by our College Data Analytics Team
[Illustration](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/illustration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for illustration students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in illustration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Virginia Commonwealth University, our #1 best value for illustration in Virginia. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $25,937. Early-career illustration graduates make about $36,156. That is a strong return on a $25,937 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
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 · 1 school evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the one ranked school only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.