2026 Best Value Illustration Associate’s Degree Schools
[Illustration](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/illustration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 79 schools to find the best return on investment for illustration students.
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2026 Best Value Illustration Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in illustration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Illustration Schools
Collin County Community College District earned the #1 spot for value among illustration schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,014 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,064 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,900 to complete the illustration program here. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Collin County Community College District generally make around $33,456. Set against $6,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuyahoga Community College District is a great value for students pursuing a degree in illustration, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,249, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $11,795. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $22,517. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Salt Lake Community College one of the best values for illustration. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,426, compared with $14,244 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,766 to complete the illustration program here. Illustration graduates of Salt Lake Community College earn a median of $34,227 early in their careers. Set against $10,766 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Diego City College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value illustration schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego City College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Students borrow a median of $9,514 to complete the illustration program here. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from San Diego City College generally make around $26,218. That is a strong return on a $9,514 median debt.
Sussex County Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value illustration schools. Sussex County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Newton. In-state tuition and fees average $5,544, compared with $9,024 for out-of-state students. Illustration graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans. Illustration graduates of Sussex County Community College earn a median of $27,179 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mohawk Valley Community College placed #6 among the best values for illustration. Set in the city of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,218, with out-of-state students paying around $8,851. Students borrow a median of $9,534 to complete the illustration program here. Illustration graduates of Mohawk Valley Community College earn a median of $21,012 early in their careers. Set against $9,534 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lakeland Community College earned the #7 position for value in illustration this year. Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirtland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,872, with out-of-state students paying around $9,235. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $19,857. Early-career illustration graduates make about $51,941. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Capital Community College placed #8 among the best values for illustration. Capital Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New Britain. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,338, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Illustration graduates carry a median of $12,059 in student loans. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Capital Community College generally make around $43,086. Set against $12,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mesa Community College came in at #9 for value in illustration this year. Set in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $13,750. Early-career illustration graduates make about $54,730. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College landed the #10 spot for illustration value this year. Set in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,144 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,094 for out-of-state students. Illustration graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. Illustration graduates of Kalamazoo Valley Community College earn a median of $44,198 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Henry Ford Community College earned the #11 position for value in illustration this year. Set in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,568, compared with $7,816 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $19,075. Illustration graduates of Henry Ford Community College earn a median of $19,911 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Phoenix College came in at #12 for value in illustration this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Students borrow a median of $15,204 to complete the illustration program here. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Phoenix College generally make around $51,053. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fashion Institute Of Technology placed #13 among the best values for illustration. Located in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,174, compared with $22,696 for out-of-state students. Illustration graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Illustration graduates of Fashion Institute Of Technology earn a median of $14,361 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value illustration schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $59,210 in tuition and fees. Illustration graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Illustration graduates of Rochester Institute Of Technology earn a median of $34,709 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Sessions College For Professional Design ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value illustration schools. Set in the city of Tempe, Sessions College For Professional Design is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $7,400 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $27,678. Early-career illustration graduates make about $19,275.
Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design placed #16 among the best values for illustration. Set in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,150. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the illustration program here. Illustration graduates of Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design earn a median of $25,830 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Academy Of Art University placed #17 among the best values for illustration. Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,736. Students borrow a median of $33,437 to complete the illustration program here. Illustration graduates of Academy Of Art University earn a median of $26,478 early in their careers. Set against $33,437 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pratt Institute Main placed #18 among the best values for illustration. Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $61,845 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the illustration program here. Early-career illustration graduates make about $40,880. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pratt Institute Main admits about 73% of applicants.
The New School earned the #19 position for value in illustration this year. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,730. Students borrow a median of $21,211 to complete the illustration program here. Illustration graduates of The New School earn a median of $44,640 early in their careers. Set against $21,211 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Other Illustration Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Illustration rankings across degree levels:
View All Illustration Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 79 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
