Want to learn graphic design and excel in the field? Check out our comprehensive guide to the best schools for Graphic Design in the US below!
Finding the best graphic design school is like searching for the perfect soil for a seed—as different plants thrive in different conditions, aspiring designers need a school that aligns with their unique strengths, aspirations, and growth needs. Each design school offers a unique pedagogy, curriculum, and network that contributes to an environment that provides the essential resources for a holistic learning experience for each student. When evaluating, students should consider those schools which offer opportunities that best match their career goals.
It is important for aspiring designers to select the right school where they can shape their skills, associate with a sense of belonging, build connections with like-minded peers, and eventually launch a successful career in the world of art and design. If you’re also on this journey to find the perfect school for graphic design, we’re here to help make your decision easier.
Here are the topics that we have discussed in the article!
- What Makes a Great Graphic Design School?
- Top 20 Graphic Design Schools in the US
- How to Choose the Right Graphic Design School for You?
- Final Thoughts
What Makes a Great Graphic Design School?
Every design school has a story of its establishment, the principles it is founded on, and its unique pedagogy. We have, in this article, laid out the factors and insights that make a graphic design school unique.
Understanding what differentiates schools for graphic design from one another can help you make an informed choice. The top graphic design programs and schools can be identified based on the below factors.
1. Faculty Expertise
A team of great faculty members or a prominent head of department is the backbone of any program. Many of the top schools have faculty with substantial industry experience, who bring their knowledge into the classroom. Therefore, it is best to look for programs that are led by expert faculty who can help you develop the desired skills and a strong foundation in the design field you choose.
2. Industry Connections
Graphic design doesn’t exist in a vacuum; it’s a constantly evolving field influenced by technology, advertising, and media. Schools with strong industry ties often come equipped with partnerships with companies, internship programs, and opportunities to work on real-world projects. These aspects can be valuable for building a resume and portfolio while studying and make it easier to find graphic design job opportunities upon graduation. This can serve as a significant advantage for students who choose the right school for graphic design.
3. Facilities and Resources
From computer labs with the latest design software to printmaking studios and fabrication labs, the facilities at top design schools are in place to help students sharpen their craft. With access to the right set of tools, learners can experiment with different mediums and techniques, in turn gaining exposure to several niches within the field. Having the latest resources at hand can also be a huge advantage as one prepares to enter the professional world after graduating from a graphic design school.
4. Alumni Success
The track record of a school’s alumni can give a glimpse of what a future in the field might look like. Schools with successful alumni networks have resources in place to support new graduates, mentorship programs, and sometimes also offer career services. When researching schools, one can take a look at where their graduates are now—are they working at major design firms, starting their own businesses, or are they landing roles at high-profile companies? A strong alumni network can also be valuable for networking as many of the top schools for graphic design boast their alumni achievements.
Top 20 Graphic Design Schools in the US
Here’s a list of the 20 leading graphic design schools in the US, each with its strengths and specializations.
1. Yale School of Art
The Yale School of Art, an internationally renowned destination for students who want to focus on the craft and theory of design, offers an MFA program.
The lead faculty, Nontsikelelo Mutiti, a Zimbabwean-born designer, visual artist, and educator whose approach to design covers the mediums of print, moving images, and community engagement, has pioneered the ‘reductive design making’ method to create pattern-repeating designs. Yale’s emphasis on interdisciplinary practice makes it a good choice for those looking to learn creatively in schools for graphic design.
Course offered: Master of Fine Arts Degree in Graphic Design
Estimated Fees: $72,594 per academic year (including costs of attendance)
2. California College of the Arts (CCA)
Located in Hooper St, San Francisco, CCA is celebrated for its experimental approach, encouraging students to “think with their hands”. The program’s lead faculty E Roon Kang specializes in commercial, cultural, and research-oriented design projects, with a special focus on strategic use of technology for creative applications. He has created an online showcase of Korean open-source typefaces for Google Fonts.
CCA claims to build value systems in classrooms, suggesting that one can make courses where students rise together rather than separately. As opposed to rewarding individual work and promoting a competitive learning environment, the school focuses on encouraging collaboration- a much-needed skill for those looking to pursue graphic design.
Course offered: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
Estimated Fees: $57,096 graduate academic year (not including attendance costs)
3. Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
Located in Providence, Rhode Island, RISD is one of the top graduate schools for graphic design. The school combines coursework with hands-on experience and educates students to become resourceful designers engaged in reflexive, responsible, and sustainable practices.
