Table Of Content
- Art Director
- Graphic Design Major Projects (60 credits) - Compulsory
- What is the Best Online School for Graphic Design?
- Commercial & Advertising ArtMost Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Commercial & Advertising Art in California
- AssociatesMost Popular Associate Degree Colleges for Graphic Design in California
- Rochester Institute of Technology

Consider the location of the schools you apply to even if you choose to earn your degree remotely. For these reasons, you may want to consider programs in your home state or close by. Graduate programs do not use centralized application systems, such as the Common App. Instead, almost all programs require prospective students to apply directly by filling out an online application. Most schools charge application fees; however, some schools offer fee waivers to qualifying applicants. The BLS projects graphic design jobs will grow at a slower-than-average rate between 2021 and 2031, with employment increasing by only 3% during that time frame.
Art Director
For students seeking an advanced degree, the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign has an Art and Design MFA with a Concentration in Design for Responsible Innovation (formerly Graphic Design). Consisting of 64 credit hours, this interdisciplinary program explores responsible practices in traditional print media and emerging technologies such as digital interaction, visual narrative, systems thinking, data visualization, and information design. Other BFA Program features include dedicated studio spaces, 24/7 access to computer labs, participation in the Annual BFA Exhibition held at UIUC’s Krannert Art Museum, the lecture series, and the Senior Portfolio Review held in Chicago. Graphic Design BFA students also have the opportunity to join the AIGA Student Chapter, which provides networking opportunities, workshops, and trips Chicago-based design studios. All Graphic Design BFA students have the opportunity to take advantage of enrichment programming such as minors, internships, and more than 300 study abroad programs in 50+ countries.
Graphic Design Major Projects (60 credits) - Compulsory
For example, graphic designers in the District of Columbia earned an annual mean wage of $87,980, while those in South Dakota earned just $41,350 a year. Multimedia designers work across media, using artistry and technology to inform, entertain, and persuade. Multimedia designers work in several different industries, including film, television, advertising, and gaming. According to Payscale, graphic designers earned an average annual salary of $50,530 as of December 2023. Web designers made slightly more, earning an average income of $55,510 per year, as did marketing specialists ($56,100 per year). An online degree can also help you build a comprehensive design portfolio, develop a professional network, and qualify for skilled graphic design careers across industries.
What is the Best Online School for Graphic Design?

Art directors then review and approve designs, which can include illustrations, graphics, charts, and sets. They make advertisements, design book jackets, and develop graphs and charts to represent information. See the Career Outlook section for a more detailed look at potential career paths with a graphic design degree. Please refer to the requirements for Adobe Photoshop, which demands the most technical requirements of the Adobe Creative Cloud and is used throughout the graphic design program. Given that current system requirements can change without notice from Adobe, it is best to consult the most up-to-date requirements on the Adobe website.
Commercial & Advertising ArtMost Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Commercial & Advertising Art in California
Founded in 1873 as Massachusetts Normal School, Massachusetts College of Art and Design is the nation’s first and only public college of art and design. The school serves approximately 1,785 students enrolled more than 40 degree, minor, and certificate programs. More than 150 continuing education students are enrolled in over 100 classes and workshops in all areas of art and design. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (UMN) is home to the College of Design, which houses the Graphic Design Program. Available paths include a BFA degree along with MA, MFA, MS, and PhD degrees with an optional Graphic Design Track.
The curriculum focuses on professional discipline combined with creative thinking. Students practice their skills on a variety of media from tactile materials to virtual reality. It gives them both breadth and depth to their skillsets and helps them to hone in on their passions. Seniors focus on completing a unique portfolio that can be used throughout the graduate’s career. California Institute of Arts features a four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design program to students interested in graphic, web, and multimedia design.
Art, Graphic Design Concentration, B.F.A. - MTSU.edu
Art, Graphic Design Concentration, B.F.A..
Posted: Wed, 10 Jan 2024 15:09:50 GMT [source]
Types of Graphic Designer
With 6 undergraduate terms per year, this means you can complete up to 12 courses in a year, allowing you to finish in less than 4 years total. While not required, typical entry-level education for graphic designers is a bachelor's degree.1 Plus, with the growing competitive marketplace for designers, an online degree in graphic design can help set you apart. With the prevalence of digital design, there are many options to pursue your graphic design degree online. You can expect similar foundational and technical coursework, but with the flexibility of learning from anywhere with an internet connection. Online courses may also be asynchronous, meaning you can log on to learn at whatever time is most convenient for you.
