2027 Best Illustration Master’s Degree Schools
Illustration degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their illustration programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for illustration students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Illustration in the United States
Below are the best illustration schools at the master’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Illustration
No school ranked higher than Maryland Institute College Of Art this year for illustration. Set in the city of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. Maryland Institute College Of Art awarded about 29 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Maryland Institute College Of Art generally make around $70,027. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full illustration program report for Maryland Institute College Of Art
Students looking for a strong illustration program will find one at Rhode Island School Of Design, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Providence, Rhode Island School Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rhode Island School Of Design awarded about 12 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $29,489 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the illustration program at Rhode Island School Of Design
Students looking for a strong illustration program will find one at Fashion Institute Of Technology, which ranked #3. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of New York. Fashion Institute Of Technology awarded about 16 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $20,692. Fashion Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
Read more about the illustration program at Fashion Institute Of Technology
Pratt Institute Main came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best illustration schools. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 23 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Pratt Institute Main in the most recent data year. Students who receive their illustration degree from Pratt Institute Main earn around $45,720 in the first couple years of their career. Pratt Institute Main graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
Get the full illustration details for Pratt Institute Main
Students looking for a strong illustration program will find one at The New School, which ranked #5. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. The New School awarded about 110 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their illustration degree from The New School earn around $39,393 in the first couple years of their career. The New School graduates carry a median of $23,606 in student loans.
Get the full illustration details for The New School
Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #6 spot for illustration this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 39 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Rochester Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $34,709 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full illustration program report for Rochester Institute Of Technology
School Of Visual Arts landed the #7 spot for illustration this year. Set in the city of New York, School Of Visual Arts is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 34 illustration students who graduated with this degree at School Of Visual Arts in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from School Of Visual Arts generally make around $48,325. School Of Visual Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full illustration program report for School Of Visual Arts
Savannah College Of Art And Design came in at #8 for illustration this year. Set in the city of Savannah, Savannah College Of Art And Design is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 127 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Savannah College Of Art And Design in the most recent data year. Students who receive their illustration degree from Savannah College Of Art And Design earn around $40,987 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in illustration from Savannah College Of Art And Design
University Of Hartford earned the #9 position for illustration this year. Located in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Hartford awarded about 12 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from University Of Hartford generally make around $29,515. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in illustration from University Of Hartford
California College Of The Arts placed #10 among the best illustration schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. California College Of The Arts awarded about 28 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $28,673 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full illustration details for California College Of The Arts
Otis College Of Art And Design ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best illustration schools. Otis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Otis College Of Art And Design graduates 66% of students within six years. About 15 illustration degrees were awarded at Otis College Of Art And Design in the most recent year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $31,172 in their early career. Otis College Of Art And Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full illustration program report for Otis College Of Art And Design
Minneapolis College Of Art And Design came in at #12 for illustration this year. Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 51% of students finish within six years. About 52 illustration degrees were awarded at Minneapolis College Of Art And Design in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Minneapolis College Of Art And Design generally make around $23,687. Minneapolis College Of Art And Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the illustration program at Minneapolis College Of Art And Design
Art Center College Of Design earned the #13 position for illustration this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pasadena. Art Center College Of Design graduates 79% of students within six years. About 141 illustration degrees were awarded at Art Center College Of Design in the most recent year. Illustration graduates of Art Center College Of Design earn a median of $47,053 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $31,050 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in illustration from Art Center College Of Design
Academy Of Art University placed #14 among the best illustration schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. Academy Of Art University graduates 34% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Academy Of Art University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $38,358 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $33,312.
Read more about the illustration program at Academy Of Art University
Other Illustration Degree Levels
Explore the best illustration schools at other degree levels:
View All Illustration Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 14 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.