The program’s director Bethany Sage Johns focuses on using graphic design to uncover and tell stories from social, feminist, institutional, and political histories, merging the past, present, and possible futures. In her research and teaching, she explores how graphic design can help in learning new things by creating visual stories. Students enrolled in the course, get to work in dedicated studios in the Design Center, where they have access to digital and traditional printing and photographic resources, as well as specialized facilities for bookbinding, papermaking, and screenprinting.
Course offered: BFA/MFA in Graphic Design
Estimated Fees: $81,810 per academic year
4. Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
SCAD’s Graphic Design program has a reputation for arming the student with a portfolio, just like this project by AND Leaner Bibin S, that one needs to thrive in the design industry. Recognized as one of the top graduate schools for graphic design, it teaches students to combine entrepreneurship and modern technology with product and user-centered design. They gain insights from industry leaders at top companies like Airbnb, Google, Hasbro, and others.
As a dean at SCAD, Victor Ermoli reshaped the industrial design curriculum to align closely with industry needs and prepare students to tackle real-world design challenges. His teaching emphasizes user-centered design, collaboration, and integration with tech. He takes inspiration from his diverse background in product development, digital animation, and system analysis.
Course offered: BFA/BA/MFA/MA in Graphic Design
Estimated Fees: $41,130 for one undergraduate academic year
5. ArtCenter College of Design
ArtCenter College of Design, in Pasadena, California, emphasizes learning across traditional as well as digital media. The curriculum covers concept development, typography, motion graphics, interface design, branding, and projects through partnerships with companies like Nike and Adobe.
The program’s chair Ming Tai’s teaching philosophy is rooted in his extensive background in motion design, where he emphasizes learning through projects. With his experience founding MFactor Inc., a motion design company, and creating high-profile design work for clients like FOX, Warner Bros, and the NFL, he focuses on storytelling, branding, and collaboration. Students can gain skills for various roles, from branding and web design to motion graphics and environmental design.
Course offered: BFA in Graphic Design
Estimated Fees: $54,170 Cost of Attendance
6. Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute in New York City offers fine arts education and technical design training. The curriculum puts together critical, cultural observation with emerging technologies and tools to help students form a design process. According to Pratt, ‘The Graphic Design emphasis covers media, visual systems, motion, interactivity, branding, experience design, sustainability, and inclusivity, and encourages critical inquiry, collaborative processes, and experimentation’.
Meta Newhouse, chairperson of Undergraduate Communications Design, combines typography, design thinking, filmmaking, and social impact. She is particularly passionate about using design to raise awareness of issues like climate change, and her work on this subject is featured in collections globally.
Course offered: Communications Design, BFA
Estimated Fees: $57,659 for one undergraduate academic year
7. Parson’s School of Design at The New School
Parsons School of Design, based in New York City, provides the theory and craft needed to combine words, images, and ideas to visually transmit information and translate human experiences in print, on screen, or in space.
Their program is Led by Kelly Walters, an interdisciplinary designer and scholar whose work goes into Black American print publishing, material culture, and archival practices. She also examines the effects of colonization on Black representation in design. The program’s interdisciplinary curriculum encourages students to explore careers in brand and editorial design, digital product design, environmental and spatial graphics, exhibition design, data visualization, motion graphics, type design, and UX UI design.
Course offered: Communication Design BFA
Estimated Fees: $28,989 per semester
8. School of Visual Arts (SVA)
The Graphic Design program at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City invites industry professionals every week to give a classroom talk and specialized workshops to the students and sometimes, holds exhibitions at major venues like Grand Central Station and the Whitney Museum.
Under the guidance of Gail Anderson, an award-winning designer and former senior art director at Rolling Stone, students find a place ‘where they can design their own destiny’. At SVA, scholarships are also awarded based on merit, and students get their graphic design portfolios reviewed and participate in an ‘Industry Review Day’.
Course offered: BFA in Design
Estimated Fees: $28,685 per semester
9. Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in Baltimore offers a Graphic Design program that combines technical skills with creativity. As a Graphic Design major at MICA, students get trained on the toolkit of visual problem-solving methods, learning to lead in fields such as branding, UI/UX, packaging, spatial design, publication design, and typeface design.
