With a population of more than 5.7 million, Maryland is the country’s nineteenth larest state. The state has a handful of major cities including Columbia, Germantown, Silver Spring, Waldorf, and Baltimore— the state’s largest and most progressive city. While Maryland’s principal cities are home to a number of small ad agencies and design firms, most are located in Baltimore. It is here that the state’s star graphic designers converge to create designs for local firms such as The Berndt Group, which was named one of the largest one web design and graphic design firms in the Baltimore area, ADG Creative, Exit10, Alexander & Tom Inc., and Crosby Marketing Communications, to name a few. The city’s pool of graphic designers also work at full-service web design studios, PR firms, graphic design companies, and even technology firms.
Baltimore is definitely a great place for aspiring designers, but the state overall has a number of other pluses in the areas of education and recreation. According to Marchex, Inc., The Old Line State has forty- seven operational State parks, including 7 parks with waterfront areas, covering 90,239 acres. It has 15 State-owned lakes and ponds open to public fishing; 9 State forests and portions of 15 State parks open
to public hunting; 6 wildlife management areas, covering 88,348 acre, and 6 natural environment areas containing 7,676 acres.
Many of the state's 60 accredited colleges and universities are situated in lush surroundings such as these, offering a peaceful (and inspirational) place to live, work, and study.
Maryland Graphic Design Schools
Maryland is home to wide variety of post-secondary learning institutions including art schools, technical schools, specialty schools, and traditional colleges and universities. These schools offer a varied selection of programs for artists of all kinds, from animation to graphic design to visual arts. Scroll through the list below to review Maryland’s best options for aspiring graphic designers and what they have to offer.
Baltimore
Maryland Institute College of Art - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Graphic Design, Illustration, Interaction Design and Art, Animation, Drawing; M. F. A. Graphic Design, Illustration Practice, Photographic and Electronic Media; Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Graphic Design
Morgan State University - Degrees Offered: B. A. Fine Arts with Concentration in Graphic Design, Illustration
University of Maryland, Baltimore County – Degrees Offered: B. A., B. F. A. Visual Arts with Concentration in Graphic Design or Animation/Interactive Media; M. F. A. Imaging and Digital Arts
College Park
University of Maryland – Degrees Offered: B. A. Graphic Design, Studio Art with Concentration in Digital Media; M. F. A. Art with Concentration in Digital Media/New Genre
Frostburg
Frostburg State University - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Visual Arts with Concentration in Graphic Design
Princess Anne
University of Maryland Eastern Shore - Degrees Offered: B. A. Applied Design with Concentration in Graphic Illustration, Sequential Arts
Salisbury
Salisbury University - Degrees Offered: B. A., B. F. A. Art with Concentration in Graphic Design, New Media
Towson
Towson University - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Graphic Design, Art and Design with Concentration in Digital Art and Design, Illustration; M. F. A. Studio Art; Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Interactive Media Design
More Graphic Design related programs to consider:
- Savannah, Atlanta, Hong Kong, France, and Online via SCAD eLearning
- Animation – B.F.A., M.A., M.F.A.
- Film and television – B.F.A., M.A., M.F.A.
- Motion media design – B.F.A., M.A., M.F.A.
- Illustration – B.A., B.F.A., M.A., M.F.A.
- Interactive design and game development – B.A., B.F.A., M.A., M.F.A.
- Sequential art – B.A., B.F.A., M.A., M.F.A.
- Visual effects – B.F.A., M.A., M.F.A.
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#7) - 2019
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#15) - 2019
- Top 40 Nationally for Illustration (#6) - 2019
- Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#13) - 2019
- San Francisco & Online
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#21) - 2019
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#28) - 2019
- Top 40 Nationally for Illustration (#40) - 2019
- Winter Park, FL & Online
- Computer Animation - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
- Game Programs - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
- Graphic Design & Digital Arts - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
- Film & Digital Cinematography - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
- Mobile Development - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
- Simulation & Visualization - Bachelor's - Campus
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#27) - 2019
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#24) - 2019
- Top 10 in Florida for Graphic Design (#4) - 2019
Employment and Salary Trends for Maryland Graphic Designers
Maryland is home to around 3,930 salaried graphic designers. Although the population of designers has decreased slightly since 2006 (when the figure stood at 4,050), the industry is still going strong and salaries are on the rise as well. In 2006, Maryland graphic designers averaged $45,570. By 2010, the average salary had increased to $52,920, despite a slow growing economy.
Across the country, the mean annual wage for graphic designers overall was $48,140 in 2010. The lowest paid graphic designers earned less than $26,110 (median), and the highest 10 percent earned more than $74,660 (median). The middle 50 percent earned between $32,600 and $56,620 (median). Salaries are significantly higher for freelancers, independent contractors, partners, and designers working in higher
level positions.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “senior designers, who may supervise junior staff or have some decision-making authority that reflects their knowledge of graphic design,” earn a median salary of $60,000. “Solo designers who freelanced or worked under contract reported median earnings of $57,000. Design directors, the creative heads of design firms or in-house corporate design departments,” earn $95,000. “Graphic designers with ownership or partnership interests in a firm or
who are principals of the firm in some other capacity” average $95,000 per year.
