| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Florida | Gainesville |
| 2 | Ringling College of Art and Design | Sarasota |
| 3 | Full Sail University | Winter Park |
| 4 | Florida State University | Tallahassee |
| 5 | University of Miami | Coral Gables |
| 6 | University of Central Florida | Orlando |
| 7 | University of North Florida | Jacksonville |
| 8 | Flagler College | St. Augustine |
| 9 | University of South Florida | St. Petersburg |
| 10 | Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton |
Our 2025 ranking of the top 10 graphic design school programs in Florida. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
University of Florida (UF) is home to the School of Art and Art History. Within the school are several paths to study graphic design including the Graphic Design BFA; the Design and Visual Communications MFA (MxD); and Graphic Design minor. All students benefit from real-world projects with major companies; access to state-of-the-art studios and labs, including the MxD lab; internships; and study abroad experiences in places such as the UK, Italy, and Spain. Graduates have gone on to launch their own studios or land positions at places such as Walt Disney Imagineering, Microsoft, Google, Miami Heat, Apple, IBM, L’Oréal, Viacom, IDEO, Meta, Fossil, Verizon, and R/GA.
Established in 1980, the Graphic Design Program at Ringling College of Art and Design (RCAD) provides opportunities to work on real-world projects at the school’s in-house design studio Ringling College Design Center. Leading to a BFA, the program also highlights external internships with major companies and studios; visiting artists from places such as DreamWorks, and the opportunity to submit works to the ADDY Awards. Graduates go on to establish careers at places such as Microsoft, Leo Burnett, Intel, Amazon, Meta, DreamWorks, Saatchi & Saatchi X, Google, Apple, Ogilvy, Nickelodeon, and Hallmark.
Full Sail University (Full Sail) provides several paths to study Graphic Design. Students seeking an undergraduate program can enroll in the Visual Design certificate or the Graphic Design BS program. A Media Design MFA is available for students seeking an advanced degree. Across programs, students benefit from real-world, project-based design curriculums; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; and internship opportunities with places such as Disney, Google, and Meta. Graduates of the Design programs at Full Sail have been hired at places such as Walt Disney World, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Google, the Orlando Magic, Adobe, Disney Animation, and Super-Pharm.
The College of Fine Arts at Florida State University (FSU) is home to the Department of Art. Within the department are the Studio Art BA, BFA, and MFA degree programs. An interdisciplinary Graphic Design graduate certificate is also available to graduate students in all departments. BA students must choose one concentration, BFA students must select two, and MFA students may focus through electives or an established concentration. Examples include Electronic Arts (MFA); Printmaking; Book Arts; Installation (MFA); Digital Media; Photography; Moving Image; Drawing; and Paper-making (MFA). The MFA is a fully funded program, with additional scholarship/fellowship opportunities. FSU alumni go on to establish careers at places such as Disney, Lockheed Martin, Amazon, IMAX, Deloitte, L3Harris, Publix, and PwC.
The Department of Art and Art History at University of Miami (UM) houses the Electronic Media area, which has a Graphic Design and Multimedia concentration. Leading to a BFA, the program features interdisciplinary studio courses; business field trips and gallery visits; seminars and critiques by visiting artists; access to state-of-the-art studios and labs; and participation in research and presentation projects. UM alumni go on to land positions at places such as Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, Pfizer, Warner Bros. Discovery, Google, Ford, NBCUniversal, P&G, The Miami Heat, ABC, Netflix, Levi Strauss & Co., Sundance Institute, ESPN, Royal Caribbean Group, Macy’s, J&J, Grainger, Allstate, and Old Navy.
The School of Visual Arts and Design (SVAD) at University of Florida (UCF) has several paths to study graphic design including an Emerging Media BFA with a Graphic Design track, and the Emerging Media MFA with a Studio Art and Design track. The BFA explores areas such as branding, user interface/user experience (UI/UX), identity systems, packaging design, publishing, interactive design, film, and web design. The MFA focuses on areas such as experimentation, traditional media, human interaction, and emerging media. Graduates can be found at NASA, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Microsoft, DreamWorks, Amazon, Sony, Adult Swim, Blizzard Entertainment, Apple, Universal Orlando, Meta, NBCUniversal, Rockstar Games, Lockheed Martin, Netflix, Electronic Arts (EA), and Warner Bros.
The College of Arts and Sciences (COAS) at University of North Florida (UNF) is home to the Department of Art, Art History, and Design. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the Department houses a Graphic Design BFA program that features hands-on design projects for local businesses. Students also benefit from internship opportunities; the visiting artist series; participation in two Senior Showcases in UNF Gallery Spaces; and study abroad in places such as Paris, London, and Spain. Graduates go on to establish successful careers with the U.S. Army, State Farm Insurance, the PGA Tour, Williams Athletics, Campers Inn, The Haskell Company, and GORUCK.
Flagler College (Flagler) provides two paths to study graphic design—the BFA and a minor. The Graphic Design BFA (GD BFA) is a professional degree that allows students to specialize in a specific area through electives. The Graphic Design minor is a 23 credit hour program that can be taken alone or with most Flagler majors. Other GD benefits include studio projects that can be submitted to design competitions such as the ADDY Awards; internship opportunities at places such as Cox Media Group; and the Art Study Abroad or Study Away New York electives. Graduates can be found at places such as Northrop Grumman, Amazon, Lucasfilm, Disney, The Wall Street Journal, Marvel, CNN, Walmart, and Publix.
The College of Design, Art and Performance at University of South Florida (USF) is home to the School of Art and Art History. Within the school is the Graphic Arts BFA program with two concentrations: Illustration and Graphic Design. Electives allow students to enhance the degree beyond the concentration. Other program benefits include projects within the university and surrounding community; studio-based coursework; and internship opportunities. The program culminates an exhibition of the student’s final senior project. USF alumni have gone on to establish careers with Google, Microsoft, Disney, IBM, the Miami Dolphins, Stanley Black & Decker, Live Nation, and United Way Miami.
The Department of Visual Arts and Art History at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) has two paths to study graphic design. Options include the Graphic Design BFA and the Visual Arts MFA with a concentration in Graphic Design. Across programs, students benefit from interdisciplinary curriculums; partnerships with the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami (MOCA), Boca Museum of Art, and the Las Vegas Arts Commission; internship opportunities; and study abroad experiences in Italy, France, and Spain. FAU Design alumni have gone on to establish careers at places such as Microsoft, Amazon, Deloitte, Hard Rock Digital, Enterprise, ADP, Northwestern Mutual, the Sun Sentinel, Aldi, Broward Health, and UKG.
