| Ranking | School | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | School of Visual Arts | New York |
| 2 | Rhode Island School of Design | Rhode Island |
| 3 | Pratt Institute | New York |
| 4 | Fashion Institute of Technology | New York |
| 5 | The New School | New York |
| 6 | Maryland Institute College of Art | Maryland |
| 7 | Syracuse University | New York |
| 8 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Massachusetts |
| 9 | Virginia Commonwealth University | Virginia |
| 10 | Pennsylvania College of Art and Design | Pennsylvania |
| 11 | Moore College of Art and Design | Pennsylvania |
| 12 | Rochester Institute of Technology | New York |
| 13 | University of Hartford | Connecticut |
| 14 | University of Connecticut | Connecticut |
| 15 | University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| 16 | Lesley University | Massachusetts |
| 17 | Maine College of Art and Design | Maine |
| 18 | Marywood University | Pennsylvania |
| 19 | Queens College | New York |
| 20 | Kean University | New Jersey |
Our 2026 list of the Top 20 Illustration Schools in the East. For reference, we define the East Coast as New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, Rhode Island, Delaware, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. 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 Program at School of Visual Arts (SVA) consists of BFA degrees in Comics and Illustration, and an MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay. Across programs students have opportunities to work with publications such as The New Yorker and The Village Voice. Other program highlights include participation in competitions by the Society of Illustrators and Graphis Inc., and student exhibitions at SVA’s Chelsea Gallery. School of Visual Arts. Graduates can be found at places such as Disney, Rolling Stone, Cartoon Network, The New York Times, HBO, Pixar, Cartoon Network, and The New Yorker.
The Illustration BFA program at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is the schools largest fine arts program. The school also houses an Illustration MFA program designed for students seeking leadership roles in art, entertainment, academia, or publishing. Across programs, students have access to creative studios and workspaces; RISD Museum and Woods-Gerry Gallery; labs such as the Works Research Lab, Color Lab, and Co-Nature Lab; and Fleet Library. In addition to launching their own studios or freelance businesses, graduates have landed roles at places such as Pixar, DreamWorks, LAIKA, and HBO.
The School of Design at Pratt Institute (Pratt) houses a Communications Design BFA with an emphasis in Illustration. Pratt’s School of Art provides two additional paths to study illustration including a Graphic Design/Illustration AAS, and an Illustration AOS. Across programs, students benefit from courses taught by industry insiders; professional internships; portfolio development; access to state-of-the-art labs and maker spaces; and study abroad experiences in the UK or Berlin. Graduates have landed positions at places such as Penguin Random House, Apple, Hasbro, Scholastic, Macmillan Publishers, Amazon, Google, DreamWorks Animation, The New Yorker, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), and Marvel Studios.
The School of Art and Design at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) provides three illustration degrees including the AAS, BFA, and MFA. Courses and workshops for all undergraduate programs are led by professional illustrators working across NYC. Across all programs, students benefit from participation in the FIT Internship Program; study abroad experiences in Florence; participation in student art exhibitions at local galleries; and access to the Society of Illustrators. FIT Illustration graduates have been hired at places such as HarperCollins Publishers, Y&R, DreamWorks, BBDO Worldwide, Vogue, ABC, Ogilvy, Major League Baseball, The New York Times, Hallmark, Knopf Doubleday, and The New Yorker.
The New School’s Parsons School of Design houses an Illustration BFA program that focuses on visual storytelling, topics such as game concept art and children’s book illustration, and immersive career preparation. Other program highlights include internships at places such as The New York Times and Nickelodeon; participation in Comic Arts Brooklyn and MoCCA Fest; access to the state-of-the-art Making Center; and the option to add a minor such as Immersive Storytelling. Graduates go on to establish careers at places such as Amazon, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), The New York Times, DreamWorks, Rockstar Games, Penguin Random House, Sony, Cartoon Network, Hasbro, Gameloft, Scholastic, and Vice Media.
Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) has several paths to study Illustration. For undergraduate students, the school has an Illustration BFA program with Preproduction and Sequential Art tracks, and an Illustration Studio minor. Students seeking a graduate degree can enroll in the Illustration MA or Illustration Practice MFA program. Across programs students benefit from more than 175 visits each year by internationally recognized artists; access to state-of-the-art studios and production facilities; professional internships; and MICA’s relationship with organizations such as the Museum of Comics and Cartoon Arts and the Toronto Comics Art Festival. Graduates go on to land positions at places such as DreamWorks The New York Times, Pixar, Google, Apple, DC Comics, and National Geographic.
