Top 25 Graphic Design BFA Programs in the U.S. – 2024 College Rankings

The Graphic Design program at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) provides collaborative and individual spaces that allow students to create everything from traditional books to interactive texts, while learning about grids, systems, typography, and more. The school’s dedicated studios also provide access to screenprinting, bookbinding, and papermaking facilities, as well as printing and photographic resources for digital and traditional creations. 

Serving approximately 150 BFA students and dozens of MFA students, the RISD Graphic Design program is one of the school’s largest departments. The four-year BFA program is project-based, allowing students to explore areas such as UX design, film graphics, packaging, and book covers. All students will complete the First-Year Program, which consists of courses such as Critical Introduction to the History of Architecture and Design; Drawing I-II; Spatial Dynamics; and Design I-II; 

After the first year, RISD Graphic Design students will move on to courses such as History of Graphic Design; Typography I-III; Color + Surface; and Studio I-IV. Throughout the program, students will also have access to electives and workshops that allow students to work in various areas of graphic design. Other benefits include visiting artists, critics, and designers from around the world, and the opportunity to pursue a professional internship in summer or during the semester in the junior and senior years of the program. 

The Graphic Design BFA program at Rhode Island School of Design culminates with an independent degree project to be reviewed by visiting critics and viewed by the public. 

Graduates of the Graphic Design programs at Rhode Island School of Design graduates enjoy a high employment rate. Around 96% of RISD alumni are employed one year after graduation, with 70% employed in positions directly related to their major. 

RISD Graphic Design alumni go on to become Senior Graphic Designers, Product Designers, Textile Designers, Packaging Designers, Art Directors, UX Designers, Brand Identity Designers, Industrial Designers, and Creative Designers.

ArtCenter College of Design (ArtCenter) houses a social innovation department known as Designmatters. Through this department, the school became the first design institution to be formally affiliated with the United Nations as a non-governmental organization (NGO). ArtCenter also houses the Graphic Design Department, which provides opportunities to study abroad in Berlin at the school’s satellite studio—ArtCenter Berlin. 

Organized like a creative agency, the studio features department led initiatives and transdisciplinary projects; sponsored studios and collaborations; and industry partnerships. 

Within the department is a Graphic Design (Gx) BFA program that requires 132 units. The program explores both traditional and emerging media such as books, coding, press kits, apps, 3D motion graphics, packaging, and film, books. The curriculum is hands-on with courses taught by professors with expertise in visual interaction, print, transmedia design, motion, and packaging. 

Course examples for the program include Narrative Imaging; Communication Design 4: Identity Systems; Transdisciplinary Studio; Communication Design 5: Transmedia; Motion Design; Intro to Transmedia 1; Graphic Design History 1-2; Package Design 1: Design Principles; Visual Interaction Design 1: Intro to UI; Information Design; and Business and Professional Practice. 

Throughout the program, ArtCenter Gx BFA students will complete projects in state-of-the-art facilities such as Hoffmitz Milken Center for Typography and Archetype Press. Students will have opportunities to collaborate with subject experts, work on real-world digital campaigns, and create and distribute materials for ArtCenter partners such as Nike, Cedars-Sinai Research Centers, Adobe, and Homeboy Industries. Students will also have the opportunity to develop their own entrepreneurial branding. 

Students in all ArtCenter College of Design programs have the opportunity to intern, network, and interview with major companies and studios such as Amazon, Walt Disney Imagineering, Nike, Google, Blizzard Entertainment, IBM, Apple, Microsoft, Ford, Riot Games, Mattel, Warner Bros., BMW, DreamWorks, Meta, Netflix, Honda, and Chronicle Books. 

During the final term of the ArtCenter Gx BFA, students will complete the Portfolio and Career Preparation course.

ArtCenter Graphic Design alumni go on to establish careers in areas such as branding and corporate identity, visual interaction design, broadcast graphics, transmedia design, information architecture, printing and poster design, web design and development, app design, motion graphics, film title design, production management, package design, art direction, publication design, environmental graphic design, and exhibition design. 

