Top 25 Private Illustration Schools and Colleges in the U.S. - 2024 Rankings

The School of Visual Arts (SVA) is a community of creatives that includes faculty and alumni who were involved in five of the 2024 Academy Award-nominated films as Computer Animators, Illustrators, Producers, and more. Within SVA are a number of departments that provide degree programs at all levels. 

The SVA Illustration Department has several paths, courses, and workshops for students seeking careers in Illustration, Entertainment, Animation, and other related areas. For degree-seeking students, the department provides an Illustration BFA and an Illustration as Visual Essay MFA. BFA program features include access to faculty and mentors who are professionals in the industry; opportunities to gain hands-on experience through internships and other experiential learning programs; and a senior portfolio curriculum that allow students to develop professional works in an area of focus. 

Illustration BFA students will complete 120 credit hours, including 72 credits in studio art courses. Coursework explores drawing and illustration, painting, storytelling, writing, comics, books and zines, digital coloring, and visual computing. Elective studio courses allow students to explore areas such as motion graphics, web design, and stop-motion animation. Course examples for the program include Creating Unforgettable Characters; Pictorial Projects I-II: Illustration; Cool Books; Digital Collage Illustration: Telling Stories in Layers; Still and Moving: Low-Tech Animation; and Motion Graphics Techniques I-II. 

Before graduating from SVA, Illustration students have plenty of opportunities to compete in competitions and work for places such as The New Yorker and The Village Voice. SVA Illustration graduates go on to establish successful careers in fields such as Advertising, Textile Design, VFX Art, Animation, Fashion Design, Book Publishing, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Printmaking, Film, Packaging, and Greeting Card Design. 

For students seeking a degree in a specialized area of Illustration, School of Visual Arts has a Comic BFA Program. The curriculum for this program is similar to the Illustration BFA curriculum. Comic BFA students will also take other courses such as Principles of Cartooning I-II; Lettering Comics; Graphic Design Solutions for Illustrators and Cartoonists; Comic Book Superheroes and American Society; and Pictorial Projects I-II: Cartooning. 

SVA’s MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Department was established in 1984. The department’s full contact MFA is a competitive 60 credit hour, two-year program that accepts just 20 students per year. All MFA students benefit from 24/7 access to personal workspaces; guest lecturers, speakers, and mentors; the Illustration Business Boot Camp; internship opportunities; and participation in exhibits and gallery shows. 

Students in all SVA programs have access to the school’s study abroad program as well as SVA offices in Seoul, South Korea, and Shanghai, China, where students can collaborate, network, participate in workshops, and attend lectures. 

In addition to coursework and projects in computer illustration, creative writing, storytelling, and visual essay, SVA MFA students have the opportunity to audit classes in Fine Arts, Animation, and Film. Course examples for the program include Drawing II; The Digital Book; Painting I-II; Creative Writing Workshop I-II; Book Seminar; Perpetual Appetizers; Studio Workshop I-II; History of Storytelling; and computer Illustration Portfolio. 

The SVA Illustration as Visual Essay MFA program culminates with a Thesis Project completed over two courses. 

For students seeking a shorter program, SVA has numerous options. Examples include Illustration as Design as Illustration (10 sessions); Animals and Creatures in Illustration (10 sessions); Careers in Illustration: A Drawing Workshop (six sessions); Crash Course for Artists, Illustrators, and Cartoonists (10 sessions); Etching: Illustrating Books with Prints (10 sessions); Comics Poetry: Experimenting with Text and Image (10 sessions); Fearless Drawing (four sessions); and Silkscreen: The Artist's Book Series (10 sessions). These single courses and workshops can last anywhere from a few days to several months, and some options can be completed entirely online. 

Graduates of the School of Visual Arts are prepared for careers across industries. As mentioned, Illustration alumni have worked on major productions and won Academy Awards. They have launched their own studios such as Augenblick Studios and Titmouse, and worked with top studios such as Pixar, Disney, and DreamWorks. Others have worked with DC Comics and Marvel, or for brands such as Prada and Vans. 

School of Visual Arts opened in 1947 as the Cartoonists and Illustrators school. Classes began with just three teachers and 35 students. Today, SVA serves approximately 3,440 students enrolled in dozens of BFA, MA, MFA, and MPS programs. School of Visual Arts is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), with individual program accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).

The Illustration BFA program at ArtCenter College of Design (ArtCenter) has six different tracks that allow students to train for careers in everything from children’s publishing to VFX. Options include Illustration Desigin; Entertainment Arts; Surface Design; Fine Art Painting; Motion Design; and Entertainment Arts- Consumer Products. 

