Top 25 Public Illustration Schools and Colleges in the U.S. - 2025 College Rankings

Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) houses the School of Art and Design, which provides AAS, BFA, and MFA degrees in Illustration. Undergraduate programs feature mentoring workshops led by professional illustrators; participation in student art exhibitions; and access to the industry's top professional organization—the Society of Illustrators. Students in the BFA program may also participate in the FIT Internship Program and/or study abroad in Florence. FIT Illustration MFA students will participate in an exhibition that takes place at a local gallery. FIT Illustration alumni have been hired at places such as Disney, Vogue, DreamWorks, Revlon, Harper’s BAZAAR, BBDO Worldwide, Hallmark, and Ogilvy. 

Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) has an Illustration BFA program that focuses in narrative and character development. All students have the opportunity to complete an internship, independent study, and/or a course assistantship. The program culminates with a thesis, portfolio, and presentation for professionals from the advertising, editorial, publishing, and corporate markets. Graduates of the Art and Design programs at MassArt have been hired at places such as the Whitney Museum of American Art, Hasbro, Discovery Channel, Sony Pictures Imageworks, and MGM Studios. 

California State University, Fullerton (CSUF or Cal State Fullerton) is home to the College of the Arts. Within the college is the Department of Visual Arts, which houses the Art BFA, MA, and MFA programs with an Illustration concentration. All options provide unlimited access to state-of-the-art production studios, labs, and equipment. Students also benefit from intensive workshops and seminars; internship opportunities; visiting artists; and study abroad experiences. Programs culminate with a capstone project (BFA), creative project and presentation (MA), or project exhibition (MFA). Graduates have gone on to land roles with studios such as DreamWorks, Cartoon Network, The Walt Disney Company, Nickelodeon, and Lucasfilm. 

University of Georgia (UGA) is home to the Lamar Dodd School of Art. Within the school is an Art BFA with a concentration in Scientific Illustration. Program benefits include participation in the year-round study abroad program in Cortona, Italy, and the New York MAYmester program; access to state-of-the-art production facilities and studio spaces; dedicated classrooms; and professional internships. The program culminates with a senior capstone and exhibition. Graduates are prepared to pursue roles in traditional, biological, and medical illustration. They have been hired at places such as advertising agencies, publishing firms, animation studios, medical practices, game studios, and the U.S. Military.

The College of Arts and Media (CAM) at University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) houses an Illustration BFA program and a minor for students in other majors such as 3D Graphics and Animation or Digital Design. The BFA provides opportunities to work on projects for clients such as Pixar and the Denver Art Museum. BFA students also have access to state-of-the art digital labs, industrial equipment, and sculpture studios, as well as the CU Denver internship and study abroad programs. The BFA program culminates with the Illustration BFA Thesis course and exhibition. Graduates are prepared to pursue creative roles in areas such as children’s book publishing, animation, comics, advertising, and games. 

The Department of Art and Art History at University of Utah (The U) houses an Art BFA program with an emphasis in Illustration. All students benefit from the ArtsForce program—a workshop and events-based initiative that connects students to mentors, peers, and faculty members for professional development and networking. Other program features include hands-on courses and projects, and summer study abroad programs with a focus on drawing and printmaking. The culminating experience for the program is the Illustration Capstone. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in areas such as book publishing, digital media, advertising, animation, game design, comics, and graphic design.

The College of Liberal Arts at Purdue University (Purdue) is home to the Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Design, Art, and Performance. Within the school is the Department of Art and Design, which provides a flexible Integrated Studio Arts BFA with a major or minor in Drawing and Illustration. Other program features include access to state-of-the-art studios and production spaces; field trips to conferences, galleries, and design exhibitions; demonstrations by visiting artists and designers; summer internships; and a co-op program. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in fields such as animation, book publishing, games, advertising, multimedia production, comics, graphic design, and photojournalism.  

The School of Architecture and Design at University of Kansas (KU) houses the Department of Design—home to the Design BFA with a concentration in Illustration. The program takes place in a hands-on studio environment that emphasizes projects and coursework in analog, digital, and time-based media. Other program features include workshops and lectures led by industry insiders; access to state-of-the-art bookmaking, digital fabrication, print, and finishing labs; opportunities to collaborate with KU industry partners; semester-long internships; and short- and long-term study abroad experiences. Graduates have been hired by major companies and studios such as Hallmark, Pixar, and Disney. 

The School of Art and Design (SOAAD) at Kennesaw State University (KSU) houses an Art BFA with two concentrations including Illustration, and Comics and Sequential Art. Students may also add a second concentration such as Painting and Drawing or Graphic Communications. Other program benefits include access to state-of-the-art computer studios; visiting artists; summer art intensives; internships; and the opportunity to study abroad and enroll in the Comics curriculum at ESA Saint-Luc in Bruxells, Belgium. Program alumni have gone on to become illustrators for animation studios, publishing companies, advertising agencies, film studios, packaging companies, major brands, and game studios. 

College of Design at Iowa State University (Iowa State) has customizable BA, BFA, and MFA programs and an Illustration minor that can be added to any major. In partnership with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS), the College of Design also provides a Biological and Pre-Medical Illustration BA (BPMI BA), and a 17 credit hour BPMI minor. All options explore both traditional and scientific illustration. All College of Design students may participate in the Rome Program. Housed in Iowa State’s studio facilities at the historic Palazzo Cenci Bolognetti, this program provides the opportunity to collaborate with local design professionals in a fully licensed facility. Graduates go on to establish careers in areas such as children’s book publishing, animation, scientific and medical illustration, game design, and advertising. 

Ferris State University (Ferris State) is home to Kendall College of Art and Design (KCAD), which provides BFA degrees in Illustration, and Life Sciences and Pre-Medical Illustration. Non-degree programs include the Illustration minor and a Natural Science Illustration certificate. All programs include coursework in traditional illustration. Elective examples include Children’s Book Design; Publication Illustration; and Graphic Design for Illustrators. Other program features include access to KCAD galleries and the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA); state-of-the-art labs, studios, and production facilities; participation in the KCAD Illustration Society; and internships during the academic year and summer months; and summer travel/study experiences. 

The College of Arts and Sciences (COAS) at Boise State University (BSU) is home to the Department of Art, Design and Visual Studies. Within the department is an Illustration BFA program that combines studios and seminars with courses that explore illustration, drawing, graphic design, and printmaking. The program culminates with the senior project and exhibition (or presentation). Graduates will enter the job market with a professional portfolio of their best work. Program alumni are prepared to pursue careers in fields such as book publishing, animation, cartooning, game art, advertising, film, architecture, packaging design, technical illustration, publishing, comic book design, fine art, and exhibit design. 

Southern Utah University (SUU) is home to the College of Performing and Visual Arts (CVPA), which houses the Department of Filmmaking, Art and Design. Within the department is a Studio Art BFA with an Illustration emphasis, and an Illustration minor. Across programs, students benefit from immersive workshops and seminars; opportunities to exhibit works; participation in critiques and discussions; and internships and study abroad experiences. The program culminates with the BFA Exhibition and Portfolio event. Graduates are prepared to pursue creative roles in areas such as traditional book publishing, graphic design, animation, newspaper and magazine publishing, film, game art and design, children’s book publishing, fine art, toy design, architecture, comic books, advertising, and education.