| Ranking | School | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | College for Creative Studies | Michigan |
| 2 | Columbus College of Art and Design | Ohio |
| 3 | Minneapolis College of Art & Design | Minnesota |
| 4 | Cleveland Institute of Art | Ohio |
| 5 | Kansas City Art Institute | Missouri |
| 6 | Washington University in St. Louis | Missouri |
| 7 | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design | Wisconsin |
| 8 | Columbia College Chicago | Illinois |
| 9 | Art Academy of Cincinnati | Ohio |
| 10 | Purdue University | Indiana |
Our 2023 rankings of the Top 10 illustration schools in the Midwest.
We define the Midwest as Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, and North Dakota.
For an explanation of ranking criteria, click here.
The College for Creative Studies (CCS) houses the Illustration Department, home to the Illustration Program. BFA and Minor options are available. The Illustration Minor consists of 15 credits chosen from courses in the Illustration BFA Program. Examples include Creative Perspective, Figure Illustration I-II, and Digital Illustration.
The CCS Illustration BFA requires 126-127 credit hours including 78 in studio areas, 42-43 in general studies courses, and six in general elective courses. In addition to major coursework, BFA students will take courses in the Foundation Department during the first year of the program, where they will study Drawing, 2D and 3D Design, and Digital Tools. Students in all CCS majors must also take courses in the Liberal Arts Department. Full-time students will complete at least six academic hours and 24 studio hours each week.
A major component of the CCS Illustration BFA Program is the opportunity to select a Pathway. Each Pathway allows students to create a focused portfolio for studio-based or freelance careers in Illustration. An additional option is the Entrepreneurial Studies Concentration, which is ideal for students who would like to launch their own studios. Pathway options include Comics and Sequential; Publishing; Visual Development; Fashion, Lifestyle, and Licensing; and Gallery Artist.
Another major component of the Illustration BFA Program at College for Creative Studies is the Internship Experience. Upper division students have the opportunity to work some of the top local and global brands, studios, corporations, and museums. Examples include Mattel Inc., Cartoon Network, Converse, Disney Consumer Products, Hasbro, HoMedics, Insomniac Games, Museum of American Illustration, Anthropologie, Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Diane von Furstenberg, Fisher Price, Moosejaw, Reader’s Digest, Museum of Fine Art, Grand Rapids Symphony, WJBK Fox 2 News, Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners, the Museum of American Illustration, Spark Communications, and Ball Aerospace.
Graduates of the Illustration BFA Program at CCS go on to establish successful careers companies, studios, and brands such as Adidas, Nike, Converse, Disney, Washington Post, Cartoon Network, Ford, The New York Times, ESPN, and Blizzard Entertainment.
Founded in 1906 as the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts, College for Creative Studies is a private, nonprofit institution that serves more than 1,400 students enrolled in 23 Art and Design programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. CCS is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and it is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
The Illustration BFA Program at Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD) has a unique component that provides the opportunity for students to work on class projects such as Spitball, which matches professional writers with student artists. Students in the program also have the opportunity to and interact with professional writers, storytellers, animators, and comic artists through Cartoon Crossroads Columbus, which features lectures, workshops, professional panels, and more.
Consisting of 120 credit hours, the CCAD Illustration BFA allows students to specialize in a creative area through a Concentration or Minor. Minors are 15 credit hours and Concentrations are nine credit hours. Minor examples include Advertising & Graphic Design, Narrative Practice, Business, Comics & Narrative Practice, Animation 2D or 3D, Copywriting, Design Research, Photography, Film & Video, and Industrial Design. An Illustration Minor is also available for students in other Majors.
Concentration examples include Illustration/Entertainment, Fine Arts/Drawing, Fine Arts/Printmaking, Illustration/Illustrative Design, Animation/Experimental, Design/Modeling, Fine Arts/Glass, Fine Arts/Sculpture, Design/Drawing, Fine Arts/Painting, and Animation/Game. Across Minors, Concentrations, and Major requirements, students will take courses such as Traditional Media Illustration, Digital Design Lab, Character and Environment Design, Historical Art & Design, Motion Illustration, Illustration Markets, and Illustration Self-Promotion.
