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2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

49 Ranked Colleges
2,538 Degrees Awarded
$15,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Illustration is the 249th most popular major in the country with 2,538 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

This year’s “Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 49 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in illustration. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality illustration programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the illustration program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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The illustration school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for illustration students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Illustration (Income $0-$30k)

1

Out of the 49 schools in the Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Fashion Institute of Technology landed the #1 spot on the list. FIT SUNY is located in New York, New York and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 208 ’s illustration degrees to qualified students.

FIT SUNY also took the #1 spot in our “Best Illustration Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Fashion Institute of Technology is $7,688 for illustration students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Illustration at Fashion Institute of Technology

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Provo. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. BYU is located in Provo, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 ’s illustration degrees to qualified students.

BYU also took the #4 spot in our “Best Illustration Schools” ranking. It costs about $9,445 for Illustration students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend BYU.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Illustration at Brigham Young University - Provo

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Collin County Community College District. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. Collin County Community College District is located in McKinney, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 ’s illustration degrees to qualified students.

Collin County Community College District did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Illustration Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Collin County Community College District is $5,252 for illustration students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Illustration at Collin County Community College District

4
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ferris State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. Big Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s illustration degrees to 33 students in 2020-2021.

Ferris also made our “Best Illustration Schools” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for Ferris is $6,577 for Illustration students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Illustration at Ferris State University

5
Salt Lake Community College crest
Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake City, Utah

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Salt Lake Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and it awarded 11 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Salt Lake Community College is $5,129 for illustration students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Salt Lake Community College Illustration Report

6

Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cuyahoga Community College District is a fairly large public school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 7 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Cuyahoga Community College District is $3,141 for Illustration students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Illustration at Cuyahoga Community College District

7

Kalamazoo Valley Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Kalamazoo, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s illustration degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $2,426 for illustration students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

Read more about Illustration at Kalamazoo Valley Community College

8
Syracuse crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York

Syracuse University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Syracuse is a private not-for-profit institution located in Syracuse, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Syracuse also took the #2 spot in our “Best Illustration Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Syracuse is $17,250 for illustration students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Illustration at Syracuse University

9

With a ranking of #9, Mohawk Valley Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Utica, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s illustration degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend MVCC is $5,869 for illustration students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Illustration at MVCC

10

Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution located in Richmond, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 111 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our illustration students whose families make $0-$30k list, VCU has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Illustration Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Commonwealth University is $14,507 for illustration students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Illustration at VCU

11
SUNY Fredonia crest
SUNY Fredonia
Fredonia, New York

SUNY Fredonia ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Fredonia, New York, this small public school awarded 18 degrees to qualified ’s illustration students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for SUNY Fredonia is $10,026 for Illustration students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Illustration at SUNY Fredonia

12

With a ranking of #12, Massachusetts College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Massachusetts College of Art and Design is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 74 ’s illustration degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Illustration Schools” ranking. It costs about $16,572 for illustration students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Illustration at Massachusetts College of Art and Design

13
UMass Dartmouth crest
University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth is a public institution located in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UMass Dartmouth is $15,689 for illustration students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Illustration at University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

14
Marywood crest
Marywood University
Scranton, Pennsylvania

Marywood University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Marywood is a private not-for-profit institution located in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Marywood University is $18,249 for illustration students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Marywood University Illustration Report

15
JBU crest
John Brown University
Siloam Springs, Arkansas

John Brown University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. John Brown University is a small school located in Siloam Springs, Arkansas that handed out 12 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for JBU is $18,136 for illustration students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full JBU Illustration Report

16

Columbus College of Art and Design came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s illustration degrees to 46 students in 2020-2021.

CCAD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Illustration Schools” list. It costs about $21,798 for illustration students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Columbus College of Art and Design.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full CCAD Illustration Report

17

With a ranking of #17, Rochester Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. RIT is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rochester, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

RIT did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Illustration Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Rochester Institute of Technology is $28,322 for illustration students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Illustration at Rochester Institute of Technology

18

With a ranking of #18, Sessions College for Professional Design did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Sessions College for Professional Design is located in Tempe, Arizona and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 20 ’s illustration degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Sessions College for Professional Design is $13,022 for illustration students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Illustration at Sessions College

19

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 50 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $22,421 for Illustration students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend MIAD.

Read more about Illustration at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design

20
Columbia crest
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #20, Columbia College Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Columbia is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 39 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our illustration students whose families make $0-$30k list, Columbia has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Illustration Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Columbia is $21,344 for illustration students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Columbia College Chicago Illustration Report

21

Minneapolis College of Art and Design did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 50 degrees to qualified ’s illustration students in 2020-2021.

MCAD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Illustration Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for MCAD is $22,385 for Illustration students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Illustration at MCAD

22

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. RMCAD is a small school located in Lakewood, Colorado that handed out 47 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for RMCAD is $16,904 for Illustration students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full RMCAD Illustration Report

23

Maryland Institute College of Art landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Maryland Institute College of Art is a small school located in Baltimore, Maryland that handed out 90 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our illustration students whose families make $0-$30k list, MICA has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Illustration Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend MICA is $30,316 for Illustration students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full MICA Illustration Report

24
California College of the Arts crest
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, California

California College of the Arts ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. California College of the Arts is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 26 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at California College of the Arts, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Illustration Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California College of the Arts is $29,530 for illustration students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full California College of the Arts Illustration Report

25

Art Academy of Cincinnati ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 10 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $22,465 for Illustration students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Art Academy of Cincinnati.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Illustration at Art Academy of Cincinnati

Notes and References

References

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