Led by Kristian Bjørnard, who focuses on creating brand identities, websites, and digital tools and explores the relationship between graphic design and sustainability—how design can be both creative and environmentally friendly. Further, he explores how to make content and visual styling more medium-agnostic. At MICA they refer to ROI as a Return on Imagination.
Course offered: Graphic Design (Major)
Estimated Fees: $54,750 for full-time academic year
10. Otis College of Art and Design
Located in Los Angeles, Otis College of Art and Design offers a program that develops sophisticated image makers, typographers, and storytellers who balance real-world problem-solving with fearless experimentation.
With access to experienced faculty headed by Brendan Griffiths, a programmer turned designer, students learn to introduce technical elements into their design language. Upon graduating from Otis College, students are equipped to pursue careers across a wide range of design niches, including branding, interactive design, information and environmental graphics, entertainment, and other contemporary emerging technologies.
Course offered: BFA in Graphic Design
Estimated Fees: $26,886 per semester (cost of attendance)
11. University of Southern California (USC)
USC’s Roski School of Art and Design in Los Angeles provides a BFA in Design, a four-year pre-professional degree that helps students make careers in advertising, publishing, fashion, sports, entertainment, and film design. At Roski, they believe that all graphic designers are also artists and creators.
Led by Haven Lin-Kirk, who highlights undercurrents of the untold and narratives of the ephemera(short-lived), the courses cover drawing, illustration, and hands-on experience with a wide range of artistic media, along with skills-focused workshops in both 2D and 3D design. The design curriculum is further enriched by critical theory seminars, professional internships, international design study tours, a senior thesis, and further, the option to pursue a minor in business, advertising, marketing, entrepreneurship, or communication.
Course offered: BFA in Design
Estimated Fees: $34,952 per semester
12. UCLA Design Media Arts
The Design Media Arts (DMA) undergraduate program, widely regarded among graduate schools for graphic design, focuses on innovative and exploration work within digital media. The curriculum begins with foundational courses and branches into a wide selection of media arts, games, and design classes.
Led by Victoria Vesna, whose teaching focuses on experimenting and engaging deeply with the intersections of creativity and scientific inquiry, students learn to balance aesthetic creativity with logical reasoning. The school teaches students how to integrate formal theories with hands-on application, and then, merge contemporary ideas with historical insights. Most classes are held in studio settings of no more than 22 students.
Course offered: BA: Design Media Arts
Estimated Fees: $49,354 per academic year
13. Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh is known for its Bachelor of Design program that teaches design with a multidisciplinary approach. Throughout the program, students explore the social, cultural, environmental, and ethical dimensions of design, with a focus on challenging the norms, addressing the advent of an overwhelming amount of information in today’s world, disinformation, and using design to address social issues.
The students are led by Eric Anderson, who has taught design thinking, user-centered design methods, and experience design within the context of product design and product visualization. CMU says– “you’ll be welcomed into a studio with around 40 other students who will become your best friends, collaborators, and maybe even a future spouse. (It’s happened!)”.
Course offered: Bachelor of Design in Communications
Estimated Fees: $64,596 per academic year (tuition fees)
14. University of Cincinnati DAAP
In the Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) program at the University of Cincinnati, students start with a strong foundation in visual problem-solving. The curriculum centers on a series of progressive design studios that help students build critical and visual thinking skills, as well as an understanding of essential design processes. Students can then further specialize in areas like graphic design, interaction design, and motion design while gaining experience in the field through multiple co-ops (experience-based learning).
Course offered: Bachelor of Science in Communication Design Program
Estimated Fees: $14,655 per semester
15. Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago’s Graphic Design degree programs offer tools and practical experience to start a career in visual communication. Students will learn skills in typography, layout, information design, and packaging design through hands-on coursework.
The program also covers the software and technology required to produce dynamic visual content, while providing experience in research and client management. Columbia students can find guidance under Stephen Asma, a former jazz musician turned designer, who is known for bringing out the philosophical side of his creative students. The focus is on graphic design within the context of philosophies which includes foundational studies in art and design.
Course offered: BA/BFA in Graphic Design
Estimated Tuition Fees: $34,088 for full-time per annum
16. Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, offers a Graphic Design program focused on responding to the reality of the time and on the fact that design is activated by content, condition, and impact.
Led by Laura Chessin, who views design as a fluid way to express both personal and universal experiences through abstract and expressive forms, students cultivate the ability to communicate clearly through both visual and verbal means. This mentorship also prepares them to be practitioners who are not simply confined by traditional professional practices while working individually or as part of a team.