Many ArtCenter College of Design graduates have been hired at places such as Google, Meta, and IDEO. Some program alumni have also been hired to work with Local Projects—an exhibition and media design firm for public spaces and museums.

The Graphic Design program at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) provides the opportunity for students to collaborate with Fortune 500 companies such as Disney and BMW through the university’s in-house design studio SCADpro. Graphic Design students also have opportunities to study abroad for a quarter at SCAD’s Lacoste, France campus. During this experience students will take field trips to historic sites and museums, interact with visiting artists, and exhibit their work at a local gallery or museum. 

Each year, Savannah College of Art and Design welcomes visiting artists and other professionals that provide workshops, panel discussions, master classes, and individual critiques. Examples of recent guests include Google's UX visual design team, Coca-Cola senior creative director Henry Kim, FontLab CEO Thomas Phinney, Grammy Award-winning graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister, and Pentagram partner DJ Stout. 

The Graphic Design program at Savannah College of Art and Design also provides a BFA program that can be completed at the Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia campuses and through SCADnow Online. In addition to multiple delivery options, SCAD BFA students benefit from courses taught by industry professionals from companies such as Google, Hasbro, and Airbnb; access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities; mentoring by top professionals in the design industry; and participation in events such as SCADstyle, which attracts the biggest names in global art, modern design, and fashion. 

All SCAD Graphic Design options offer the opportunity to add a minor to enhance the degree. Examples include Advertising Copywriting; Mobile and Interactive Design; User Experience Design; and Advertising and Branding. Students may also add the Digital Publishing Certificate. Undergraduates may choose up to 20 hours of electives, which provides additional opportunities to develop skills in multiple areas of art and design. 

Course examples for the BFA program include Digital Communication; Visual Design Systems; Typography I: Anatomy, Form, and Purpose; The Evolution of Graphic Design; Typography II: Brand Direction and Activation; Studio I: Production and Technique; Studio II: Language, Expression, Media; Speaking of Ideas; Typography III: Type Design and Implementation; Studio III: Discovery, Innovation, and The Human Experience; and Graphic Design Professional Portfolio. 

In the junior or senior year of the program, all SCAD BFA students have the opportunity to complete a professional internship at a local, regional, national, or global company. 

Graduates of the Graphic Design BFA program at Savannah College of Art and Design are prepared to pursue titles such as Art Director, UX/UI Designer, Graphic Designer, Brand Designer, Mobile App Designer, Publication Designer, Digital Designer, Creative Director, and Interactive Designer. 

Program alumni have been hired at places such as Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, Disney, Google, Riot Games, IBM, Ralph Lauren, Apple, Verizon, Meta, Under Armour, Live Nation, Airbnb, Hulu, Reddit, and Hulu. SCAD alumni have gone on to launch their own design studios, while others have established successful freelance careers.

Established in 2014, the School of Design (SoD) at Pratt Institute (Pratt) houses the Communications Design BFA program with an emphasis in Graphic Design. Consisting of 126 credit hours, this interdisciplinary program features upper-level studio courses in areas such as branding, media and platforms, inclusivity, visual systems, interactivity, experience design, motion, and sustainability. All students will have opportunities to explore experimentation, creative coding, independent publishing, user experience, and design writing through electives. 

Course examples for the program include Visualization/Representation; Light Color Design Studio; Process and Production; Typography and Information Design; Branding and Messaging; History of Graphic Design and Illustration; Graphic Design Intensive; 1-3; and Digital Prototyping. 

In addition to a variety of courses, all SoD BFA students benefit from access to Design studio—a creative space and community for collaboration and design exploration; internship opportunities at a field related professional site; access to hands-on, immersive maker spaces and production labs; and participation in more than 20 study abroad experiences such as faculty led summer excursions, fall and spring break travel, and custom semester programs. Tokyo, Florence, Copenhagen, London, Berlin, Glasgow, and Milan are just a few past destinations. 

The Communication Design BFA at Pratt Institute culminates with the Professional Practice course and Graphic Design Senior Thesis Project. Graduates are prepared to pursue design roles across industries. 

