2026 Best Illustration Associate’s Degree Schools
Illustration programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 79 schools to find the best for illustration students.
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Featured Illustration Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Schools for Illustration in the United States
See the highest-ranked illustration schools offering a associate’s degree below.
Top Schools in Illustration
Leading the list is Collin County Community College District, our #1 school for illustration. Collin County Community College District is a very large public school located in the suburb of McKinney. Collin County Community College District awarded about 11 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Illustration graduates of Collin County Community College District earn a median of $33,456 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,900 to complete this degree.
See the full illustration program report for Collin County Community College District
Pratt Institute Main came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best illustration schools. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Pratt Institute Main in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Pratt Institute Main generally make around $40,880. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
Read more about the illustration program at Pratt Institute Main
Fashion Institute Of Technology came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best illustration schools. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Fashion Institute Of Technology awarded about 123 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $14,361 in their early career. Fashion Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
Get the full illustration details for Fashion Institute Of Technology
A rank of #4 makes The New School one of the top schools for illustration. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. The New School awarded about 75 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $44,640 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,211.
See the full illustration program report for The New School
Rochester Institute Of Technology is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in illustration, landing the #5 spot this year. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 47 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Rochester Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $34,709. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the illustration program at Rochester Institute Of Technology
Mesa Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best illustration schools. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. There were roughly 13 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Mesa Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $54,730 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750.
Read more about the illustration program at Mesa Community College
Cuyahoga Community College District earned the #7 position for illustration this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public university. About 12 illustration degrees were awarded at Cuyahoga Community College District in the most recent year. Students who receive their illustration degree from Cuyahoga Community College District earn around $22,517 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,795 to complete this degree.
Get the full illustration details for Cuyahoga Community College District
Mohawk Valley Community College came in at #8 for illustration this year. Located in the city of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 16 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Mohawk Valley Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, illustration degree recipients from Mohawk Valley Community College generally make around $21,012. Typical student debt for the program is $9,534.
More information about a degree in illustration from Mohawk Valley Community College
Academy Of Art University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best illustration schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. About 34% of students finish within six years. Academy Of Art University awarded about 16 illustration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the illustration program make about $26,478 in their early career. Academy Of Art University graduates carry a median of $33,437 in student loans.
Read more about the illustration program at Academy Of Art University
Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design earned the #10 position for illustration this year. Located in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 24 illustration students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design in the most recent data year. Illustration graduates of Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design earn a median of $25,830 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full illustration program report for Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design
Other Illustration Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Illustration rankings across degree levels:
View All Illustration Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 79 schools evaluated.
- 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.
