Aspiring graphic designers seeking an outstanding post-high school education have plenty of options to choose from.

Whether you’re looking to stay close to home, save some money, or target an Ivy-League superstar, you should be able to find a great school for your particular situation.

Using the following criteria, we’ve put together an updated list of 50 excellent graphic design schools in The United States.

Don’t get too hung up on the specific order of the colleges. Instead, narrow your search to a few schools from this list and investigate further. The right school for you is the school that best fits your needs, location, and budget.

Because of our varied criteria, this list doesn’t actually rank the top fifty schools chronologically (i.e. The #4 school is not necessarily better than the #44 school on the list).

Time to look at some schools!

50 Excellent Graphic Design Schools

University of Pennsylvania

Attending Penn University is a notable feat in and of itself, as the school has so much history it was literally founded by Benjamin Franklin himself. But that’s not to say that Penn doesn’t have anything else to offer graphic designers; far from it.

In addition to an interdisciplinary major in Fine Arts, and an integrative major in Design, the university also has a two-year Master of Fine Arts degree on offer. Each of these programs offers interaction and critique with professional artists and designers, and there are plenty of extracurricular events for artists and designers held by the University every year. The courses themselves are impressive too.

You’ll learn how to utilize a wide variety of cameras, scanners, and digital composition software in their Mixed Media Animation class, before learning how to create gorgeous hand-drawn, computer, and environmental animations. You’ll design multi-page publications and work with clients and fabricators to create your very own graphic design pieces. There’s a lot on offer here, as can be expected from a University like Penn.

University of Florida

Run through The School of Art + Art History, this university also offers an appealing program for graphic designers. You can earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design degree while learning art history, 2-D, 3-D, and even 4-D drawing techniques, as well as the tools and technologies you’ll need to become a professional graphic designer.

Students start by being taught the basics of art history, and what methods are used when designing. Digital imaging techniques, as well as professional typography, are taught next, so students will be prepared to create their own original fonts in their works.

There’s plenty of course time spent in the studio working, so students can hone their skills using the form, spacing, composition, and other art techniques taught during the program. There is one severe downside, however–students are expected to bring their own computer system capable of running the graphic design software required for the lessons. This means the university is not a suitable choice for students without the means to purchase their own equipment, as it will not be provided.

Boston University

Boston University offers a certificate, a BFA, and an MFA in Graphic design. The program takes an interesting approach to graphic design, valuing the process of creation as even more important than the final product. Throughout their studies, students will learn to manage their form, medium, the context in their work, and to adjust their designs to fit their audience.

What sets Boston University apart, however, is its facilities. Students share a fully equipped communal workspace, a computer lab, and even printmaking facilities. The printmaking facilities are particularly helpful to graphic design students, as they allow for etching, silkscreen, letterpress, bookmaking, and digital print. There’s even a darkroom, a visual library, and designated areas for welding, ceramics, and a woodshop. Boston University even allows students to work with a fabrication, 3D laser cutting, and robotics facility.

So it’s not too bold to say if there’s something a student wants to create, they have the materials and equipment available at this school.

Finally, Boston University offers some help when it comes to finding employment as a graphic design artist. They have a partnership with some of the local businesses and design firms, so students can actually find employment. Lastly, for those who would take up the chance, there’s a study abroad program in Italy.

All of this puts Boston University at the cutting edge when it comes to graphic design schools.

Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University once more appears on this list, and for good reason. This University actually has design degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, something most design schools out there do not. They take a community-based approach to this education; students are expected to work together with other students from a variety of other disciplines and backgrounds. It’s also among the only design programs that emphasize sustainability in its courses.

So you can be sure that whatever you’re creating throughout your studies, you won’t be leaving too big of a carbon footprint behind. As for the program itself, the undergraduate course is very customizable, allowing you to pick between several different types of design to be your specialty.

Graphic designers should go for the “Communications” path. This will teach you everything you need to know about graphic design and how to tell a story through it. Alumni of this branch have even been responsible for creating works such as the Starbucks logo.

If you want to try and get a Master’s Degree, the Master of Arts program is perfect for teaching you the fundamentals of design, making digital and physical prototypes, using graphic design software, and other hands-on activities. And of course, the doctorate path is the most intensive course of all. There are a lot of options for graphic designers here; just expect to be working with others a lot through their interdisciplinary method of teaching.

University of Miami

The Graphic Design + Multimedia program at the University of Miami is a great choice for someone with an interest in graphics design, as it teaches you how to use your design across a wide variety of different mediums, while even learning a bit of the humanities. Through this program, you’ll wear multiple hats; you’ll get to try your hand at being a designer and a creative director.

The University has a printmaking facility, two separate studios for drawing, and a computer lab. Graphic design is very much a leadership position, so you will be taught how to communicate your ideas with members of mass media and large corporations, and there are plenty of seminars featuring guest artists and designers.

Essentially, what this program offers is a close look both at how to become a lead graphic designer, and how to spread your work across multiple different industries, from logos to book covers to even wall decals.

Rhode Island School of Design

For those who want to learn how to convey your ideas and stories visually, the Rhode Island School of Design has a wonderful program for Graphic Designers, with both a BFA and MFA version. The BFA is a 4-year program, designed to help students build their own design processes while they learn about the various methods of design, communication, and problem-solving skills.

In the first year, students are taught about the visual principles that will make their graphics pop out, even in a sea of art. This means understanding form, typography, image, and color. After that, it’s on to even more advanced techniques, including communication theory and information design, before culminating in the last year, where they’re shown exactly how to put what they’ve learned into practice.

In terms of equipment, students at Rhode Island School of Design can use special facilities for bookbinding, papermaking, and screenprinting, as well as the software you’ll need to make digital prints. The best part is, the assignments the students get will help with building up a portfolio of book covers, magazines, exhibits, film graphics, and more. That way once a student graduates, their resume will be more than a little impressive.

Rochester Institute of Technology

The track record of this school is stellar. Students who have attended their graphic design program have an 85% outcome rate and have found work in their respective fields. Even more impressive, the median first year salary of graduates is $51.300 a year. These numbers alone show why this program is worth it, but why is it so successful?

Rochester’s graphic design program encompasses how to practically use your artistic skills to make. Their BFA program has students learning typography, branding, motion graphics, how to design for a particular space, packaging, and publication.

Assignments will often be directly connected to local and even international businesses, allowing students to get a very real graphic work experience. Plus, as mentioned in previous sections, Rochester has a proven track record of helping students to enter paid coops, where they can be paid to work full time with industry professionals and possibly achieve real employment once they’ve graduated.

You’re not leaving with just a sheet of paper, but the experience. Ironically, that’s what they say graphic design is all about; creating not just products, but experiences.

Maryland Institute College of Art

Whether it’s spatial design, publications, decals, or user interfaces, the Maryland Institute’s Graphic Design Major has you covered. Theory, practical skills, and history are a big part of their courses, so students can build on their own creativity by learning what worked in the past and why.

On top of all that, this program is HUGE. It has 300 majors, 50 classes running a semester, and plenty of electives to help graphic designers who want to use their talents in more specific ways. With that said, the general courses cover quite a bit of every area of graphic design and are taught by 25 faculty members who have worked in each.

The final senior project can be an example of any of the students’ favorite specialties, but it must be a true display of the artist’s creativity and personality. This is one school where the students can learn exactly how powerful words and images can be.

School of Visual Arts

It’s no surprise at all that the School of Visual Arts would have an impressive BFA Design program. They strive not only to teach their students how to take an image or idea and turn it into a tangible object, but also how to turn it into something that will appeal to an audience, how to communicate your ideas to a team, and how to sell the object once it’s been made.

This is all-important to a graphic designer, but this program actually offers more than just graphic design. Students can pick up tools and skills that can help them in a motion graphics, interactive design, or 3D modeling career as well.

The faculty believes that every artist is different, and will therefore have different needs and abilities. That’s why out of all the programs on this list, the School of Visual Arts has one of the most customizable. Maybe the student wants to make CD and vinyl cover art or wants to specialize in environmental design.

This program gives students the freedom to do just that with a range of course options and more studio time for students than any school in the world. There’s also three workshops, competitions and exhibitions, and an impressive internship program. They even have industry professionals come in once a senior year as guests to review the young designers’ work, which presents a unique networking opportunity. For a graphic designer, you can’t do much better than this.

University of Minnesota

At this University, developing a graphic design portfolio is the name of the game. As you’re taught the skills you need to find gainful employment as a designer, you’ll be filling your portfolio with packaging, screenprints, typography, and more.

Graphic design is something of a specialty for the University of Minnesota, as the graphic design programs they offer include a BFA, MA, MFA, MS, and finally a Doctorate in Design Philosophy. That’s not even including their minors and certificates, so this is one University that offers every level of education when it comes to graphic design.

One benefit that students have is an opportunity to learn from their seniors. Graduating students can join the senior exhibition, where they can meet junior students, show off their portfolios, and offer helpful advice. This exhibition is worked on throughout the entire program, and the exhibition is also open to the public as well as design professionals looking to meet upcoming talent.

So the senior students get a lot out of it as well. In other words, by the end of your program, you will not only have a portfolio, but you will be showing it off in a public display that could help set your course for the future.

