Top 50 Illustration Schools and Colleges in the U.S. - 2026 College Rankings

The Illustration BFA program at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is the schools largest fine arts program. The school also houses an Illustration MFA program designed for students seeking leadership roles in art, entertainment, academia, or publishing. Across programs, students have access to creative studios and workspaces; 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 or freelance businesses, graduates have landed roles at places such as Pixar, DreamWorks, LAIKA, and HBO.

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 School of Design at Pratt Institute (Pratt) houses a Communications Design BFA with an emphasis in Illustration. Pratt’s School of Art provides two additional paths to study illustration including a Graphic Design/Illustration AAS, and an Illustration AOS. Across programs, students benefit from 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 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. 

The Department of Design at San Jose State University (SJSU) provides two paths to study illustration including an Animation and Illustration BFA, and the Design Studies BA with a specialization in Animation and Illustration. Thanks to partnerships with studios such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Sony, and DreamWorks, Design Department students have 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, Blizzard Entertainment, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Pixar, and Riot Games. 

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 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 School of Art (SoA) at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) houses the Art BFA and Studio Art MFA programs with an Illustration option. A one-year Biomedical Illustration certificate is also available. BFA and MFA students 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. 

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. 

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 the Art BFA and MFA programs 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. 

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 College of Arts and Media (CAM) at University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) houses a Visual Arts BFA program with an Illustration emphasis and an Illustration minor. All students have access to state-of-the art digital labs, sculpture studios, and industrial equipment. BFA students also have opportunities to complete a professional internship; study abroad; and collaborate on projects for clients such as Pixar and the Denver Art Museum. The program culminates with the Illustration BFA Thesis and Exhibition. Graduates go on to land roles at places such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Pixar, Google, Apple, Nickelodeon, Disney, Lucasfilm, Sony, the Denver Art Museum, Warner Bros., and NBCUniversal. 

The Art BFA program at University of Utah (The U) has an Illustration emphasis that consists of 20 required courses. Examples include Illustration: Narrative Approaches; Digital Drawing; Communication Design; and the Illustration Capstone culminating with a website, marketing materials, and portfolio. Other program highlights include participation in the ArtsForce program, which focuses on professional development and networking; hands-on courses and projects; and summer study abroad programs in drawing and printmaking. Graduates have secured positions at places such as Penguin Random House, Cartoon Network, Scholastic, Disney, The Atlantic, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), and DreamWorks. 

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.

The Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Design, Art, and Performance at Purdue University (Purdue) is home to the Integrated Studio Arts BFA with a minor in Drawing and Illustration. Students in the program have access to state-of-the-art production facilities as well as opportunities to travel to galleries, conferences, and design exhibitions. Other program highlights include internships; visiting artists and designers; and a co-op program. Graduates are routinely hired at places such as Cartoon Network, Disney, Sony, Penguin Random House, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), DreamWorks, Scholastic, Hasbro, Gameloft, and Target. 

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. 

The School of Art at Rochester Institute of Technology provides several paths to study illustration. Options include an Illustration BFA; a Fine Arts Studio MFA with an Illustration track; and a Medical Illustration MFA, which is one the only programs of its kind in the Northeast. Across programs, students benefit from Creative Industry Day where they have the opportunity to interview for co-op experiences and permanent positions; access to high-tech facilities such as the Illustration Studio and Studio 96; and the opportunity to present works in an RIT gallery. Graduates are routinely hired at places such as Hasbro, New England Journal of Medicine, American Greetings, Marvel, Disney, Amazon, Hallmark, Nickelodeon, Apple, The New Yorker, Fisher-Price, Smithsonian Institution, Cell Press, and The Atlantic.  

Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication at California State University, Northridge (CSUN or Cal State Northridge) is home to the Department of Art. Within the department is an Illustration concentration open to students in the Art BA/BFA programs, and the Visual Arts MA/MFA programs. All students may join the CSUN Illustration Society and IntersectLA (IXLA); complete an internship; attend club events; and study abroad in Japan or Italy. CSUN alumni have been hired at places such as IDEO, DreamWorks, Wolff Olins, Apple, Universal Pictures, Amazon, Disney, Microsoft, Netflix, Warner Bros., Google, Atlassian, Sony, American Express, the LA Phil, Autodesk, Honda, Paramount, and Fox. 

Hartford Art School (HAS) at University of Hartford (UHart) provides several paths to study illustration. Options include the Illustration BFA, MFA, and minor. All degree-seeking students have the opportunity to intern with UHart partners such as Art Basil/Bass Museum and ESPN. MFA students also benefit from travel to places such as New York City, and all students have opportunities to participate in field trips to studios such as DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, and Electronic Arts (EA). HAS Illustration graduates have secured roles at places such as HarperCollins, Pentagram, Starbucks, ESPN, and Sterling Publishing. 

The School of Art and Design (SoAD) at East Carolina University (ECU) houses an Art BFA program with a concentration in illustration. The program highlights courses and interdisciplinary studios in areas such as letterpress, community arts, and book arts. Students also have access to state-of-the art computer and opportunities to compete an internship study abroad in United Arab Emirates (UAE). The program culminates the BFA Exhibition. Graduates have been hired at places such as Penguin Random House, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh (NCMA Raleigh), DreamWorks, Amazon, Cartoon Network, Scholastic, Gameloft, Disney, Hasbro, Sony, and Greenville Museum of Art. 

The Stuart Weitzman School of Design at University of Pennsylvania (Penn) houses the Department of Fine Arts. Program options for students seeking careers in illustration include an interdisciplinary BA in Fine Arts (FNAR); the integrative Design BA (DSGN BA); and an Art MFA. Students in all programs can study illustration through required studio courses and unrestricted electives. Other program highlights include the access to state-of-the-art production facilities and the department’s offsite multiuse gallery, Postscript; the visiting artist lecture series; Penn’s partnership with the Institute of Contemporary Art; and professional internships. Graduates have been hired at places such as DreamWorks, Nike, Penguin Random House, Pixar, The Wall Street Journal, Hasbro, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), and Gameloft. 

The College of Applied Sciences at University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) has a Biomedical Visualization MS (BVIS MS) that’s suitable for students seeking advanced roles in traditional illustration, scientific and medical illustration, technical animation, and other related areas. Course examples include Illustration Techniques; Visual Storytelling in Biomedical Visualization; Animation I-IV; Surgical Illustration; Modeling I-III; and Advanced Illustration Techniques. Other program highlights include seminars and workshops; partnerships with animation studios and museums; professional internships; access to state-of-the art lab dans studios; and independent study. Graduates have been hired at places such as Nexstar Media Group, Accenture, Crain Communications, Eli Lilly and Company, Chicago Fire, Oracle, and NEWSWELL.