| 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 2026 ranking of the top illustration schools in Utah. 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.
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.
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 Department of Filmmaking, Art and Design at Southern Utah University (SUU) houses a Studio Arts BFA program with an Illustration emphasis and minor. Program highlights include access to state-of-the-art studios and labs; immersive workshops and seminars; project critiques and discussions; internships; opportunities to exhibit works; and study abroad experiences. The program culminates with the BFA Exhibition and Portfolio event. Graduates are routinely hired at places such as Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA), Deseret News, BrainStorm Inc., Art Works Gallery, Esri, and the National Park Service.
One of Utah’s largest art schools, the School of the Arts (SOA) at Utah Valley University (UVU) houses an Art and Design AAS with an Illustration emphasis that prepares students for immediate entry-level employment in the industry. For students seeking an intensive, specialized degree, the SOA also houses an Art and Design BFA with an Illustration emphasis. Across programs, students can focus in an area of interest through electives such as 2D Animation for Illustration and Children’s Book Illustration. BFA students have opportunities to intern at Paramount and The Met, or in places such Italy and the UK. SOA graduates have been hired at places such as Blizzard Entertainment, Riot Games, Sony, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA), The Met, Paramount, FatCats Entertainment, and Bee Square Games.
