2027 Best Value Illustration Associate’s Degree Schools
[Illustration](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/illustration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value illustration schools.
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2027 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. Set in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,014 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,064. Illustration graduates carry a median of $6,900 in student loans. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Collin County Community College District generally make around $33,456. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuyahoga Community College District is a great value for students pursuing a degree in illustration, landing the #2 spot this year. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,249, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. Students borrow a median of $11,795 to complete the illustration program here. 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.
Sussex County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in illustration, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Newton, Sussex County Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,544, while out-of-state students pay about $9,024. Students borrow a median of $10,750 to complete the illustration program here. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Sussex County Community College generally make around $27,179. That is a strong return on a $10,750 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Salt Lake Community College earned it the #4 place 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. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $10,766. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Salt Lake Community College generally make around $34,227. Set against $10,766 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes San Diego City College one of the best values for illustration. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego City College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $9,514. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from San Diego City College generally make around $26,218. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mohawk Valley Community College landed the #6 spot for illustration value this year. Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Utica. Students from in state pay about $6,218 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,851 for out-of-state students. 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.
Mesa Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value illustration schools. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Illustration graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Early-career illustration graduates make about $54,730. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lakeland Community College placed #8 among the best values for illustration. Set in the suburb of Kirtland, Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,872, compared with $9,235 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $19,857. Early-career illustration graduates make about $51,941. That is a strong return on a $19,857 median debt.
Henry Ford Community College placed #9 among the best values for illustration. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,568, compared with $7,816 for out-of-state students. Illustration graduates carry a median of $19,075 in student loans. Illustration graduates of Henry Ford Community College earn a median of $19,911 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,075 median debt.
Capital Community College earned the #10 position for value in illustration this year. Located in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,338, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,059 to complete the illustration program here. Early-career illustration graduates make about $43,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fashion Institute Of Technology landed the #11 spot for illustration value this year. Located in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,174, compared with $22,696 for out-of-state students. Illustration graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $14,361. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Phoenix College earned the #12 position for value in illustration this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Illustration graduates carry a median of $15,204 in student loans. Early-career illustration graduates make about $51,053. Set against $15,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sessions College For Professional Design came in at #13 for value in illustration this year. Sessions College For Professional Design is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Tempe. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,400. Students borrow a median of $27,678 to complete the illustration program here. Early-career illustration graduates make about $19,275.
Academy Of Art University earned the #14 position for value in illustration this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $30,736. Illustration graduates carry a median of $33,437 in student loans. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Academy Of Art University generally make around $26,478. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pratt Institute Main ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value illustration schools. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,845. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $12,000. 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 landed the #16 spot for illustration value this year. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,730. Students borrow a median of $21,211 to complete the illustration program here. Early-career illustration graduates make about $44,640. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Other Illustration Degree Levels
Explore the best-value illustration schools at other degree levels:
View All Illustration Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
