49 Best Colleges for Graphic Design 2024

Table Of Content

• Golden West College
• Fullerton College
• How much does it cost to get a Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design?

In the final year of the program, students will complete the Professional Studies requirement (two courses), Senior Problems, and the Capstone Project. Auburn GDES alumni go on to secure positions with magazines, advertising agencies, publishers, design studios, marketing firms, web design companies, and more. They work in branding and packaging, illustration, environmental graphics, web design and development, interactive media, and exhibition design, among other areas. The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Founded in 1883, the school opened in 1883 with one building, eight professors, one proctor, and 221 students.

Golden West College

Each year, the program arranges a senior portfolio in Chicago for graduate students to showcase their work. You also get access to first-rate facilities and resources, including large-format printers, laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC routers, professional audio and video equipment, and 24-hour access to computer labs. Rochester Institute of Technology’s (RIT) College of Art and Design houses the School of Design, which has undergraduate and graduate programs for graphic designers.

Fullerton College

Students in all AAHD programs are eligible for AIGA membership, and they have access to the Annual Visiting Artist & Scholar Lecture Series, and opportunities to complete an internship at a local or national company. The Communication Design Certificate at Massachusetts College of Art and Design has three stackable levels of certification. Level 1  consists of four courses and covers visual communication for print and screen-based mediums. All SCAD Graphic Design options offer the opportunity to add a minor to enhance the degree.

How much does it cost to get a Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design?

MA graduates can pursue careers in Branding, User Experience Design, Social Media, and Digital Media, among others. The Graphic Design Program in the Newhouse School’s Visual Communication Department features a  Fall Workshop. Established in 1999 and a major component of the program, the Workshop hosts industry professionals from around the world that serve as mentors for student projects. Students in this program can expect to take courses such as Typographic Design, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, and Introduction to Graphic Design.

'UTA gave me confidence in my design career' - uta.edu

'UTA gave me confidence in my design career'.

Posted: Fri, 15 Jul 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Whether students focus on Graphic Design or a range of interests, they receive an excellent education in sunny Florida. The New School is one of the best schools in the country for getting a degree in graphic design. Located in the city of New York, New School University is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population. This school ranks 15th out of 142 schools for overall quality in the state of New York.

The Design BFA is a four-year pre-professional that begins with foundation courses such as Drawing and Illustration. The BFA in Graphic Design “simulates a professional studio experience with students working to solve complex visual problems” says the school. Students in the program will complete the BFA Capstone Project and a required Professional Internship.

Laguna College of Art and Design

Students can expect to work on projects that cover book design, UX design, packaging, film graphics, and more. The program also attracts visiting artists, critics, and designers from around the world. During the junior and senior years of the program, BFA students will have the opportunity to complete a professional internship.

Fashion Institute of Technology is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). For students who would like to pursue a career in Graphic Design, the PFSA School of Art + Design has BA, MA, MFA degrees in Applied Arts and Sciences with a Graphic Design Emphasis. Students in all programs have access to state-of-the art facilities such as the Computing Labs for Digital Imaging, Interactive Media, and Video; Printmaking, Letterpress, and Book Arts Studios; Intaglio and Relief Printmaking Studios; the Screen Printing Studio; and seven Mac Computer Labs. SDSU Graphic Design students also benefit from the Art + Design School’s visiting lecture series; access to local galleries and museums; interaction with visual and performing arts organizations; and AIGA membership.

Founded in 1819, UC serves nearly 46,710 students enrolled in more than 400 academic programs across 14 colleges and a graduate school. Graduates of the DAAP Programs at University of Cincinnati are freelancers or they work for design firms and internal design teams. Careers include advertising, package design, interface design, user experience design, motion graphics, branding and corporate identity, web design, post-production design, digital product design, and exhibit design. Established in 1886, Minneapolis College of Art and Design serves more than 800 students. The school offers 14 undergraduate majors leading to a BFA or BS, three MA programs, including the new MA in Creative Leadership (launching summer 2022), one MFA program, and five professional development certificate programs. The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

A co-op experience is required as well as independent study and a thesis., which will be exhibited at the Annual UC DAAPworks Show. The MCAD MA in Graphic and Web Design is a 30 credit hour program that explores typography, web design and programming, design principles, ideation, workflow management, and research. Students in this program can expect to work in teams with peers and professionals in the industry to complete projects and solve problems. Course examples for the program include Typography, User Experience Design, Experimental Interaction, Design in Context, and Motion Design. Courses for the UCLA DMA Programs are taught as studios, with no more than 22 students. Course examples for the undergraduate program include Design Futures, 3D Modeling and Motion, Word + Image, Tangible Media, Network Media, Special Topics in Design Media Arts, and Topics in Interactivity And Games.

