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Featured Illustration Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
2026 Best Value Illustration Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in illustration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Illustration Schools
Our analysis ranked Sussex County Community College the best value for a degree in illustration in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the rural area of Newton, Sussex County Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,544, while out-of-state students pay about $9,024. Illustration graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Sussex County Community College generally make around $27,179. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in illustration will find it at Mohawk Valley Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,218 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,851. Students borrow a median of $9,534 to complete the illustration program here. Illustration graduates of Mohawk Valley Community College earn a median of $21,012 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Fashion Institute Of Technology earned it the #3 place for illustration. Located in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,174 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,696. Illustration graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $20,692. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Suny At Fredonia came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value illustration schools. Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fredonia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,831, while out-of-state students pay about $19,771. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $26,500. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Suny At Fredonia generally make around $19,451. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Marywood University one of the best values for illustration. Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,420. Students borrow a median of $27,362 to complete the illustration program here. Early-career illustration graduates make about $25,727. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
St Johns University New York placed #6 among the best values for illustration. 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. Illustration graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career illustration graduates make about $57,686. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Rochester Institute Of Technology came in at #7 for value in illustration this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $59,210 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $27,000. Illustration graduates of Rochester Institute Of Technology earn a median of $34,709 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Rochester Institute Of Technology admits about 67% of applicants.
Maryland Institute College Of Art ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value illustration schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $56,800. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $27,000. Illustration graduates of Maryland Institute College Of Art earn a median of $48,637 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Syracuse University placed #9 among the best values for illustration. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,528 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the illustration program here. Illustration graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $46,181 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design placed #10 among the best values for illustration. Set in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $32,150 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $27,000. Early-career illustration graduates make about $25,830. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design admits about 99% of applicants.
Moore College Of Art And Design ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value illustration schools. Moore College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,674. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $27,000. Illustration graduates of Moore College Of Art And Design earn a median of $20,587 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts landed the #12 spot for illustration value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,600. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $26,750. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts generally make around $17,887. That is a strong return on a $26,750 median debt.
Pratt Institute Main earned the #13 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,845. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $19,000. Early-career illustration graduates make about $40,880. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
The New School placed #14 among the best values for illustration. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,730. Typical student debt for illustration graduates is $23,606. Early-career illustration graduates make about $36,279. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The New School admits about 64% of applicants.
School Of Visual Arts placed #15 among the best values for illustration. Set in the city of New York, School Of Visual Arts is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $51,400. Illustration graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Illustration graduates of School Of Visual Arts earn a median of $32,155 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 14 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.
[Illustration](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/illustration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
