Best Graphic Design Programs in California

Examples of the Best Graphic Design School Programs in California
School	City
Woodbury University	Burbank
California State University	Fullerton
Laguna College of Art and Design	Laguna Beach
California State University	Long Beach
Otis College of Art and Design	Los Angeles
Chapman University	Orange
Art Center College of Design	Pasadena
California Institute of the Arts	Valencia
California State University	Chico
SAE Expression	Emeryville
Academy of Art University	San Francisco
California College of the Arts	San Francisco
San Jose State University	San Jose

Advances in technology and interactive media have forced today’s graphic designer to become more creative, computer savvy, and competitive. And that’s not all. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they also have to be multi-faceted. The Bureau states that jobseekers in this field are expected to face keen competition, so graphic designers with both web design and animation experience will have the best opportunities. This is especially true in the state of California.

To meet the strong demand for a new and improved kind of graphic designer, schools across America have added comprehensive graphic design programs or reworked existing programs. The result? It’s safe to say that the U.S. now has some of the best graphic design programs in the world. Although the best programs can be found across the map, some states have a higher concentration than others. California is one of those states.

With more than 26,000 graphic designers, California is home to the nation’s highest population of salaried graphic designers. It also has the highest number of accredited colleges in the U.S. Of the state’s 486 accredited colleges and universities, nearly two dozen offer some of the best graphic design programs in the world. These schools made the list of best schools based on factors such as faculty resources, graduation and retention rates, financial resources, student selectivity, number of program offerings, and peer assessment.

While many of the state’s best graphic design programs are offered at schools in Los Angeles, Hollywood, and San Francisco, cities such as Irvine, Emeryville, Pasadena, and Valencia offer some stiff competition. Continue reading to review some of California’s best graphic design school programs and what they have to offer.

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Best Graphic Design School Programs Southern California

Burbank
Woodbury University - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Graphic Design, Animation

Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Entertainment Art/Animation, Graphic Design, Illustration; M. F. A. Design – Graphic Design and Illustration Concentrations

Irvine
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising - Degrees Offered: A. A. Graphic Design (Branding or Entertainment), Digital Media; many students go on to earn their B. S. degrees in Business Management

Laguna Beach
Laguna College of Art and Design - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Graphic Design, Illustration, Game Art, Animation

Long Beach
California State University Long Beach - Degrees Offered: B. A. and B. F. A. in Art with Graphic Design or Illustration Option; M. F. A. Art with Concentration in Studio Art: - Graphic Design or Illustration/Animation Track

Los Angeles
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) - Degrees Offered: A. A. in Digital Media, Graphic Design (Branding or Entertainment); many students go on to earn their B. S. degrees in Business Management

Loyola Marymount University - Degrees Offered: B. A. Animation, Studio Arts with Graphic Design Emphasis

Otis College of Art and Design - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Graphic Design, Illustration, Digital Media; M. F. A. Graphic Design

Northridge
California State University Northridge - Degrees Offered: B. A. Animation, Video/Digital art, Graphic Design, Illustration; M. A. Art, Studio Art Option with Video/Digital Art Concentration; Visual Communication Option with Illustration or Video/Digital Art Concentration; M. F. A. Art, Studio Art Option with Video/Digital Art Concentration; Visual Communication Option with Illustration, Video/Digital Art Concentration or Graphic Design Concentration

Orange
Chapman University - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Digital Arts with Emphasis in Animation or Visual Effects; Graphic Design; Studio Art: New Genres

Pasadena
Art Center College of Design - Degrees Offered: B. S. Entertainment Design; B. F. A. Graphic Design; B. F. A. Illustration

San Diego
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising - Degrees Offered: A. A. in Digital Media, Graphic Design (Branding or Entertainment); many students go on to earn their B. S. degrees in Business Management

Valencia
California Institute of the Arts - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Art, Graphic Design, Character Animation or Experimental Animation; M. F. A. Graphic Design (with or without specialization in Motion Graphics), Art and Technology, Experimental

Best Graphic Design School Programs Northern California

Chico
California State University - Degrees Offered: B. A. Communication Design – Graphic Design Option; B. F. A. Electronic Arts – Computer Animation Studio Pattern

Emeryville
Ex’pression College for Digital Arts - Degrees Offered: B. A. S. Motion Graphic Design, Animation and Visual Effects, Game Art and Design

San Francisco
Academy of Art University - Degrees Offered: A. A., B. F. A., M. F. A. Animation and Visual Effects; B. F. A., M. F. A. Game Design; A. A., B. F. A., M. F. A. Graphic Design; A. A., B. F. A., M. F. A. Illustration

California College of the Arts – Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Animation, Graphic Design, Illustration; M. F. A. Design

Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising - Degrees Offered: A. A. in Digital Media, Graphic Design (Branding or Entertainment); many students go on to earn their B. S. degrees in Business Management

San Jose
San Jose State University - Degrees Offered: B. A. Art: Design Studies with emphasis in Graphic Design, B. F. A. Art: Animation/Illustration, B. F. A. Art: Digital Media Art, B. F. A. Graphic Design; M. F. A. Art: Digital Media Art Concentration

Programs to Consider: