Illustration: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Illustration is a dynamic and expressive field that equips students with the technical and creative skills to visually interpret narratives, concepts, and ideas across diverse media. This program emphasizes precision, storytelling, and visual communication, preparing graduates to translate written or conceptual briefs into compelling, client-driven artwork.
- Book Illustration: Focuses on creating visuals that enhance storytelling in literary works, from children’s books to complex novels, ensuring narrative cohesion and emotional resonance.
- Fashion Illustration: Develops the ability to depict clothing, textiles, and silhouettes with accuracy and style, often used in design presentations, editorial spreads, and advertising.
- Map Illustration: Involves designing detailed, visually engaging maps for educational, commercial, or artistic purposes, combining geographic accuracy with aesthetic appeal.
- Rendering Techniques: Teaches advanced methods for creating realistic textures, lighting, and depth in artwork, crucial for product visualization and conceptual design.
- Exhibit Preparation: Trains students in designing and producing visual elements for galleries, museums, and public displays, emphasizing spatial context and audience engagement.
- Textual Layout: Explores the integration of images with written content, ensuring clarity, rhythm, and visual harmony in publications, digital media, and branding materials.
- Cartooning: Covers the fundamentals of comic art, character development, and sequential storytelling, applicable in editorial content, digital media, and entertainment industries.
- Artistic Techniques: Provides hands-on experience with a range of mediums—including digital tools, traditional drawing, painting, and mixed media—to adapt to varied project demands.
Illustration Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Illustration Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Illustration degrees, including Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, Artists and Related Workers, All Other and Set and Exhibit Designers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 125,790 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1121 | $80,190 | $47,040 - $194,530 | 97,890 | N/A |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other 27-1019 | $72,760 | $33,720 - $133,180 | 7,370 | $34.98 |
| Set and Exhibit Designers 27-1027 | $66,280 | $35,990 - $129,420 | 10,850 | $31.87 |
| Designers, All Other 27-1029 | $66,220 | $36,530 - $131,950 | 9,680 | $31.84 |
Illustration Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $37,820 in Kansas to $95,927 in Hawaii—a 154% difference. The highest-paying states include Hawaii, California, and Maryland. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 125,790 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Illustration by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 68 institutions offering Illustration programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Illustration is found at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) (533 graduates), School of Visual Arts (SVA) (318 graduates), Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) (233 graduates), Art Center College of Design (ArtCenter) (140 graduates), and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) (139 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 3,192 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
533 | Savannah, Georgia | Private | scad.edu |
| School of Visual Arts (SVA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
318 | New York, New York | Private | sva.edu |
| Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
233 | New York, New York | Public | fitnyc.edu |
| Art Center College of Design (ArtCenter) |
Bachelor's
|
140 | Pasadena, California | Private | artcenter.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Bachelor's
|
139 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
131 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | mica.edu |
| Ringling College of Art and Design |
Bachelor's
|
120 | Sarasota, Florida | Private | ringling.edu |
| Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
116 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | risd.edu |
| Pratt Institute |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
104 | Brooklyn, New York | Private | pratt.edu |
| Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) |
Bachelor's
|
89 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | miad.edu |
| Academy of Art University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
85 | San Francisco, California | Private | academyart.edu |
| Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) |
Bachelor's
|
78 | Columbus, Ohio | Private | ccad.edu |
| The New School |
Bachelor's
|
75 | New York, New York | Private | newschool.edu |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) |
Bachelor's
|
73 | Boston, Massachusetts | Public | massart.edu |
| Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) |
Bachelor's
|
60 | Lakewood, Colorado | Private | rmcad.edu |
| Columbia College Chicago (CCC) |
Bachelor's
|
55 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | colum.edu |
| Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) |
Bachelor's
|
54 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | mcad.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Bachelor's
|
47 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| College for Creative Studies (CCS) |
Bachelor's
|
46 | Detroit, Michigan | Private | collegeforcreativestudies.edu |
| Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD) |
Bachelor's
|
44 | Laguna Beach, California | Private | lcad.edu |
| Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) |
Bachelor's
|
40 | Kansas City, Missouri | Private | kcai.edu |
| California College of the Arts (CCA) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | San Francisco, California | Private | cca.edu |
| Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | cia.edu |
