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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Illustration

73 Ranked Colleges
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Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Illustration is the 249th most popular major in the country with 2,804 degrees awarded in 2021-2022.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major” ranking analyzed 73 colleges that offered a degree in illustration. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in illustration.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for illustration students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Illustration

1
The Academy crest
American Academy of Art
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend American Academy of Art. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private for-profit school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified ’s illustration students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Illustration at The Academy

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pennsylvania College of Art and Design. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major list. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Illustration at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

3

Out of the 73 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Art Academy of Cincinnati landed the #3 spot on the list. Art Academy of Cincinnati is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Illustration at Art Academy of Cincinnati

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Delaware College of Art and Design. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major list. Delaware College of Art and Design is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wilmington, Delaware. It awarded 11 ’s illustration degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Illustration at DCAD

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major. MIAD is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 77 ’s illustration degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design Illustration Report

6

With a ranking of #6, Ringling College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major list. Ringling College of Art and Design is a small school located in Sarasota, Florida that handed out 108 ’s illustration degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Illustration at Ringling College

7
Art Center College of Design crest
Art Center College of Design
Pasadena, California

Art Center College of Design did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major ranking, coming in at #7. Art Center College of Design is a small school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 149 ’s illustration degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Illustration at Art Center College of Design

8

Minneapolis College of Art and Design came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major ranking. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s illustration degrees to 37 students in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full MCAD Illustration Report

9
Montserrat College of Art crest
Montserrat College of Art
Beverly, Massachusetts

Montserrat College of Art ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major list. Located in Beverly, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 25 diplomas to qualified ’s illustration students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Montserrat College of Art Illustration Report

10
Nossi College of Art crest
Nossi College of Art
Nashville, Tennessee

Nossi College of Art ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major list. This small school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 11 ’s illustration degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Illustration at Nossi College of Art

11

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major ranking. Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is a small school located in Lakewood, Colorado that handed out 35 ’s illustration degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Illustration at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design

12

Pacific Northwest College of Art ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major list. Located in Portland, Oregon, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 23 diplomas to qualified ’s illustration students in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Illustration at Pacific Northwest College of Art

13

Columbus College of Art and Design did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major ranking, coming in at #13. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s illustration degrees to 56 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Columbus College of Art and Design Illustration Report

14
SVA crest
School of Visual Arts
New York, New York

With a ranking of #14, School of Visual Arts did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major list. New York, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s illustration degrees to 279 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full SVA Illustration Report

15

College for Creative Studies came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major ranking. CCS is a private not-for-profit institution located in Detroit, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 53 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full CCS Illustration Report

16
Kansas City Art Institute crest
Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City, Missouri

With a ranking of #16, Kansas City Art Institute did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major list. Kansas City Art Institute is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 27 ’s illustration degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Kansas City Art Institute Illustration Report

17
LCAD crest
Laguna College of Art and Design
Laguna Beach, California

Laguna College of Art and Design landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major ranking. Laguna Beach, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s illustration degrees to 35 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Illustration at LCAD

18
Moore College crest
Moore College of Art and Design
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #18, Moore College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s illustration degrees to 14 students in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Moore College Illustration Report

19

With a ranking of #19, Maryland Institute College of Art did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major list. MICA is a private not-for-profit institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. The school has a small population, and it awarded 115 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about Illustration at Maryland Institute College of Art

20

Massachusetts College of Art and Design landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major ranking. Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a public institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 75 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Massachusetts College of Art and Design Illustration Report

21
PAFA crest
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major ranking. PAFA is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Illustration at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

22

Cleveland Institute of Art came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major ranking. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 31 degrees to qualified ’s illustration students in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Illustration at Cleveland Institute of Art

23
RISD crest
Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, Rhode Island

Rhode Island School of Design came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major ranking. Providence, Rhode Island is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s illustration degrees to 89 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Illustration at Rhode Island School of Design

24

Savannah College of Art and Design landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major ranking. SCAD is a fairly large school located in Savannah, Georgia that handed out 461 ’s illustration degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Illustration at Savannah College of Art and Design

25

With a ranking of #25, Sessions College for Professional Design did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Illustration Major list. Located in Tempe, Arizona, this small private for-profit school handed out 14 degrees to qualified ’s illustration students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Illustration at Sessions College

Notes and References

References

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