Graduates of the creative programs at Pratt Institute are have been hired at major companies, studios, and organizations such as Apple, Google, Ogilvy, HBO, Penguin Random House, DreamWorks Animation, Hasbro, IBM, Warner Music Group, Peacock, Carhartt, Inc., Dior, RGA, Gensler, Memorial Sloan Kettering, NYC Department of Transportation, Perkins Eastman, Wolff-Olins, Partners & Partners (P&P), HOK Group, and 2x4.

Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) has a Graphic Design BFA program that begins with the First Year Experience (FYE). A requirement for all undergraduates, the FYE allows students to explore various MICA’s programs and build foundation-level art and design skills. The FYE is also designed to prepare students for upper-level study within the school’s Undergraduate Studies (UGS) programs. FYE courses include Ways of Writing; Form I-II; Color Design (2D); Drawing (Fundamentals); Fabrication (3D); Modernisms; and New Media (4D). 

After completing the FYS, students will move into the major, where they will have the opportunity to customize an area of specialization through electives and thesis projects in environmental graphic design, branding, UI/UX design, motion graphics, advertising, product design, package design, visual design, and font design. To enhance the degree, BFA students may also choose a minor from more than 20 options or focus in an additional area. 

Minor examples include Illustration, Animation, Sequential Art, Printmaking, Interactive Arts, Creative Entrepreneurship, Photography, Film and Video, Game Design, and Sustainability and Social Practice. 

Courses for the program are led by 25 faculty from all areas of design. Major course examples include Advanced Design I-II; Graphic Design I-IV; Flexible Design Studio; Typography I-II; and Senior Seminar. 

Upon completion of the program, graduates are prepared to pursue positions in fields such as publishing, UI/UX design, advertising, marketing, entertainment, public relations, retail, app design, multimedia, architecture, and social media. 

MICA alumni have been hired at places such as Google, Adobe, Morehouse College, Netflix, and Under Armour. Program alumni have also presented their work at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA), The Smithsonian Institution (Smithsonian), and The Whitney Museum of American Art (The Whitney).

The Graphic Design Program BFA at Ringling College of Art and Design (RCAD) has been around since 1980. Students in this program benefit from immersive, studio-based courses; interactions with visiting artists from major studios such as DreamWorks and creative agencies such as Push; the chance to submit work to the ADDY Awards; internships at top design studios; and the opportunity to work on real-world projects for local businesses at the school’s in-house design studio Ringling College Design Center. 

Graphic Design BFA students will take a combination of required courses in general education and liberal arts; art and design history; first year community; the graphic design major; open electives; and graphic design electives. Elective examples include Word, Image and Book; Expressive Typography; Contemporary Topics in Graphic Design; Intro to Letterpress; Special Topics: Wearable Messages; and Design for Business. 

In the major, students will take courses such as Graphic Design I-VI; New Media UI/UX; Visual Persuasion; Designing with Type I-II; Three Dimensional Problem Solving; and Design and Typography. First year community courses total 15 credit hours and include 2D Design I-II; Time Based Communication; and 3D Design I-II. 

In the final course for the RCAD Graphic Design BFA—Portfolio (GDES 480)—students will develop interview, written communication, and job search skills; engage with guest speakers who will provide career insights; and create web-based and print portfolios that display the students best works and problem-solving abilities. 

Graduates of the Ringling College of Art and Design Graphic Design BFA program are prepared to pursue roles across industries. RCAD alumni hold titles such as Director of Product Design, Interface Designer, Associate Creative Director, Graphic Apparel Designer, Brand Manager, Junior Art Director, Senior Graphic Designer, Designer and Illustrator, Senior Art Director, and Multimedia Designer. 

Program alumni have worked with major companies, firms, and studios such as Microsoft, Walt Disney Imagineering, Google, Apple, Saatchi & Saatchi X, Ogilvy, BBC Studios, Nickelodeon, Netflix, Target, Wieden+Kennedy, Meta, Leo Burnett, GM, Instagram, Hallmark, Cartoon Network, LinkedIn, Spotify, Hasbro, Squarespace, DAZN, Arc Worldwide, Ethos, Spark, Blue Bottle Coffee, Hype, and Loyalkaspar. Some RCAD alumni have also gone on to launch their own design firms and freelance businesses.

