2027 Best Value Illustration Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Illustration](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/illustration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. 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 58 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for illustration students.
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2027 Best Value Illustration Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in illustration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Illustration Schools
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology tops our 2027 list of the best value illustration schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,997, compared with $12,062 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $19,695. Illustration graduates of Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earn a median of $60,000 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,695 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Brigham Young University Idaho one of the best values for illustration. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800. Illustration graduates carry a median of $13,287 in student loans. Early-career illustration graduates make about $43,853. Set against $13,287 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Ferris State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in illustration, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. Illustration graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Illustration graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $34,045 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in illustration will find it at California State University Monterey Bay, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,779, with out-of-state students paying around $20,379. Illustration graduates carry a median of $14,827 in student loans. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from California State University Monterey Bay generally make around $49,032. Set against $14,827 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value illustration schools. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,688. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $13,000. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $33,915. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Fashion Institute Of Technology came in at #6 for value in illustration this year. Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $8,174 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,696 for out-of-state students. Illustration graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Illustration graduates of Fashion Institute Of Technology earn a median of $27,023 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
University Of Central Oklahoma earned the #7 position for value in illustration this year. Located in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,818, with out-of-state students paying around $19,704. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $15,875. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from University Of Central Oklahoma generally make around $44,085. That is a strong return on a $15,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Western Washington University placed #8 among the best values for illustration. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,582, with out-of-state students paying around $28,707. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $20,000. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $31,078. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Fredonia ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value illustration schools. Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fredonia. In-state tuition and fees average $8,831, compared with $19,771 for out-of-state students. Illustration graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Illustration graduates of Suny At Fredonia earn a median of $19,451 early in their careers. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University came in at #10 for value in illustration this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the illustration program here. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $49,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth came in at #11 for value in illustration this year. Located in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,612, with out-of-state students paying around $32,567. Illustration graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career illustration graduates make about $29,660. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
John Brown University came in at #12 for value in illustration this year. John Brown University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Siloam Springs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,756. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the illustration program here. Early-career illustration graduates make about $24,893. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Virginia Commonwealth University earned the #13 position for value in illustration this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Students borrow a median of $25,937 to complete the illustration program here. Early-career illustration graduates make about $25,872. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Seattle Pacific University placed #14 among the best values for illustration. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,407. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Seattle Pacific University generally make around $39,248. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Seattle Pacific University admits about 83% of applicants.
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design landed the #15 spot for illustration value this year. Located in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,400, while out-of-state students pay about $43,400. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the illustration program here. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Massachusetts College Of Art And Design generally make around $24,706. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design admits about 76% of applicants.
Marywood University came in at #16 for value in illustration this year. Located in the city of Scranton, Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,420. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $27,362. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Marywood University generally make around $25,727. That is a strong return on a $27,362 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Taylor University came in at #17 for value in illustration this year. Located in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,490. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the illustration program here. Illustration graduates of Taylor University earn a median of $31,921 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
California Baptist University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value illustration schools. Located in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,228. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $26,487. Illustration graduates of California Baptist University earn a median of $28,669 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,487 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design placed #19 among the best values for illustration. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $43,743. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the illustration program here. Early-career illustration graduates make about $28,801. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Columbia College Chicago placed #20 among the best values for illustration. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,088. Illustration graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $29,630. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Webster University earned the #21 position for value in illustration this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,750. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $25,550. Early-career illustration graduates make about $20,257. That is a strong return on a $25,550 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas City Art Institute placed #22 among the best values for illustration. Kansas City Art Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. In-state tuition and fees average $44,550. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $27,000. Early-career illustration graduates make about $29,513. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Cleveland Institute Of Art landed the #23 spot for illustration value this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland Institute Of Art is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,700. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the illustration program here. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Cleveland Institute Of Art generally make around $23,358. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
St Johns University New York came in at #24 for value in illustration this year. Set in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,529. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the illustration program here. Early-career illustration graduates make about $57,686. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. St Johns University New York admits about 83% of applicants.
New England College landed the #25 spot for illustration value this year. Set in the rural area of Henniker, New England College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $27,474. Students borrow a median of $35,038 to complete the illustration program here. Early-career illustration graduates make about $68,950. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Illustration Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for illustration this year:
Other Illustration Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Illustration rankings across degree levels:
View All Illustration Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 58 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 58 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.