For students who are not yet ready to commit to a degree program, the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) offers Certificate Programs in Digital Design including Graphic Design, Digital Design, Branding and Digital Marketing and many others. These programs may be taken individually or “stacked,” producing an “accelerated path to completion,” says the school. Like the undergraduate and graduate Communication Design programs, Certificate programs offer the opportunity to complete an internship. Founded in 1701, Yale University serves more than 12,300 students enrolled in dozens of programs in the areas of art, architecture, divinity, drama, forestry and environmental studies, law, management, music, public health, and more. The school, which houses more than 145 departments and schools, is home to one of the most prestigious fine arts schools in the U.S.

Top 50 Graphic Design Schools and Colleges in the U S. 2022 Rankings

Table Of Content

• Yale University School of Art
• University of Southern California
• Washington University in St. Louis
• Laguna College of Art and Design
• Illustration
• Post Graduate Studies 19
• Undergraduates Students by Gender23

The BA degree is offered in Atlanta, Savannah and online and the BFA, MA, MFA, and Minor programs are offered in Atlanta, Hong Kong, Savannah, and online. A licensed counselor and published researcher, Andrew's experience in the field of college admissions and transition spans two decades. He has previously served as a high school counselor, consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep, and advisor to U.S. Here’s a quick preview of the first ten graphic design institutions that made our list.

Yale University School of Art

Ringling College of Art and Design (RCAD) has a Graphic Design Program that launched in 1980. The AAS in Graphic Design/Illustration at Pratt Institute prepares students for transfer into the Fine Arts Department at Pratt Institute, the Communications Design BFA, or other school or related program of their choice. Course examples for the program include Light, Color and Design I-II, Material and 3 Dimensional Form, Illustration I-II, Themes in Art and Culture, Pre-Press and Print Production, History of Art and Design, Communication Design I-II, and UI/UX Interactive Media I. SVA Design alumni work for advertising agencies, marketing firms, publishing companies, design studios, nonprofit organizations, museums, and more. Some SVA alumni have even founded their own start-ups, studios, and design firms, while others have become partners in businesses and individual projects.

University of Southern California

Established in 1701, Yale University (Yale) is one of the oldest institutes of higher learning in the U.S.  A member of the Ivy League, the school is home to 14,525 students served by more than 10,500 staff members. Eighty majors are offered across more than 100 departments and schools including Yale College, the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, and Yale Professional Schools—including Yale School Art (SoA). Established in 1869, Yale SoA was the nation’s first art school connected with an institution of higher learning. The school serves more than 100 students enrolled in graduate Graphic Design, Painting/Printmaking, Photography, and Sculpture programs. Founded in 1887, Pratt Institute was one of the nation’s first colleges to welcome students without regard to color, gender, or class. The school serves approximately 5,140 students across campuses in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Utica, New York.

Graphic design program continues success - Virginia Tech

Graphic design program continues success.

Posted: Thu, 29 Jul 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Washington University in St. Louis

Programs are housed in the College of Fine Arts’ School of Visual Arts (SVA), which is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Before graduating from the program, many ComDes students have already earned publishing credits in journals such as PRINT, Communication Arts, Graphis New Talent Annual, Step Inside Design, CMYK, and Logo Lounge. Students in the program have also received recognition competitions such as the Austin Addy Awards, the San Antonio Addy Awards, AIGA Flux, Creative Summit, the American Advertising Federation Awards, Art The National Show, Director's Club of Houston, and The One Show. Graduates of the Graphic Design and Visual Communications Programs at University of Florida are Designers, Creative Directors, Educators, and Entrepreneurs.

There were approximately 40 graphic design students who graduated with this degree at New School University in the most recent data year. Additionally, here are some key questions to consider as you assemble your list of graphic design programs to apply to. The BFA program in Graphic Design at UArts trains students in both old and new media. Students have the chance to work on real-world, practical projects based in the wider Philadelphia area as part of their coursework. The department also hosts an annual Spring Workshop with renowned guest faculty on design topics.

California Baptist University

Students in all programs and schools at Pratt Institute have the opportunity to enroll in one of more than 20 study abroad programs and international exchange programs in over a dozen locations such at Tokyo, Florence, Copenhagen, London, and Milan. At the end of every academic year the Design Department hosts an Industry Review Day for graduating seniors. Designers, creative directors, and editors are invited to meet and network with students. Graduates of the Graphic Design BFA Program at California State University, Sacramento have been hired at major corporations, design firms, and advertising agencies, among others. Graduates of all programs at Cal Poly enjoy a high employment rate (or graduate school). Around 95% of the school’s alumni are either employed or enrolled in a graduate program within nine months of graduation.

ArtCenter College of Design serves approximately 2,320 students from more than 50 countries. Founded in 1930, ArtCenter has campuses in Pasadena and Los Angeles, California, and satellite studios in Petersen Automotive Museum (Miracle Mile, Los Angeles) and Berlin, Germany. ArtCenter offers 11 undergraduate programs, seven graduate degree programs leading to an MFA or MS, a joint MS/MBA program, and undergraduate minors for Business, Creative Writing, and Social Innovation students.