The Illustration BFA Program at Columbus College of Art and Design culminates with an Illustration Portfolio Project and Illustration Capstone. Graduates have been hired in a wide variety of roles at major advertising agencies, companies, and studios. Examples of recent employers include Disney Consumer Products (DCP), Sony Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, Boeing, Hasbro, Cartoon Network, Bath & Body Works, DC Comics, Ogilvy & Mather, Hallmark, Marvel Comics, Pixar, and Forever 21, American Greetings, The Wall Street Journal, Williams Sonoma, and CBS News.
Columbus College of Art & Design was established in 1879 by five women. The school serves approximately 1,010 undergraduate and graduate students from 36 states and 14 countries. CCAD provides 11 undergraduate majors, 18 minors, and three graduate programs across 10+ departments. Columbus College of Art & Design is accredited by Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). CCAD is also affiliated with the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD).
The Illustration Program at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) provides the opportunity to collaborate in teams with students in other MCAD programs. Leading to a BFA, the Illustration Program consists of Humanities and Sciences electives, required core courses, foundation studies, studio and electives, which provide hands-on time and the opportunity to focus in an area of interest within Illustration.
Course examples for the program include Illustrated Notebook, Editorial Illustration, Tools of the Trade, Concepts and Metaphors, Children’s Book, Digital Illustration, Illustration and Products, Illustration Topics, and Advanced Illustration Seminar. A Professional Practice course that allows students to work on projects such as promotional materials and art for ad campaigns, posters for nonprofit clients, and textbook illustrations, is also required.
The MCAD Illustration BFA Program gives students the option to select a Minor. Examples include Graphic Design, Advertising, Entrepreneurship, Print Paper Book, Animation, and Creative Writing. Students may also complete an Illustration Foundations Certificate before applying to any BFA or Minor program.
All MCAD Illustration students may complete an internship and participate in the MCAD Study Abroad Program. In partnership with the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD) Exchange Program, the MCAD Study Abroad Program provides experiences at AICAD schools in the China, Singapore, Canada, Israel, and the UK.
Illustration BFA Program at Minneapolis College of Art and Design culminates with the Senior Project course (Capstone). Worth six credit hours, the Capstone allows students to complete a series of illustrations for their portfolio, undertake a research project, or address an in-depth illustration problem. Capstone Projects may also focus on the advancement of a particular strength or style.
Graduates of the Art and Design Programs at Minneapolis College of Art and Design enjoy a 93% employment rate, with nearly 60% of all graduates landing positions in their respective fields. MCAD alumni are Book Illustrators, Editorial Illustrators, Comic Illustrators, Concept Artists, Fashion Illustrators, Courtroom Illustrators, Medical and Technical Illustrators, Surface Designers, Children’s Book Illustrators, Advertising Illustrators, and Fine Artists.
Minneapolis College of Art and Design was established in 1886 by the Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts. The school serves roughly 800 students from 40 states and 13 countries. Programs include 14 undergraduate majors leading to a BFA or BS, three MA degrees, one MFA degree, and seven professional development certificate options. Minneapolis College of Art and Design is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The school is also affiliated with the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD).
Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) has two paths to study Illustration including BFAs in Illustration and Life Sciences Illustration. The Illustration BFA Program focuses on learning by doing. Students in this program have the opportunity to work on a variety of real-world projects with CIA partners and clients—all before graduation. Students both programs will explore traditional materials and techniques such as acrylics, oils, and inks; collage; and pencils, as well as industry software such as Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.