Parsons School of Design at the New School

Calling New York home means the Parsons School of Design can boast close proximity, and ties, to a lot of big names in the world of design. This means you’ll have some great opportunities to pursue through guest lectures, possible internships, and even job contacts down the line.

Yale University

Yale University offers a highly selective program in which you can earn your Master’s of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design. Their MFA program lasts for two years, with the possibility of an extra year on the front end if you choose to try and enroll in their preliminary-year program, which guarantees you a spot in their MFA program.

Only ten students are admitted to the MFA program each year, up to seven of which could be from the preliminary-year program.

Wayne State College

Wayne State College places a primary focus on design elements with the tool of choice being the computer. If you’re looking for a very affordable option, a school like Wayne State College is a good place to start.

Depending on how many credit hours you’re enrolled in, and where you live, your tuition could be between $3500 and $5000 dollars per semester.

Fashion Institute of Technology

High-profile internship opportunities, as well as the opportunity to study abroad with your pick of several colleges in England are two big selling points for the Fashion Institute of Technology. FIT only offers a two-year program, which includes a mandatory internship and results in a BFA in Graphic Design.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

With a focus on the end-user and user experience, you’ll benefit greatly from a degree from North Carolina State University at Raleigh. The user experience is more important to business now than it’s ever been, and with that focus playing a strong part in your studies, you’ll end up with a very versatile skill set.

Florida State University

As you can see from the link, Florida State University has a wealth of Studio Art offerings. This school where you, as a student and eventual professional, can really find your niche. There are web courses, animation courses, mechatronic art courses–it’s full of interesting disciplines and skills to explore. (Full list of graphic design classes in Florida)

Appalachian State University

Here is another university that lets you focus on your strengths as an individual. Schools with that kind of flexibility will help you separate yourself from the pack. Appalachian State University is a school that will encourage you to come up with your own, personalized methods for creative problem-solving.

In a world where everyone is getting a degree, uniqueness will help you stand out.

Pratt Institute

Attending Pratt Institute will cost around $60,000 dollars (includes tuition, room and board, and fees). The institute offers two 2-year Graphic Design Programs, one of which has an illustration focus. The BFA in Communications Design combines advertising, illustration, and graphic design.

Drake University

Drake University is a school that focuses on your technical skills as a graphic designer. Your abilities to problem solve or communicate will only take you so far if you’re unable to deliver a fine finished product.

The final project not only requires you to assemble an online portfolio but also requires you to develop “a stationary system and necessary business communication documents.”

Iowa State University

Only 76 students are admitted into the BFA program annually, after completing their first year in the Core Design Program. The price is right for Iowa, too. Residents can expect to pay around $16,000, which includes housing. Those of you looking to attend from outside the state of Iowa will pay closer to $30,000.

California Institute of the Arts

The California Institute of the Arts BFA program has a competitive cap of 15 students. Enrollment alone does not guarantee success, as you will be subjected to faculty reviews at the end of every academic year. Continuing on in the BFA program is contingent upon passing the review. (View all graphic design colleges in California)

Pennsylvania State University

Despite its size as an overall university, Penn State’s graphic design college program promises classes of 20 students or less. The university has also attracted instructors with widely varying backgrounds. The diversity of faculty, coupled with the newly built state-of-the-art facilities, makes PSU an appealing choice for any student.

Dominican University

For full-time undergraduates, the price of tuition, and room and board, comes in around $40,000 dollars. That’s a lot of money, but it is under the national average for 4-year private universities. And, over 90% of incoming students receive financial aid. Their facilities are decked out with powerful computers and the latest graphic design software.

Ringling College of Art and Design

This Floridian college was originally founded as a college for cartoonists. Now it’s grown to include 11 major degree program offerings from which you can choose. In the Graphic Design program, you’ll have an opportunity to collaborate with local businesses to earn some real-world experience.

American University

Like many universities on the list, American University requires students to complete core classes, with passing grades, before being officially admitted into this graphic design college. A portfolio submission prior to your senior year is required.

These checks and balances ensure that you as a student are applying yourself and growing your skills.

Texas A&M University-Commerce

Texas A&M University-Commerce provides you with three different paths of focus for a degree in fields that overlap with graphic design. Design Communications focuses mostly on print work: packaging, billboards, posters, etc.

New Media focuses on skills like animation and interactive and multimedia design. Art Direction focuses on market targeting and singular ad campaigns in a variety of mediums.

Savannah College of Art and Design

Savannah College of Art and Design has a curricular emphasis on the user experience. Appealing to the end-user is more important today than it’s ever been before. SCAD’s focus on that industry shift speaks to its up-to-date curriculum.

Northeastern University

Northeastern University has an abundance of major and minor degree programs to choose from, all within the art + design fields. The two degrees listed above are the two most specifically related to graphic design.

However, there are other degrees, like those in interactive design, that deal with similar elements but ultimately hone in on a different niche. If you want to pursue Graphic design or even something like Graphic Design, Northeastern University is a great choice.

University of Denver

The University of Denver, with its more open-ended Studio Art programs, will allow you to focus more on what you want to do, placing your credit hours into amassing wide skills or following or more vertical learning path.

Everything from ceramics to 3D renderings is covered in the Studio Art program. You’ll be able to design in whatever form you’d like.

Michigan State University

The design program at Michigan State University has a collaborative relationship with its community; Students attending Michigan State University have the opportunity to work with clients, but within and outside of the university, allowing you to gain professional experience.

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

In your third year at MCAD, you will be required to score an internship. It might be a daunting task, but having that built into the curriculum will serve you well. Another networking opportunity comes in your senior year of the BFA in Graphic Design Program.

MCAD hosts an Emerging Talent Showcase, allowing students to showcase their work to potential employers.

Chapman University

Chapman University offers you, as the student, the opportunity to develop the technical skills, the verbal articulation, and the personal voice you’ll need to succeed as a graphic designer. Chapman University will also challenge you with a project in which you are judged against professional, industry standards.

Having your work hold up to your peers and to your professors in an academic setting is one thing, having your work pass the industry standards test is a completely different animal.

Virginia Commonwealth University

If you’re a person who likes to be involved in your community, whether it’s your school, your neighborhood, or your whole city, VCU is worth exploring. They have an overarching theme in their BFA program of ethical development, social awareness, and cultural awareness.

Cranbrook Academy of Art

Experimentation, creation, and hands-on experience are some characteristics of the CAA Master of Fine Arts Degree Program in Graphic Design. The School only hosts about 150 students at a time, which shakes about to be about 15 grad students across each of the school’s ten program offerings.

Otis College of Art and Design

The Communication Arts Department offers only three programs, one of which is Graphic Design. You’ll experiment with many forms of visual communication, everything from posters to websites.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

MassArt offers a graphic design program that will help you develop your communication and idea-articulation skills. In the field of visual communication, it is vitally important that you can communicate with your team, MassArt’s focus on the elements of effective teamwork will help get you where you need to be to succeed.

Temple University

Before entering into the BFA program for Graphic and Interactive Design, you must pass a portfolio review in your Sophomore year. In addition to the selective BFA program, Temple offers an even more selective two-year MFA program.

Art Center College of Design

Small classes, and a big focus on social and humanitarian needs, that’s ArtCenter in a nutshell. You can also expect some rewarding interdisciplinary work with other students and teachers from other majors and departments throughout the school.

North Carolina State University

NCSU’s BA degree program in Graphic Design stresses the importance of the user experience. Targeting your specific audience, designing great user interfaces, and using other elements of graphic design to improve the user experience, problems like these will be yours to solve at NCSU.

Arkansas Tech University

This is a bang-for-your-buck kind of school. In-state is around $14,000, and for non-residents it’s only $19,000. While these costs are based on the 2014/15 school year, they are the most up-to-date costs listed on ATU’s site.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

At the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, you will approach graphic design knowing that your work and the work of your peers in the field impact mass culture, both in design and in art.

University at Buffalo

As with many BA programs, the BA program provided by the University at Buffalo takes a more general approach to the study of graphic design. If you are looking to major in another program or take on a double minor, the BA in Graphic Design is a great option for you.

The BFA in Graphic Design is a more technical approach to Graphic Design and doesn’t afford the same broad-study opportunities.

CUNY Queens College

In-state tuition is $6,500 dollars, and out-of-state tuition is over $13,000. Queens College gives you the opportunity to use industry-standard technology as you explore graphic design concepts and learn the art of visual communication.

Once-a-semester meetings with your advisor will ensure you are on track with your Design major’s requirements.

California College of the Arts

Graphic Design is one of the most popular programs at CCA. If you’re a top-performing student, the college will likely provide you with an opportunity to network with local, employed graphic designers.

Creighton University

According to Creighton University, 96% of the College of Arts and Sciences are either enrolled in grad school, volunteering in their field or are employed within six months of graduation. Creighton University will help you find internships, freelance opportunities, or get you helping out with on-campus publications.

Texas Christian University

TCU’s long-term placement record for BFA in Graphic Design graduates is 95%, and they claim that the last few years has seen an increase to 100% placement rate. That placement rate, in addition to the required internship for BFA students, makes the BFA program at TCU a worthwhile option to consider.