Illustration Design prepares students for careers ranging from Storyboard Artist to Scientific Illustrator to Children’s Book Illustrator. In Entertainment Arts, students develop animation skills and product development for the entertainment industry (films, TV, and video games). 

In Surface Design, students develop the skills needed to pursue careers in Textile Design and Graphic Illustrated Imagery. Fine Art Painting focuses on craft and technique as a precursor to the conceptual process. Motion Design prepares students for success in the fields of Advertising, Film, VFX, Music Videos, and Public Service Announcements (PSAs). 

Students in Entertainment Arts-Consumer Products will develop product development, animation, graphic design, and children’s book illustration skills, among others.  

The ArtCenter Illustration BFA (with track), consists of 120 credit hours. Illustration Design students will take courses such as Digital Illustration; Children’s Book Illustration; and Illustration Design Lab. Key courses for the Entertainment Arts track include Storyboarding; Visual Development; and Composition for Film. Surface Design features courses such as The Art of Fashion’ Introduction to Textile Design;’ and Craft Techniques. 

Fine Art Painting students will take courses such as Wet Paint; Painting Projects; and Re-Presentation: Narrative and Bodies. Motion Design includes courses such as Sequential Design 3; Advanced Motion Studio; and Type 5 Motion. And finally, Entertainment Arts-Consumer Products focuses on courses such as Character Design; Graphic Design for Entertainment Arts; and Introduction to Maya and 3D Animation. Note that many tracks have overlapping coursework, so have the opportunity to study across tracks.   

Graduates of the Illustration BFA program at ArtCenter College of Design may continue their studies by enrolling in the school’s Interdisciplinary MFA program. This option allows students to customize the degree to support any medium. Other program features include individual studio spaces; access to state-of-the art facilities, software, galleries, and project studios; and study abroad opportunities in Paris, Berlin, Mexico City, and Cologne. 

ArtCenter partnerships with major companies and studios across the U.S. have also provided opportunities for BFA and MFA students to intern with or establish salaried employment at places such as Microsoft, Riot Games, Mattel, Blizzard Entertainment, Nike, DreamWorks, Walt Disney Imagineering, Netflix, Apple, Ford, WB, Facebook, BMW, Amazon, and Google. 

ArtCenter Illustration students have also worked with clients such as Pictures Animation, The New Yorker, Wieden+Kennedy (Tokyo), Marvel Studios, Nike, Los Angeles Times, Adidas, Smithsonian Magazine, and Wildlife Conservation Society. 

ArtCenter College of Design serves approximately 2,425 students from more than 50 countries. Founded in 1930, the school has campuses in Pasadena and Los Angeles, California, along with satellite studios in Petersen Automotive Museum (Miracle Mile, Los Angeles) and Berlin, Germany. ArtCenter provides 11 undergraduate programs; 10 graduate degree programs leading to an MFA or MS; a joint MS/MBA program; and undergraduate minors for Business, Creative Writing, and Social Innovation students. 

ArtCenter College of Design is fully accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has an Illustration program that provides degrees at all levels. Across options, students have opportunities to gain skills in an additional area of interest and/or a specialized area of Illustration through a minor or single courses. Minor examples include Animated Illustration and Publication Design; Storyboarding; Illustration for Surface Design; Fashion; Themed Entertainment Design; Visual Effects; Advertising and Branding; Scientific Illustration; Animation; Illustration for Entertainment; Graphic Design; Design for 3D Action Figures; and Game UX. 

Specific degree programs for students seeking an Illustration program include a Visual Communication BA with an Illustration concentration (available at the Atlanta and Savannah campuses); BFA in Illustration (Atlanta, Hong Kong, Savannah); Illustration MA (Atlanta, Savannah, eLearning); and Illustration MFA (Atlanta, Savannah, eLearning). 

All BA and BFA students will complete the SCAD Core before entering the major. Consisting of general education coursework and foundation studies, the SCAD Core includes courses such as Drawing I/II (Form and Space/ Composition and Media); The Geometry of Physical Space; Speaking of Ideas; Digital Communication; Design I/II/III (Elements and Organization/3-D Form in Space/Time); Applied Physics; Color: Theory and Application; Creative Thinking Theories and Processes; Psychology of Group Processes: and Visual Culture in Context: Making Modernites. 

