2027 Best Value Illustration Schools in Ohio
[Illustration](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/illustration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for illustration students.
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2027 Best Value Illustration Schools in Ohio
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in illustration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Illustration Schools
Leading the list is Cuyahoga Community College District, our #1 best value for illustration in Ohio. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,249 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. Illustration graduates carry a median of $11,795 in student loans. Illustration graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $22,517 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,795 median debt.
Lakeland Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value illustration schools. Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirtland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,872, while out-of-state students pay about $9,235. Illustration graduates carry a median of $19,857 in student loans. Early-career illustration graduates make about $51,941. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cleveland Institute Of Art came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value illustration schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland Institute Of Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $48,700. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Cleveland Institute Of Art generally make around $23,358. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Columbus College Of Art And Design is a great value for students pursuing a degree in illustration, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,825. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $27,000. Early-career illustration graduates make about $27,970. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Art Academy Of Cincinnati earned it the #5 place for illustration. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Art Academy Of Cincinnati is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,007. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Art Academy Of Cincinnati generally make around $20,921. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 34%.
More Illustration Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