Across programs, other features include private, individual studio spaces; access to Integrated Media Environment Facilities, lighting and shooting spaces, a sound recording studio, and fabrication studios; visiting artists; professional writing courses; travel to professional art studios and advertising agencies; networking opportunities with employers, Illustrators, and Designers who are invited to CIA each year; and small-group seminars.
The Illustration BFA Program requires 120 credit hours of study. Course examples include Graphic Novels + Sequential Art, Illustration I-II, Layout Rendering Techniques, Illustration for Publication, Character Design + Development, Community Projects, Picture Book Illustration, Visual Concepts in Illustration, and Illustration: Advanced Illustration Studio Projects. Students will also complete an internship.
The Illustration BFA Program at Cleveland Institute of Art culminates with the BFA Thesis and Exhibition. Graduates of the program are prepared for carers in areas such as Advertising, Book and Magazine Publishing, Entertainment, Animation, Comic Book Publishing, and Gaming.
The Life Sciences Illustration BFA Program at Cleveland Institute of Art is one of the few BFA degrees of its kind in the U.S. Designed for artists who have an interest in both Art and Science, the Program explores topics such as Botanical Sciences, Animation, Zoological Sciences, Illustration, Biological Sciences, and Information Design. The program also covers areas such as Interactive Design, Research Methods, Serious Game Design, Sound Design, and Professional Development.
Course examples for the Program include Gross Anatomy, Principles of Biology I-II, Digital Biomedical Illustration (EP), Cellular + Molecular Illustration, Surgical Illustration & Media, Life Sciences Illustration: Forensic Imaging/Modeling, Life Sciences Illustration: Advanced Problems, Concepts, + Media, Serious Game Design: Theory + Applications, Educational Media Installation, Veterinary Illustration, 3D Animation, Digital Color: Style + Representation in Science, Line: Information Visualization, Anatomy for the Artist, Natural Science + Zoological Illustration (EP), and Sound Design Fundamentals.
A major component of the Life Sciences Illustration BFA Program is the internship and the Applied Portfolio and Professional Strategies course. The internship provides the opportunity to gain valuable real-world experience in this unique field. In the Portfolio and Professional Strategies course, students will gain insight into art practice and leadership in the business environment, as well as the intricacies of copyrights, budgeting, contracts, marketing, and presentations.
In this course, students will also develop applied portfolios in online and offline media, demo reels, and professional packages consisting of business cards, resumes, cover letters, etc.
The Life Sciences Illustration BFA Program at Cleveland Institute of Art culminates with the BFA Thesis and Exhibition. Graduates have been hired for positions such as Illustrator, Biomedical Illustrator, 3D Animation Artist/Designer, Forensics Illustrator, and Art Director.
Chartered in 1882 as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women, Cleveland Institute of Art is an independent, not-for-profit college that serves approximately 655 students enrolled in 13 majors in Fine Arts, Entertainment Arts, Design, and Crafts. Programs at CIA are managed and taught by approximately 50 full-time and 70 adjunct faculty, who are all professional artists and designers. Cleveland Institute of Art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) houses 21,500 square feet of studios—including the new Tony Jones Studios—that provide the opportunity for students to learn and work in a professional environment. Through KCAI’s on-campus agency MICRO, students also have opportunities to gain hands-on experience off campus with partner brands such as the Kansas City Royals and Children’s Mercy Hospital.
All programs at Kansas City Art Institute begin with the KCAI Foundation Program. This immersive experience lasts a full year and includes dedicated industrial studios and independent work and storage spaces; workshops; collaborative programs, projects, and problem-solving; training in the Print Center (digital design and output), Beals Studios (digital fabrication), and Central Shop (woodworking); faculty mentors; and 16 contact hours of studio per week.
During the first-year program, students will also participate in the Foundation Seminar, which provides the opportunity to interact with activists, artists, and KCAI alumni.
