Top 13 Graphic Design Schools In California 2022 List

Table Of Content

• Zurich University of the Arts
• Brigham Young University
• Advertising and Marketing
• ACCESS A WIDE VARIETY OF CREATIVE CAREERS
• ArtCenter College of Design
• Best Overall Programs

The Graphic Design program has strong ties to the Los Angeles design scene, but the campus is set apart in the idyllic city of Orange. Because all students are required to take a co-op semester where they work full-time, graduates leave the program with a remarkable edge over the competition. Graphic design is a field that fuses creativity and modern technology to build truly innovative designs. If you think pursuing a career in graphic design may be right for you, check out CollegeVine’s Top 30 schools for Graphic Design.

Zurich University of the Arts

Graduates will leave the SAIC VCD Program with a professional portfolio of their best work. Students will work one-on-one with a faculty member and they may sign up with artists, writers, and other academics from other SAIC departments. While the CCA MFA in Design provides the opportunity to explore Graphic, Interaction, and Industrial Design, students may concentrate in either area. Course examples for the program include Contemporary Design practice, Expanded Tools, Business of Design, Scripting Graphics, The Studio 1 and 2, and Thesis Studio 1 and 2. Examples of electives include Digital type Design, Sound, Music & Technology, and Interaction Theory.

Brigham Young University

Many offer their own unique spin on graphic design or have a special focus not found at many other institutions. The Pratt Institute is another prestigious program located on a historic campus in Brooklyn, NY. They are invested in a philosophy of "poetic pragmatism," in which artistic vision is married with practical skills. First, I gathered as many lists of the best graphic design schools as I could possibly find.

Advertising and Marketing

Graduates of the BFA program “will be prepared to successfully contend for the rigorous and highly competitive careers in graphic design as well as for admittance into graduate level programs,” says the school. Graduates of the program are prepared to enter the schools MS in Graphic Communications or seek positions in printing management, production planning and supervision, commercial and technical sales, and many others. Because of the popularity of the Graphic Design Program, enrollment is limited to just 40 students. Course highlights for the program include Branding, Design Thinking, Motion, Media Design, Bookbinding, Interaction Design, Letterpress Studio, and Studio Practices for Designers.

ACCESS A WIDE VARIETY OF CREATIVE CAREERS

TAMUC VisCom Program Ranked as a Top 50 National Graphic Design Program - Texas A&M University-Commerce

TAMUC VisCom Program Ranked as a Top 50 National Graphic Design Program.

Posted: Wed, 18 May 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Appalachian State University takes a uniquely global approach to its art degree programs. The school is committed to introducing you to a variety of cultures and helping you learn how to live, work, and interact in a global society. You can expect regular faculty-led regional and national trip opportunities and top-notch study abroad programs. Such international experiences can enhance your art and deepen your global understanding. If you're looking to enter the program as a freshman, you're not required to submit a portfolio, which makes this Bachelor of Fine Arts more accessible to graphic design novices when compared with other programs.

Design alumni are also in high demand at companies and studios throughout Silicon Valley. Graduates are Art Directors, Web Designers, User Experience Designers, Brand Managers, Packaging Designers Creative Directors, Layout Artists, Publication Designers, Book Designers, Exhibit Designers, Freelance Designers, and Entrepreneurs. Course examples for the BA Program include Visual Communication & Process, Fundamental Graphic Visualization, Design Process, Visual Communication, Graphic Design Theory & History, Design Values Digital Applications, and Professional Practices. Recommended electives include Ergonomics for Design, Acting, and Architectural Project Materials. The College of Arts & Sciences at University of San Francisco (USF) houses the Department of Art + Architecture. The Design BA Program here is interdisciplinary and explores Graphic Design, Environmental Design, and Digital Media Design.

ArtCenter College of Design

Savannah College of Art and Design is unusually large for an art school, with over 11,000 students enrolled. You can get a BA in Visual Communication (with a focus on graphic design) or a BFA in Graphic Design, so your options are flexible. Professors have significant industry experience, and you'll have a chance to study abroad at SCAD's global campuses in Hong Kong or Lacoste, France.

Best Overall Programs

And the goal to launch them into leadership roles in advertising, publishing and industrial design. Now one of the top graphic design schools in California, they’re still a college focused on developing leaders and innovators in the creative sphere. They offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees as well as trans-disciplinary programs and tangible maker-spaces. With an aim to be an answer to and active impact on global society—ArtCenter offers a comprehensive course on how to become a graphic designer.

Other program features include private MFA studios with natural lighting and large windows, access to state-of-the-art equipment to produce print, paper and book arts media, and the multifunctional Project Space for installing, staging, critiquing, and exhibiting work. Academy of Art University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Founded in 1929, Academy of Art University is a family-owned private university that serves more than 7,000 students. Divided into 22 schools, Academy of Art University offers more than 129 degree programs in 40+ areas of study. Founded in 1858, the school is the nation’s first designated land-grant institution. Iowa State serves just over 30,700 students enrolled in more than 100 undergraduate majors and over 200 fields of study leading a graduate or professional degree.