Course examples across the BA and BFA programs include Color with Intent; Animated Illustration; Illustrating Beyond the Page: The Narrative Experience; Digital Illustration; Materials and Techniques; Speaking of Ideas; Creative Concepting for World Building; Book Illustration; Illustration Business Strategies and Entrepreneurship; Advertising Illustration; Contextual Character Design; and Editorial Illustration. 

The SCAD Illustration BFA also has four concentration options including Animated Illustration and Publication Design; Illustration for Entertainment; Concept Design for Animation and Games; and Illustration for Surface Design. This professional degree program includes 15 hours of electives and advanced courses such as Illustration Business Strategies and Entrepreneurship; Career Strategies for Illustration; and Professional Portfolio for Illustrators. 

Both programs require 180 credit hours to graduate, including 20 credit hours of free electives for the BA Program. Across options, students have the opportunity to participate in the SCAD internship program.

The Illustration MA at Savannah College of Art and Design features a required graduate internship, the Directed Projects in Illustration course, and a final project. The program requires 45 credit hours to graduate. The SCAD Illustration MFA consists of 90 credit hours and features two graduate internships and the following courses: Directed Projects in Illustration; Advanced Studio Techniques; Illustration for Publications, Professional Practices in Illustration; and Illustration Markets. Students in this terminal degree program may develop additional skills in a specific area through the program’s four required 500- to 700-level electives. 

All SCAD students have the opportunity to spend a quarter abroad at SCAD Lacoste or other study abroad locations. All SCAD students also benefit from access to studio classrooms, state-of-the-art labs, production studios, drawing rooms, and cutting tables; creative collaborations between departments and with global brands; participation in competitions and exhibits; access to Adobe Creative Cloud and master classes; visiting artists and speakers; panel discussions; and participation in SCAD’s Annual Sidewalk Arts Festival.  

Graduates of the Illustration programs at Savannah College of Art and Design are prepared to pursue positions across the entertainment industry, advertising, publishing, games, architecture, design, and many others. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Walt Disney Imagineering, Comedy Central, ImagineFX, Bento Box Entertainment, A&E, The New York Times, Converse, Game Informer, and Revolver Studios. 

Savannah College of Art and Design has more degree programs and specializations than any other art and design college in the U.S. In 1979, the school opened in the renovated Savannah Volunteer Guards Armory with just one classroom, an administration building, and 71 students. Today, SCAD serves more than 17,500 students across campuses in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and SCADNow. Programs include 100+ degrees and more than 75 minors and certificates. 

Savannah College of Art and Design is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), and the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB).

California College of the Arts (CCA) houses a cross-disciplinary Illustration BFA that features studio projects and visits; access to state-of-the-art production facilities and labs; a professional practice course that teaches students how to start and run a freelance or small business; lectures; and frequent classroom critiques (individual and group). 

With an emphasis on drawing and painting, this 120 credit-hour program also explores emerging animation, AR/VR, storytelling, 3D modeling, imaging technologies, screenprinting, and hand-lettering. All CCA students will complete the First Year Experience (FYE), where they have the opportunity to participate in studio projects, discussion, and group critiques for two semesters. 

After completing the FYE, students will begin taking courses to fulfill core, studio, major, and other requirements. All courses are led by professional Illustrators, Designers, and Fine Artists. Course examples include Illustration Studios 1-3; Painting Workshop; Drawing 2D, 3D, 4D; Digital Media; Illustration Tools; Writing 1-2; Media History: History of Illustration; and Professional Practice. 

For students looking to enhance the BFA, the program provides the opportunity to minor in Comics or Visual Development. Comics minors are prepared for careers in book and editorial illustration and Visual Development students are prepared for positions such as storyboard artist, character designer, or environment designer for the entertainment industry. 

During the last year of the CCA Illustration BFA program, students will complete a semester-long thesis project and participate in the Senior Show. This culminating event attracts local design professionals and artists from across the U.S. 

Graduates of the Illustration BFA program at California College of the Arts can pursue careers in areas such as traditional publishing (book illustration, editorial illustration); animation and game design; film and television; advertising and marketing; exhibition design and installations; comics; graphic design; science and medicine (medical and scientific illustration); architecture; retail; and education. 

Potential job titles include Illustrator, Storyboard Artist, Concept Artist, Exhibition Designer, Graphic Novelist, Textile Designer, Printmaker, Freelance Illustrator, Muralist, Surface Designer, Fine Artist, and Educator. 