The Illustration BFA Program at Kansas City Art Institute is housed in the Department of Illustration—one of the school’s largest and fastest growing departments. Students in the program will complete a required internship with potential employer’s such as The Kansas City Star, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Boulevard Brewing Company, Porter Teleo Design Firm, and The American Jazz Museum. In addition to an internship, BFA students may double major in Illustration and Creative Writing or Illustration and Art History.
During the course of the KCAI Illustration BFA Program, students will explore 2D and 3D, traditional and digital media, and storytelling, while creating comic books, editorial magazines, children’s books, and video games. Course examples for the program include Graphic Form for Illustrators, Covers and Pages, Storytellers-Myth Makers, Sketchbook: The Cultural Safari, Analytical Drawing Systems, Paper and Ink, US (Collaboration, Teamwork and Flexibility), Illustration in Action: Networking & Exhibition, and Professional Practice: The Business of Illustration.
The KCAI Illustration BFA Program culminates with a Thesis that students will complete over two courses including Senior Studio: Image and Thesis I and Senior Studio: Image Thesis II.
Graduates of the Illustration BFA Program at Kansas City Art Institute have won awards presented by publications such as The Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts, American Illustration, and Print. Program alumni are employed by industry leaders such as Nike, Hallmark, Nickelodeon, American Greetings, and MTV, and their work has been featured in children’s books and in publications such as The New York Times, Wired, Women’s Day, and Step-Inside-Design.
Kansas City Art Institute was established in 1885 as a Sketch Club. Situated within Kansas City’s Arts Corridor—just steps from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art—this four-year art and design college serves more than 700 students enrolled in 13 majors across 15 program areas. Kansas City Art Institute is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Washington University in St. Louis (WashU or WUSTL) is home to Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts. Established in 2006, the Sam Fox School houses the College of Art, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, and the College of Architecture. Within the College of Art are three paths to study Illustration including BA and BFA Degrees in Studio Art & Design with a Major in Communication Design and the Illustration + Visual Culture MFA (MFA-IVC).
For Studio Art & Design Majors, the College of Art has a 15-unit Design Minor that allows students to mix and match courses in areas such as Illustration, Communication, the Illustrated Book Studio, and Design.
BA and BFA students may select an Emphasis in Illustration. Course examples include Applied Illustration, Illustration as Practice, The Illustrator’s Sketchbook, Image and Meaning, and Illustration as Entrepreneur. The Communication Design BFA at WashU culminates with a Capstone Project. For this final project, students have created illustrated books, graphic novels, screen-based art, comics, digital experiences, and zines. Capstone Projects are displayed in a public exhibition and reviewed by Design professionals.
The Illustration + Visual Culture MFA is a two-year, fully residential program that consists of 50% Illustration studio work, 20% Visual Culture, History and Theory, 15-20% hands-on archive work, and 10-15% electives, which allow students to focus in specific areas of Design, Art and Entertainment. Elective examples include Illustration Concepts and Media, Narrative Comics, Image & Story, The Illustrator’s Sketchbook, Book Arts, Printmaking, Art History, Visual Culture, Applied Illustration, Animated Worlds, Branding and Identity, Game Design, Type and Image: Experiments on Press, Typography, and Painting.
Consisting of 60 credit hours, the MFA-IVC Program at WashU requires courses such as The Illustrated Periodical, Comics & Cartooning: A Critical Survey, Readings in Visual & Material Culture, Special Collections: Exhibitions & Engagement, Graduate Drawing Studio, and Special Collections: Research Methods. An internship is required as well as two final Thesis courses including Thesis Studio 1: Drawing & Voice, and Thesis Studio 2.
Graduates of the MFA-IVC Program at the WUSTL’s Sam Fox School are prepared for careers such as Curatorial Staff in Museums, Libraries, and Auction Houses; Critical Writers on Popular Culture; Professors of Illustration; and Author-Artists of Graphic Novels and Picture Books.
