2027 Best Value Illustration Schools in New York
[Illustration](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/illustration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value illustration schools.
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2027 Best Value Illustration Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in illustration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Illustration Schools
Mohawk Valley Community College earned the #1 spot for value among illustration schools in New York. Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Utica. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,218, while out-of-state students pay about $8,851. Illustration graduates carry a median of $9,534 in student loans. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Mohawk Valley Community College generally make around $21,012. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny At Fredonia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in illustration, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,831, with out-of-state students paying around $19,771. Illustration graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career illustration graduates make about $19,451. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny At Fredonia admits about 78% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Fashion Institute Of Technology earned it the #3 place for illustration. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $22,696. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the illustration program here. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $20,692. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at St Johns University New York earned it the #4 place for illustration. Set in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,529 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the illustration program here. Illustration graduates of St Johns University New York earn a median of $57,686 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. St Johns University New York admits about 83% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in illustration will find it at Rochester Institute Of Technology, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,210. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the illustration program here. Early-career illustration graduates make about $34,709. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Syracuse University placed #6 among the best values for illustration. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,528 in tuition and fees. Illustration graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $46,181. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Pratt Institute Main landed the #7 spot for illustration value this year. Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. In-state tuition and fees average $61,845. Illustration graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Early-career illustration graduates make about $40,880. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
School Of Visual Arts ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value illustration schools. Set in the city of New York, School Of Visual Arts is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $51,400 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the illustration program here. 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. School Of Visual Arts admits about 93% of applicants.
The New School placed #9 among the best values for illustration. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $58,730. Students borrow a median of $23,606 to complete the illustration program here. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from The New School generally make around $36,279. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