California College of the Arts was established in 1907 as the School of the California Guild of Arts and Crafts. When it opened, CCA had just three teachers and 43 students when it opened. Today, the school employs 420 faculty members that serve approximately 1,500 students enrolled in over 40 undergraduate, graduate, minor, and dual degree programs. California College of the Arts is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), and the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

The Illustration Department at the College for Creative Studies (CCS) has programs leading to a BFA or a minor. The BFA requires 126-127 credit hours including 78 in studio areas, 42-43 in general studies courses, and six in general elective courses. The Illustration minor consists of 15 credits chosen from courses in the BFA program. Examples include Figure Illustration I-II; Illustration Techniques; and Anatomical Figure Illustration. Electives allow students in the minor to focus in a specific area of illustration. 

During the first year of the CCS Illustration BFA, students will take courses in the Foundation Department. Areas of exploration during the year include Drawing, 2D and 3D Design, and Digital Tools. Students will also take courses in the Liberal Arts Department. 

A major component of the CCS Illustration BFA is the opportunity to select a Pathway. Each Pathway allows students to create a focused portfolio for studio-based or freelance careers in Illustration. Pathway options include Publishing; Comics and Sequential; Visual Development; Gallery Artist; and Fashion, Lifestyle, and Licensing. An additional option is the Entrepreneurial Studies concentration, which is ideal for students who would like to launch their own studios. 

Another major component of the Illustration BFA program at College for Creative Studies is the internship program. Through this experiential learning opportunity, upper division students will work with top brands, studios, corporations, and museums. Examples include Disney Consumer Products, Insomniac Games, Mattel Inc., Reader’s Digest, Cartoon Network, Converse, Hasbro, Crispin Porter + Bogusky, the Museum of American Illustration, Ball Aerospace, Diane von Furstenberg, Fisher Price, HoMedics, Museum of American Illustration, Anthropologie, Moosejaw, Museum of Fine Art, Grand Rapids Symphony, FOX News, and Spark Communications. 

Full-time CCA Illustration BFA students will complete at least six academic hours and 24 studio hours each week to graduate from the program. Graduates have gone on to work with major companies, publishers, studios, and brands such as Disney, Blizzard Entertainment, Adidas, The New York Times, Cartoon Network, ESPN, Nike, Converse, Washington Post, and Ford. 

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). The school is also an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) has several paths to study Illustration. For artists seeking an undergraduate degree, MICA has an Illustration BFA with Preproduction and Sequential Art tracks. At the graduate level, students can choose between the Illustration MA and the Illustration Practice MFA. 

Students in the Illustration BFA program will complete the First Year Experience (FYE) consisting of 18 credit hours. FYE course examples include Drawing: Tradition and Innovation; Form & Face; and Systems & Time. In addition to other required courses such as Sophomore Illustration I-II; Junior Illustration I-II; and Senior Illustration I-II, BFA students may add a Studio concentration in an area such as Book Arts, Animation, Graphic Design, or Printmaking. 

In addition to concentration options, all BFA students benefit from MICA’s relationships with organizations such as Baltimore Comic-Con, the Toronto Comics Art Festival, the Museum of Comics and Cartoon Arts, and the Small Press Expo. 

During the final year of the program, MICA BFA students will develop a professional portfolio, while exploring topics such as business practices, intellectual property, and copyright issues.

Graduates of the MICA Illustration BFA program have been hired for internships, full-time positions, and freelance assignments at places such as DC Comics, DreamWorks Animation, Johns Hopkins Institute of Nanobiology, National Geographic, LucasArts Entertainment, Pixar, Google, Anthropologie, Apple, The New York Times, and Whole Foods Market. Some Illustration graduates go on to launch their own studios, while others have enrolled in MICA’s Illustration MA or Illustration Practice MFA programs. 

The MICA Illustration MA is a one-year program for practicing Illustrators seeking career advancement or individuals interested in launching a career in illustration. Consisting of studios, lectures, workshops, and open electives, the 30 credit hour MA features collaborative projects with the Center for Design Thinking and graduate students from other departments at MICA; learning that takes place in a state-of-the-art studio environment; an open-plan; and courses taught by leaders in the field. 

The Illustration MA program at MICA culminates with a capstone portfolio project, exhibition, and review panel. 

The Illustration Practice MFA is a 60 credit-hour program that features opportunities to collaborate with MICA’s Dolphin Press & Print; Rockwell Center for American Visual Studies; the Modern Graphics History Library at Washington University; and the Center for Design Thinking at MICA. Students in this two-year program will also collaborate with other industry professionals and peers. All Illustration Practice MFA students have the opportunity to communicate with visiting critics and artists-in-residence. The MICA Illustration Practice MFA culminates with the MFA Thesis. 