State University of New York at New Paltz

SUNY New Paltz believes that the best way to serve you as an aspiring graphic designer is to give you a broad education. Everything from anthropology to psychology is covered in the BFA program. The focus on graphic design as it applies to many other disciplines will give you a strong base for your visual communication pursuits. (The top New York graphic design colleges)

The University of Texas at El Paso

UTEP takes a formal approach to Graphic Design. This involves intense studies of typography early on, with the shift to expressive techniques occurring later in your academic career.

SUNY at Fredonia

SUNY at Fredonia encourages their students to pull in concepts outside of graphic design. This is a university that recognizes the inextricable link between graphic design and other disciplines, and encourages students to foster that early on in the academic process.

Updated Macs and fresh software make SUNY at Fredonia a good option. It runs about $20,800 for in-state residents, and about $31,000 for out-of-state residents.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Laser-cutters, 3D printers, 24-hour access to computer labs, and much more. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign provides you with plenty of the state-of-the-art tools you need to not only succeed but to thrive.

Entrance into the BFA program hinges upon spring semester portfolio submissions crafted in the fall semester of your Foundation Year.

Education Pathway

Getting a bachelor’s in graphic design will open doors into possible design careers, and will show employers that you’re dedicated to the craft.

A Bachelor’s in Graphic Design takes four years to complete. Depending on the institution and level of financial aid, the average tuition rests somewhere around $30,000-$34,000.

Professional Organizations in Graphic Design

• American Institute of Graphic Arts
• Graphic Artists Guild
• Society for Experiential Graphic Design
• Society of Publication Designers
• Society for News Design

Is a graphic design degree worth it?

Absolutely. While it’s true that you can score a design job with an associate’s degree, having a bachelor’s puts you in a great position for upward mobility. It gets you a chance for better pay, and a better job overall. It gives you a comfortable starting position where you can advance both your education and career.

If you already possess a bachelor’s, getting a master’s gives you a better chance for success in the graphic design field and the many career paths available to you. You can take careers that you can acquire with a bachelor’s and take them to the next level. With a master’s you can potentially shoot your way to the top of the company ladder quicker.

The Best Master’s Degrees in Graphic Design

• Graphic Designer
  • Growth Rate: 3%
  • Median Salary: $52,110 per year
  • Graphic designers wear many hats: they create, design, arrange and execute multiple aspects of design for countless projects, ranging from webpage design to software development.

• Art Director
  • Growth Rate: 1%
  • Median Salary: $94,220 per year
  • Art directors are responsible for how art layouts look in whichever medium they’re in charge of.

• Multimedia Artist and Animator
  • Growth Rate: 4%
  • Median Salary: $75,270 per year
  • These are the artists for animated TV shows, games, and movies. They create art, animation principles, and more for our favorite mediums.

• Crafts and Fine Artist
  • Growth Rate: 1%
  • Median Salary: $48,760 per year
  • These are artists who use crafts to create pieces of art for sale or possibly art exhibitions.

• Industrial Designer
  • Growth Rate: 3%
  • Median Salary: $68,890 per year
  • An industrial designer designs products that will eventually be mass-produced. These are products like automobiles, furniture, and houseware.

Master’s in Graphic Design Program Admissions

Prerequisites

• Bachelor’s Degree
  • In master’s programs, you’re going to need a bachelor’s degree to pursue your studies. They don’t necessarily even need to be in the same field like the arts to apply.

• Professional Experience
  • Having valuable experience in the field will serve you better than nearly anything else in graphic design. Showing employers and hiring managers that you’ve got a sweet portfolio will turn more heads than anything.

• Minimum GPA
  • Master’s programs usually require a minimum GPA of 3.0 for application.

Admission Materials

• Application
  • Of course, you need to apply to the school of your choice. You’ll fill out all the applicable info and more.

• Transcripts
  • These are the records of your previous schooling experience, and many schools are going to want to see them.

• Letter of Recommendation
  • Letters of recommendation from valued teachers and instructors can be a requirement for some programs, but overall they’re great methods for conveying your skills and dependability.

• Test Scores
  • Test scores, like those from the GRE, can be instrumental in acceptance at a top university.

• Application Fee
  • Like with any good old college application, there’s that pesky fee for applying. These vary in cost by the institution.

Courses in A Master’s in Graphic Design Program

• History of GD
• Typography
  • This course teaches you about the surprisingly robust and important history of typefaces and the way that type is arranged to create artistic and aesthetically pleasing effects.
• Web and Mixed Media Design
• Publication Design
• Motion Graphics
  • Motion graphics has been a mainstay in animation and design for decades. This course teaches you how to properly arrange and splice together animations and design for the best effect.

Nearly all of the programs offered in a Master’s in Graphic Design are around two years, depending on a full-time or part-time schedule. Students of graphic design should be ready to pay upwards of about $70,000 for their master’s degree in graphic design.

Certifications and Licenses

• Basics of Web Dev and Coding
• Adobe Certified Expert
• Animation and Motion Media Certification
• Mobile App Dev Specialist
• Business Communication Certificate

Curriculum for An Online Master’s Degree in Graphic Design

• Art and Design History
  • You need to know the background of art design if you hope to capitalize and avoid certain aspects of design principles. Knowing where you come from is just as important as knowing where you’re going.
• Integrated Design Media
  • This refers to how all media comes together and works as one.
• Design Theory and Criticism
• Typographic Communication
• User-Centered Strategy
  • Created a user-friendly experience for software, entertainment platforms and more is crucial to successful careers in graphic design.

Looking to go to school in Georgia? Alright!

And you want to go to school for graphic design? Double alright! It’s a good thing you’re here, then!

We put together a list of ten of the best graphic design universities in good ol’ Georgia.

What’s great about Georgia is you get a little bit of everything, in terms of landscape. Coastal beaches? You got it.

Farmland? Sure thing, sign us up. Mountains? You’re getting greedy, but we’re feeling generous today. Pile some mountains on there!

Yep, Georgia has plenty to offer to keep you happy and satisfied. Including, it turns out, some top graphic design schools.

Graphic Design Programs in Georgia

Savannah College of Art and Design

Many of the universities that make our lists only offer Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees and Master of Fine Arts degrees. Savannah College of Art and Design is breaking that mold. SCAD offers both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, in addition to offering the Master’s degree counterparts.

If you’re someone that wants to focus on user experience and interface design, Savannah College of Art and Design just might be the place for you. Now, SCAD made the list because it has a college in Savannah, Georgia. It also has a college in Atlanta, Georgia.

A double whammy! In addition to that, there is a SCAD in Hong Kong, and a strong online program as well. The location flexibility that it offers can make a very appealing offer if you don’t want to commute or don’t want to relocate to get your degree in graphic design.

University of Georgia

The University of Georgia has a five-semester Graphic Design curriculum, but the five semesters start after you’re accepted into the program. So, the length of your studies depends on how timely you can make your entrance into the BFA program. You’re required to take a Graphic Design Survey class prior to entry into the Graphic Design BFA.

This class only accepts sixteen students per section, but luckily for you, multiple sections are offered each year. For successful entry you must pass a faculty review of your work. Your GPA and participation are taken into account as well.

Georgia State University

The Graphic Design program at Georgia State University is home to students who are both actively working in a graphic design-related field, and those who are pursuing their first degree promptly after graduating high school.

This combination of active graphic design partitioners and the students starting essentially from scratch forms a good melting pot for industry standards and fresh approaches.

The program challenges students to use personal exploration and social consciousness as a means to solve design problems. This program is for you if, in addition to gaining strong graphic design skills, you want to actively consider the broader applications and far-reaching impacts of visual communication.

Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern University boasts a dual degree program that covers both Graphic Design and Graphic Communications Management. This means that, if you’re interested, you could major in one of these topics and minor in the other. With this approach, you would cover all elements of both design and production for graphic design.

As with most graphic design programs, you’ll be required to complete an initial program in your first year. Georgia Southern University calls this introductory program their Foundations Program. GSU could be right for you if you’re hoping to explore both sides of the coin that is graphic design.

The University of West Georgia

The University of West Georgia’s art program offers state-of-the-art facilities to aid you in your pursuit of all things creative and graphic design related. There are Mac computer labs dedicated specifically to the Graphic Design program, so you won’t have to worry too much about securing a terminal to work on your projects. They provide the Best graphics Design Training also.

The University of West Georgia also touts connections to local businesses and the museum. These connections make it possible for you to secure internship positions. Spots are limited, so you’ll need to get serious about the work you put into your portfolio while you’re learning at the University of West Georgia.

Kennesaw State University

A portfolio is required to enter the School of Art and Design program as an art major, no matter your focus. The department will review the portfolio and your acceptance is contingent upon their approval. If your portfolio is not accepted, or if you never bothered to compile one, you can join the University as an art interest student.

This designation lets you take introductory art courses, provided space in the class is available. After taking some introductory art courses at Kennesaw State University, you’ll have the opportunity to resubmit (or submit for the first time) a portfolio for review and acceptance.

Augusta Technical College

Augusta Technical College is a college that is priced right for the value it brings. It offers two programs, one that results in a technician certificate, and another that results in a diploma. The 30-week program to get certified as a Graphic Design and Prepress Technician costs around $1200.

The 64-week diploma program will cost closer to $6000. Both of these programs have very small class sizes, which ensures resources are available and the necessary hands-on help with instructors is available.

Lanier Technical College

The certificate program for Graphic Design and Prepress in its simplest form is a short, 20 hour, two-semester program. It covers elements like the introduction to design, vector graphics, and other applicable skills. The degree program is a five-semester, 61-credit-hour program.

