2027 Best Value Illustration Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Illustration](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/illustration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for illustration students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Illustration Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in illustration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Illustration Schools
Our analysis ranked Webster University the best value for a degree in illustration in the The Plains States Region. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,750. Illustration graduates carry a median of $25,550 in student loans. Early-career illustration graduates make about $20,257. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Webster University admits about 86% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Kansas City Art Institute one of the best values for illustration. Kansas City Art Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. Students from in state pay about $44,550 in tuition and fees. Illustration graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career illustration graduates make about $29,513. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Kansas City Art Institute admits about 55% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in illustration will find it at Minneapolis College Of Art And Design, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,484. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the illustration program here. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Minneapolis College Of Art And Design generally make around $23,687. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Narrow Illustration Schools by State
More Illustration Rankings
View All Illustration Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