Graduates of the Illustration MA and MFA programs at Maryland Institute College of Art work in leadership positions such as Senior Illustrator, Managing Illustrator, Art Director, Program Director, Design Manager, Creative Director, Educator, Gallery Manager, Exhibiting Artist, and Curator. Program alumni have also gone on to launch their own studios and freelance businesses. 

Founded in 1826, Maryland Institute College of Art is the nation’s oldest independent, continuously degree-granting college of art and design. The school serves nearly 3,500 undergraduate, graduate, and open studies students from 49 states and 52 countries. Programs at MICA lead to a BFA, MA, MFA, MBA, MPS degree, or post-baccalaureate certificate. Maryland Institute College of Art is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD) has an Illustration BFA program that gives all students the opportunity to work on the student publication Spitball: A CCAD Comics Anthology. As part of the Comics Anthology Practicum course, which simulates a professional comic publishing practice, students will work on the design, merchandising, and sale of the publication in collaboration with professional comic writers and artists. 

CCAD Illustration BFA students also have the opportunity to and interact with storytellers, animators, comic artists, and professional writers through Cartoon Crossroads Columbus. Highlights include workshops, lectures, professional panels, and more. Other program features include access to state-of-the art facilities such as 2D and 3D illustration labs, the FabLab, and computer lab; opportunities to specialize in a creative area through a minor or concentration; and internship opportunities at businesses in Ohio and across the U.S.

CCAD minors are 15 credit hours and concentrations are nine credit hours. Minor examples include Comics & Narrative Practice; Animation 2D or 3D; Film & Video; Advertising & Graphic Design; Photography; Copywriting; Design Research; Industrial Design; and Business. An Illustration minor is also available for students in other majors. Concentration examples include Illustration/Entertainment; and Illustration/Illustrative Design. 

Consisting of 120 credit hours, the Illustration BFA highlights courses such as Motion Illustration; Traditional Media Illustration; Character and Environment Design; Historical Art & Design; Digital Design Lab; Illustration Markets; and Illustration Self-Promotion. The Illustration BFA program at Columbus College of Art and Design culminates with the Illustration Capstone. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers across industries. 

Program alumni have been hired at places such as DreamWorks Animation, Marvel Comics, Boeing, Disney Consumer Products (DCP), Sony Pictures, DC Comics, The Wall Street Journal, Hasbro, Cartoon Network, Bath & Body Works, Williams Sonoma, Ogilvy & Mather, Hallmark, Pixar, CBS News, forever 21, and American Greetings.

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 the 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 Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) provides real world experiences through partnerships with external clients—all before graduation. CIA Illustration students also benefit from field trips to advertising agencies and professional studios; interactions with visiting artists; small-group seminars; private, individual studio spaces; and access to Integrated Media Environment Facilities, lighting and shooting spaces, a sound recording studio, and fabrication studios. 

Illustration at Cleveland Institute of Art consists of two paths: the Illustration BFA and the Life Sciences Illustration BFA. Both programs explore traditional materials and techniques such as acrylics, oils, inks, collage, and pencils. Students will also master industry standard software such as Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. 

Consisting of 120 credit hours of study, the Illustration BFA features courses such Layout Rendering Techniques; Illustration I-II; Character Design + Development; Graphic Novels + Sequential Art; Picture Book Illustration; Visual Concepts in Illustration; Sound Design Fundamentals; Illustration: Advanced Illustration Studio Projects; and Professional Practices: Entrepreneurial Ventures. 

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 Book and Magazine Publishing, Entertainment, Animation, Game Design, Comic Book Publishing, and Advertising. 

The Life Sciences Illustration BFA program at Cleveland Institute of Art is designed for artists seeking a program that integrates Art and Science. One of the few BFA degrees of its kind in the U.S. the Life Sciences program explores topics such as Information Design, Illustration, Interactive Design, Botanical Sciences, Serious Game Design, Animation, Zoological Sciences, Sound Design, Biological Sciences, Research Methods, and Professional Development. 

Course examples for the program include Interactive Narratives; Advanced Concepts & Methods; Digital Biomedical Illustration; Digital Color: Style + Representation in Science; Line: Information Visualization; Veterinary Illustration; 3D Animation; Natural Science & Zoological Illustration; 3D Modeling; Cellular + Molecular Illustration; and Anatomy for the Artist. 