It covers vector graphics and page layouts, as well as media tech and intro to computer courses.

Albany Technical College

As you can see above, Albany Technical College offers degrees, diplomas, and certificate programs for Graphic Design, and Design and Media Production concentrations. If you’ve taken the SATs, ACTs or GHSGT (Georgia High School Graduation Test), you will likely not have to complete the admissions test for entry into the college.

Albany Technical College gives you a variety of degree options at varying credit-hour lengths. That kind of flexibility always has its appeal.

Emory University

Certificate programs offer a good opportunity to expand your knowledge of the graphic design field. Emory University offers what could be considered an introduction to graphic design with their Fundamentals of Graphic Design Certificate.

The Advanced Graphic Design Certificate program will challenge your graphic design skills, and accelerate you to the next level.

There’s a capstone project that you’ll complete from start to finish essentially on your own, with some feedback from the instructor. One or both of these certificate programs could be for you if you’re looking to get your feet wet in graphic design or take your skills to a new level.

There are a ton of graphic design colleges in California! It’s really something else.

It’s likely a combination of the size of the state and the popularity of the field. And, of course, the concentrations of industry jobs in places like Los Angeles and San Francisco.

As a state, California is home to more graphic designers than any other state (salaried graphic designers, that is. Kind of hard to track the other ones!).

We took a look at the California schools offering Graphic Design Programs. In short, you have a ton of graphic design colleges to choose from.

Some of these schools have incredible stats when it comes to elements like employment rates post-graduation.

Others offer exceptional education programs and great resources and facilities. Others still have been reviewed favorably by outside publications and insiders alike.

Top California Graphic Design Schools

California Institute of the Arts

The California Institute of the Arts is “renowned internationally as a game-changer in the education of professional artists…We bring out visionary creative talent, unlike any other university, school or conservatory.”

CalArts describes its Art program as “a forum for the sustained exploration of possibilities in cultural production, the BFA and MFA tracks in Art push students to question conventional ideas about contemporary art.”

In the art program, you’ll have access to instruction across a selection of media–drawing, digital imaging, video, painting, printmaking, and more.

The CalArts Graphic Design College degree program “emphasizes both practical and conceptual skills, and enables each designer to integrate a command of visual language with imagination, theory and technology.”

CalArts makes an effort to provide mentoring and instruction on an individual level–this kind of personal attention can keep you focused on improving and push you to deliver your best work.

The BFA Graphic Design Program at California Institute of the Arts is small; the cap is typically 15 students. And just because you make enrollment into the BFA program doesn’t mean it’s smooth sailing for you, either. There is a faculty review of your work at the end of every academic year. And if you don’t pass? You don’t get to keep going.

If you think being one of many students vying for one of only 15 spots is daunting, then pity the graduate students. The graduate program is about half the size. That’s right, there is an 8 student cap!

Online Classes for California Students

California College of the Arts

The California College of Arts has a large selection of BFA programs to choose from. There are programs featuring 2D and 3D digital work, such as animation and graphic design.

There are also a number of programs featuring 2D and 3D physical work–glass, metal arts, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and the list goes on.

The benefit of having so many programs in one school is the great potential for interdisciplinary work. Collaborating across disciplines is something you’ll have to do for your entire professional career, so getting a handle on it early is definitely the way to go.

The Animation program features instruction by animators from Pixar, Tippett, and Dreamworks–a real powerhouse lineup. The illustration program will have you working on paper and on-screen with software. CCA boasts instructors who have won awards for their illustrations.

CCA has a San Francisco campus (known as the “innovation corridor”), and a campus in Oakland, just two miles from UC Berkeley. To learn more about the rest of their programs, use the link above.

California College of the Arts offers its top-performing students internships from its Graphic Design Internship Program. Tech companies, publishing houses, museums, and even design firms offer up opportunities for students to engage with the designers employed by the companies and institutions.

This affords you an opportunity to not only build a relationship with a working professional in the field, but also to network with organizations that might need your help in the future. The more opportunities you line up for yourself, the easier it is for one to fall into place.

San Jose State University

The curriculum at San Jose State University within the Department of Design is always changing. The faculty at the university recognize the non-stop movement of the industry, and so they always update the technology and the innovative practices to keep abreast of the goings-on in the field outside of academia.

Because San Jose State University is right in the middle of Silicon Valley, there is a good opportunity for collaboration with the technology and design industries. The University recognizes this and is always making efforts to broaden their design community.

Chapman University

Be prepared to cover a wide range of Graphic Design topics as you enter Chapman University. Everything from book design to motion design to web design will be covered. Your time at Chapman University will be all about cultivating your personal voice while honing your verbal articulation and conceptual design skills.

Academy of Art University

The Academy of Art University is based in San Francisco. It’s a school that makes an effort to feel more like a community than a university. This kind of sentiment can lead to an easier time networking, and greater opportunities down the road.

Networking is an important skill to develop. If you aren’t networking while you’re in school, you’re missing out on a big part of the value a post-secondary education provides.

The Animation and Visual Effects program lets you focus on visual effects, storyboarding, 2D animation and stop motion, 3D modeling, and 3D animation.

The Fine Arts program “teaches students the creative and technical skills needed to thrive as career artists. Advanced instruction is offered in non-figurative and figurative fine art, including painting, sculpting, and printmaking.”

The Sculpture department at the Academy of Art University has “one of the largest and most advanced facilities of its kind in North America,” and the printmaking facilities are on the cutting edge.

Alumni of the illustration program have found work at Random House, Marvel, National Geographic, The New York Times, and more. Comics, graphic novels, advertising, interactive illustration–the BFA in Illustration teaches you the skills you need for these projects and more.

The Graphic Design program has produced a number of successful alumni. Past graduates have scored jobs at companies like Google, Apple Inc., Nike, Square, and more. In this program, you will “learn to influence marketing strategies, raise awareness of critical issues, and facilitate cultural change.”

Otis College of Art and Design

The Communication Arts Department offers only three programs, one of which is Graphic Design. You’ll experiment with many forms of visual communication, everything from posters to websites.

The Otis College of Art and Design has a Communication Arts Department that now features two programs: Graphic Design and Illustration.

At OCAD, you’ll focus on your discipline, you’ll be taught your discipline, but you’ll be working together with students in other disciplines as well. Professionally, you will be working with other departments and people with other skill sets–OCAD prepares you for that by introducing collaboration early and often.

These disciplines will have you making everything from tattoos and posters, to apps and ezines. Otis College of Art and Design has strong professional development at its core–as a student, you will be engaged in the field, in some capacity, by the time you leave the college.

This usually means an internship, and many students have those internships turn into employment opportunities.

OCAD focuses on portfolio development and entrepreneurship, so an internship or employment at a company aren’t the only outcomes you can pursue. Located close to LA, you have an excellent opportunity to engage with the city and the many businesses located within.

The Digital Media Department features concentrations in animation, game and entertainment design, and motion design. You’ll learn how to tell stories in a 3D space, using the latest software and techniques to craft the most compelling versions of the stories you want to tell.

Alumni who have gone through this program have landed jobs at studios like Pixar, Dreamworks, Disney, Blizzard, Sony Online Entertainment, and more.

The Fine Arts Department features faculty who still practice their art professionally. If you’re interested in more traditional artistic disciplines, this could be the program for you.

All students spend their first year exploring the disciplines within their major program. You’ll decide on your concentration during your sophomore year, so you have plenty of time to explore the options before locking one in.

California State University, Fullerton

Upon enrollment at California State University, you’ll be placed in the BA of Art Program. There are four prerequisite courses you need to complete before you can request a “change of objective” and switch to the BFA in Graphic Design. The four courses are: Beginning Painting, Beginning Drawing, Two-Dimensional Design, and Three-Dimensional Design.

You also need to achieve and maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to request the switch. If you meet the requirements at the end of your fall semester, you can initiate your request with any full-time department faculty.

Art Center College of Design

Small studio classes is the name of the game at ArtCenter. The ArtCenter’s approach to education incorporates strong social and humanitarian elements. The nature of that approach means you can expect a good amount of interdisciplinary collaboration with students from all different majors at the college.

This sharpness of focus on your own skills, but the inclusion of ideas across disciplines, will help you develop both critically and creatively. Tuition for students is about $40,000 annually.

Woodbury University

The publication known as Graphic Design USA named Woodbury University in its list of the top 25 Design Schools for 2015. Woodbury prides itself on helping you build a portfolio that stands out in the workplace. With the competition in the market the way it is these days, any old cookie-cutter portfolio won’t cut it.

Luckily the class sizes are small, so you will have access to individual attention from faculty. The LA location also means you can tap into some great networking and internship opportunities, with the help of the University itself and with the weight of the Woodbury University name behind you.

WU also incorporates civic engagement into its curriculum, giving you real-world experience with impactful graphic design. If name recognition and humanitarianism scratch you where you itch, give Woodbury University a closer look.

Laguna College of Art and Design

LCAD gives you a couple of different program options within the umbrella of Graphic Design. As seen above, there’s an Illustration Emphasis and also an Action Sport Design Emphasis (one of which happens to be more of a mouthful than the other). LCAD has a very impressive “graduates with jobs in their field” rate.

