BFA has concentrations in Sequential Art, Children’s Books, and Concept Art. One of the few programs of its kind in the U.S. the Illustrative Design BFA explores branding, motion design, logo design, and data visualization. Across programs, students benefit from small class sizes; professional internships; collaborative projects with working illustrators; and state-of-the-art studios and labs. Graduates have been hired at places such as DreamWorks, Crispin, Disney, Epic Games, Pixar, Marvel, and Nickelodeon.
The College of Arts and Media (CAM) at University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) houses a Visual Arts BFA program with an Illustration emphasis and an Illustration minor. All students have access to state-of-the art digital labs, sculpture studios, and industrial equipment. BFA students also have opportunities to complete a professional internship; study abroad; and collaborate on projects for clients such as Pixar and the Denver Art Museum. The program culminates with the Illustration BFA Thesis and Exhibition. Graduates go on to land roles at places such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Pixar, Google, Apple, Nickelodeon, Disney, Lucasfilm, Sony, the Denver Art Museum, Warner Bros., and NBCUniversal.
The School of Art at University of Arizona (UArizona) is home to a multidisciplinary Studio Art program with an Illustration, Design, and Animation (IDA) emphasis. This option is open to students in both the BFA and MFA Studio Art programs. All student benefit from participation in the Book Art Collective or UA Illustration + Design; field trips; collaborative projects with local clients; professional internships; study abroad experiences; and an exhibition in the School of Art Lionel Rombach and Joseph Gross galleries. Graduates can be found at places such as The New York Times, Disney, Rolling Stone, Google, Esquire, the Arizona Cardinals, Sports Illustrated, and Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Tucson.
The Art BFA program at University of Utah (The U) has an Illustration emphasis that consists of 20 required courses. Examples include Illustration: Narrative Approaches; Digital Drawing; Communication Design; and the Illustration Capstone culminating with a website, marketing materials, and portfolio. Other program highlights include participation in the ArtsForce program, which focuses on professional development and networking; hands-on courses and projects; and summer study abroad programs in drawing and printmaking. Graduates have secured positions at places such as Penguin Random House, Cartoon Network, Scholastic, Disney, The Atlantic, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), and DreamWorks.
The Department of Filmmaking, Art and Design at Southern Utah University (SUU) houses a Studio Arts BFA program with an Illustration emphasis and minor. Program highlights include access to state-of-the-art studios and labs; immersive workshops and seminars; project critiques and discussions; internships; opportunities to exhibit works; and study abroad experiences. The program culminates with the BFA Exhibition and Portfolio event. Graduates are routinely hired at places such as Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA), Deseret News, BrainStorm Inc., Art Works Gallery, Esri, and the National Park Service.
The School of Design at University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) provides two paths to study illustration including an Illustration MFA and undergraduate Illustration minor. Across programs students have access to state-of-the-art studios and labs, and opportunities to join organizations such as the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). MFA students will compete an internship and participate in the Thesis Exhibition. Graduates have landed roles with the Oklahoma City Thunder and at places such as Hobby Lobby, Walmart, Accenture, MA+ Architecture, Sam’s Club, Beyond Theory Marketing, and ADVOC8.
One of Utah’s largest art schools, the School of the Arts (SOA) at Utah Valley University (UVU) houses an Art and Design AAS with an Illustration emphasis that prepares students for immediate entry-level employment in the industry. For students seeking an intensive, specialized degree, the SOA also houses an Art and Design BFA with an Illustration emphasis. Across programs, students can focus in an area of interest through electives such as 2D Animation for Illustration and Children’s Book Illustration. BFA students have opportunities to intern at Paramount and The Met, or in places such Italy and the UK. SOA graduates have been hired at places such as Blizzard Entertainment, Riot Games, Sony, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA), The Met, Paramount, Fat Cats Entertainment, and Bee Square Games.
The Communication Design BFA at Texas State University (TXST) is one of the largest public programs in the U.S. Housed in School of Art, the program has specialized modules such as Digital Illustration; Graphic Novels and Zines; Editorial Illustration; and Character Development. Other program features include access to state-of-the-art studios and labs; over 3,000 square feet of exhibition space in TXST Galleries; professional internships; Disengo a Firenze—the summer program in Florence, Italy; and active chapters of professional groups such as American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) Texas State. Graduates can be found at DDB, Amazon, Disney, Google, Microsoft, Apple, IBM, Cisco, Frog Design, and Spotify.
Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) provides several paths to study illustration. Housed in the Warren M. Angell School of Visual and Performing Arts’ Division of Art and Design, options include the Art BA; a BFA in Studio Art; and the flexible and collaborative Creative Media BA. Across programs, students will take required illustration courses and they can focus in illustration through electives. Examples include Color Theory; Illustration I-II; Advanced Drawing; 3D Design; and Digital Painting. All students have access to state-of-the art production facilities; experiential learning opportunities such as New York City study tours; and internships with Legacy Bank and the Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC Thunder), among others. OBU graduates have secured positions with the Oklahoma City Museum of Art (OKCMOA), Hobby Lobby, the OKC Thunder, Jasco Products, the Indiana Pacers, Legacy Bank, and the Texas Public School System.
