2027 Best Value Illustration Master’s Degree Schools
[Illustration](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/illustration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for illustration students.
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2027 Best Value Illustration Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the illustration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Illustration Schools
Fashion Institute Of Technology tops our 2027 list of the best value illustration schools in the United States. Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,174, compared with $22,696 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $18,500. Illustration graduates of Fashion Institute Of Technology earn a median of $20,692 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fashion Institute Of Technology admits about 60% of applicants.
Boston University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value illustration schools. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $21,250. Illustration graduates of Boston University earn a median of $49,254 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Minneapolis College Of Art And Design earned it the #3 place for illustration. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,484 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the illustration program here. Illustration graduates of Minneapolis College Of Art And Design earn a median of $23,687 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Hartford is a great value for students pursuing a degree in illustration, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $49,075 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $27,000. Illustration graduates of University Of Hartford earn a median of $29,515 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Hartford admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rochester Institute Of Technology earned it the #5 place for illustration. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. In-state tuition and fees average $59,210. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $34,709. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Rochester Institute Of Technology admits about 67% of applicants.
Drexel University placed #6 among the best values for illustration. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $62,412 in tuition and fees. Illustration graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career illustration graduates make about $38,154. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
Syracuse University earned the #7 position for value in illustration this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the illustration program here. Early-career illustration graduates make about $46,181. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Maryland Institute College Of Art earned the #8 position for value in illustration this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,800. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the illustration program here. Illustration graduates of Maryland Institute College Of Art earn a median of $70,027 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Maryland Institute College Of Art admits about 77% of applicants.
Academy Of Art University placed #9 among the best values for illustration. Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Students from in state pay about $30,736 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $33,312 to complete the illustration program here. Early-career illustration graduates make about $38,358. Set against $33,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Art Center College Of Design placed #10 among the best values for illustration. Art Center College Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. Students from in state pay about $54,170 in tuition and fees. Illustration graduates carry a median of $31,050 in student loans. Early-career illustration graduates make about $47,053. Set against $31,050 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Savannah College Of Art And Design came in at #11 for value in illustration this year. Savannah College Of Art And Design is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Savannah. In-state tuition and fees average $41,630. Illustration graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Illustration graduates of Savannah College Of Art And Design earn a median of $40,987 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Savannah College Of Art And Design admits about 83% of applicants.
Rhode Island School Of Design placed #12 among the best values for illustration. Located in the city of Providence, Rhode Island School Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $62,688. Illustration graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Rhode Island School Of Design generally make around $29,489. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 19%.
Otis College Of Art And Design placed #13 among the best values for illustration. Otis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,488. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Otis College Of Art And Design generally make around $31,172. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Otis College Of Art And Design admits about 82% of applicants.
Pratt Institute Main earned the #14 position for value in illustration this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,845. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $19,000. Illustration graduates of Pratt Institute Main earn a median of $45,720 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
California College Of The Arts placed #15 among the best values for illustration. California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,226. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from California College Of The Arts generally make around $28,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
School Of Visual Arts earned the #16 position for value in illustration this year. Set in the city of New York, School Of Visual Arts is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,400. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $27,000. Early-career illustration graduates make about $48,325. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. School Of Visual Arts admits about 93% of applicants.
The New School placed #17 among the best values for illustration. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $58,730. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $23,606. Illustration graduates of The New School earn a median of $39,393 early in their careers. Set against $23,606 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The New School admits about 64% of applicants.
Other Illustration Degree Levels
Explore the best-value illustration schools at other degree levels:
View All Illustration Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