Over 98% of their “recent” (their language, they didn’t specify the years-window) graduates from the Graphic Design Program work in their desired field. Very few schools can boast a claim like that, which is pretty indicative that, like with the other schools on the list, the Laguna College of Art and Design has something special.

When we booted up our video game consoles back in 2011, we were introduced to a living world. Lush foliage, gritty characters, and amazing weather effects. We are treated to a lengthy sequence in which the player-character is held a prisoner in the back of a wagon through treacherously dangerous mountain passes.

Waterfalls, rockslides, and woodland creatures were all present, pulling you into the dense world. Of course, I am talking about Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The RPG brought presentation and graphics to a new level and really kicked off gaming in the 2010s in style.

Bethesda has mastered the graphical arts of their games, really harnessing the software they use to bring you into their beautiful, imaginative worlds. How do they do it? How do they seem to work a special kind of magic that bewitches our senses and fully immerses whoever plays their game?

12 Best Software for Graphic Designers

More importantly than their physics and engine, they create beautiful textures in the game to literally paint a picture for us gamers to ogle at. I personally love to be able to play a game, go to its options settings, and crank up textures to ‘ultra’.

In the Total War franchise, I love to see the intricacies of a warrior’s armor, the blood, and gore splattered on their weapons, and the overall chaos of the battlefield that the creators have put into the game.

Think of games like the Banner Saga, in which the background and characters are beautifully drawn and meticulously animated. The developers spent hours working on them through graphic design software.

A unique blend of early Disney-esque backgrounds and old-school animation features, graphic designers can really up their game with practice and vision.

Although it is a beautiful thing to just stay ignorant and imagine it, there is actually a very simple answer: a great gaming engine and quality graphic design software.

Graphic Design Software

A big part of our lives is created by graphic design. The ads we see, the products we love, and signs all around us are created by graphic design.

There are so many passionate designers around the world that want to harness powerful software to create and share. Well, lucky for them, I have compiled a little list for them.

Okay, I have rambled So, what is the best graphic design software? Is it possible to design something of the same caliber as Skyrim? Hold on there, cowpoke. Let’s start with the basics. Here is a list of 5 of the best graphic design software products you can create within 2022.

Adobe Illustrator

If you are design literate at all, you know the name Adobe. Adobe Illustrator was launched in January 1987 for Apple computers. It has been in production ever since. That is 32 years, folks. Not only that, but it is constantly updated, with its most recent one being a month ago.

This is the first software for graphic designers to go to. It is the gold standard.

So what makes Adobe Illustrator great, being trusted by hundreds of thousands of artists? Here are some pros and cons for you to mull over.

Pros:

• Great user interface:

I cannot stress this advantage. The great user interface is the bare bones expectation for a great program. Think about some of the worst user interfaces around. Isn’t it a real pain to get around some of your favorite apps or games?

GTA IV springs to mind, where the weapon wheel is poorly designed, where you can end up being riddled with bullets if you try to change weapons for too long. ANYWAY: Adobe Illustrator has a great user interface that won’t get you stuck in the muck and mire of complicated menus.

• In-panel editing
• Great scalability
• Accessibility on other platforms:

Although it started its life on Apple computers, you can now use it on nearly every computer platform, so there is no excuse not to use it

Cons:

• Learning Curve:

This might be a little frustrating for some. Although you can create great projects, it will take some time to get better at it. But if you are determined to get better and make the best project you can, this is just a hiccup in your journey.

• Large Computer Space:

Make sure your computer has enough space because this baby takes up a large amount of space on your computer.

Pricing:

Adobe Illustrator is currently on sale for a hefty two options:

• $239.88 a year for the Illustrator Single App
• $599.88 a year for Creative Cloud Apps, Illustrator + all Adobe creative apps

The license for Illustrator is an in-house proprietary license. This means that it is closed source software, controlled by the company, namely Adobe. This includes patent rights, copyrights, and makes the Adobe Suite of graphic design into intellectual property, (IP).

Adobe Photoshop

No surprise here: Adobe is a quality suite of programs for your computer. Like Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop is well known in the graphics software world. We all know great quality images o all over the internet with Photoshop’s fingerprint all over it.

Used by graphic designers, advertisers, and even students, Photoshop is synonymous with photo editing software.

Released not long after Illustrator, in 1990, Photoshop was also originally designed exclusively for Apple Macintosh computers by two brothers, Thomas and John Knoll at the University of Michigan. Here are some pros and cons for the storied program.

Pros:

• State of the art:

As with its contemporaries in Adobe, Photoshop is constantly updated with the best current build of software constantly. This caters to both new users and veteran users.

• Great graphics:

Right in the program, you are able to design beautiful graphics. Few other programs can say the same. This is a godsend for those who deal in advertising, as it creates aspects of that field in a heartbeat.

Need a flyer made? Fear not, because not only can you create quick projects, but also harness great graphics to enhance them, making the most creative projects possible.

• Speed:

Quick, quick, quick. This is a great mantra to use when using the program. Everything that Photoshop can create is able to be created rather quickly. If you are a veteran user, you can harness this program and make great projects with unsettling ease.

Watch colors, pictures, and editing unfolds around you as you master what Adobe has to offer.

Cons:

• Learning Curve:

Yep, much like Adobe Illustrator, the learning curve of Photoshop can be a little much for those users out there who are not exactly familiar with the suite of programs.

I remember opening Photoshop myself back in the day, only to be examining the user interface with a confusion, almost like I was staring at hieroglyphics or cuneiform.

To be fair, I had no experience with editing and graphics software. It isn’t something where you learn by trial and error; you should look at the many tutorials online.

• The price:

The pricing of Adobe programs can be extremely steep, especially for users who aren’t exactly well-versed in the programs. If you are simply dabbling in the program, it could be daunting to fork over hundreds of dollars for a shot at creating graphics.

Photoshop also utilizes the proprietary license that Adobe Illustrator uses. Again, this means that it is a closed source, not available for free editing by other users of the community. Adobe controls everything about it.

Pricing:

• Photoshop Single App $239.88 a year
• Creative Cloud Photography Plan (20 GB) Photoshop + Lightroom $119.88 a year
• Creative Cloud All Apps Photoshop + all Adobe creative apps $599.88 a year

GIMP

Ah, GIMP. I spent many hours on this cool little program. For newer users for graphics and photo editing, GIMP serves as a nice introduction to graphic designing.

As I said before, I sat in front of Photoshop confused by its very presence. This wasn’t the case with GIMP. With GIMP, it was a quick and easy download online, followed by an easier user interface.

Developed by Spencer Kimball and Peter Mattis in 1996, GIMP, (GNU Image Manipulation Program), has been a great alternative software to the expensive suite of Adobe programs. It has a great interface that is a little less intimidating for those rookies starting out on their first projects.

They also have great tutorials online for those just starting, so it is welcoming software as well. Its slogan should be ‘Designers Welcome’. Hey guys, I will collect my royalty check now. The license GIMP uses is the GNU General Public License, (GPLv3+).

Pros:

• Pricing:

There is none! As opposed to the steeper price of Adobe products, GIMP is completely open and free. This is without a doubt the best FREE graphic designing program available on the market today.

• Accessibility:

GIMP is a great program for small or medium-sized businesses trying to create some great graphics, brochures, or web sites for their companies.

Cons:

• Not as innovative:

Since it is free, GIMP might not contain the same quality updates as something like Illustrator or Photoshop.

This might be off-putting to more experienced graphic designers, as they will probably be looking for something that really ups the ante in the creative department.

As much of a con as this may be, the ease in which anyone can download the program, I believe, offsets this aspect.

Pricing:

This program is completely and utterly FREE! That’s right, my artistic friends, GIMP can give you many great features and other aspects for no money at all. This is being an artist on a budget; something I think we can all appreciate.

Canva

At first, I thought this was a typo: shouldn’t it be Canvas? Nope, it is something all its own: Canva. Canva is a great little program released in 2012 that allows users to easily create more complex art projects in a manner of minutes.

It was created by Melanie Perkins, an Australian-based designer. Creating a website has never been so easy going into 2020. This program allows for wide accessibility for both veterans of graphic design as well as greenhorns.

You could even use it on a tablet! I really dig the ease of which Canva can be used. It can primarily be used, like other programs, for any size business to create the best-looking websites for visitors to see.

That is so important: there is nothing worse than accessing a company’s website and seeing it looking like a blind mouse designed it back in 1998 on GeoCities. It is perfect for creating advertisements as well.

Pros:

• Drag and Drop:

This is so crucial, especially for newer designers. Powerful drag and drop features are what fuels Canva into what it does best. Users can seamlessly drag and drop and edit layers with ease that users may even prefer over Adobe products.

• Good Features:

Canva has a host of great features that it shares with some of the premier best graphic designing software. It has a great set of templates to ease the use, getting you started on projects where you may come upon a creative block in your designing process.

There is a great support system for Canva as well, so if you are ever stuck in a tricky design, or if something goes wrong with the program itself, there is someone just a call away. This priority for customers is reassuring.

Cons:

• The versions:

The difference between the bare-bones program for free and that of the subscription really makes the user need to use the $12.95 subscription to actually accomplish your projects with ease.

