Compare 10 Illustration. programs in North Carolina. Average earnings: $43,385.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Illustration tells a different story. Across 10 programs in North Carolina, earnings range from $29,685 to $57,533—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh's Illustration program leads with graduates earning $57,533, well above the state average of $43,385. Appalachian State follows at $48,073 with a larger cohort of 144 students, while UNC Greensboro delivers $47,912—proving that public universities dominate this field regardless of overall institutional prestige.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. NC State graduates borrow $20,121 and face just a 7.9% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.35.
Highest program earnings: $57,533
Strong outcomes ($48,073) with 89% acceptance
7.9% payment burden | Excellent
18.3% family burden | Challenging
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $57,533 | 70 | $20,121 | Excellent | $23,000 | Challenging | |
| #2 | $48,073 | 144 | $20,231 | Good | $21,919 | Challenging | |
| #3 | $47,912 | 34 | $22,858 | Manageable | $14,638 | Challenging | |
| #4 | East Carolina UniversityPublic | $46,462 | 20 | $22,750 | Manageable | $19,710 | High |
| #5 | Meredith CollegePrivate | $46,089 | 25 | $25,000 | Manageable | $44,613 | High |
| #6 | $43,753 | 26 | $21,868 | Manageable | $18,241 | High | |
| #7 | $41,790 | 30 | $27,000 | Challenging | $20,004 | High | |
| #8 | $39,016 | 23 | $25,000 | Challenging | $22,545 | High | |
| #9 | William Peace UniversityPrivate | $33,536 | 13 | $22,250 | High | $40,688 | High |
| #10 | Campbell UniversityPrivate | $29,685 | 10 | $22,500 | High | $40,055 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
