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What are the top Texas graphic design schools for 2026?
| Ranking | School | City | Ranking by Region | National Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Texas at Austin | Austin | #1 in Southwest | #11 |
| 2 | University of North Texas | Denton | #4 in Southwest | #23 |
| 3 | Texas State University | San Marcos | #6 in Southwest | #50 |
| 4 | Texas A&M University | College Station | #7 in Southwest | Unranked |
| 5 | University of Houston | Houston | #8 in Southwest | Unranked |
| 6 | Baylor University | Waco | #9 in Southwest | Unranked |
| 7 | Texas Tech University | Lubbock | #10 in Southwest | Unranked |
| 8 | Texas Christian University | Fort Worth | #14 in Southwest | Unranked |
| 9 | University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington | #17 in Southwest | Unranked |
| 10 | Sam Houston State University | Huntsville | #20 in Southwest | Unranked |
Our 2026 ranking of the top 10 graphic design school programs in Texas. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
1. University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
The School of Design and Creative Technologies at the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) provides several paths to study graphic design. Options include BA, BFA, and MFA degrees in Design. A 12-week online Graphic Design certificate program is also available through UT Austin’s Center for Professional Education (CPE). Across programs, industry professionals lead all project-based courses and activities. Degree-seeking students also benefit from partnerships with Netflix, IBM, and Gensler, among others; dedicated studio spaces; and access to The Foundry Makerspace, print and fabrication labs, the Riso Room, and Moody Digital Media Computer Lab. Design alumni can be found at places such as Disney, Apple, Gensler, The New York Times, Whole Foods, Deloitte, YETI, Razorfish, Dell, and Frog Design.
2. University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
The College of Visual Arts and Design (CVAD) at the University of North Texas (UNT) houses a Communication Design BFA with concentrations in Graphic Design and User Experience Design (UX Design). Highlights across programs include the option to add a minor such as New Media Art, Photography, or Printmaking; a 3.5-year sequence of studio coursework; professional internships; and a final competitive portfolio. UNT design graduates have landed positions at places such as Disney, Apple, Nike, IDEO, Capital One, Microsoft, BBDO, PepsiCo, IBM, Starbucks, BMW, Neiman Marcus, and Fossil.
3. Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas
The Communication Design (ComDes) BFA and MFA programs at Texas State University (Texas State) have a unique component that allows students to earn publishing credits in trade journals such as PRINT and Communication Arts. Housed in the School of Art and Design, the programs provide access to the Multidisciplinary Innovation Lab (The MiL) and the ComDes Fabrication Lab and Print Facility. Other program highlights include immersive workshops; the visiting artists series; and paid graduate assistantships for MFA students. Across programs, graduates have established careers at places such as Amazon, Disney, Google, DDB, Microsoft, Leo Burnett, Dell, BBDO, Apple, Deloitte, Adidas, and VML.
4. Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
The College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts (PVFA) at Texas A&M University (Texas A&M) has a Visualization (Viz) program with BS (BS-Viz), MS (MS-Viz), and MFA (MFA-Vis) pathways. A Graphic Design minor is available for BS-Viz students and the MS-Vis has eight emphasis areas. Examples include User Experience (UX) Design, Computer Graphics, and Interactive Design. The MFA-Viz is one of the few programs of its kind in the U.S. and the only program of its kind in Texas. Students in this program have access to the same emphases that are available to MS-Viz students. All students have access to state-of-the-art production facilities, and opportunities to participate project-based studios and design competitions. Graduates can be found at places such as Lockheed Martin, Electronic Arts (EA), NASA, Disney, Amazon, Deloitte, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Boeing, DreamWorks, IBM, Netflix, and ESPN.
5. University of Houston, Houston, Texas
University of Houston (UH) is home to the Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts (KGMCA), which houses the School of Art. Within the school is a competitive Graphic Design BFA program that requires students to pass a portfolio review—known as the Block Review—to advance to upper-level graphic design courses. In addition to the BFA, the School of Art has a Graphic Design MFA program with 24/7 access to dedicated studios, collaborative spaces, and labs. Other highlights across programs include visiting professionals; interdisciplinary collaborative and site-specific projects; and internships at places such as Savage Brands, Norton Creative, and Loves’ Travel Shops. In addition to Savage Brands and Norton Creative, graduates have secured positions at places such as Gensler, HP, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), Stantec, CORE Design Studio, Kirksey Architecture, and Herring Design.
6. Baylor University, Waco, Texas
The Department of Art and Art History at Baylor University (Baylor) houses a Studio Art program with a concentration in Graphic Design. Students have two options within the program: the flexible, liberal arts-focused BA or the studio-intensive, professional BFA. Program highlights include internship opportunities; access to state-of-the-art computer labs, production studios, and smart classrooms; the senior portfolio capstone for BA students; and participation in the BFA Senior Exhibition for BFA students. Graduates are often recruited by companies such as Dell, Amazon, Disney, The New York Times, Deloitte, and ESPN.
7. Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
The School of Art at Texas Tech University houses an Art BFA with a concentration in Graphic Design. This pre-professional degree highlights immersive workshops; intensive studios and workshops; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; collaborative projects; the guest artist series; internships and study abroad opportunities across 50 destinations; and portfolio development. Graduates have established careers at places such as Lockheed Martin, Apple, Pentagram, The New York Times, IBM, Gensler, PepsiCo, Perkins & Will, Nike, Wired, Condé Nast Traveler, Southwest Airlines, and Old Navy.
8. Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas
The College of Fine Arts at Texas Christian University (TCU) provides two paths to study graphic design. The Graphic Design BFA features a liberal arts core, a required 10-week summer internship, and participation in design competitions. BFA students have interned at places such as Altar’d State, TBH Creative, and adWhite. The Design Studies BS has a Graphic Design concentration that includes courses such as Package Design, Typography, and Advertising. The internship for this program is optional. Design students have completed internships in places such as New York, London, Chicago, Los Angeles, Peru, and Miami. Many of these internships lead to job offers before graduation. Graduates can be found at places such as Disney, Amazon, Pentagram, Microsoft, NBCUniversal, Lockheed Martin, CBS, Nike, IBM, Topgolf, Fossil, Deloitte Digital, American Airlines, Louis Vuitton, Dell, Jimmy Choo, Oracle, and Elle.
9. University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas
The Art and Art History Department (AAHD) at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) houses an Art program with BA, BFA, and MFA pathways. Visual Communication Design is an emphasis area for the BA and BFA programs, and a focus area for the MFA. UTA’s Division of Enterprise Development provides standalone or add-on options such as the Graphic Design with Photoshop and Illustrator program and certificates in UI/UX Design, Digital Arts, and Web Design. Degree-seeking students have internship opportunities at places such as NBC, Sony, and Dallas Contemporary. Graduates have secured roles at places such as American Airlines, Lockheed Martin, Reel FX, Textron, Arlington Museum of Art, Toyota, Fidelity, the American Heart Association (AHA), Exxon, and The National Medal of Honor Museum.
10. Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas
Sam Houston State University (SHSU) provides several paths to study graphic design in the College of Arts and Media. Options include BFA degrees in Graphic Design and Graphic Design with Teaching Certification; a Digital Media Production MFA where students can specialize in graphic elements, interactive design, and digital interfaces; and a flexible Graphic Design minor for non-art majors. Programs feature possible internship placements with places such as Texas Instruments and Mission CISD Public Relations; The New York Art Trip; workshops; and faculty-led study abroad experiences in places such as Ireland, Chile, and Hungary. Graduates have been hired at places such as NASA, Disney, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), and Savage Brands.