Founded in 1853, Washington University in St. Louis serves approximately 17,050 students enrolled in more than 300 academic programs across seven schools. The Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts was founded in 2006 after the merging of the academic units of Architecture and Art, and the Washington University in St. Louis Museum. Washington University in St. Louis has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1913.
The Illustration BFA Program at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) has a major component, known as the Seminar Series, which provides the opportunity for students to interact, one-on-one, with outside professionals representing a cross-section of the field. Illustration BFA students also benefit from access to MIAD’s new Illustration studios, classrooms, and the Emerging Technology Center; participation in semester-long study abroad experiences; portfolio development courses; and internships at local and regional companies and studios.
The MIAD Illustration BFA Program explores traditional and digital illustration, visual communication, design, and art direction. Course examples Figure Drawing for Illustrators, Illustration I-IV, Research, Process and Connection, Fabrication, Visual Language, Critical and Creative Forms, Illustration Media, Digital 4D, Computer Studio, Typography, Patterns in Nature, Senior Writing Seminar, and Professional Practice for Illustrators. Students may add a Minor to enhance the degree. Popular Minor options include Book Arts, Advertising, Digital Media Production, Copywriting, Arts Management, Business, and Writing.
The Illustration Program at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design culminates with the Illustration Thesis Project, Portfolio, and MIAD Exhibition. Students are required to be actively involved in the overall preparation of the Exhibition including signage, gallery monitoring, lighting crew, painting crew, etc.
Graduates of the MIAD Illustration BFA Program are prepared to launch their own studios and freelance businesses, or pursue positions in Advertising, Publishing, Editorial, Exhibit Design, Graphic Design, Game Design, Forensic Illustration, Textile Design, Comics, Medical Illustration, New Media, Children’s Book Illustration, Animation, Fashion Illustration, Architecture, and Storyboard Art.
Program alumni are employed at (or own) companies such as Hallmark, Kohl’s Corporate, Harley-Davidson, Kohler, Estee Lauder, Studio8Design, Rockwell Automation, 4Design, Hanson Dodge Creative, THIEL Design.
Founded in 1974, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design is the only four-year, nonprofit, private college of visual art and design in the State of Wisconsin. Serving 1,750 degree-seeking, pre-college, and outreach/special programs students, MIAD offers 21 degree and minor programs in everything from Animation to Sustainability. Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design is a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD)—a consortium of 39 leading art schools in the United States and Canada. MIAD also accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Columbia College Chicago (Columbia) has two paths to study Illustration—the BA or BFA in Illustration. Both pathways explore traditional and digital illustration, visual storytelling, and the illustration business as it relates to freelance, contract, and salaried careers. Across programs, students will develop skills through hands-on client-focused projects. Courses expose students to Figure Drawing, Cartooning, Typography, Digital Illustration, and Painting.
The program has a mandatory internship component that provides the opportunity to obtain real work experience at a local advertising agency, design studio or art gallery.
The Illustration BFA Program at Columbia College Chicago is a professionally focused degree that requires advanced coursework and electives. The BA allows students to take a Double Major or add a Minor in an area such as Motion Graphics, Creative Writing, Game Art, Journalism, Animation, or Graphic Design. Second Major examples include Game Art, Graphic Design, and Computer Animation.
Course examples across programs include Children’s Book Illustration, Concept Art, Illustration Studio I-III, Drawing the Graphic Novel, Digital Illustration, Illustration: Materials & Techniques, Survey of Typography, Cartooning, Figure Drawing, Special issues in Illustration, Design Thinking, Visual Culture, Design Lab, and Freelance Illustration. All Illustration students will develop a professional portfolio to graduate as the culminating experience for the programs.
The BA and BFA Illustration Programs at Columbia prepare students for positions in industries such as Book and Magazine Publishing, Entertainment and Film, Advertising, Fashion Design, and Product Packaging.
