| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Boston |
| 2 | Lesley University | Cambridge |
The criteria we used for the animation rankings consists, in no particular order, of the following: Academic reputation, Employment data, Admission selectivity, Depth and breadth of the program, Value as it relates to tuition and indebtedness, Graduation rate, and Retention rate. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
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.
Lesley University (Lesley) provides several paths to study illustration. At the undergraduate level, students can enroll in the Illustration BFA program or the Illustration minor with specializations in Editorial, Comics, Children’s Books, and Game Art. At the graduate level, Lesley houses a Visual and Literary Arts MFA program with the opportunity to focus in illustration. Across programs, students benefit from mentorship opportunities with professional illustrators in the Greater Boston area; internships at places such as Cartoon Network, Disney, and National Geographic; field trips; critiques; and workshops. Graduates have gone on to secure roles at places such as Warner Bros., Neoescape, Saturday AM, Robb Report Singapore, Charles River Laboratories, Artists for Humanity, and Nova Idea.