A major component of the CIA Life Sciences Illustration BFA program is the internship, which provides the opportunity to gain valuable real-world experience in this unique field. Professional Practices courses provide additional insight into how the industry works and how to gain entry. The courses highlight portfolio development for online and offline media, demo reels, and professional packages consisting of business cards, resumes, cover letters, etc. Courses include Professional Practices: Studio to Gallery; and Professional Practices: Industry. 

The Life Sciences Illustration BFA program at Cleveland Institute of Art culminates with the BFA Thesis and Exhibition. Program alumni hold titles such as Illustrator, Biomedical Illustrator, 3D Animation Artist, 3D Designer, Art Director, Forensic Illustrator, Scientific Illustrator, Medical Illustrator, and Educator. 

Cleveland Institute of Art was chartered as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women in 1882. This independent, not-for-profit college serves around 600 students enrolled in 13 entertainment arts, design, fine arts, and craft majors. 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) is home to the Department of Illustration. One of the school’s largest and fastest growing departments, the Department of Illustration has a BFA program with a required internship with potential employer’s such as Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Porter Teleo Design Firm, The Kansas City Star, The American Jazz Museum, and Boulevard Brewing Company.

Students also have access to 21,500 square feet of studios, including the new Tony Jones Studios, that provide the opportunity to learn and work in a professional environment. Through MICRO—KCAI’s in-house agency, students can also gain hands-on experience working on projects 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; collaborative programs, projects, and workshops; 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. Upon completion of the first year, BFA students may move on to second year requirements or declare a double major in Illustration and Art History or Illustration and Creative Writing. 

All KCAI Illustration students will explore storytelling; 2D and 3D; and traditional and digital media while creating children’s books, video games, comic books, and editorial magazines. Course examples for the program include Organic Perceptions; Paper and Ink; Exploring the Narrative; Analytical Drawing Systems; Covers and Pages; Storytellers-Myth Makers; Graphic Form for Illustrators; Cultural Safari; Conceptual Problem Solving; and US (Collaboration, Teamwork and Flexibility). 

In the final year of the program, students will complete Illustration in Action: Networking & Exhibition, and Professional Practice: The Business of Illustration. The KCAI Illustration BFA program culminates with a thesis completed over two courses: Image Thesis I and II. 

Graduates of the Illustration BFA program at Kansas City Art Institute have won awards presented by publications such as Print, Communication Arts, The Society of Illustrators, and American Illustration.

Program alumni work has been featured in children’s books and in publications such as Wired, The New York Times, Step-Inside-Design, and Women’s Day. Illustration BFA graduates have also been hired in a variety of roles by industry leaders such as Nickelodeon, American Greetings, MTV, Nike, and Hallmark. 

Kansas City Art Institute was established in 1885 as a Sketch Club. Situated just steps from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art within Kansas City’s arts corridor, 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).

Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) has an Illustration BFA program that prepares students for roles such as Illustrator, Designer, or Art Director. The program accomplishes this through features such as the Seminar Series, which provides the opportunity for students to interact one-on-one with outside professionals from all areas within the field. 

Illustration BFA students also benefit from access to MIAD’s new Illustration studios, classrooms, and the Emerging Technology Center; portfolio development courses; internships at local and regional companies and studios; and participation in semester-long study abroad experiences. 

Consisting of 120 credit hours, the MIAD Illustration BFA program begins with the First Year Experience (FYE). Each semester in the FYE consists of 15 required credits including major courses and beginning liberal studies. Course examples include Process of Inquiry; Introduction to the Practice of Art & Design History; Systems Drawing; Digital 2D; Visual Language; Intro to Advanced Study; and Digital 4D. 

Upon completion of the FYE, students will take courses such as Illustration I-IV; Advanced Figure Drawing for Illustrators; Illustration Media; History of Illustration and Communication Design Since 1850; Advanced 2D Digital; Patterns in Nature; Typography; and The Creative Professional in Context. 

BFA students may also add a minor to enhance the degree. Popular options include Book Arts, Writing, Digital Media Production, Copywriting, Advertising, Arts Management, and Business. 

The Illustration BFA 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, lighting crew, gallery monitoring, painting crew, etc. 

Graduates of the MIAD Illustration BFA program are prepared to pursue positions in children’s book publishing, editorial, graphic design, comics, advertising and marketing, architecture, exhibit design, animation, game design, forensic illustration, textile design, medical illustration, storyboard art, new media, and fashion illustration. 