| University of Hartford (UHart) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
33 | West Hartford, Connecticut | Private | hartford.edu |
| Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
28 | McKinney, Texas | Public | collin.edu |
| Sessions College for Professional Design |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
27 | Tempe, Arizona | Private | sessions.edu |
| Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Portland, Oregon | Private | willamette.edu |
| Mesa Community College (MCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
25 | Mesa, Arizona | Public | mesacc.edu |
| Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCAD) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Private | pcad.edu |
| SUNY |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Fredonia, New York | Public | fredonia.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| Ferris State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
22 | Big Rapids, Michigan | Public | ferris.edu |
| Moore College of Art and Design |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | moore.edu |
| Lesley University |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | lesley.edu |
| Montserrat College of Art |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Beverly, Massachusetts | Private | montserrat.edu |
| Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Portland, Maine | Private | meca.edu |
| Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) |
Associate's
|
16 | Utica, New York | Public | mvcc.edu |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Private | artacademy.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| John Brown University (JBU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Siloam Springs, Arkansas | Private | jbu.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
|
12 | North Dartmouth, Massachusetts | Public | umassd.edu |
| Cuyahoga Community College District (Tri-C) |
Associate's
|
12 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | tri-c.edu |
| Marywood University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
12 | Scranton, Pennsylvania | Private | marywood.edu |
| Cornish College of the Arts |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Seattle, Washington | Private | cornish.edu |
| Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
12 | Chandler, Arizona | Public | cgc.maricopa.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | pafa.org |
| Nossi College of Art and Design |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | nossi.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Master's
|
10 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| New England College (NEC) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Henniker, New Hampshire | Private | nec.edu |
| Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | slcc.edu |
| California Baptist University (CBU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Riverside, California | Private | calbaptist.edu |
| George Fox University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Newberg, Oregon | Private | georgefox.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Other Award
|
6 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) |
Other Award
|
4 | Moorhead, Minnesota | Public | mnstate.edu |
| Webster University |
Other Award
|
4 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | webster.edu |
| St. John's University (SJU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Queens, New York | Private | stjohns.edu |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) |
Associate's
|
4 | Kirkland, Washington | Public | lwtech.edu |
| Arcadia University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Glenside, Pennsylvania | Private | arcadia.edu |
| Phoenix College (PC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
2 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | phoenixcollege.edu |
| Taylor University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Upland, Indiana | Private | taylor.edu |
| Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | kvcc.edu |
| Central Oregon Community College (COCC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Bend, Oregon | Public | cocc.edu |
| Seattle Pacific University (SPU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Seattle, Washington | Private | spu.edu |
| Henry Ford College (HFC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | hfcc.edu |
| Belmont University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | belmont.edu |
| Walla Walla University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | College Place, Washington | Private | wallawalla.edu |
| California State University (CSUMB) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Seaside, California | Public | csumb.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Illustration programs
How much can I earn with a Illustration degree?
Salaries for Illustration graduates vary by role and location. Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $80,190 annually, while Artists and Related Workers, All Other earn around $72,760. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Hawaii average $95,927 compared to $37,820 in Kansas. Approximately 125,790 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Illustration programs?
Currently 68 accredited institutions offer Illustration degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) (533 graduates), School of Visual Arts (SVA) (318 graduates), and Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) (233 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Illustration growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 1,492 in 2010 to 3,192 in 2023-24. This represents a 114% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Illustration degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, Artists and Related Workers, All Other, and Set and Exhibit Designers. Related occupations employ approximately 125,790 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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