| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington University in St. Louis | St. Louis |
| 2 | Kansas City Art Institute | Kansas City |
| 3 | Missouri State University | Springfield |
| 4 | Southeast Missouri State University | Cape Girardeau |
| 5 | Webster University | St. Louis and Webster Groves |
Our 2026 ranking of the top illustration schools in Missouri. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
The Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) houses a Design BA with a Communication concentration; a Communication Design BFA with an Illustration concentration; and an Illustration + Visual Culture MFA (MFA-IVC). Design BA students can focus in illustration through the required 66 open elective credits and 12 Sam Fox elective credits. 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 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.
Missouri State University (MSU) is home to the largest publicly funded Art and Design department in the state. Within the department is a Design BFA program with an Illustration track. Program features include professional internships and service-learning courses; field trips to conferences and other events; opportunities to volunteer at places such as Carolla Arts Exhibition Center and Brick City and Taylor Galleries; and participation in art and research exhibitions. The program culminates with a public exhibition. Graduates have established careers at places such as Boeing, The New Yorker, Disney, Amazon, Wired, The New York Times, Apple, Nike, Adidas, HLK Agency, and Bloomberg Businessweek.
Holland College of Arts and Media at Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) houses two paths to study illustration. Options include customizable Art BA and BFA programs. Students can focus in illustration through 30+ credit hours of electives and other courses. Examples include Illustration; Visual Narratives; and Design Communications (with an emphasis on Illustration). Other program highlights include internships with places such as Triune Creative and The Firecracker Press; expert faculty artists and designers; professional studio spaces; and opportunities to Exhibit works at River Campus exhibition venues. Graduates have secured roles at places such as The Southeast Missourian, Vitronic Products, IBM, rustmedia Branding + Design, the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
The Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts at Webster University (Webster) houses the Department of Art, Design and Art History. Within the department is an Art BFA with an Illustration emphasis, An Illustration certificate is also available. The BFA is an intensive studio degree, while the certificate is a supplement to related majors. All students have access to state-of-the art production facilities. BFA students have opportunities to complete an internship, study abroad experience, and a professional portfolio. Graduates have landed positions at places such as Disney, Nestle, and The Smithsonian Institution.