The Illustration BFA and MFA programs at Syracuse University’s (SU) College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) have a unique component that allows students to study and work in Los Angeles (VPA LA) or Florence, Italy for a dedicated semester. The programs also highlight frequent trips to MoCCA Fest and the Society of Illustrators in New York City; hands-on learning in stats-of-the-art studios and production facilities; focus areas such as Editorial or Visual Development; and mentorship from working industry professionals. SU VPA graduates have been hired at places such as DreamWorks, Disney, Perkins&Will, Apple, Netflix, SiriusXM, NBCUniversal, Pixar, Louis Vuitton, HBO, Sony, Gensler, Ralph Lauren, and CBS.
Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) has an Illustration BFA program that begins with the Studio Foundation Year and ends with the Senior Thesis and Portfolio Night. Students present their year-long, immersive thesis projects to an audience of invited publishers, editorial professionals, advertising agencies, corporations, and academics. All students will also have opportunities to complete a course assistantship, independent study, and/or professional internship. Illustration BFA and other MassArt graduates have been hired at places such as DC Comics, Pixar, Warner Bros. Discovery, Hasbro, Sony Pictures Imageworks, MGM Studios, Candlewick Press, Hallmark, and the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is home to the School of the Arts (VCUarts), which houses a Communication Arts BFA program with specializations in Scientific Illustration and Visual Effects. A Scientific Illustration minor is also available. Across programs, students will take courses such as Illustration I-III; Drawing Studio; Figure I-III; Time Studio; Surface Research; and Business of Art. Other program highlights include access to state-of-the-art production studios and labs; professional internships; and the opportunity to showcase works at annual student exhibitions and showcases. Graduates are routinely hired at places such as Wieden+Kennedy, Apple, Qatar Museums, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA), Amazon, Saatchi & Saatchi, Capital One, The Martin Agency, and Spotify.
The Illustration BFA program at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D) has Classical and Contemporary concentration options. Students can also add a certificate such as UX/UI Design, Filmmaking, or Packaging Design, or a minor such as Graphic Design or Animation and Game Art. An Illustration AFA is also available, as well as Design Thinking AA and BA programs with a concentration in Illustration. Degree-seeking students may participate in the PCA&D mentorship program and the annual Design in a Day event. Students are also required to complete an internship of campus or on campus at The Agency. Graduates have been hired at places such The Wall Street Journal, Nike, ESPN, Nickelodeon, Disney, Adidas, The New York Times, Bento Box Entertainment, A&E Network, and HBO.
Moore College of Art and Design (Moore) houses an Illustration BFA program with a guaranteed $1,000 paid internship. An Illustration minor that covers advertising, fashion, editorial, and publishing is also available. Across programs, students benefit from immersive workshops and critique sessions; field trips to comic cons; studio tours; access to state-of-the-art labs and illustration studios; and mentoring by industry professionals. The BFA program culminates with the Senior Studio and Senior Thesis courses. Moore graduates have been hired at places such as Penguin Publishing Group, Tyco, Amazon, Apple, Vanity Fair, Nickelodeon, Smithsonian Institution, Apple, NBCUniversal, Mattel, Comcast, and QVC.
The School of Art at Rochester Institute of Technology provides several paths to study illustration. Options include an Illustration BFA; a Fine Arts Studio MFA with an Illustration track; and a Medical Illustration MFA, which is one the only programs of its kind in the Northeast. Across programs, students benefit from Creative Industry Day where they have the opportunity to interview for co-op experiences and permanent positions; access to high-tech facilities such as the Illustration Studio and Studio 96; and the opportunity to present works in an RIT gallery. Graduates are routinely hired at places such as Hasbro, New England Journal of Medicine, American Greetings, Marvel, Disney, Amazon, Hallmark, Nickelodeon, Apple, The New Yorker, Fisher-Price, Smithsonian Institution, Cell Press, and The Atlantic.
Hartford Art School (HAS) at University of Hartford (UHart) provides several paths to study illustration. Options include the Illustration BFA, MFA, and minor. All degree-seeking students have the opportunity to intern with UHart partners such as Art Basil/Bass Museum and ESPN. MFA students also benefit from travel to places such as New York City, and all students have opportunities to participate in field trips to studios such as DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, and Electronic Arts (EA). HAS Illustration graduates have secured roles at places such as HarperCollins, Pentagram, Starbucks, ESPN, and Sterling Publishing.
