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2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid

49 Ranked Colleges
2,538 Degrees Awarded
$19,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 Getting Aid” ranking looked at 49 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in illustration. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great illustration programs and cost less that 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 Getting Aid”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for illustration students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Illustration (With Aid)

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Fashion Institute of Technology. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid. Fashion Institute of Technology is a medium-sized public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 208 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

FIT SUNY did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Illustration Schools” list. It costs about $10,389 for Illustration students with aid per year to attend FIT SUNY.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read more about Illustration at Fashion Institute of Technology

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Collin County Community College District. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid. Collin County Community College District is a large public school situated in McKinney, Texas. It awarded 23 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our illustration students with aid list, Collin County Community College District has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Illustration Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Collin County Community College District is $7,040 for illustration students with aid.

Read more about Illustration at Collin County Community College District

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Provo. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid. Brigham Young University - Provo is a private not-for-profit institution located in Provo, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

BYU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Illustration Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Brigham Young University - Provo is $13,474 for Illustration students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Full BYU Illustration Report

4
Salt Lake Community College crest
Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake City, Utah

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Salt Lake Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Salt Lake Community College is a large public school situated in Salt Lake City, Utah. It awarded 11 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $6,197 for illustration students with aid per year to attend Salt Lake Community College.

Read more about Illustration at Salt Lake Community College

5

Out of the 49 schools in the Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #5 spot on the list. Cuyahoga Community College District is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s illustration degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Cuyahoga Community College District is $4,909 for Illustration students with aid.

Full Cuyahoga Community College District Illustration Report

6
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Big Rapids, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 33 diplomas to qualified ’s illustration students in 2020-2021.

Ferris did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Illustration Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Ferris State University is $12,213 for illustration students with aid.

Read more about Illustration at Ferris

7

Kalamazoo Valley Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. This medium-sized school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 7 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $4,525 for Illustration students with aid per year to attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

Read more about Illustration at Kalamazoo Valley Community College

8

Mohawk Valley Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Utica, New York, this medium-sized public school handed out 15 degrees to qualified ’s illustration students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $7,942 for illustration students with aid per year to attend Mohawk Valley Community College.

Read more about Illustration at MVCC

9

Virginia Commonwealth University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. This large school is located in Richmond, Virginia, and it awarded 111 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

VCU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Illustration Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Commonwealth University is $20,490 for illustration students with aid.

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 more about Illustration at Virginia Commonwealth University

10
SUNY Fredonia crest
SUNY Fredonia
Fredonia, New York

SUNY Fredonia did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Fredonia, New York, this small public school awarded 18 diplomas to qualified ’s illustration students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for SUNY Fredonia is $14,378 for Illustration students with aid.

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 full report on Illustration at SUNY Fredonia

11
UMass Dartmouth crest
University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, this medium-sized public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified ’s illustration students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth is $20,050 for Illustration students with aid.

Full University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth Illustration Report

12

Massachusetts College of Art and Design came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s illustration degrees to 74 students in 2020-2021.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design also made our “Best Illustration Schools” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend Massachusetts College of Art and Design is $22,968 for Illustration students with aid.

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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Massachusetts College of Art and Design Illustration Report

13
JBU crest
John Brown University
Siloam Springs, Arkansas

John Brown University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 12 degrees to qualified ’s illustration students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $21,957 for Illustration students with aid per year to attend JBU.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Illustration at JBU

14

Sessions College for Professional Design landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 20 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Sessions College is $13,245 for Illustration students with aid.

Read more about Illustration at Sessions College

15
Marywood crest
Marywood University
Scranton, Pennsylvania

Marywood University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Marywood is a small school located in Scranton, Pennsylvania that handed out 8 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Marywood is $20,225 for Illustration students with aid.

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 Marywood

16

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. RMCAD is a small school located in Lakewood, Colorado that handed out 47 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is $18,533 for Illustration students with aid.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Illustration at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design

17

Columbus College of Art and Design ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 46 degrees to qualified ’s illustration students in 2020-2021.

CCAD also took the #18 spot in our “Best Illustration Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Columbus College of Art and Design is $26,493 for illustration students with aid.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

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

18

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid list. MIAD is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 ’s illustration degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $26,046 for illustration students with aid per year to attend Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design.

Read more about Illustration at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design

19
Columbia crest
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 39 degrees to qualified ’s illustration students in 2020-2021.

Columbia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Illustration Schools” list. It costs about $26,258 for illustration students with aid per year to attend Columbia College Chicago.

Read full report on Illustration at Columbia

20

Rochester Institute of Technology ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Rochester Institute of Technology is located in Rochester, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 ’s illustration degrees to qualified students.

RIT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Illustration Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Rochester Institute of Technology is $34,822 for Illustration students with aid.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Illustration at Rochester Institute of Technology

21

Minneapolis College of Art and Design did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. Minneapolis College of Art and Design is a private not-for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 50 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

MCAD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Illustration Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Minneapolis College of Art and Design is $29,062 for Illustration students with aid.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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%.

Read more about Illustration at MCAD

22
Academy of Art University crest
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #22, Academy of Art University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 89 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

Academy of Art University also made our “Best Illustration Schools” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $36,143 for Illustration students with aid per year to attend Academy of Art University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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%.

Read full report on Illustration at Academy of Art University

23
UHart crest
University of Hartford
West Hartford, Connecticut

University of Hartford came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. UHart is located in West Hartford, Connecticut and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s illustration degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for UHart is $28,712 for illustration students with aid.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full University of Hartford Illustration Report

24
The Academy crest
American Academy of Art
Chicago, Illinois

American Academy of Art landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. The Academy is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 13 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend American Academy of Art is $28,554 for Illustration students with aid.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full The Academy Illustration Report

25

Art Academy of Cincinnati did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Illustration Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. Art Academy of Cincinnati is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 10 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for AAC is $24,564 for Illustration students with aid.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Art Academy of Cincinnati Illustration Report

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

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