The MFA Tracks provide the same opportunities as the BFA does, but the program allows students to tailor individual courses of study through cross-disciplinary electives. MFA students will also complete the Graduate Studio and Graduate Seminar Sequences. Course highlights include Graduate Form, Graduate Type Design, and Graduate Type Typography. Savannah College of Art and Design students learn from professors who have decades of professional experience and are award-winning visual artists, sought-after designers, and the legends behind iconic logos and campaigns. Most likely—a bachelor’s degree in graphic design or a closely related discipline is usually required to secure a full-time position. A benefit to studying graphic design online instead of in person at an educational institution is the ability to learn design software and make creative projects from the comfort of your home, and not needing to navigate traffic and the weather getting to class.
When superb quality and customizable degrees are considered it’s clear why CMU landed at #1. Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...
These aspiring graphic designers can usually meet hiring requirements by completing technical training through a postgraduate graphic design certificate program or graphic design bootcamp. These intensive programs take less time to complete than a traditional bachelor’s degree. As such, the timelines vary between 2-4 years, with the majority taking 3-4 years.
With small class sizes designed to encourage collaboration, courses for the program cover design principles, ideation, programming, ideation, research, typography, web design, workflow management, and more. For extra validation that your degree program features high-quality courses and faculty, you can also seek program-specific accreditation. Graphic design degrees receive programmatic accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD). Graphic design involves creating and laying out illustrations, logos, text, and other visual elements. Professionals create images using a variety of tools, including pens and pencils, software programs, and tablets.
Through their efforts and connections, Portland State’s graphic design students become part of the larger design community while they are still in school. Our program is located in the heart of Chicago, where a vibrant design community creates opportunities for collaboration, networking, and internships. Meanwhile, our new Jarvis Student Center for Innovation and Collaboration provides a multidisciplinary, student-focused space for professional learning and industry partnerships. The Jarvis Center connects students with designers, creators, and experts-in-residence through a series of regular events and workshops.
Other program highlights include travel experiences every semester to design centers across the country and option studios in a variety of graphic design applications. This includes 3D Animation, Branding and Logo Design, Exhibition Design, Motion Graphics, Multimedia, Narrative, Packaging, Publications, Typography, Wayfinding, and Web and E-commerce. Today, this art and designs school serves nearly 700 students, enrolled in 13 BFA programs with courses taught by practicing artists, designers, and scholars. The 60 credit hour MFA program allow students to pursue creative work in Graphic Design, Illustration, Interactive Media, Paper and Book Arts, Printmaking, and more.
In addition, the SVA Design Program provides complimentary membership to The One Club for Creativity, which includes The Art Directors Club and Type Directors Club. We considered over 700 colleges with graphic design programs for this year's rankings. Thanks in part to the pandemic, remote learning has become the default for many students, and schools that offer high-quality online degree programs report excellent student experiences and outcomes. Amplify your creative potential in multi-disciplinary and transmedia design with ArtCenter’s graphic design degree. You’ll establish broad skills for creating story- and identity-driven solutions, apply your learning in hands-on labs and business partnerships, and distinguish yourself as a strong leader, innovator and collaborator in dynamic creative industries.
Students in this program can choose to design interfaces for mobile devices and the web, they can make pictures for games and motion graphics, or illustrate stories and create comics and design printed posters and books. In addition to full-time graphic design jobs, graphic designers can pursue freelance opportunities, including starting their own businesses. After completing an online graphic design bachelor's degree, graduates can also advance their education with an online master's in graphic design. BU's bachelor of arts in graphic design program focuses on curating your portfolio and building technical skills.
Consisting of 18 semester hours, the Graphic Communications Technology Minor explores the technology used to produce print media. Course examples include Graphic Communication Output Lab, Graphics for Digital Media, Information Technology Applications for Digital Media, and Page Layout and Design. The UH Minor is part of the College of Technology’s Department of Information and Logistics Technology. Senior electives allow students to choose advanced coursework in an area that interests them.