Founded in 1930, ArtCenter College of Design serves approximately 2,250 students representing more than 40 countries. The school offers 11 undergraduate and seven graduate degree programs in a variety of Industrial Design, Visual, and Applied Arts Disciplines. The school, which has a campus in Berlin, two campuses in Pasadena, and satellite studios in Los Angeles at the Peterson Automotive Museum, offers a BFA in Graphic Design and an MFA Graduate Graphic Design (MGx). Back then, the school was known as The Chase School, and later as New York School of Fine and Applied Art.

Located in the midsize city of Tempe, ASU - Tempe is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 2nd out of 26 schools for overall quality in the state of Arizona. When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Graphic Design Schools list to help you make the college decision.You can also filter this list by location to find schools closer to you.

2024 Best Colleges with Graphic Design Degrees

Table Of Content

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Online Graphic Design Degrees
• Golden West College
• Do you know how to improve your profile for college applications?
• Best Colleges for Graphic Design Majors
• Popular Continuing Education Paths
• San Jose State University
• Scottsdale Community College
• All Students by Gender23

Founded in 1826, MICA is the nation’s oldest independent, continuously degree-granting college of art and design. Forty percent of MICA students are fine arts majors and 60% are design & media arts majors. UArts serves approximately 1,800 students enrolled in more than 40 programs at the University's Avenue of the Arts campus. This means, aspiring graphic designers can take sculpting classes, creative writers can take classes in illustration, dancers can minor in ceramics, and industrial designers can study guitar. Established in 1927, University of Houston (UH) serves more than 47,000 students enrolled in 250 undergraduate majors and minors, 108 master’s degrees, and 50 doctoral and professional degrees.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Online Graphic Design Degrees

Graduates of the MSU Graphic Design Program work at advertising agencies, marketing firms, design studios, publishing companies, and more. They hold titles such as Graphic Designer, Brand Identity Developer, Art Director, Logo Designer, Creative Director, Multimedia Artist, UI/UX Designer, Production Artist, Digital Designer, and Exhibition Designer, among others. The School of Architecture and Design at the University of Kansas (KU) houses the Department of Design. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the Department features access to state-of-the-art facilities, collaborations, lectures, and workshops led by industry professionals, study abroad programs, and local and international internships. Students may also choose 26 units of electives to customize a specialization in any  area of design or other discipline. The UIC MDes in Graphic Design is a two-year program that focuses on an independent master’s research project.

Golden West College

Students in the programs engage in all phases of typography, information design, design systems, exhibition design, publication design, new media, and visual methods/processes. Course highlights for the BDes include Corporate Identity, Exhibition Design, Information Design, Interface Design, Marks + Symbols, Publication Design, and Visual Systems. A Design Capstone is also part of the program as well the opportunity to complete an internship.

Do you know how to improve your profile for college applications?

Course examples for the BSD Program include Intermediate Visual Communication Design, Design Media, Materials and Processes, Advanced Visual Communication Design, Typographic Design, Collaborative Design, Design Research, Professional Practice, and Design History. All USC Roski Communication Design Minors have the opportunity to participate in the New York Design and International Study Tours, or the Practicum in Marketing Communication and Promotion Design. Courses for this Certificate Program include Introduction to Graphic Design, Graphic Design, Creating Online Media, Typography, and User Experience Design. All UCLA DMA and Media Arts students have access to numerous labs, spaces, and other facilities.

Best Colleges for Graphic Design Majors

Program offerings for aspiring graphic designers include a BFA in Graphic Design (BFA GDES). Founded in 1829, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) serves nearly 19,000 across eleven colleges and schools emphasizing career education and experiential learning. The school, which has global locations in China, Croatia, Dubai, and Kosovo, offers several programs for aspiring graphic designers. Established in 1880, University of Southern California (USC) serves 47,500 students enrolled in more than 200 undergraduate programs, 300-plus graduate programs, and more than 150 minors.

Popular Continuing Education Paths

Course highlights for the program include Communication Design Systems, Computer Graphics for Art & Design, Digital Imaging & Illustration, Narrative and Communication Design, and Typography. Graduates of the Communications Design BFA and GDC work for ad agencies, design studios, in-house corporate design departments, and as freelance designers. Students in the BS program will take a broad range of courses such as Design Ideation, Foundational Drawing and Design, Kinetic Communication, Photodesign, and Typography.

The school serves approximately 44,530 students, making it one of the top 10 largest universities in Texas and one of the largest in the U.S.  Students at UNT have access to more than 200 degree options across 14 colleges and schools. University of North Texas is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and it is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Founded in 1838, Virginia Commonwealth University is a top 100 research university that serves more than 28,900 students. The largest employer in Richmond, Virginia, VCU offers more than 200 programs across 15+ colleges, schools, and centers. Virginia Commonwealth University accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). MFA students will complete several Visual Communications Workshops and Seminars, Research/Individual Study, and an Internship or Teaching Practicum.

