| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Texas at Austin | Austin |
| 2 | University of North Texas | Denton |
| 3 | Texas State University | San Marcos |
| 4 | Texas A&M University | College Station |
| 5 | University of Houston | Houston |
| 6 | Texas Tech University | Lubbock |
| 7 | Baylor University | Waco |
| 8 | Texas Christian University | Fort Worth |
| 9 | University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington |
| 10 | Sam Houston State University | Huntsville |
Our 2025 ranking of the top 10 graphic design school programs in Texas. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
The School of Design and Creative Technologies at University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) houses the Design Department. Within the department is a Design Program with BA, BFA, and MFA options. A three-month, 100% online Graphic Design certificate program is available through UT Austins Center for Professional Education at UT Austin. All Design students benefit from project-based courses taught by industry professionals; dedicated studio spaces; fabrication labs; and partnerships with places such as IBM, McKinsey & Company, and Logitech. Design alumni have been hired at places such as Walt Disney Animation Studios, The New York Times, Apple, Meta, Gensler, Deloitte, Razorfish, and H-E-B Digital.
The College of Visual Arts and Design (CVAD) at the University of North Texas (UNT) houses the Design Department, which provides a Communication Design BFA with Graphic Design and User-Experience Design (UX Design) tracks. Students in both tracks have the option to add a minor such as Printmaking; New Media Art; Photography; or Art History. The program culminates with a portfolio of the student’s best work. UNT design graduates can be found at places such as Microsoft, Nike, IBM, Disney, Apple, IDEO, Goldman Sachs, BBDO, Starbucks, Intuit, BMW, PepsiCo, Nieman Marcus, Fossil, and Capital One.
Texas State University (Texas State) has several paths to study graphic design including the Communication Design (ComDes) BFA and MFA, and the Art and Design minor. All programs take place in the Joann Cole Mitte Art and Design Building, which provides access to state-of-the-art labs and photography studios. Students also benefit from internship experiences in Texas and abroad; opportunities to earn publishing credits in trade journals such as Communication Arts, PRINT, and Logo Lounge; seminars; the visiting artists series; immersive workshops; and graduate assistantships. Texas State design graduates have been hired at places such as Disney, Cisco, Google, DDB, Amazon, Dell, Microsoft, Apple, USAA, IBM, Adidas, Deloitte, Verizon, Meta, H-E-B Digital, GSD&M, and Ascension.
The School of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts (PVFA) at Texas A&M University (Texas A&M) houses a Visualization (Viz) program that provides several paths to study graphic design. Options include the Visualization BS (BS-Viz), which highlights a mandatory semester abroad in places such as Italy or the UK; a Graphic Design minor; the MS-Viz, with thesis and non-thesis options; and one of the few programs of its kind in the U.S. and the only program of its kind in Texas—the MFA-Viz. All students benefit from collaborative, project-based studios; participation in design competitions; and access to state-of-the-art production facilities and labs. Graduates can be found at places such as NASA, Pixar, Amazon, IBM, Disney, ESPN, Boeing, AT&T, Lockheed Martin, Oracle, Dell, Axiom, and H-E-B Digital.
University of Houston (UH) is home to the Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts (KGMCA). Within the college is the School of Art, which houses the Graphic Design BFA and MFA programs. Across programs, students benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration; site-specific projects; dedicated facilities; 24/7 access to state-of-the-art labs and studios; internship opportunities; and participation in the BLOCK Program, which allows students to interact with professional artists and designers. The BFA culminates with a final project and portfolio to be presented at the annual Graphic Design Senior Exhibit. The MFA culminates with a thesis exhibition at University of Houston’s Blaffer Art Museum. Uh Graphic Design graduates have been hired at places such as The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFA H) Minuteman Press, Versa Creative, Page Southerland Page, FDI Creative Services, and NOV Inc.
Texas Tech University’s (TTU) School of Art houses an Art BFA with a concentration in Graphic Design. Areas explored include branding, emerging technologies, typography, interactive design, and publication. Program highlights include collaborative projects and workshops; access to state-of-the-art labs and studios; internships and study abroad opportunities in 50 locations; and guest artists. Graduates have gone on to secure positions at places such as The New York Times, IBM, Nike, Apple, PepsiCo, Southwest Airlines, Condé Nast Traveler, Fossil, Old Navy, Wired, M.A.C. Cosmetics and Fidelity.
Baylor University (Baylor) is home to the College of Arts and Sciences. Established in 1919 and housing 25 departments, the college is one of Baylor’s oldest and largest units. Students seeking a degree in graphic design have two options—the Studio Art BA with a concentration in Graphic Design and the Graphic Design BFA. Across programs, students benefit from mandatory internships; smart classrooms; access to state-of-the-art computer labs and production studios; and portfolio preparation courses that cover interviewing, presentation skills, and job search strategies. Graduates have been hired at places such as Deloitte, IBM, The New York Times, Disney, ESPN, Amazon, the Dallas Symphony, Meta, AT&T, and Dell.
The College of Fine Arts at Texas Christian University (TCU) houses the Department of Design. Within the department are two paths to study graphic design including the Graphic Design BFA and the Design Studies BS. Across programs, students benefit from the mandatory TCU Design Internship, which includes opportunities in places such as London, New York, Taiwan, and Chicago; access to state-of-the-art labs and studios; and the option to add a minor or second major. Programs culminate with a final project and presentation. Graduates can be found at places such as Apple, Pentagram, the Dallas Fort Worth Airport, Loyalkaspar (LK), PACE, the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Stantec, and Twilio.
The College of Liberal Arts (CoLA) at University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) is home to the Art and Art History Department (AAHD). Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the department houses the Art BA, BFA, and MFA programs. BA and BFA students may concentrate in Visual Communication Design. MFA students may focus in Design. Other program features include internship opportunities; access to state-of-the-art facilities; and award-winning advisors. BA and BFA students will complete a portfolio and presentation to graduate. The MFA program culminates with a thesis project and exhibition. Graduates have been hired at places such as Lockheed Martin, the American Heart Association (AHA), Fidelity, American Airlines, Infosys, Toyota, and Exxon.
The College of Arts and Media at Sam Houston State University (SHSU) is home to the Department of Art. Within the department is a Graphic Design BFA (GD BFA) and an 18 credit hour Graphic Design minor. This option is available to students in all other majors. BFA students have the option to add another complementary minor or teaching certification. Other program benefits include workshops and portfolio critiques led by professional designers; professional internships; and study abroad experiences. The program culminates with the Graphic Design Senior Show at the University Art Gallery. Graduates of have gone on to establish careers at places such as Disney, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Fastsigns.