The School of Fine Arts at University of Connecticut (UConn) houses the Department of Art and Art History (AAH). Within the department are the ART BA and BFA programs with a concentration in Animation/Illustration. The concentration provides opportunities to pursue projects in areas such as cartoons, comics, and graphic novels; children’s, editorial, book, and corporate/institutional illustration; environment and character; 2-D and stop-motion animation; and product design. Other program highlights include access to state-of-the-art labs and studios; internships; workshop; guest speakers; and study abroad experiences. Graduates can be found at places such as The New York Times, Pentagram, The Met, Pixar, Lego, Marvel, The New Yorker, Google Creative Lab, Macmillan Publishers, and ESPN.
The Stuart Weitzman School of Design at University of Pennsylvania (Penn) houses the Department of Fine Arts. Program options for students seeking careers in illustration include an interdisciplinary BA in Fine Arts (FNAR); the integrative Design BA (DSGN BA); and an Art MFA. Students in all programs can study illustration through required studio courses and unrestricted electives. Other program highlights include the access to state-of-the-art production facilities and the department’s offsite multiuse gallery, Postscript; the visiting artist lecture series; Penn’s partnership with the Institute of Contemporary Art; and professional internships. Graduates have been hired at places such as DreamWorks, Nike, Penguin Random House, Pixar, The Wall Street Journal, Hasbro, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), and Gameloft.
Lesley University (Lesley) provides several paths to study illustration. At the undergraduate level, students can enroll in the Illustration BFA program or the Illustration minor with specializations in Editorial, Comics, Children’s Books, and Game Art. At the graduate level, Lesley houses a Visual and Literary Arts MFA program with the opportunity to focus in illustration. Across programs, students benefit from mentorship opportunities with professional illustrators in the Greater Boston area; internships at places such as Cartoon Network, Disney, and National Geographic; field trips; critiques; and workshops. Graduates have gone on to secure roles at places such as Warner Bros., Neoescape, Saturday AM, Robb Report Singapore, Charles River Laboratories, Artists for Humanity, and Nova Idea.
Maine College of Art and Design (MECA&D) has an Illustration BFA program that features small class sizes; courses taught by industry professionals; access to state-of-the-art studios, labs, and shared workspaces; and internships at places such as Hasbro and the Illustration Institute. In addition to Hasbro, graduates can be found at places such as Darby Pop Publishing, Portland Symphony Orchestra, Cider Mill Press, Quarto Group, the Children's Museum and Theatre of Maine, and Islandport Press.
The School of Visual and Performing Arts at Marywood University provides several paths to study illustration. Options include the Illustration Studio Arts BFA; an MFA In Graphic Design and Illustration; an Illustration Minor; and a Sequential Art and Storytelling certificate. Across programs, students benefit from small class sizes; access to state-of-the-art studios and labs; hands-on learning experiences in Marywood’s five gallery spaces; and professional internships. Graduates have been hired by the Philadelphia Flyers, and at places such as WebFX, Cynosure, and Bright Age Digital Creative Agency.
The School of Art (SoA) at Queens College (CUNY) houses a Design BFA program with an Animation and Illustration concentration. An Illustration minor is available as well as a flexible Studio Art BFA that prepares students for careers as in illustration. Degree-seeking students have the opportunity to complete a professional internship. All students benefit from immersive workshops; access to state-of-the-art production studios and computer labs; and partnerships with Kupferberg Center for the Arts, Louis Armstrong House Museum, and Godwin-Ternbach Museum (GTM). Graduates have secured roles at places such as Hearst Magazines, The Boathouse Agency, M Booth, and Premier Brands Group.
The Department of Fine Arts at Kean University houses an Illustration specialization for the school’s established Fine Arts BA and Studio Art BFA programs. Kean recently absorbed the Art Department from New Jersey City University (NJCU), leading to the launch of a new Art BFA with a concentration in Illustration. Across programs, students benefit from collaborative projects; immersive studio training; internships; and professional portfolio development. Graduates have landed positions at places such as Saatchi & Saatchi, Google, Disney, Ogilvy, Major League Baseball (MLB), West Elm, and McCann.
