Best institutions to study Illustration
A program that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to develop and execute interpretations of the concepts of authors and designers to specifications.
68 U.S. institutions graduated 3,166 Illustration students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 50.0410, a specialization of Design and Applied Arts (CIP 50.04), and leads most directly to the Set and Exhibit Designers occupation (BLS SOC 27-1027).
About Illustration programs
A program that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to develop and execute interpretations of the concepts of authors and designers to specifications. Includes instruction in book illustration, fashion illustration, map illustration, rendering, exhibit preparation, textual layout, cartooning, and the use of various artistic techniques as requested by clients.
See also: 51.2703 - Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Illustration program, part of the Design and Applied Arts field, prepares students to utilize artistic techniques for interpreting concepts from authors and designers. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about visual storytelling and looking to develop skills in various forms of illustration, including book, fashion, and map illustration.
Students in this program will gain core skills in active listening, critical thinking, and artistic techniques. Coursework typically covers areas such as rendering, exhibit preparation, and textual layout, equipping graduates with the knowledge necessary to meet client specifications effectively.
Credentials awarded
What Illustration graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree2,581 graduates / yr · 51 institutions82%
- Master's degree275 graduates / yr · 10 institutions8.7%
- Associate's degree252 graduates / yr · 13 institutions8.0%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year32 graduates / yr · 7 institutions1.0%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years23 graduates / yr · 6 institutions0.7%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
- Award of less than 12 weeks1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
Graduates over time
Illustration completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,854 |
| 2013 | 1,984 |
| 2014 | 2,138 |
| 2015 | 2,261 |
| 2016 | 2,319 |
| 2017 | 2,258 |
| 2018 | 2,321 |
| 2019 | 2,450 |
| 2020 | 2,541 |
| 2021 | 2,533 |
| 2022 | 2,791 |
| 2023 | 2,975 |
| 2024 | 3,176 |
| 2025 | 3,166 |
Top 50 institutions for Illustration, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 557 | 69% | $44,902 | $23,400 |
| 2 | School of Visual Arts New York, NYPrivate for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 288 | 76% | $58,518 | $15,985 |
| 3 | Fashion Institute of Technology New York, NYPublicAssociate'sBachelor'sMaster's | 222 | 81% | — | $14,361 |
| 4 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VAPublicBachelor's | 147 | 63% | — | $25,872 |
| 5 | Art Center College of Design Pasadena, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 141 | 79% | $48,578 | $47,053 |
| 6 | Ringling College of Art and Design Sarasota, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 131 | 72% | $54,693 | $28,137 |
| 7 | Rhode Island School of Design Providence, RIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 131 | 89% | $41,764 | $29,489 |
| 8 | Maryland Institute College of Art Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 120 | 72% | $37,659 | $27,246 |
| 9 | The New School New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 110 | 69% | $54,185 | $24,804 |
| 10 | Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design Milwaukee, WIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 94 | 67% | $26,078 | $28,801 |
| 11 | Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Lakewood, COPrivate for-profitBachelor's | 90 | 32% | $28,500 | $29,829 |
| 12 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design Boston, MAPublicBachelor's | 79 | 69% | — | $24,706 |
| 13 | Academy of Art University San Francisco, CAPrivate for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sAssociate's | 78 | 34% | $40,294 | $20,829 |
| 14 | Columbus College of Art & Design Columbus, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 64 | 56% | $30,330 | $27,970 |
| 15 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 57 | 52% | $28,087 | $29,630 |
| 16 | Minneapolis College of Art and Design Minneapolis, MNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 52 | 51% | $24,998 | $23,687 |
| 17 | University of Hartford West Hartford, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 43 | 54% | $28,311 | $29,515 |
| 18 | Laguna College of Art and Design Laguna Beach, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 42 | 52% | $41,341 | $27,785 |
| 19 | College for Creative Studies Detroit, MIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 42 | 71% | $32,153 | $32,665 |
| 20 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 39 | 70% | $28,133 | $34,709 |
| 21 | Moore College of Art and Design Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 37 | 57% | $43,204 | $20,587 |
| 22 | Kansas City Art Institute Kansas City, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 34 | 58% | $29,039 | $29,513 |
| 23 | Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 33 | 58% | $31,870 | $23,358 |
| 24 | SUNY at Fredonia Fredonia, NYPublicBachelor's | 30 | 50% | — | $19,451 |
| 25 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 29 | 84% | $28,851 | $46,181 |
| 26 | California College of the Arts San Francisco, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 28 | 61% | $40,041 | $28,673 |
| 27 | Pacific Northwest College of Art Portland, ORPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 27 | 29% | $40,553 | $19,501 |
| 28 | Pratt Institute - Main Brooklyn, NYPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 23 | 74% | $49,088 | $36,040 |
| 29 | Collin County Community College District McKinney, TXPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 22 | 20% | — | $33,456 |
| 30 | Lesley University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 21 | 58% | $30,837 | $25,227 |
| 31 | Ferris State University Big Rapids, MIPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 21 | 47% | — | $34,045 |
| 32 | Art Academy of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 21 | 41% | $39,344 | $20,921 |