Columbia College alumni have worked full-time, freelance, or on contract for HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, The New Yorker, Institute of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, American Express, House of Vans, Walt Disney Animation Studios, TimeOut Magazine, WBEZ Chicago, Goose Island Beer Co., VICE Media, Chronicle Books, and Juxtapoz Art & Culture Magazine.
Columbia College Chicago was established in 1890 as the Columbia School of Oratory. The school serves nearly 6,700 students enrolled in more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. In addition to programs in creative areas such as communication and writing, media and digital, and music and sound, Columbia offers business management programs. Columbia College Chicago is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC) has a studio-based Illustration BFA Program that requires 120 credit hours, including 42 hours in the Major and 27 in studio electives. The Program’s trans-disciplinary curriculum provides the opportunity to explore creative areas such as Printmaking, Motion Graphics, Drawing, Installation, Animation, Sound Art, Digital Sculpture, and New Media. Other program features include seminars and workshops; summer internships in New York City and other cultural centers; and two- to six-month study abroad experiences in places such as Londin, Hong Kong, and Berlin.
All AAC students will complete the First Year Experience (FYE), which helps students develop creative thinking, communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration skills. FYE course examples include Digital Literacy, Discovery and Voice, Communication, Artist as Writer Workshop, and Ideation. Following the AAC FYE, students will take major courses such as Storytelling Art for Motion Graphics, Illustration: Process and Media, Comic Book Art, Social Practice in the Arts, Illustration: Narrative, Artist Books, Storyboarding and Compositing, and Illustration: Special Topics.
The Illustration BFA Program at Art Academy of Cincinnati has a set of Professional Practice courses and experiences that help students prepare for life after AAC. All students will take Going Big: Professionalism Workshop, and one of the following: Exhibition Studio; Academy Design Service; Museums, Knowledge, and Power; Internship; or Advanced Creative Writing Seminar: Poetics/Aesthetics.
The Senior Year Experience (SYE) consists of 18 credit hours including the Senior Pathway Studio 1-2, Senior Seminar, and Senior Thesis—the culminating experience for the program.
Graduates of the Illustration BFA Program at Art Academy of Cincinnati work in fields such as Book and Magazine Publishing, Graphic Design, Corporate Branding, Entertainment (Film/Video/TV), Packaging, Advertising, and Game Art.
Founded in 1869, Art Academy of Cincinnati serves 310 students enrolled in seven Majors leading to a BFA, one Graduate Program in Art Education, which leads to an MA, and a Graphic Design Program leading to an AS. Art Academy of Cincinnati is a private independent college of art and design accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). AAC is also a Charter Member of NASAD.
The College of Liberal Arts at Purdue University houses the NASAD-accredited Patti & Rusty Rueff School of Design, Art, and Performance. Within the Rueff School is the Department of Art and Design, home to the Studio Arts Program with a Major in Drawing and Illustration. A 15 credit-hour Art and Design Studio Minor with an Illustration and Drawing Area is also available.
Leading to a BFA, the Studio Arts Program explores Mixed Media, Life Drawing, illustration, Etching, Printmaking, Silkscreen, Painting, Drawing, Relief, Monoprint, and Lithography. The Program also provides opportunities to choose electives in areas such as textiles, ceramics, sculpture, and metal.
Course examples across programs include Life Drawing I, Relief Printmaking, Digital Illustration, Advanced Painting, Illustrative Drawing, Etching and Intaglio Printmaking, Drawing II, History of Design, Photo Silkscreen, Computers in Art, Experimental Drawing.
Graduates of the Studio Arts-Drawing and Illustration Program at Purdue University are prepared to pursue careers in Illustration, Animation and Film, Publishing, and Education. Program alumni are also prepared to seek positions at Galleries, Museums, and other cultural institutions.
Established in 1869, Purdue University serves approximately 50,885 students from all 50 states and 130 countries. The school provides more than 400 programs across 11 colleges and schools. Purdue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The Art, Design, and Performance Programs at Purdue are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST).