BFA program alumni have been hired at places such as Hallmark, Kohl’s Corporate, Harley-Davidson, Kohler, Estee Lauder, Hanson Dodge Creative, Rockwell Automation, Kimberly Clark, Milwaukee Public Television, Santa Fe communications, and Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Graduates have also gone o to launch tier own studios such as THIEL Design and Studio8Design. 

Founded in 1974, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design serves 900 degree-seeking students, 600 pre-college students, and 250 outreach/special programs students. For degree-seeking students, MIAD provides seven degree programs, five studio minors, and nine liberal studies minors. The school’s affiliation with Marquette University provides access to additional courses in Humanities and Sciences, and other resources. 

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. The school is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) at Willamette University has an Illustration BFA program that explores traditional studio media and emerging technologies. During the first year of the program, all students will complete liberal arts, art history, and foundation studio courses, as well as one studio elective and First Year Seminar. In the second and third years, students will complete courses such as Digital Media Strategies; Painting for Illustration; Design & Image; Drawing for Illustration; and Cultural Masterpiece. 

Other program features include access to state-of-the-art labs and studios such as the WACOM Lab, the Professional Digital Fine Art Printing Lab, Animation Lab, Printmaking Studio, and Photography Lab; internships with companies such as Nintendo, Microsoft, Nike, Dark Horse Comics, and Wieden+Kennedy; and access to Make+Think+Code, a technology lab that hosts workshops, classes, and additional facilities, digital tools, and technology. 

All PNCA BFA students also benefit from mentorship programs; access to Albert Solheim Library, which houses more than 30,000 books and computer workstations; professional practices instruction; and portfolio preparation.

In the senior year of the Illustration BFA program at Willamette University/PNCA students will complete Illustration Advanced Studio I-II; Research for Creative Practice; and a thesis. Upon completion of the program, students will have the opportunity to present their work at PNCA’s Annual End-of-Year Showcase at a downtown Portland gallery. 

Graduates are prepared to pursue titles such as Digital Illustrator, Children’s Book Illustrator, Comic Book Illustrator, Graphic Novelist, Storyboard Sketch Artist, Product Illustrator, Signage Developer, Game Artist, Logo Designer, Character Artist, Editorial Illustrator, Textile Designer, Architectural Illustrator, and Set Designer. 

PNCA Illustration BFA alumni have worked with DC Comics, Disney, Google, The MET, The New Yorker, LA Times, NBC, The Washington Post, NPR, Crate and Barrel, the Portland Trailblazers, OLIPOP, Liquid Development, SuperGenius, and Dark Horse, among others. 

Willamette University was established in 1842, making it the oldest university in the West. This liberal arts college serves approximately 1,870 students enrolled in dozens of programs across the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Law, Pacific Northwest College of Art, and the Atkinson Graduate School of Management. Willamette University and PNCA merged in 2021. 

PNCA, which remains an independent college within Willamette, was established in 1909. Serving around 650 students, the school provides 11 BFA degrees, 10, eight graduate degrees within the PNCA Hallie Ford School of Graduate Studies, and one post-baccalaureate program. 

Willamette University and Pacific Northwest College of Art are accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). PNCA is also a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art & Design (AICAD) and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU).

Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD) has several paths to study Illustration. Options include a BFA in Illustration; a Drawing and Painting BFA with an Illustration emphasis; and a BFA in Graphic Design and Digital Media (GD+DM) with an Illustration emphasis. An Illustration minor is also available. This program requires 15 credit hours including Computer Imaging; Rendering; Illustration 1: Color; Illustration 2; and Graphic Illustration 1. Illustration minor students will complete several pieces for their professional portfolios. 

All programs are led by industry professionals who have worked with major companies, studios, and brands such as Warner Bros., Sony, IBM, Pfizer, McDonald’s, Mitsubishi, Dannon, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH), and The United Nations. Other program features include hands-on design projects with LCAD partners such as Nike, Sony, and UCI; small class sizes; guest speakers; mentorship programs; and internship opportunities. 

Students in the LCAD Illustration BFA program will take courses such as Pictorial Design for Illustration; Artistic Anatomy; Illustration 1-3; Graphic Novel; Words, Images, and Ideas; Digital Painting for Illustration; Computer Imaging; Illustrative Painting; Digital landscape Painting; and Professional Studies for Illustrators. The program culminates with the Senior Capstone and Thesis Defense course worth three credits. 

Graduates are prepared for careers in book and comic book publishing; film, television, and animation; game art and design; product design; advertising and marketing; gallery art; newspaper and magazine publishing, architecture; medical and scientific illustration; and industrial design. 