Course offered: BFA in Graphic Design
Estimated Fees: $16,720 per semester (cost of attendance)
17. Drexel University
Drexel University in Philadelphia offers a Graphic Design program that equips students to communicate, persuade, educate, and entertain through creative combinations of words and images.
The program, headed by Ann Gerondelis, who remains fascinated by embodied perception and its relationship to the design of human experiences, prepares students from diverse backgrounds to enter the graphic design field as competitive, skilled practitioners, creative problem-solvers, and team players. The four-year degree program in Graphic Design combines design study with education coursework in humanities, art history, and the physical and social sciences.
Course offered: Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design
Estimated Fees: $20,014 per semester (cost of attendance)
18. Ringling College of Art and Design
Located in Sarasota, Florida, Ringling College of Art and Design provides an understanding of the design thinking process and demonstrates how to apply it across a broad spectrum of 2D, 3D, and other digital media. Known for its emphasis on creativity, it’s one of the best art schools for graphic design in the Southeast.
Led by an adventurous Jeffrey Bleitz who specializes in surreal design aesthetics, the program provides preparation for entry into the graphic design industry or studies at the graduate level.
Course offered: BFA in Graphic Design
Estimated Fees: $26,300 per semester (cost of attendance)
19. Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt)
Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) in Boston offers an affordable Graphic Design program that combines typography, visual communication, and digital media. As the only public art school in the United States, it provides students with accessible design education.
MassArt’s design program, led by Lisa Rosowsky- a print designer and mixed media/textile fine artist with a passion for typography and the book arts, teaches students how to develop creative solutions in multiple media, implement visual language and graphic form, and design user-focused systems. They receive critique on their work while learning how to thoughtfully critique the work of others, and are encouraged to complete an internship to gain experience producing design work for clients.
Course offered: Communication Design BFA Program
Estimated Tuition Fees: $15,400 per semester
20. School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)
The Department of Visual Communication Design at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) offers an interdisciplinary approach to graphic design. It encourages students to travel so that they gain exposure, actively engage with the world, and find out their unique design style and the type of designer they desire to become.
Led by Mark Addison Smith, a queer artist whose design specialization is typographic storytelling, the program instills a sense of social responsibility and curiosity in students, which prepares them to work at the crossroads of art, design, and mass culture.
Course offered: BFA in Studio | Visual Communication Design pathway
Estimated Fees: $1848 per credit hour
How to Choose the Right Graphic Design School for You
With so many options, finding the right graphic design school can feel like a task. Here are some pointers that you may consider helpful.
1. Match Your Goals and Skills
Consider what you want to achieve in the graphic design world—whether it’s a career in branding, UX/UI design, illustration, or freelancing. Look for graduate schools for graphic design with a program that aligns with your goals and your own design language, whether it’s centered around traditional graphic design principles, digital media, or interdisciplinary approaches.
2. Consider the financial implications
Graphic design programs can be costly, but almost all of the above-mentioned schools offer aid and/or scholarships, financial aid packages, and co-op opportunities. Research each school’s financial aid policies and scholarship availability, and consider how these could impact your long-term budget. Many schools also offer part-time work-study opportunities in campus studios, which can help you offset costs while also building experience.
3. Account for the location
Your environment will have an impact on your learning experience. Graduate schools for graphic design in major cities may offer internships, galleries, and networking opportunities, while quieter far far-off campuses might make way for focused study. Choose a location and culture that resonates with your personal lifestyle and creativity.
Final Thoughts on the Best Graphic Design Schools
In this post, we’ve taken a look at many of the best US schools for graphic design. However, there are many other outstanding programs and schools out there, so we encourage you to continue exploring additional options.
Look for a school whose values, curriculum, and teaching style align with your personal goals and creative vision. The one where you get the most return on imagination!
Next Steps
To learn more about interior design, visit our blog, or consider the following resources:
- Watch this session by design veteran and AND’s Academic Head, Prachi Mittal, and our Course Lead, Soumya Tiwari.
- Talk to a course advisor to discuss how you can transform your career with one of our courses.
- Pursue our Graphic Design courses – all courses are taught through live, interactive classes by industry experts, and some even offer a Job Guarantee.
- Take advantage of the scholarship and funding options that come with our courses to overcome any financial hurdle on the path of your career transformation.
Note: All information and/or data from external sources is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication.
