| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | College for Creative Studies | Detroit |
| 2 | Ferris State University | Multiple |
| 3 | Northern Michigan University | Marquette |
Our 2024 ranking of the top illustration schools in Michigan. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
The Illustration Department at the College for Creative Studies (CCS) has programs leading to a BFA or a minor. The BFA requires 126-127 credit hours including 78 in studio areas, 42-43 in general studies courses, and six in general elective courses. The Illustration minor consists of 15 credits chosen from courses in the BFA program. Examples include Figure Illustration I-II; Illustration Techniques; and Anatomical Figure Illustration. Electives allow students in the minor to focus in a specific area of illustration.
During the first year of the CCS Illustration BFA, students will take courses in the Foundation Department. Areas of exploration during the year include Drawing, 2D and 3D Design, and Digital Tools. Students will also take courses in the Liberal Arts Department.
A major component of the CCS Illustration BFA is the opportunity to select a Pathway. Each Pathway allows students to create a focused portfolio for studio-based or freelance careers in Illustration. Pathway options include Publishing; Comics and Sequential; Visual Development; Gallery Artist; and Fashion, Lifestyle, and Licensing. An additional option is the Entrepreneurial Studies concentration, which is ideal for students who would like to launch their own studios.
Another major component of the Illustration BFA program at College for Creative Studies is the internship program. Through this experiential learning opportunity, upper division students will work with top brands, studios, corporations, and museums. Examples include Disney Consumer Products, Insomniac Games, Mattel Inc., Reader’s Digest, Cartoon Network, Converse, Hasbro, Crispin Porter + Bogusky, the Museum of American Illustration, Ball Aerospace, Diane von Furstenberg, Fisher Price, HoMedics, Museum of American Illustration, Anthropologie, Moosejaw, Museum of Fine Art, Grand Rapids Symphony, FOX News, and Spark Communications.
Full-time CCA Illustration BFA students will complete at least six academic hours and 24 studio hours each week to graduate from the program. Graduates have gone on to work with major companies, publishers, studios, and brands such as Disney, Blizzard Entertainment, Adidas, The New York Times, Cartoon Network, ESPN, Nike, Converse, Washington Post, and Ford.
Founded in 1906 as the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts, College for Creative Studies is a private, nonprofit institution that serves more than 1,400 students enrolled in 23 Art and Design programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. CCS is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The school is also an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Ferris State University (Ferris State) is home to Kendall College of Art and Design (KCAD), which provides several paths to study Illustration. Degree options include BFAs in Illustration, and Life Sciences & Pre-Medical Illustration. Non-degree programs include a 15 credit-hour Illustration minor and a certificate in Natural Science Illustration.
Students in the Illustration minor will take courses such as Introduction to Illustration and Illustration Techniques. The program allows students to select three credits of Illustration electives. Examples include Children’s Book Design; Publication Illustration; and Graphic Design for Illustrators.
The Natural Science Illustration Certificate is a 23 credit hour, studio-focused program that provides opportunities to collaborate with and work for museums, nature preserves, museums, and zoos. Course examples for the program include Introduction to Illustration; Rendering; Natural Science Illustration; and Botanical Illustration. The certificate is open to Illustration BFA students.
The Illustration BFA at Ferris State/KCAD was established in the early 1960s. The program explores both traditional and emerging media, with 27 required semester hours of supportive studio courses and 39 credit hours of major studio courses. Course examples include Illustration I-III; Advanced Inking; 3D Illustration; Graphic Design/Illustration; Narrative Perspective; Rendering; Digital Illustration Painting; Observational Field Sketching; Natural Science Illustration; Contemporary Fashion Illustrating; and Illustration Professional Practice.
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 Illustration BFA program at Ferris State University culminates with a professional portfolio of the student’s best work. Graduates are prepared to pursue titles such as Children’s Book Illustrator, Game Artist, Editorial Illustrator, Cartoonist, Storyboard Artist, Mural Designer, Exhibit Designer, Creative Director, and Fashion Illustrator. Some program alumni go on to launch their own studios or freelance businesses.
The Life Science and Pre-Medical Illustration BFA at Ferris State University combines general education courses with coursework that explores medical illustration methods, rendering, computer-aided 3D design, traditional media illustration, medical terminology, computer animation, and drawing.
Courses for this professional, three-year program are delivered through Ferris State University, KCAD, Michigan State University, and Grand Rapids Community College. Course examples include Medical Illustration Methods I-III; Medical Illustration Animation; Graphic Design for Illustrators; Dialogue & Personality; Illustration Techniques; Illustration Digital Methods; and Professional Practices for the Medical Illustrator.
The Life Science and Pre-Medical Illustration BFA at Ferris State University culminates with the Advanced Problems in Biomedical Art Capstone. Graduates are prepared to pursue graduate studies or a career as a Life Sciences Illustrator, Illustrator for Animation and Film, Advertising Illustrator, and many others.
Program alumni freelance Medical Illustrators, Animators, Digital 3D Modelers, and Medical Legal Illustrators. Some graduates also work in animation and patient data segmentation for 3D printing, UI/UX design, and storybook illustration.
Ferris State University was established in 1884. Located in Big Rapids, Michigan, the school serves more than 10,000 students enrolled in more than 190 programs across seven degree-granting colleges. Ferris State university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Founded in 1928, Kendall College of Art and Design is one of the seven colleges within Ferris State University. Located in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, KCAD serves 565 students enrolled in dozens of specialized undergraduate degree programs and several graduate and certificate programs. As part of Ferris State University, Kendall College of Art and Design is accredited by the HLC. KCAD is also an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
The College of Arts and Sciences at Northern Michigan University (Northern or NMU) serves more than 5,000 students enrolled in programs across 15 academic departments, three centers, and the School of Art and Design. Known as NMUArt, the School of Art and Design provides 12 different areas of study, including Illustration. The program leads to a BA, BFA, BS, or AA in Art and Design with a focus in Illustration.
All students will learn and create in the Illustration Studio. Located in the NMU Art and Design Building, this multi-purpose space simulates a professional studio environment for traditional and digital media. In the Illustration Studio, students will also participate in critiques and discussions; demonstrations and lectures; and collaborative projects.
The NMUArt Illustration curriculum consist of courses such as Illustration: Foundations; Illustration: Narrative Figure; Illustration: Methods and Materials; Illustration: Digital Media; and Illustration Advanced Studio I-II. The program culminates with a final professional portfolio of the students best work.
Graduates of the Art and Design/Illustration program at Northern Michigan University are prepared to pursue positions in areas such as children’s book publishing, animation, new media, game design, editorial, comics, advertising and marketing, architecture, graphic design, exhibit design, forensic illustration, storyboard art, fashion illustration, textile design, and medical illustration.
Northern Michigan University was founded in 1899 as Northern State Normal School. When it opened, the school welcomed 32 students. Today, Northern serves 7,000 students enrolled in more than 170 degree programs across 10 colleges and schools. Northern Michigan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
