| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brigham Young University | Provo |
| 2 | University of Utah | Salt Lake City |
| 3 | Southern Utah University | Cedar City |
| 4 | Utah Valley University | Orem |
Our 2024 ranking of the top illustration schools in Utah. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
The College of Fine Arts and Communications (CFAC) at Brigham Young University (BYU) provides a number of opportunities and experiences for all CFAC majors. Serving nearly 5,700 students, the CFAC hosts hundreds of performances, faculty presentations, and student events each year. CFAC students also have opportunities to engage in research projects; participate in experiential learning activities in the U.S. and abroad; exhibit at Brigham Young University Museum of Art (MOA); and pursue a professional internship.
BYU’s College of Fine Arts and Communications also houses the Department of Design. Within the Department is an Illustration BFA program that accepts just 40 students per academic year. This Limited Enrollment Program (LEP) requires 120 credit hours, with 72 credits in the major. Courses are led by industry professionals with years of experience in their respective fields.
Course examples for the program include 3D Digital Illustration; Narrative Illustration; Environment Design; Survey of Illustration History; Game Design; Analog Motion; Character Design; Sketchbook; Directed Studies in Illustration; Basic Storyboarding; Marketing Management; and Career Strategies.
In the final year of the BYU Illustration BFA program, students will complete Senior Illustration Studio 1; BFA Illustration Capstone Project: Research, and BFA Illustration Capstone Project: Implementation.
Graduates of the Illustration BFA program at Brigham Young University work in a wide variety of fields such as publishing, exhibition design, medical and scientific illustration, advertising, entertainment, architecture, mural production, and fashion design. Some program alumni have gone on to launch their own studios and freelance businesses.
Brigham Young University was founded as Brigham Young Academy (BYA) in 1875 by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Brigham Young. With more than 35,000 students from 105 countries, BYU is the one of the largest private universities in the U.S. The school provides approximately 435 programs across more than a dozen colleges and departments. Campuses include BYU-Utah, BYU-Idaho, BYU-Hawaii, BYU Pathway Worldwide, and Ensign College.
Brigham Young University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
The College of Fine Arts at University of Utah (The U) is home to the Department of Art & Art History, which houses an Art BFA program with an emphasis in Illustration. Program features include hands-on courses and projects; summer study abroad programs that focus on education in drawing and printmaking; and access to the ArtsForce program—a workshop- and events-based initiative that connects students to mentors, peers, and faculty members for professional development and networking.
Students in all majors are required to complete the First Year Studio Foundations Program, which includes courses such as Introduction to Visual Language and Introduction to Art History. After the first year, students have the opportunity to customize their own path within their chosen emphasis and select projects that support their academic and career goals.
In the Illustration emphasis consists of 56-62 credit hours. Students will explore concept development strategies, Illustration industry practices, and narrative techniques. Course examples include Illustration: World and Voice; Life Drawing; Illustration: Narrative Approaches; Typography 1: Form and Space; Intaglio I; History of Film and Media Arts; Figure Painting; and History of Graphic Design.
The Art BFA with an Illustration emphasis culminates with the Illustration Capstone. By the end of this course, students will have a website with a portfolio of work and marketing materials such as business cards, postcards, and other promotional materials.
Graduates are prepared to pursue titles such as Illustrator, Children’s Book Illustrator, Fine Artist, Comic Book Artist, Advertising Illustrator, Storyboard Artist, Scientific Illustrator, Art Director, Concept Artist, Gallery and Exhibition Designer, Editorial Illustrator, Book Illustrator, Character Designer, Fashion Illustrator, Art Journalist, Surface Designer, Visual Artist, Printmaker, and Art Professor.
Founded in 1850, University of Utah is the state’s public flagship institution. A top-tier research university, The U serves 35,000+ students enrolled in more than 200 programs across 17 colleges and schools. University of Utah is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Southern Utah University (SUU) is home to the College of Performing and Visual Arts (CVPA), which houses the Department of Filmmaking, Art & Design. Within the department is a Studio Art BFA with an Illustration emphasis, and an Illustration minor. Across programs, students benefit from participation in critiques and discussions; workshops and seminars; opportunities to exhibit works; and the opportunity to complete an internship and/or study abroad experience.
