| Ranking | School | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | School of Visual Arts | New York |
| 2 | Rhode Island School of Design | Rhode Island |
| 3 | ArtCenter College of Design | California |
| 4 | Ringling College of Art and Design | Florida |
| 5 | Savannah College of Art and Design | Georgia |
| 6 | Pratt Institute | New York |
| 7 | Fashion Institute of Technology | New York |
| 8 | The New School | New York |
| 9 | Minneapolis College of Art and Design | Minnesota |
| 10 | Brigham Young University | Utah |
| 11 | College for Creative Studies | Michigan |
| 12 | Maryland Institute College of Art | Maryland |
| 13 | Syracuse University | New York |
| 14 | San Jose State University | California |
| 15 | Otis College of Art and Design | California |
| 16 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Massachusetts |
| 17 | Washington University in St. Louis | Missouri |
| 18 | Columbus College of Art and Design | Ohio |
| 19 | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design | Wisconsin |
| 20 | California State University, Long Beach | California |
| 21 | Kansas City Art Institute | Missouri |
| 22 | Cleveland Institute of Art | Ohio |
| 23 | Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design | Colorado |
| 24 | Virginia Commonwealth University | Virginia |
| 25 | California State University, Fullerton | California |
The 2026 top 25 schools and colleges offering Illustration Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree programs. 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 the ranking criteria, click here.
The School of Visual Arts (SVA) is home to a Comics and Illustration BFA program that provides 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. Students in this intensive program have access to creative studios and workspaces; state-of-the-art production facilities; 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 and freelance businesses, graduates have landed roles at places such as Pixar, DreamWorks, LAIKA, and HBO.
The Illustration BFA program at ArtCenter College of Design (ArtCenter) has five tracks. Options include Illustration Design; Entertainment Arts; Fine Art Painting; Motion Design; and Surface Design. Other program highlights include access to state-of-the-art production facilities; professional internships; and study abroad experiences. ArtCenter Illustration graduates have been hired at places such as Google, Wieden+Kennedy, Marvel Studios, Riot Games, DreamWorks, Apple, The Los Angeles Times, Disney, Nike, BMW, and Adidas.
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 BFA program at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) allows students to enhance the degree through electives and minors such as Scientific Illustration and Advertising and Branding. BFA students are also required to select a concentration in Dynamic Illustration and Publication, Visual Development, or Illustration for Surface Design. 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 School of Design at Pratt Institute (Pratt) houses a Communications Design BFA with an emphasis in Illustration. Program highlights include 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) houses an Illustration BFA program led by professional illustrators working across NYC. Students also benefit from participation in the FIT Internship Program; study abroad experiences in Florence; student art exhibitions at local galleries; and access to the Society of Illustrators. FIT Illustration graduates have been hired at places such as Vogue, ABC, HarperCollins Publishers, Y&R, DreamWorks, BBDO Worldwide, 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.
Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) houses a collaborative Illustration BFA program that allows students to specialize in areas such as children’s books; entertainment (animation and games); advertising; editorial; surface design; comic books; products and packaging; and courtroom illustration. Students may also enhance the degree with a minor such as Graphic Design. Graduates have secured positions at places such as Amazon MGM Studios, Netflix, Scholastic, The Washington Post, Cartoon Network, Adidas, Starbucks Creative Studio, Nickelodeon, Target, Warner Bros., and The Atlantic.
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.
Students in the Illustration BFA program at College for Creative Studies (CCS) have interned at places such as Mattel, Disney, Insomniac Games, and Cartoon Network. Through electives, BFA students also have the opportunity to focus in specific areas such editorial, children’s books, or advertising. An Illustration minor is available for students in other majors at CCS. Graduates can be found at places such as Leo Burnett Worldwide, The New York Times, Ogilvy, Nickelodeon, Lego, DreamWorks Animation, Mattel, American Greetings, Marvel Studios, Nike, Disney, New Balance, Blizzard Entertainment, ESPN, Cartoon Network, The Washington Post, Insomniac Games, Crispin, Ford, Converse, and Reader’s Digest.
Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) houses an Illustration BFA program with Preproduction and Sequential Art tracks. 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 program at Syracuse University’s (SU) College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) has a unique component that allows students to study and work in Los Angeles (VPA LA) or Florence, Italy for a dedicated semester. The program also features frequent trips to MoCCAFest 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 established industry artists and designers. 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.
The Department of Design at San Jose State University (SJSU) houses an Animation and Illustration BFA that highlights partnerships with studios such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Sony, and DreamWorks. This provides opportunities to intern with some of the world’s top production studios. Other program highlights include guest lecturers from major studios; immersive workshops; and access to state-of-the-art production facilities and labs. In addition to ILM, Sony, and DreamWorks, graduates are routinely hired at places such as Lucasfilm Animation, Electronic Arts (EA), Warner Bros., Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Blizzard Entertainment, Pixar, and Riot Games.
