Top Graphic Design Programs in Rhode Island

Rhode Island is home to one of the smallest collections of colleges in the U.S. The good news is, although the number of colleges here is small, the state is big on education—especially when it comes to the world of art and design. Rhode Island is home to one of the top art and design schools in the nation—Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). RISD offers top-tier programs for animators, filmmakers, illustrators, graphic designers, and more.

Although RISD is considered the best, it isn’t the only top school for artists and designers. Rhode Island is home to 13 Title IV degree-granting colleges and universities. These schools must meet five requirements to claim Title IV status. They must (1) have accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, (2) be in business for at least 2 years, (3) sign a participation agreement with the Department, (4) grant an associate's degree or higher, and (5) offer a program of at least 300 clock hours in length. Schools with Title IV status are eligible for federal financial aid programs, making them more accessible to students with financial need.

Title IV status is an excellent indicator of a top-tier school, as well as other factors such as quality of job placement services, variety of programs, types of clubs and organizations, class sizes, cost, and convenience. These factors (and others) help determine if a school deserves a spot on any given “top schools” list. Continue reading to find out which Rhode Island graphic design schools are tops and what they have to offer. Please note that the top graphic design schools listed below are in order by largest student population to smallest.

Top Graphic Design School Programs Rhode Island Major Cities

Providence
Rhode Island College
Student Population: 7,762
Backdrop: Suburban, 180-acre campus, easy access to Boston, MA
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Studio Art with Concentration in Graphic Design

Rhode Island School of Design
Student Population: 1,822
Backdrop: Urban, 13-acre campus, easy access to Boston, MA
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Film/Animation/Video, Graphic Design, Illustration; M. F. A. Digital + Media, Graphic Design; Certificate Animation

Top Graphic Design School Programs Rhode Island Other Cities and Towns

Bristol
Roger Williams University
Student Population: 4,345
Backdrop: Village, 140-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. A. Graphic Design Communication, B. F. A. Visual Arts Studies with Concentration in Film, Animation and Video or Photography and Digital Media

Newport
Salve Regina University
Student Population: 2,028
Backdrop: Town, 75-acre campus, easy access to Boston, MA
Degrees Offered: B. A. Studio Art with Concentration in Graphic Design

Sources

Peterson’s
Princeton Review
U.S. News & World Report College Rankings