The Studio Arts BFA requires 120 credit hours, including 51 credits in Illustration and Illustration electives. The Illustration minor requires 19.5 credit hours. Course examples for this program include Visual Development Studio; American Art; 2D Design; Drawing I-II; Narrative Illustration; Conceptual Illustration. Upon completion of the Illustration minor, students are prepared to pursue entry-level positions in the field or enroll in a BFA program, such as the SUU Studio Arts BFA.
SUU Studio Arts BFA students may focus in an area within Illustration or other creative area through required free electives. Students may choose up to 14 credit hours of free electives to include upper- level courses numbered 3000-4999. Course examples for the Program include Art Insights; Narrative Illustration; Painting I-III; Visual Development Studio; 3D Digital Illustration; Motion Graphics; Conceptual Illustration; and Aqueous Media.
In the final year of the Studio Arts BFA Program at Southern Utah University, students will complete Senior BFA Studio I: Professional Practices and Portfolio Systems, and Senior BFA Studio II: BFA Exhibition and Portfolio Completion. This is the culminating experience for the program.
Graduates of the Studio Arts/Illustration BFA Program at Southern Utah University are prepared for careers in areas such as traditional book publishing, animation, comic books, game art and design, graphic design, film and television, toy design, advertising, architecture, fine arts, and education.
Some Studio Arts alumni go on to launch their own studios or freelance careers. Program alumni go on to enroll in a graduate at Southern Utah University and other top universities across the U.S.
Founded in 1897, Southern Utah University serves more than 15,000 students enrolled 180+ degree and certificate programs. SUU also provides a Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology—the only Psy.D. program in the state of Utah. The academic programs at SUU are housed across seven colleges and dozens of departments. Southern Utah University has been continually accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) since 1933. The school is also an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
The School of the Arts (SOA) at Utah Valley University (UVU) serves more than 1,800 students making it one of the largest art schools in the state. More than 20 SOA programs are housed across four departments including Art & Design; Music; Theatrical Arts for the Stage and Screen; and Dance.
Across departments, students have opportunities to intern at place such as Paramount Pictures Studio; The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), New York Public Theater; National Gallery of Art, Washington; and Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (Utah MOCA). Students also have opportunities to complete an international internship in places such as the UK, Italy, South Korea, and Germany.
The SOA Department of Art and Design at Utah Valley University has two paths to study Illustration: the Art and Design AAS and the Art and Design BFA. The Art and Design AAS is a two-year degree that provides an emphasis in Design/Illustration. Course examples include Illustrative Media Techniques I-II; Observational Drawing; 3D Modeling; Imagination and Visual Literacy; and Digital Painting. Students will complete 63 credit hours to graduate.
Graduates are prepared for entry-level jobs in Illustration for publishing firms, film studios, animation studios, advertising agencies, game design studios, design firms, and graphic design studios. Program alumni are also prepared for entry into UVU’s Art and Design BFA program.
Consisting of 120 credit hours, the Art and Design BFA at Utah Valley University is a professional program that provides an emphasis in Illustration. Areas explored include Traditional Illustration, Digital Illustration, and Animation. Course examples include Narrative Illustration; 2D and 3D Design; Illustrative Media I-II; Computer Graphics Applications; Conceptual illustration; 3D Modeling; Advanced Illustration; Figure Drawing I-III; Digital Painting; and The History of Illustration.
Electives allow students to focus in an area of interest within Illustration. Elective examples include Children’s Book Illustration; 2D Animation for Illustration; Sequential Illustration; Digital Painting II; Character Design; 3D Texturing and Rendering; Environment Design; and 3D Sculpting.
The Art and Design BFA culminates with the BFA Project, which focuses on the development and execution of a gallery exhibition or professional portfolio. This includes collaborative work with a gallery or museum professional in preparation of the exhibition's public viewing.
Graduates of Art and Design BFA program at Utah Valley University are prepared to pursue advanced roles at publishing companies, animation studios, printing companies, graphic design studios, toy design and development companies, game design studios, newspapers and magazines, film studios, and advertising agencies. Some UVU Art and Design alumni go on to launch their own studios or freelance businesses, while others continue on to graduate school.
Utah Valley University was established in 1941 as Central Utah Vocational School (CUVS). The school’s primary function was to provide war production training. Today, UVU serves a record 44,653 students making it the largest public university in the state. The school provides more than 200 degree and certificate programs across eight colleges and schools. Utah Valley University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
