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2023 Most Popular Colleges for Illustration

73 Ranked Colleges
2,538 Degrees Awarded
$41,000 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Illustration Major

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Well Attended Illustration Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2020-2021, 2,538 people earned their degree in illustration, making the major the 249th most popular in the United States.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Illustration Major” ranking looked at 73 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in illustration. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular illustration programs in the United States.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Illustration Schools

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Illustration Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Most Well Attended Illustration Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for illustration students.

1

Out of the 73 schools in the Most Well Attended Illustration Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Savannah College of Art and Design landed the #1 spot on the list. SCAD is located in Savannah, Georgia and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 363 ’s illustration degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Illustration at Savannah College of Art and Design

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fashion Institute of Technology. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Illustration Major list. Fashion Institute of Technology is located in New York, New York and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 208 ’s illustration degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Illustration at FIT SUNY

3
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School of Visual Arts
New York, New York

Out of the 73 schools in the Most Well Attended Illustration Major that were part of this year’s ranking, School of Visual Arts landed the #3 spot on the list. School of Visual Arts is a small private for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 200 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full SVA Illustration Report

4
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Art Center College of Design
Pasadena, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Art Center College of Design. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Illustration Major list. This small school is located in Pasadena, California, and it awarded 170 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Illustration at Art Center College of Design

5

Out of the 73 schools in the Most Well Attended Illustration Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #5 spot on the list. VCU is a public institution located in Richmond, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 111 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Illustration at VCU

6

Ringling College of Art and Design did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Illustration Major ranking, coming in at #6. This small school is located in Sarasota, Florida, and it awarded 90 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Illustration at Ringling College of Art and Design

6

Maryland Institute College of Art ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended Illustration Major list. Baltimore, Maryland is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s illustration degrees to 90 students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Illustration at Maryland Institute College of Art

8
Academy of Art University crest
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #8, Academy of Art University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Illustration Major list. Academy of Art University is located in San Francisco, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 89 ’s illustration degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Illustration at Academy of Art University

9
Pratt Institute crest
Pratt Institute - Main
Brooklyn, New York

Pratt Institute - Main landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Illustration Major ranking. Located in Brooklyn, New York, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 82 diplomas to qualified ’s illustration students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Illustration at Pratt Institute

10

Massachusetts College of Art and Design came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Illustration Major ranking. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s illustration degrees to 74 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Illustration at Massachusetts College of Art and Design

11
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Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, Rhode Island

Rhode Island School of Design came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Illustration Major ranking. Located in Providence, Rhode Island, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 73 diplomas to qualified ’s illustration students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Illustration at RISD

12
New School University crest
The New School
New York, New York

The New School landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Illustration Major ranking. New School University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 60 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full The New School Illustration Report

13

Minneapolis College of Art and Design came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Illustration Major ranking. Minneapolis College of Art and Design is a small school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 50 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Illustration at MCAD

13

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Illustration Major ranking. Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 ’s illustration degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Illustration at MIAD

15

College for Creative Studies did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Illustration Major ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Detroit, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 49 diplomas to qualified ’s illustration students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full College for Creative Studies Illustration Report

16

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Illustration Major ranking. Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is a small private for-profit school situated in Lakewood, Colorado. It awarded 47 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Illustration at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design

17

Columbus College of Art and Design landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Illustration Major ranking. Columbus College of Art and Design is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 46 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Columbus College of Art and Design Illustration Report

18
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Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Illustration Major list. Columbia College Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 39 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Columbia Illustration Report

19
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Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Illustration Major ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Big Rapids, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 33 diplomas to qualified ’s illustration students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Illustration at Ferris

20
Kansas City Art Institute crest
Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City Art Institute came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Illustration Major ranking. Kansas City Art Institute is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s illustration degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Illustration at Kansas City Art Institute

21
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Lesley University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Lesley University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Illustration Major ranking. Lesley is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 30 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Lesley Illustration Report

22
UHart crest
University of Hartford
West Hartford, Connecticut

University of Hartford landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Illustration Major ranking. UHart is located in West Hartford, Connecticut and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s illustration degrees to qualified students.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Illustration at University of Hartford

22

Pacific Northwest College of Art ranked #22 on this year’s Most Well Attended Illustration Major list. Portland, Oregon is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s illustration degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.

Full Pacific Northwest College of Art Illustration Report

24
California College of the Arts crest
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #24, California College of the Arts did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Illustration Major list. California College of the Arts is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 26 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Illustration at California College of the Arts

25
UArts crest
The University of the Arts
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The University of the Arts did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Illustration Major ranking, coming in at #25. UArts is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 ’s illustration degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full The University of the Arts Illustration Report

25
LCAD crest
Laguna College of Art and Design
Laguna Beach, California

With a ranking of #25, Laguna College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Illustration Major list. Laguna College of Art and Design is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Laguna Beach, California. It awarded 24 ’s illustration degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Illustration at Laguna College of Art and Design

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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