| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | School of Visual Arts | New York |
| 2 | The New School | New York |
| 3 | Pratt Institute | Brooklyn |
| 4 | The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | New York |
| 5 | Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester |
| 6 | Fashion Institute of Technology | New York |
| 7 | Syracuse University | Syracuse |
| 8 | Purchase College | Purchase |
| 9 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Troy |
| 10 | St. John’s University | Queens |
Our 2025 ranking of the top 10 graphic design school programs in New York. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
The Design Department at School of Visual Arts (SVA) serves more than 700 BFA and MFA students, making it the school’s third largest program. Across programs, students benefit from opportunities to work with the student-run Visual Arts Press; participation in workshops and exhibitions; internships with major companies and studios; four undergraduate concentrations including Graphic Design, Motion Graphics, 3D Design, and Interaction Design; and private studios with 24-hour access for graduate students. At the end of every academic year the Design Department also hosts an Industry Review Day for graduating seniors. SVA Design alumni go on to land positions at places such as Amazon, Google, Apple, Epic Games, Microsoft, IBM, Warner Bros., HBO, Disney, YouTube, IDEO, R/GA, and Walmart.
The Communication Design BFA at The New School is housed in Parsons School of Design (Parsons). The oldest program of its kind in the U.S., the BFA is STEM-designated with access to internship opportunities in New York and other major cities; study abroad experiences in places such as Paris, London, and Florence; and a state-of-the-art Making Center. Other Parsons program options include the Communication Design AAS; the STEM-designated Communication Design Master of Professional Studies (MPS); and a Graphic Nd Digital Design certificate. Graduates of the design programs at Parsons have been hired at places such as Microsoft, Adobe, Google, IDEO, Vogue, Samsung, Meta, and Oracle.
Established in 2014, the School of Design (SoD) at Pratt Institute (Pratt) houses the Communications Design BFA with an Emphasis in Graphic Design or Illustration; Communication Design MFA; STEM-designated Packaging, Identities and Systems Design MS; Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) in Graphic Design; and the Graphic Design/Illustration AAS. All SoD programs highlight internships; study abroad experiences in places such as London, Tokyo, and Milan; access to the Design studio, immersive maker spaces, and production labs. Pratt SoD graduates have been hired at places such as Memorial Sloan Kettering, Microsoft, Apple, Google, DreamWorks Animation, Delta Airlines, IBM, Amazon, HBO, Adobe, Deloitte, Warner Music Group, Peacock, Hasbro, Dior, Ogilvy, Carhartt, Inc., R/GA, and Gensler.
The School of Art at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (Cooper Union) is home to an Art BFA program that allows students to focus in graphic design through electives and studio courses. Examples include Graphic Design I-II; Experimental Printmaking; Advanced Typography; and Animation. All students have the opportunity to complete an internship and/or study abroad experience. Cooper Union graduates go on to land positions at places such as Amazon, The Whitney Museum of American Art (The Whitney), NVIDIA, Microsoft, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Google, Apple, Oracle, Intel, Cisco Systems, Meta, Uber, Cognizant, Gensler, AECOM, and The Noguchi Museum.
The School of Design at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) provides two paths to study graphic design: the Graphic Design BFA, and the cross-disciplinary, STEM-designated Visual Communication Design (VCD) MFA. Students in both programs have opportunities to gain industry experience through cooperative education, internships, and collaborative class projects with RIT partners such as Starbucks, Kraft, and Unilever. Students also benefit from workshops; state-of-the art production facilities and studio spaces; and networking through RIT’s Creative Industry Day. RIT graduates go on to establish careers at places such as Boeing, Nike, Apple, Intel, Microsoft, Google, Cisco, Hasbro, Disney, Warner Bros., ESPN, Oracle, Northrop Grumman, PepsiCo., Nickelodeon, and The Smithsonian Institution.
The School of Art at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) provides two paths to study graphic design including the Communication Design AAS and Graphic Design BFA (GD BFA). In addition to preparing students for entry-level positions in graphic design, the AAS provides a direct path to the BFAs in GD, Advertising and Digital Design, Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design, and Packaging Design. The GD BFA explores advanced level editorial design, branding, interactive web design, experiential design (exhibitions and wayfinding), typography, and motion graphics. Graduates of the design programs at FIT can be found at places such as DDB, Ogilvy, Nike, BBDO, Sony, PepsiCo, LEGO Group, Colgate-Palmolive Pentagram, R/GA, Hyperakt, Landor, Godiva, MoMA, ThinkBrands, Bath & Body Works, and Avon.
The College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) at Syracuse University (SU) provides a Communications Design BFA that features a study abroad program at SU’s center in London. The Newhouse School of Public Communications is home to the Visual Communications BS (Vis BS), with a Graphic Design track. Across programs, students benefit from cross-disciplinary curriculums; internship opportunities; hands-on courses and projects; and individual and group collaborations. Final portfolios for the Communication Design BFA program will be displayed at SU’s annual two-day Senior Portfolio Show in New York City. VIS BS students will participate in the design workshop known as Pixels & Print, where they will design a website; promotional and social motion graphics; a logo and brand system; and a final printed book. Program alumni have landed positions at places such as Google, Amazon, and The Washington Post.
The Graphic Design BFA program at Purchase College takes place in a hands-on studio environment with access to studios, shops, and labs spanning 160,000 square feet. Housed in the School of Art and Design, the program also features semi-private studios for upper division students; a new Illustration concentration; the opportunity to exhibit work in the Richard and Dolly Maass Gallery; internship opportunities; and the option to select additional courses from the Printmaking BFA program. Graduates can be found at places such as The New York Times, Bristol Myers Squibb, Nike, Paramount Pictures, Google, The Whitney, Apple, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Disney, IBM, NBCUniversal, HBO, and Meta.
The School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) provides several paths to study graphic design. Options include the Communication, Media, and Design BS; a Graphic and Interactive Media Design Pathway; and a Graphic Design minor. Program highlights include internship and co-op opportunities; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; seminars and workshops; visiting artists; participation in student organizations; and opportunities to study abroad. HAAS and other RPI graduates have been hired at places such as Boeing, DreamWorks, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Amazon, Google, Electronic Arts (EA), IBM, Northrop Grumman, Yahoo!, Apple, Mitsubishi, Epic Games, AT&T, Merck, Whirlpool, TJX Companies, AMC Networks, Meta, and RTX.
The Department of Art and Design at St. John’s University (St. John’s) is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Within the department is a Graphic Design BFA (GD BFA) program and an 18 credit hour GD minor. All degree seeking students at St. John's have the opportunity to intern at places such Madison Square Garden, Estee Lauder, Morgan Stanley, Sony, and MTV. Design students also have opportunities to study abroad in paces such as Paris, Italy, and Ireland. The Graphic Design BFA program culminates with a final project and presentation. Program alumni have been hired to work with the NBA and WNBA, Google, Nike, Penguin Random House, Amazon, Disney, NBCUniversal, Deloitte, BBDO, Nickelodeon, IBM, Sony, Canon USA, Uline, and Target.
