2026 Best Illustration Schools in the Far Western Region
Illustration programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their illustration programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools to find the best for illustration students.
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Featured Illustration Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Schools for Illustration in the Far Western Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the illustration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Illustration
Art Center College Of Design tops our 2026 ranking of the best illustration schools. Set in the city of Pasadena, Art Center College Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Art Center College Of Design graduates 79% of students within six years. Art Center College Of Design awarded about 140 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $47,053 in their early career. Art Center College Of Design graduates carry a median of $31,050 in student loans.
See the full illustration program report for Art Center College Of Design
Students looking for a strong illustration program will find one at California College Of The Arts, which ranked #2. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. California College Of The Arts awarded about 36 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from California College Of The Arts generally make around $28,673. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full illustration details for California College Of The Arts
Students looking for a strong illustration program will find one at Laguna College Of Art And Design, which ranked #3. Laguna College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Laguna Beach. Laguna College Of Art And Design graduates 52% of students within six years. There were roughly 44 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Laguna College Of Art And Design in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Laguna College Of Art And Design generally make around $27,785. Laguna College Of Art And Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in illustration from Laguna College Of Art And Design
Academy Of Art University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in illustration, ranking #4. Located in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. About 34% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 85 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Academy Of Art University in the most recent data year. Illustration graduates of Academy Of Art University earn a median of $28,555 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $33,312 to complete this degree.
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Pacific Northwest College Of Art is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in illustration, ranking #5. Set in the city of Portland, Pacific Northwest College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 29% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Pacific Northwest College Of Art in the most recent data year. Illustration graduates of Pacific Northwest College Of Art earn a median of $19,501 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,899.
See the full illustration program report for Pacific Northwest College Of Art
Cornish College Of The Arts landed the #6 spot for illustration this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 12 illustration degrees were awarded at Cornish College Of The Arts in the most recent year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $20,344 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in illustration from Cornish College Of The Arts
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 15 schools evaluated.
- 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.
