2027 Best Value Illustration Schools in the Southwest Region
[Illustration](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/illustration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong illustration education at a price that pays off.
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 the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in illustration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Illustration Schools
Our analysis ranked Collin County Community College District the best value for a degree in illustration in the Southwest Region. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $6,064. Illustration graduates carry a median of $6,900 in student loans. Early-career illustration graduates make about $33,456. Set against $6,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Phoenix College earned it the #2 place for illustration. Phoenix College is a large public school located in the city of Phoenix. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $15,204. Illustration graduates of Phoenix College earn a median of $51,053 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mesa Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in illustration, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very 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 $13,750 to complete the illustration program here. Early-career illustration graduates make about $54,730. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in illustration will find it at Sessions College For Professional Design, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Tempe, Sessions College For Professional Design is a small private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,400. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $25,199. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Sessions College For Professional Design generally make around $19,275.
University Of Central Oklahoma is a great value for students pursuing a degree in illustration, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public school located in the suburb of Edmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,818, with out-of-state students paying around $19,704. Illustration graduates carry a median of $15,875 in student loans. Early-career illustration graduates make about $44,085. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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.