Pricing:

• This is a good ‘in-between’ for users who don’t want to drop a fortune on software like the Adobe Suite but want to kick up their experiences more so than what GIMP may have to offer.
• It has a free trial so you can go for a test run.
• The base program, simply Canva, is free as well. It includes a lot of features, however, not all of them are included in the full version. A certain feature, namely folders for your designs, is limited to 2 in this version.
• Canva for Work is a reasonable $12.95 a month.

This version allows you to have unlimited folders for anything your heart desires. It gives you unfettered access to many other features, like over 8,000 templates for the great beginning design.

Inkscape

I love Inkscape. It was released back in 2003. This is a great option for those with a handy stylus and a keen sense of what they want to draw and create.

Not only that, but it also prides itself on its ease of access for many platforms. With its strong vector creation, it clears the way for any designer to make a number of things with ease.

It uses the GNU Public License, (GPLv3+), which allows for every derivative work within the program to be released under the terms of the license. GIMP also utilizes this license.

Pros:

• Vector Creation:

This is the crux of the program. It is so easy to create vectors, which in turn opens the way for creating stunning visuals with ease and style.

• Open Source:

This software is free and open-source. Like GIMP, it allows users of any experience level to create, share, and edit anything for free. This is essential for those designers who are hesitant to jump into the deep end of high-end graphic design software.

Cons:

• Possibly Buggy:

for a con, this is small potatoes. Some users have complained that earlier versions were a little buggy: possible crashing, a laggy interface. With the current releases, problems like have eased up a lot.

Pricing:

• FREE!

That’s right, folks, it is free. As I said, it is open source and free to use by everyone. With its license, the only stipulation is that works under it also are licensed by it.

Sumopaint

In the spirit of diving right into it, let’s start with a program that works right in your web browser! Sumopaint is both a painting application and an image editor, and like we said it works right in your browser. You don’t have to download anything. You can if you want to, but you don’t have to.

You can create an account with Sumopaint for easier access to your work. You can upload images from your computer into the program to edit them. It has brushstroke options, pencils, a standard color picker, and a light, familiar-feeling interface. Yeah, and it’s free.

SVG-Edit

Looking for another browser-based, totally free program? How about a vector image editor? SVG-Edit is a handy little browser-based program that lets you do exactly what its name suggests: edit an SVG file. Of course, you can also quickly generate a new SVG file, too.

The program is browser-based, so whether you’re loading an image into the program or whipping up something new, you can access it from any modern browser.

Serif DrawPlus

OK, we are out of the browser software now, but it’s still free! You can download a free version of Serif DrawPlus here. Wait until you hear some of these features! So Serif DrawPlus supports the creation of web graphics and animations. Whether it’s banner ads or rollover-graphic web-buttons, you can embed them with HTML no problem.

The program also offers a good array of painting “techniques:” charcoal, pastel, watercolor, and even spray-brushes let you augment photos or create something from scratch.

DrawPlus also lets you add a touch of 3D to your drawings; you can apply surface effects and lighting effects to make your creation come to life.

Daz 3D

Are you guys ready for a cool one? Guess what, it’s still free. It’s a 3D content creation tool. It’s called Daz 3D. You can pose, animate, morph, and render models, all in 3D. Humans, animals, props, vehicles, it’s all there for you to animate or create.

Daz 3D boasts ease of use to all skill levels, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been animating for years. Daz Studios offers some even more powerful software, but the price starts jumping up drastically. It’s also available for both Mac and Windows.

Alchemy

Alchemy is a very neat program. It’s kind of like brainstorming software. There isn’t an undo button. There isn’t much editing functionality, and there’s minimal selecting functionality too. According to the Alchemy site, “interaction focuses instead on the output of a great number of good, bad, strange, and beautiful shapes.”

In a field where it can be hard to let something go as “finished,” losing a lot of that control and only moving forward with the creation is liberating and refreshing. It’s free!

Blender

Remember that open source code we mentioned earlier? Time to bring it out! Blender is an open-source 3D modeling software that lets you go hog wild without breaking the piggy bank (as in it’s free). It’s available for Mac, Windows, and Linux.

With Blender, you have the power to do photorealistic rendering, fast rigging, sculpting (with 20 different brush types), and even game creation. Blender has a full game engine included right in the software. Not bad for a totally free, open-source program.

Pixlr

Pixlr is an app available for iOS and Android. It is a free photo editor, replete with all the right tricks: red-eye removal, teeth whitening, not to mention hundreds of overlays, filters, and effects. Plus, it lets you post things right to social media.

It might not be a tool you add to your professional arsenal, but doing a little free-editing on your phone to make sure your social media profiles are looking good isn’t going to hurt you!

Never fear, designers! There is a slew of graphic design software for you to explore, create, and publish for all to see. This was barely scratching the surface when it comes to the different avenues and options you have for whatever you need as a designer.

While these are just a few programs, I believe that these are the kings of graphic design software that will dominate 2022 and possibly even further. What will the year bring in terms of great graphic design capabilities? I am not sure, but I sure am excited to find out. Happy designing!

Image Source: (Newatlas, Engadget, Extremetech, Stackexchange, Sumopaint, Softonic, Blender)

It’s a giant state, rich in history, deserts, and even pine forest.

Whether you’re looking to go to the state capital of Austin, or the state’s largest city, Houston, we’ve got you covered.

Top Graphic Design Colleges in Texas

Texas A&M University-Commerce

Although it isn’t apparent based on the degrees offered, Texas A&M University-Commerce can assist you in your pursuit of a graphic design career. Texas A&M University-Commerce offers three different focuses within their Visual Communication Major program.

It’s up to you to pick the concentration that most aligns with what you want to do. The BFA program is a five-year endeavor. If you’re looking for a broad, practical foundation across multiple disciplines such as mathematics, history, behavioral science, and humanities, this university is a good option for you.

They provide you with that broad foundation, building up into specialized studies of visual mediums and visual communication. Texas A&M University-Commerce also ranks as one of the very best graphic design schools in the country.

Texas Christian University

The BFA program at Texas Christian University has a long-term placement record of 95%. In recent years, TCU can boast a placement rate of 100%. One contributor to this placement success is likely the mandated creative internship.

In the summer after your third year of classes, you are required to take a creative internship to earn upper-division credit. The BFA does not require a foreign language.

The BA, on the other hand, does require a foreign language. It also requires a second major, or at the very least a second minor. Whether you’re looking for a BFA or a BA, Texas Christian University is worth a close look.

The University of Texas at El Paso

The University of Texas at El Paso can equip you with the technical graphic design skills you’ll need to succeed in the corporate design world, a freelancing practice, or the path of education. The program starts with a strong focus on typography. The emphasis shifts to expressive skills and individual investigation.

By the end of the program, you’ll have mastered practical design skills and developed a creative approach to visual communication.

West Texas A&M University

West Texas A&M University is located in Canyon, Texas. Canyon has a population of about 14,600 people. Last year, WTAMU had 9,489 students enroll in their programs. Of these, 7,281 were undergraduates. The Graphic Design program puts students through 15 hours of rigorous graphic design courses.

You can expect another six hours of graphic design as you navigate through the Intermediate Core coursework. On top of this, you can expect nine hours of computer art classes, nine hours of art history classes, and nine hours of art electives.

University of Houston

The University of Houston has a low student-to-professor ratio. If you like a good bit of personal guidance from the instructors, you’ll get it. If you like a small, more close-knit class, you’ll get it. From a curriculum standpoint, you can expect to discover the theory, methods, practice, and design of design.

The curriculum investigates the emerging trends in communication media, as well as the trends in contemporary culture. The University of Houston will help you cultivate your critical thinking skills and flex your imagination. An added bonus is the sizable alumni organization, UHGAP.

Students can expect support from UHGAP through scholarships and educational opportunities.

Remington College-Fort Worth

Remington College-Fort Worth campus offers an Associate Program in Graphic Design. Unlike some other programs, Remington College does not require any prior graphic design experience. In fact, they don’t require any formal training or prior coursework to enter their program.

The graphic design program and Remington College covers the graphic design theory fundamentals. It also covers the current graphic design software. You can expect to cover typography, digital image editing and illustration, page-layout software, portfolio construction, and more.

This could be a good opportunity for students lacking design experience and a portfolio.

The Art Institute of Houston

At the Art Institute of Houston, the graphic design degree is all about creatively expressing yourself using visual communication. It’s important when working as a graphic design artist to never lose track of your recipient.

The Art Institute curriculum includes the standard typography and illustration courses but also incorporates heavy elements of web development and interface design. In both cases, you’ll use your mastery over visual communication elements to solve problems and communicate information.

It’s worth noting that if you attended the ITT Technical Institute, you may be able to transfer your credits to the Art Institute and have it count towards your degree.

Saint Edward’s University

Saint Edward’s University works to give you a solid foundation on which to build by starting with traditional print design studies. Understanding where original print design theories and practices came from will form the foundation of your education as you move into the digital design world.

Saint Edward’s University will task you with looking critically at how image, form, and typography are used by graphic designers to influence and shape visual environments. Saint Edward’s University will push you to create across several different mediums, ensuring that your visual design skills are well-rounded.

You are required to submit a portfolio for review by the school’s Graphic Design department, whether you are a new student or looking to transfer.

North Lake College

North Lake College is part of the Dallas County Community College District. This college doesn’t offer a full bachelor’s degree program. However, they offer programs that will expose you to computer graphics programs, which can prepare you for a career path in graphic design and similar fields.