Otis College of Art and Design (OTIS) has an Illustration BFA program that allows students to focus in multiple areas through electives and minors. Popular examples include Book Arts, Digital Media, and Advertising Design. Housed in the Communication Arts Department, the program also features field trips to conventions and production studios; visiting artists and lecturers; immersive workshops; access to state-of-the-art facilities and labs; and professional internships and study abroad experiences. Program alumni can be found at places such as Condé Nast, Hallmark, Ogilvy, Disney, WB Network, Nike, Apple, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Sony, Mattel, Netflix, LA Weekly, and 20th Century Studios.
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.
The Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) houses a Communication Design BFA with an Illustration concentration. Minors such as Illustrated Book Studio and Painting allow students to specialize in an additional area of interest. All students may complete a professional internship and public exhibition. Graduates can be found at IDEO, The New Yorker, Disney, HBO, DreamWorks, The Atlantic, Penguin Random House, Google, Pixar, The Guggenheim, Nickelodeon, Pentagram, Ogilvy, and Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, among others.
The Illustration BFA program at Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD) focuses experiential learning and work opportunities with professional artists and comic writers and artists on the student publication Spitball: A CCAD Comics Anthology. Students can also work with animators, storytellers, writers, and comic artists through the Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC) festival. The program culminates with an Illustration Capstone and presentation at the Chroma: Best of CCAD exhibition. Graduates have gone on to establish careers at places such as Boeing, Pixar, Old Navy, GM, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Hasbro, DC Comics, Ogilvy, Airstream, Marvel Comics, DreamWorks, Hallmark, The Wall Street Journal, Disney, Sony Pictures, American Greetings, P&G, Cartoon Network, ATARI, Nutella, and Abercrombie & Fitch.
Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) houses an Illustration BFA program that allows students work on collaborative projects with real clients. Other program highlights include the option to specialize in a specific area by adding a minor such as Digital Media Production, Advertising or Book Arts; professional internships; and the culminating Illustration Thesis Project, Portfolio, and student-designed MIAD Exhibition. Students and graduates have created designs and illustrations for The New Yorker, Nike, Variety, HBO, Time, and Amazon Studios. MIAD illustration graduates are also routinely hired at places such as Hallmark, Disney, Google, Pokémon, Kohler, Dallas Morning News, Kohl’s, and Harley-Davidson. Other program alumni have launched studios such as THIEL Design and Studio 8 Design.
The School of Art (SoA) at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) houses the Art BFA with an Illustration option. Students also have the opportunity to focus in areas such as visual development, concept art, and storyboarding. They can also collaborate with students in the SoA Animation program. Graduates can be found at places such as DreamWorks, Penguin Random House, The New York Times, Disney, Blizzard Entertainment, DC Comics, Nickelodeon, Sony, Netflix, Warner Bros., Marvel, Hallmark, The Los Angeles Times, Simon & Schuster, Mattel, Wired, Nike, HarperCollins, and The Atlantic.
The Illustration major at Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) is the school’s most popular program. Housed in the Department of Illustration, this BFA program provides the opportunity to work at MICRO—KCAI’s very own design firm. Past clients have included the Kansas City Royals and Children’s Mercy Hospital. KCAI Illustration students will also complete a mandatory internship with Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, The Kansas City Star, The American Jazz Museum, and Boulevard Brewing Company. Graduates have been hired at places such as The New York Times, Nickelodeon, Wired, Tootsie Roll Industries, Nike, Hallmark, The New Yorker, MTV, American Greetings, Fox, The Kansas City Star, Discord, and Garmin.
Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) is home to the Illustration and Life Sciences Illustration BFA programs. All students have personal, dedicated studio spaces and access to state-of-the-art production facilities. Other program highlights include real world experiences through partnerships with clients such as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; visiting artists and designers; field trips to ad agencies and professional studios; and small-group seminars. Graduates have launched their own studios, published children’s books, and established careers at places such as American Greetings, Hasbro, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Disney, Electronic Arts (EA), Bethesda, Chronicle Books, the Olympic Games, and Cleveland Clinic.
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.
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 College of the Arts at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) is home to the Department of Visual Arts, which houses an Art BFA program with an Illustration concentration. Program highlights include immersive workshops; internships and study abroad experiences; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; seminars; and visiting artists. Graduates can be found at places such as Electronic Arts (EA), Lucasfilm, Penguin Random House, DreamWorks, Blizzard Entertainment, Cartoon Network, Riot Games, Disney, Nickelodeon, Hasbro, Netflix, Marvel, and Dark Horse Comics.