The school operates the Ringling College Design Center, which takes on real-world projects for non-profits and gives students hands-on experience. Consisting of 123 credit hours, the Auburn GDES Program explores branding and packaging, wayfinding design, UI/UX, illustration, app design, typography, motion design, and publishing. Course examples for the program, Graphic Design I-II, Graphic Processes, Typographics, Photo Design, Interactive Media, and Research, Writing, & Presentation. Other program benefits include cross-disciplinary collaborations, a professional studio environment with hands-on design instruction, guest lectures, exhibitions, and design symposiums. An optional internship is part of the program as well as study abroad experiences in England, Hong Kong, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Taiwan or Scotland. The School of Arts and Architecture at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) houses the Department of Design Media Arts (DMA), which has multidisciplinary pathways leading a BA or MA in DMA.

Undergraduates Students by Gender23

Today, the school offers more than 20 undergraduate art programs, nearly a dozen graduate programs, and around seven certificate programs to a population of nearly 2,100 students. Options for aspiring graphic designers include a BFA in Communication Design and a Graphic Design Certificate (GDC). A bachelor’s degree in graphic design, or a related field such as web design, visual communications, motion design, computer science, and animation, typically provides the best foundation for a career as a professional graphic designer. Students who pursue a degree in any of these areas will gain an understanding of the graphic design process, build practical skills, and complete projects that are similar to what they would encounter working for design firms and major companies. For graduate students, the Lamar Dodd School of Art at University of Georgia offers an MFA in Printmaking and Book Arts. Students in this program can take Area VI coursework, and study graphic design through electives.

They aim to represent a colourful mix of socio-economic and culturally creative individuals. You can also study graphic design as a concentration within a broader major, such as UX design. You can find graphic design bachelor’s programs, bootcamps and other training and self-study opportunities online. The 127-credit bachelor’s degree requires 49 major credits in classes like problem-solving and idea generation, branding and fundamentals of web design.

Today, the school serves a co-ed population of nearly 31,000 students enrolled in more than 140 degree options in 12 colleges and schools, plus the graduate school. The College of Architecture, Design, and Construction houses the School of Industrial and Graphic Design, which offers a BFA in Graphic Design (BFA GDES). This is Alabama’s only GDES Program to receive accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) accreditation. This includes the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts (CADA), which houses the School of Art and Art History, Department of Art—home to the Graphic Design Program. Degree options include the Bachelor of Design (BDes) and Master of Design (MDes) in Graphic Design, and the MDes Prelim Program.

Animation Career Review Ranks Pratt among Top Schools for Graphic Design and Illustration - Pratt News

Animation Career Review Ranks Pratt among Top Schools for Graphic Design and Illustration.

Posted: Wed, 10 Apr 2019 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Designed for high school graduates and adults with or without a degree, the AOS includes capstone courses and internship opportunities. Course examples include Graphic Design I-II, Digital Design, Packaging Design I-II, Digital Media, Typography I-III, UI/UX Interactive Media I-II, and Advertising Design I-II. In just two years, AAS students will graduate with a professional portfolio of their best work, along with the skills needed to pursue immediate employment in graphic design, interactive media, advertising, package design, web design, illustration, game design, and publishing. A rare college commodity—Cal Poly Pomona is one of only seven polytechnic universities in the whole of the US. As a result of this, the college is known for its hands-on, learn-by-doing philosophy.

The school, which shares a block with the Minneapolis Institute of Art, serves more than 800 students from 45 states and 15 countries. Of these, 50% are enrolled in Design, 38% in Media Arts, 10% in Fine Arts, and the remaining 2% in MCAD's new Arts Entrepreneurship Department. More than 20 programs are available across several departments, including a BFA in Graphic Design, Post-Baccalaureate Certificates in Graphic Design and Interactive Design and Marketing, and an MFA in Visual Studies. The program integrates design basics and covers text, typography, illustration, and art history, so students are thoroughly familiar with traditional concepts.

The graphic design program also offers the opportunity to earn up to six certificates through the American Institute of Graphic Arts in areas like digital marketing and client management. Founded in 1839, Boston University (BU) serves more than With over 35,000 students from more than 130 countries, enrolled in 17 schools and colleges, and more than 300 programs of study. With three campuses and over 10,000 faculty and staff, BU is Boston’s largest employer. Founded in 1907, California College of the Arts (CCA) serves around 1,900 students enrolled more than 30 degree programs. Undergraduate programs for aspiring graphic designers include BFA degrees in Graphic Design and Interaction Design and a BA in Visual Studies. Graduate options include an MFA in Design that focuses on Graphic Design, Industrial Design, and Interaction Design.