The computer graphics field is a unique combination of graphic design, computer technology, and traditional creative art. It’s essentially graphic design with a strong technological focus. Potential careers for computer graphics graduates are advertising, animation art, graphic design, web design, and film and television careers.

While it won’t say “Graphic Design” on your diploma or certificate, you’ll have the skills you need to navigate that career path.

Wade College

Wade College will help you develop your creativity, your technical skills, and your presentation skills. Your first two years will be full of theory and the history behind the design. The early years will also expose you to the current trends and practices in visual communication.

After the foundational exposure, instructors will guide you on your path to cultivating a unique design style. You can expect the latest industry software and hardware with the power to do what you need it to do. You can expect some serious exposure to the Adobe Creative Suites.

Your latter two years at Wade College will expose you to real-life simulations of visual communications problems. This is part of their process for pushing you from a student into a professional, exposing you to real industry design challenges.

Florida is home to some beautiful beaches and balmy temperatures.

If you’re looking to catch some rays and pursue graphic design in the process, Florida is definitely an option worth considering.

We’ve assembled a list of ten of the top schools in the peninsula state of Florida. This should be enough to get you started on your Floridian best colleges for graphic design search.

Our ranking methodology is a diverse one. We picked a smattering of the top schools from several categories.

The schools selected for our list are top performers in at least one of these areas. Because of our ranking system, the schools are not ranked in any particular order. The numbers are there for clarity, not to indicate rank position.

The Top 10 Florida Graphic Design Colleges

University of Florida

The University of Florida is a school that focuses heavily on collaboration within its Graphic Design program. It is a university that examines how designers actually influence culture and impact the world.

The Graphic Design program at the University of Florida is for you if you want to strongly develop your own graphic design voice while finding a stronger sense of purpose through collaboration.

Florida State University

At Florida State University, BFA students are strongly encouraged to complete two focus areas within the studio art offerings. This means you have a unique opportunity to strongly develop a graphic design niche. FSU offers a rich smattering of studio art courses.

Dual focus areas mean you can develop a strong, stand-out portfolio compared to programs offering the same classes to every student.

Ringling College of Art and Design

Unsurprisingly, the Ringling College of Art and Design encourages you to see where in the world graphic designers actually are: everywhere. “Behind your favorite band, sports team, beverage, and app, there’s a graphic designer at work.” It says, as the opening line on its Graphic Design page.

At the Ringling College of Art and Design, you’ll learn to focus on delighting and engaging the end-user. The college also fosters collaboration skills between other creatives–copywriters, printers, photographers, the other professionals you’ll need to bring your vision to life.

Ringling College won’t try to pigeonhole you down a certain career path. No matter how you want to put your graphic design degree to use, they’ll encourage you.

University of Miami

If you’re looking to develop stronger self-discipline and to cultivate your own individuality, the University of Miami might have the Graphic Design program for you. The University of Miami boasts a Graphic Design program that will develop both your individual and collaborative skills.

The inclusion of multidisciplinary projects in the coursework means you won’t learn graphic design as an isolated discipline. You’ll learn graphic design as a discipline that is at its best when combined with other fields. You can expect critiques on a regular basis, oftentimes with guest artists in attendance.

Your graphic design foundation is further enhanced through museum and gallery trips, as well as business field trips.

Barry University

At Barry University, you can expect exposure to all facets of both the graphic design process and the industry as a whole. Barry University will guide you through challenging graphic design problems, helping you curate a portfolio of impressive design solutions.

If you like the opportunity for one-on-one attention with your work, you’ll be happy to hear that Barry University has small class sizes. Personal attention from the dedicated faculty means high accountability and strong guidance, resulting in a portfolio that puts your best foot forward.

Barry University has two Mac labs available to you and others in the Fine Arts majors. Both Mac labs contain current, high-powered hardware. They also contain the latest design software for the industry.

Your senior project involves creating a final project for a collaborative exhibit with other students. Barry University gives its seniors the opportunity to display this exhibit at the Andy Gato Gallery.

Florida International University

Florida International University offers training in the intellectual, technical, and practical aspects of design. Where their program differs lies in the emphasis. They focus on the role of visual communication in opening possibilities for collaboration with non-designers.

If you like the idea of interaction with software developers, programmers, and other professionals across a diverse selection of fields, Florida International University is worth looking into. This collaborative focus helps remove some barriers as far as what is and is not possible within the role of a graphic designer.

Florida International University is also a good place to build a strong foundational mastery of design. Their curricular focus on mobility, interactivity and strategic branding will be beneficial for blazing trails in new forms of communication media.

Broward College

Broward College offers a two-year graphic design program offering real-world training in practical graphic design techniques. They were the first institution to offer a class in iPad interactive design.

They take keeping up with current technology very seriously. If you recognize how rapidly things change, Broward College might be the graphic design school for you.

The focus in the graphic design program lies in the efficient use of software to modify and design images. In addition to the cutting-edge technology focus, Broward College also provides training in print, web, and electronic media.

They also promise students the opportunity to solve real-world advertising problems in the program, as well as the opportunity to satisfy the needs of clients.

Digital Media Arts College

This boutique arts school is located in Boca Raton, Florida. The Digital Media Arts College provides access to their state-of-the-art labs 24 hours a day, seven days per week. The Digital Media Arts College is the school for you if you want to cultivate both your creative talents and technical prowess.

The Graphic Design programs will afford you the opportunity to grow both your client presentation skills and idea marketing skills. Communication plays a pivotal role in all fields, and extra time spent honing your own communication abilities will help you in the long run.

The Digital Media Arts College features some standard design concepts but includes other concepts such as motion graphic, art direction, creative direction, and more.

University of Central Florida

University of Central Florida is a university that requires you to take fundamental drawing, graphics, and design courses prior to entering the Graphic Design program.

You can either take these courses through the school of visual arts and design at the University of Central Florida itself, or you can transfer your credits from an accredited academic institution. The portfolio you present at the University of Central Florida needs to be very professional.

The “application requirements” page strongly stresses the importance of presentation when it comes to your portfolio. The committee that judges prospective entrant portfolios consists of working professionals, which explains the weight they place on presentation. Your portfolio will need between 10 and 15 samples of your work.

University of Tampa

According to the University of Tampa Graphic Design program information page, the program’s cornerstones are the “development of visualization skills, creativity, drawing potential and design ability.” If you’re driven, you’ll want to take advantage of the professional internship opportunities offered through the university.

From a program standpoint, you can study topics like visual communication, pre-and post-production (as it relates to color, paper, and printing), sustainable design, and website and mobile application design. The program also offers the opportunity to develop your creativity across several mediums, using the latest software.

There are plenty of top graphic design schools in New York City. But there are also lesser-known graphic design schools in upstate New York as well.

Our list includes the top graphic design schools from all over the great state of New York.

The schools selected for our list are top performers in at least one of these areas. Because of our ranking system, the schools are not ranked in any particular order. The numbers are there for clarity, not to indicate rank position.

What are the top New York Graphic Design Schools?

The best graphic design schools in New York are:

• State University of New York at New Paltz
• School of Visual Arts
• Parsons School of Design at the New School
• Pratt Institute
• Rochester Institute of Technology
• New York Film Academy
• Syracuse University

The Top Graphic Design Schools in New York

State University of New York at New Paltz

A broad education is the name of the game at SUNY New Paltz. The BFA program covers all kinds of disciplines. You’ll learn about visual communication through the lenses of psychology, anthropology, sociology and more. The State University of New York at New Paltz holds strongly to the belief that Graphic Design is an interdisciplinary practice.

As a result, they encourage students to collaborate on projects with other disciplines and programs offered on the New Paltz campus. If you’re a competitive student, you have a good chance of landing an internship at high-profile places.

School of Visual Arts

The School of Visual Arts has an impressive faculty. Among the ranks are eight Hall of Fame laureates. The School of Visual Arts lets you really customize your education by offering the most studio courses out of any institution globally.

This uniquely extensive offering means SVA allows you to find your graphic design niche. You can expect an impressively unique portfolio upon graduation, provided you put the time in.

Parsons School of Design at the New School

Because they offer a BFA in Communication Design, The New School’s BFA program starts with a strong focus on interaction and typography. This is beneficial, however, because it provides you with a solid foundation for the editorial, web/mobile, information, and interaction design you’ll go on to study later on in the program.

You’ll need a portfolio with eight to 12 images, created using SlideRoom. Because the Parsons School of Design is located right in New York City, they boast of access to companies, organizes, and major influencers in the fields of communication and media.

Shillington School

The Shillington School is not a traditional college. In fact, completion of the Shillington School Graphic Design course won’t even get you a certificate. Instead, you spend 3 months full-time or 9 months part-time developing one helluva portfolio.

It is a highly intensive course that lets you start from no graphic design experience and graduate with a real-deal portfolio. Not having a degree might make some people uncomfortable, and if that’s the case check out the other schools here. For those who aren’t turned off by degree-free graduation, the Shillington School is worth a look.

Pratt Institute

Attending Pratt Institute will cost around $60,000, including tuition, room and board, and other fees. The AOS Graphic Design program will prepare you for a career in graphic design.

The AAS Graphic Design program prepares you for a transfer into the Communications Design BFA program for your junior year at the Pratt Institute. Both the 2 year and the 4-year programs are worthwhile.