| 33 | Sessions College Tempe, AZPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 21 | 40% | $17,833 | $19,275 |
| 34 | Mohawk Valley Community College Utica, NYPublicAssociate's | 18 | 38% | — | $21,012 |
| 35 | Montserrat College of Art Beverly, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 17 | 53% | $34,176 | $19,865 |
| 36 | Brigham Young University - Idaho Rexburg, IDPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 16 | 55% | $6,760 | — |
| 37 | Maine College of Art & Design Portland, MEPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 16 | 52% | $34,336 | $29,001 |
| 38 | Otis College of Art and Design Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 15 | 66% | $44,867 | $31,172 |
| 39 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 14 | 81% | $13,712 | $33,915 |
| 40 | Nossi College of Art and Design Nashville, TNPrivate for-profitBachelor's | 14 | 42% | $24,474 | $24,497 |
| 41 | Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Lancaster, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 13 | 69% | $29,257 | $25,830 |
| 42 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology Kirkland, WAPublicBachelor'sAssociate's | 13 | 37% | — | — |
| 43 | University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth North Dartmouth, MAPublicBachelor's | 12 | 52% | — | $29,660 |
| 44 | Arcadia University Glenside, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 12 | 67% | $23,796 | — |
| 45 | Chandler - Gilbert Community College Chandler, AZPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 12 | 30% | — | — |
| 46 | Marywood University Scranton, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 11 | 72% | $21,769 | $25,727 |
| 47 | Mesa Community College Mesa, AZPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 10 | 16% | — | — |
| 48 | John Brown University Siloam Springs, ARPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 72% | $20,325 | $24,893 |
| 49 | Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake City, UTPublicAssociate's | 10 | 29% | — | $34,227 |
| 50 | Phoenix College Phoenix, AZPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 9 | 14% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Design and Applied Arts field (CIP 50.04) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 29 states
Where Illustration graduates come from. Each state links to all Design and Applied Arts programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-1027, Set and Exhibit Designers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Illustration program can pursue careers as Set and Exhibit Designers, among other roles. With an average growth outlook of 2.3% and approximately 2,500 annual job openings, the median wage for these positions is around $66,280, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 50.0410
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Set and Exhibit Designersprimary SOC 27-1027 | $75,240 | +2.3% About as fast as average | ~2,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1121 | $78,620 | +1.7% Little or no change | ~9,000 | Master's degree |
Designers, All Other SOC 27-1029 | $64,950 | +2.0% About as fast as average | ~2,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Artists and Related Workers, All Other SOC 27-1019 | $71,240 | +0.8% Little or no change | ~1,200 | No formal educational credential |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Illustration programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.
- Prepare rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed.
- Prepare preliminary renderings of proposed exhibits, including detailed construction, layout, and material specifications, and diagrams relating to aspects such as special effects or lighting.
- Read scripts to determine location, set, and design requirements.
- Submit plans for approval, and adapt plans to serve intended purposes, or to conform to budget or fabrication restrictions.
- Attend rehearsals and production meetings to obtain and share information related to sets.
Tools and technology used
Other Design and Applied Arts specializations
The 9 other 6-digit CIP codes under Design and Applied Arts (CIP 50.04).
- Graphic DesignCIP 50.040910,754 graduates / yr580 institutions
- Design and Visual CommunicationsCIP 50.04016,709 graduates / yr249 institutions
- Interior DesignCIP 50.04085,774 graduates / yr231 institutions
- Fashion/CIP 50.0407
Apparel Design 3,243 graduates / yr119 institutions - Commercial and Advertising ArtCIP 50.04023,097 graduates / yr161 institutions
- Game and Interactive Media DesignCIP 50.04112,954 graduates / yr152 institutions
- Design and Applied ArtsCIP 50.04991,720 graduates / yr77 institutions
- Industrial and Product DesignCIP 50.04041,432 graduates / yr64 institutions
- Commercial PhotographyCIP 50.0406766 graduates / yr60 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Associate's degree, or a short-term award.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and various artistic techniques.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a Set Designer, Exhibit Designer, or in various artistic roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about average, with a growth rate of 2.3% and 2,500 openings each year.
What is the CIP code for Illustration?+
Illustration is CIP 50.0410 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Design and Applied Arts (CIP 50.04). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to develop and execute interpretations of the concepts of authors and designers to specifications. Includes instruction in book illustration, fashion illustration, map illustration, rendering, exhibit preparation, textual layout, cartooning, and the use of various artistic techniques as requested by clients.
How many institutions offer Illustration programs?+
68 U.S. institutions reported Illustration graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 29 states, awarding 3,166 credentials in the year. That is 8.0% of all Design and Applied Arts graduates.
How much do Illustration graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Set and Exhibit Designers occupation, which Illustration most directly leads to, pays a median of $75,240 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Design and Applied Arts field report median earnings of $28,137 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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