Scottsdale Community College

The College of Arts and Letters at California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA) houses the Department of Art, which has Art BA, MA, and MFA degrees with a Graphic Design/Visual Communication Option. As part of the Cal State LA Department of Art, all degree-seeking students have the opportunity to present their work through weekly rotating exhibitions in the student-run exhibition space COMA Gallery. Graduates of the Woodbury Graphic Design BFA Program have been recruited by top design firms, advertising agencies, studios, book publishing companies, museums, printing companies, entertainment companies, magazines and newspapers, and major corporations, among others. They work in Signage and Wayfinding Design, Branding and Identity Design, Interactive Media, App Design, Web Design, UX Design, Publication Design, Book Design, Exhibition Design, Environmental Design, Print Production, Collateral Design, and Art Direction.

Columbia College Chicago (Columbia or Columbia College) houses the School of Fine and Performing Arts, which offers BA, second BA, and BFA degrees in Graphic Design. This program explores graphic design, typography, visual culture, and website design. BFA students have the option to complete the Practicum (45 working hours), Undergraduate Research (course) and/ or a study abroad experience.

Learners also can gain the technical skills needed to prepare designs for print production. Its particular commitment to sustainability, entrepreneurship, and internationalization makes Aalto a leader in shaping the future of education and research, especially as we face challenges such as the climate crisis. Although not explicitly focused on arts and design, Aalto University in Finland is a dynamic institution that promotes innovation across all its subject areas.

One of the oldest art colleges in California, USC’s first art school was founded in 1895. USC’s course offers an open approach that allows their students to explore and diverge in their design education throughout the four year course. Part of a trio of undergraduate degrees under USC Roski—the design course is an intensive program that immerses the student in design media. A combination of studio courses in tandem with theory seminars, critique studios, capstone courses and senior thesis projects round off Roski’s design education. Being one of the top graphic design schools in California—students also have the option to extend their degree through optional courses that include professional internships and international art study tours led by faculty.

B.F.A. Graphic Design Major WTAMU - West Texas A&M University

B.F.A. Graphic Design Major WTAMU.

Posted: Fri, 29 May 2020 08:59:42 GMT [source]

Here, aspiring designers can earn a BA (in Applied Arts and Sciences), MA or MFA with a Graphic Design Emphasis. Founded in 1875 by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), Brigham Young University (BYU) serves 30,745 undergraduate students—the largest undergraduate enrollment of any private university in the U.S. The school also serves close to 2,800 graduate students enrolled in 88 master's degree programs, and 32 doctorate programs. Around 187 undergraduate majors and 110 undergraduate minors are also offered in dozens of colleges and departments.

Courses are taught by renowned professionals in the field and include titles such as Sustainability and Design, Visual Perception, Motion Design, Typographic + Information Design, Creative Coding Studio, Prototyping and Production, Design Management, and Packaging and the Retail Space. In the three-year track, students will take electives, a seminar, and graduate level Type Design, Form, Typography and History of Graphic Design courses during the first year. The second and third year consists of studios, seminars, electives, and the Graduate Thesis. The College of the Arts at California State University-Long Beach (CSULB) houses the School of Art (SoA), which employs over 130 full-time and part-time faculty that serve nearly 2,000 students. Course examples include Digital Publishing Systems, User Experience for Digital Innovation, Digital and Offset Printing Methods, Graphic Communication in Integrated Marketing Communications, and Digital Typography.

Founded in 1855, Michigan State University (MSU) serves around 50,350 students from 142 countries, every state in the United States and every county in Michigan. MSU students have access to more than 200 programs across 17 degree-granting colleges. The MFA has two- and three-year options that consist of 60 credits total (terminal degree). Graduates from the program land positions at design studios, in-house design departments and advertising and marketing agencies. Many alumni from the program go on to establish their own successful businesses as well. Options for aspiring graphic designers include BA and BFA degrees in Graphic Design, a BFA in Art with a Focus in New Genres or Printmaking, and Minors in Design or Advertising Design.

An internship is a required component of the BFA program as well as an exit portfolio presentation for public display. Founded in 1910 as a teacher-training school, Kent State University (KSU) serves 38,000 students enrolled in more than 340 degree programs offered in more than 40 colleges, departments, and schools. Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) began with the merging of the Rochester Athenaeum (est. 1829), and a technical training school known as Mechanics Institute (est. 1885). With campuses in Rochester, New York, Dubai, Croatia, Kosovo, and China, RIT serves nearly 19,000 students majoring in everything from Art and Design to Robotics and Science Exploration. Programs for aspiring graphic designers include a BFA in Graphic Design and an MFA in Visual Communication Design (VCD).

Look for schools that have a strong reputation and a track record of placing graduates in successful careers. In addition to its top-ranked academic programs, the College also serves residents of the Greater Los Angeles region through its ArtCenter Extension programs - a highly regarded series of year-round educational programs for all ages and levels of experience. Graphic Arts students in Virginia Commonwealth University’s BFA program combine creativity, formal elements, and service to create unique designs that improve the world around them.