6. Syracuse University

The Newhouse School is the public communications school at Syracuse University. The graphic design program at Syracuse University will help you learn to communicate through images.

The program covers all mediums, everything from print and magazine to multimedia presentation formats. Computer production and software are taught through photography and design coursework.

In addition to learning the skills of graphic design, you’ll be exposed to communications law and ethics as well. Communications writing and communications law are less common offerings among graphic design programs and offer a uniquely beneficial addition to a graphic design degree.

The program requires the completion of three courses before official graphic design major enrollment. After completing these courses (introduction to the graphic arts, news writing, principles of photography) you will be required to submit a portfolio.

This portfolio will include work from the courses. This work will feature photos, communications writing, and graphic work samples.

New York Film Academy

The faculty at the New York Film Academy are highly accomplished graphic designers, all of whom remain fairly active in the graphic design field. This professional entrenchment of professors means you will have access to the latest information coming directly from the industry.

With their fingers still on the pulse, they recognize the latest trends in the industry. This lets professors adjust the curriculum and skill focus to best prepare students for the challenges ahead.

The New York Film Academy warns students to be prepared for a full-time commitment to the pursuit of graphic design. The website says class runs five days a week, with evenings and weekends often being devoted to student projects. Exposure to this kind of rigorous workload could serve as excellent preparation for a “real life” job.

Deadlines are a real thing, after all, and early exposure to big projects in small time windows will serve you as you move forward in your career.

Pace University

Pace University provides a professional BFA degree to students enrolled at the school. If you’re looking for hands-on creative work in conjunction with digital creation, Pace offers some unique classes like the Graphic Novel and Children’s Book Illustration. The Mac labs have up-to-date industry software for use by students in the program.

Pace boasts a faculty with international reputations in the Graphic Design field. The portfolio requirement for admission is a CD with 10 images or a five minute DVD sample. Pace University also has small class sizes, so you’ll get the attention you need from the faculty.

International study is available, as are Collage Club and Gotham House, social networks that link students with comparable interests for outings to museums and theater shows.

Fashion Institute of Technology

Tuition for out-of-state residents is $9,796 per semester. For in-state residents, it costs only $3,235 per semester. These costs are for tuition fees associated with baccalaureate-level programs. Much of the faculty for the Design programs hold memberships with graphic design industry associations.

Some notable associations include The Type Directors Club (TDC), the Art Directors Club (ADC), and the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). If you participate in the graphic design program at FIT, you can expect to study topics such as typography, corporate identity systems, and art history.

FIT has an Advertising Design Workshop where you’ll be able to complete real projects for real clients.

Rochester Institute of Technology

Located in Rochester, New York, RIT is home to a solid Graphic Design undergraduate program. The program incorporates business elements, professional practices, collaboration, workflow, and computer-based skills into the Graphic Design curriculum. You’ll have an opportunity to choose several studio electives to explore other areas of art.

Rochester Institute of Technology will expose you to plenty of art and design theory and history. You can expect to explore topics like branding and identity design, as well as user experience design. A healthy balance is struck between conceptual exploration of problem-solving and the actual application of problem-solving techniques.

The Rochester Institute of Technology offers a top graphic design experience through its College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.

If you’ve never been to the northwestern reaches of the United States, you should really go give Oregon a look. There’s a ton of really awesome nature spots, like Crater Lake. It’s the deepest lake in the USA. We dipped our heads in, one time, it’s breathtakingly cold in that water. Ok, nature time’s over, back to schools now!

Getting a college degree is a great opportunity to thrust yourself into a new experience and start with a clean slate. Why not explore a place you’ve never been in the process? We’ve put together a list of the top 7 graphic design schools in Oregon in an effort to make your search for higher education just a little bit easier.

If you’re considering Oregon, or just considering graphic design, this list is a great place to start.

We look at a number of elements when choosing schools to list: tuition pricing, quality of the design program, faculty accessibility, and overall school quality. The schools selected for our list are top performers in at least one of these areas.

Because of our methodology, we don’t rank schools in any particular order. The numbers are there for article clarity, not to indicate rank position.

Oregon Colleges for Graphic Design

Pacific Northwest College of Art

Communication Design, according to Pacific Northwest College of Art, “expands the boundaries of traditional graphic design, rooting you in a crucial understanding of the relationship between media and message.”

Communication Design is a challenging course, but it will prepare you for the toughest visual communication problems in the professional field. Your career possibilities could expand as a result of the communication design’s expanded reach.

Portland State University

Located in the great city of Portland, Portland State University dishes out design theories, principles, history, practice, and applications through their BA/BS Graphic Design program. After your first two years in the Graphic Design program at Portland State University, you’ll have to undergo a Sophomore Portfolio Review.

In order to continue on with your 300- and 400-level courses, you need to pass this review. If you fail to pass the review, you can’t progress further through the program.

If you’re up for the challenge, Portland State University is a fiscally reasonable option to explore. State residents have tuition of just under $4,000, and non-residents can expect tuition of just over $12,000. Your first year will include instruction in the basic design and basic art courses.

Your second year brings in elements of critical design thinking, helping you to creatively solve visual communication problems. Your junior and senior years free you up to select courses with increasing specialization.

Portland State University provides opportunities for you to nab professional internships (not without some competition), and flesh out your professional portfolio (Sophomore Portfolio Review was just the beginning).

Mt Hood Community College

The undergraduate certificate program takes just 9 months to complete. The program only costs $4,326 for tuition and fees, with another $1,560 required for books and supplies.

There is no on-campus housing and no boarding options. You’ll need to live within commuting distance if you want to pursue this certificate. Once you complete the certificate course, you can choose to continue into a second year to get your AAS in Integrated Media: Graphic Design.

The certificate program will teach you how to think critically and creatively to solve design problems. The program will help you learn to adapt to new and changing technologies. You’ll learn to communicate effectively, both orally and through the written word.

The program will teach you how to effectively collaborate, as well. The Certificate Program begins in the fall, starting in the spring is not supported or permitted. In order to continue from your fall term into your winter term, you need to be doing well in your courses and have permission from your faculty program advisor.

You’ll take courses like Principles of Graphic Design, Basic Vector Illustration, Basic Sound Editing, Color and Composition, Web Basics, Digital Illustration, Typography systems, and a handful more.

If you live close to Mt Hood Community College and want to get your feet wet in Graphic Design by attaining a Certificate, give the admissions office a call.

Oregon State University

Oregon State University has a great Graphic Design program. Oregon State University only lets about 25 students into its Graphic Design program, so it is highly competitive. They don’t keep the admissions number low for no reason, either.

The small class environment makes for a rigorous, challenging undergraduate program. There’s no hiding in the background and skating by in this course. You’re going to have to earn your spot and work hard to keep it.

Your time in the Graphic Design program at Oregon State University will see you highly prepared for a competitive professional career. You’ll be able to approach careers in web design, app design, interaction design, interface design, motion graphics, and a lot more.

At Oregon State University you can expect courses in art and design, digital communications, and new media. The Graphic Design program also includes a course on collaboration, a great skill to develop.

Western Oregon University

As noted in the “Degrees Offered” section, you’d enroll as a Visual Communication Design major, but you can choose Graphic Design as a concentration.

The Visual Communication Design course actually features three concentrations: Graphic Design, Video and Animation, and Interactive Media. You can expect to learn foundational art courses in the beginning.

From there, you’ll explore typography, digital image fundamentals, and photography. As your visual communication design skills grow, you’ll collaborate on projects not just with other students and other groups on campus, but with the nearby community as well. This is a great approach to prepare you for the social aspect of your real-world graphic design role.

Western Oregon University’s Visual Communication Design program features small class sizes. This is great for you since you will have the ability to work very closely with your professors. You’ll likely need help at one point or another. Western Oregon University describes its academic landscape as a “supportive, rigorous environment.”

Located in Monmouth, Oregon, Western Oregon University is a relatively inexpensive public school. Residents of the state can expect to pay just over $5,000 for tuition. For non-residents the 12-credit-hours-per-semester tuition cost climbs to just over $12,000.

George Fox University

George Fox University is located in Newberg, Oregon. The graphic design path is actually one of three concentrations in the art and design major.

At Fox, you can expect a curriculum that nurtures your artistic talent and creative spirit. The course will get you ready for a professional career as a graphic designer, or prime you for graduate work if you’d eventually like to teach.

You can expect traditional art and design coursework at Fox. They host classes on print design, computer graphics, web design, illustration, package design, advertising, and more. Your time at Fox will be spent addressing current visual design problems and using your creativity and talent to come up with solutions for these modern issues.

Two great things about George Fox University and the Art and Design programs are the reasonable class size and the practicing professors. Many of the professors in the graphic design concentration still do work in the field, they’re still actively designing.

This is invaluable in making sure the curriculum is relevant to what you as a student will experience when you graduate.

The smaller class sizes mean you develop a close-knit community. The professors know you by name. Plus, you’ll have a great network of Graphic Designers when you graduate; fellow alumni can vouch for you and your skills, and vice versa.

Companies like Disney, Nike, and Bank of America have hired art and design majors from George Fox University. Undergraduate education can cost upwards of $32,000 dollars from tuition alone. Even though it’s one of the more expensive schools on the list, George Fox University will bring real value to your graphic design career.