Top 25 Private Illustration Schools and Colleges in the U.S. - 2026 Rankings

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 ArtCenter College of Design (ArtCenter) has five tracks. Options include Illustration Design; Entertainment Arts; Fine Art Painting; Motion Design; and Surface Design. For students seeking an advanced degree, the school has a customizable Art MFA program with private, individual studios, and the opportunity to participate in up to five exhibitions, including a solo show. Across programs, graduates have been hired at places such as Wieden+Kennedy, Google, Marvel Studios, Riot Games, DreamWorks, Apple, The Los Angeles Times, Disney, Nike, BMW, and Adidas. 

The Illustration Program at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) provides four degree options including the BA, BFA, MA, and MFA. Electives and minors such as Scientific Illustration or Advertising and Branding allow students to enhance any of the four degrees. BFA students are required to select a concentration in Dynamic Illustration and Publication, Visual Development, or Illustration for Surface Design. The MFA features two graduate internships and 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 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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) has two paths to study illustration including an Illustration BFA that can be completed on campus or online, and an online Illustrative Design BFA. The Illustration BFA has concentrations in Sequential Art, Children’s Books, and Concept Art. One of the few programs of its kind in the U.S. the Illustrative Design BFA explores branding, motion design, logo design, and data visualization. Across programs, students benefit from small class sizes; professional internships; collaborative projects with working illustrators; and state-of-the-art studios and labs. Graduates have been hired at places such as DreamWorks, Crispin, Disney, Epic Games, Pixar, Marvel, and Nickelodeon. 

The School of Illustration at Academy of Art University (Academy of Art) provides multiple paths to study illustration that can be completed entirely online. Options include a certificate, AA, BFA, MA, and MFA. Across programs, students have opportunities to work on collaborative projects with working designers and artists, and complete a professional internship. Other program highlights include guest lecturers and speakers; the opportunity to work with WRiTE BRAiN BOOKS; and study abroad experiences in Florence, Italy. Graduates have gone on to establish careers at places such as The New York Times, DreamWorks, Marvel, The New Yorker, Penguin Random House, National Geographic, Riot Games, and DC Comics. 

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.