LCAD Illustration alumni have been hired at places such as DreamWorks Animation, Marvel Entertainment, Disney Interactive, Google, Microsoft Studios, Blizzard Entertainment, Obsidian Entertainment, Hurley, Opera New York, Quicksilver, KCET, Xist Publishing, High Moon Studios, and DC Shoes. 

Housed in the Fine Arts Department, the Drawing and Painting BFA program at Laguna College of Art and Design focuses on experimentation. All students benefit from industry partnerships with Laguna Art Museum, South Park Studios, and MEAM Museo Europeo de Arte Moderno, as well as internship opportunities in the third year of the program. In the final year of the program, students are assigned to private studios and a mentor. 

Students in the Drawing and Painting BFA program will take courses such as Experimental Drawing; Digital Photo for Fine Arts; Materials and Techniques; Intermediate Portraiture; and Scientific Anatomy. The Illustration emphasis explores traditional and mixed media art. Students will work on projects that focus on print, branding, murals, exhibition design, and more. In the Professional Practices course, students will learn about gallery operations, publications, and artist branding. 

The Drawing and Painting BFA at LCAD culminates with the Senior Capstone and Thesis Defense course worth three credits. 

The Graphic Design and Digital Media BFA at Laguna College of Art and Design is a multidisciplinary, 122 credit-hour program that explores traditional and emerging areas such as 3D, iPad development, package design, advertising, print, video, user experience and interfaces, action sport design, mobile apps, the web, virtual reality applications, and motion. 

The Illustration emphasis for this program provides access to all Illustration courses, allowing students to select them as electives to match their goals. Students also have opportunities to work with industry partners such as Pixar, Nike, Saatchi & Saatchi, and SapientNitro; complete an internship; and develop a professional portfolio. The program culminates with a Senior Capstone and Thesis Defense.   

Nearly 100% of recent Graphic Design and Digital Media graduates work in their chosen field, with most securing employment through LCAD prior to graduation. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Amazon, MGM, Google, Sony, Fox Entertainment, Pixar, Blizzard Entertainment, Disney Imagineering, Cartoon Network, Apple, Tesla, Saatchi & Saatchi, Riot Games, Disney Interactive, and Mattel. 

Laguna College of Art and Design opened in 1961 as Laguna Beach School of Art (LBSA). The school has a main campus in Laguna Beach and educational affiliates locally and around the world including Florence Academy of Arts in Florence, Italy, Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art, and NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences (NHTV), Netherlands. Laguna College of Art and Design serves around 770 students with access to 15 degree options and nine minors. LCAD is regionally and nationally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D) has an Illustration BFA program that allows students to incorporate a certificate or minor into the curriculum. PCA&D minors are 18 credits and certificates are 10.5-18 credits. Examples of minors and certificates include Graphic Design, Animation & Game Art, Packaging Design, Filmmaking, and UX/UI Design. An 18 credit hour Illustration minor is also available and it can be added to any PCA&D program as a specialization. 

Within the PCA&D Illustration BFA program are two concentrations including Classical and Contemporary. The Classical concentration focuses on traditional and digital painting techniques, visual and written storytelling, and narrative image making. Students in this concentration might work on projects such as book covers, comic books, scientific illustration, or visual development for film. The Contemporary concentration explores current and emerging trends in the Illustration industry. Students in this concentration might work on projects such as illustrations for products, editorial publishing, and posters.   

Other Illustration BFA program features include opportunities to create entrepreneur-based projects; participation in the PCA&D mentorship program; online community projects; the annual Design in a Day event with participants such as Friendship Gallery and the Lancaster Public Library; and a required internship either off-campus with a local client or studio, or on-campus through PCA&D’s in-house internship program, The Agency. 

The Illustration BFA program at PCA&D culminates with the Senior Project, presented at the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design Senior Show. Graduates are prepared to pursue titles such as Comic Book Artist, Toy Designer, Commercial Illustrator, Art Director, Concept Artist, Scientific Illustrator, Courtroom Sketch Artist, Editorial Illustrator, Fashion Illustrator, and Storyboard Artist. 

Program alumni have worked for clients such as Disney, Hasbro, A&E Network, PBS Kids, The Wall Street Journal, Adidas, HBO, Time Warner Cable, Fox Interactive, and ESPN. 

Founded in 1982 by working artists, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private non-profit art college that serves approximately 200 students. PNCA programs include six majors leading to a BFA, 13 minors, and 13 certificates. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).