The Graphic Design BFA at California College of the Arts (CCA) is a STEM-designated program that features dedicated studio space for students; a Prototyping Studio and Hybrid Lab, where students can explore virtual reality and other emerging technologies; and the Book Arts and Letterpress Studio, which houses bookbinding equipment and lithography presses. 

This professional program begins with the First Year Experience, where students have the opportunity to explore a variety of techniques, tools, and materials; participate in studio projects; and engage in critiques. Course examples for this 120 credit hour program include Graphic Design 1-3; Advanced Interactive; Typography 1-3; Graphic Design Tools; 2D, 3D, and 4D; Media History 2: Current Issues in Design; Writing 1-2; and Professional Practice Workshop. 

In the final years of the CCA Graphic Design program, students will have the opportunity to intern for technology companies, design studios, and cultural institutions in the Bay Area and beyond. The program culminates with a thesis project that will be presented to faculty and peers. 

Graduates are prepared to pursue titles such as Graphic Designer, UX Designer, Packaging Designer, Interaction Designer, Visual Designer, Product Designer, Book Designer, Motion Graphics Designer, Type Designer, Identity Designer, Editorial Designer, and Web Designer. Program alumni have landed positions at places such as Google, IDEO, MacFadden & Thorpe, Atlassian, California Academy of Sciences, Frog Design, Wolff Olins, Snap Inc., and Bonfire Labs.

Established in 1925, the College of the Arts at University of Florida (UF) houses four schools; two centers, and the Digital Worlds Institute. Accreditations include the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD); the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM); the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST); and the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD). 

Among the schools in the College of the Arts is the School of Art + Art History, which provides opportunities for all students to work with clients on real-world projects. The school also provides access to state-of-the-art studios and labs; internship opportunities; and study abroad experiences in places such as France, China, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Brazil, the UK, and Spain. 

For students seeking an undergraduate graphic design degree, the UF School of Art + Art History has a Graphic Design BFA that explores art history; 2D, 3D, and 4D; design; and drawing. Course examples for the program include Visual Methods and Processes; Design Technologies; Typography 1: Letterform; Image, Form and Meaning; Design and Professional Practice Studio; Graphic Design History I-II; Graphic Design: Visual Systems in Design; Design: Ideas and Styles; and Typography 2: Composition. 

In the final semester of the program, BFA students will complete the Senior Design Studio; the Design Workshop; and a professional portfolio. Graduates are prepared to pursue roles in all areas of design in industries across the U.S. and abroad. 

Some UF Graphic Design alumni have gone on to teach or launch their own studios, while others have been hired at companies, studios, and organizations such as Walt Disney Imagineering, Apple, Google, Microsoft, IBM, L’Oréal, Verizon, Twitter/X, R/GA, West Elm, IDEO, Fossil, Viacom, JetBlue, Kate Spade, Facebook/Meta, and the Miami Heat. 

Graduates who have gone on to teach have been hired at places such as University of Colorado–Boulder Northern Alabama University, Auburn University, Ball State University, University at Buffalo, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Illinois State University, and University of Florida.

Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is home to the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts, which houses the College of Architecture; the Graduate School of Art; the Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Design; and Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum. Together, these academic divisions provide access to numerous maker spaces and exhibitions; a dedicated art and architecture library; one of the nation’s first Master of Urban Design programs; and approximately 3,500 significant pieces of art and installations by 19th-, 20th- and 21st-century American and European artists. 

Sam Fox also provides dozens of degree programs, including a Communication Design BFA. All Fox first-year students will take Digital Studio and two courses such as 2D Design, Drawing, or 3D Design. Electives from the Sam Fox School and advanced studio courses allow students to create an area of focus. 

Accredited by the College Art Association of America (CAA) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the Communication Design BFA provides an immersive studio experience. Students also benefit from low student-to-faculty ratios allowing opportunities to work one on one with instructors; internship opportunities; and study abroad for a summer or semester in Florence. 

Students also have access to courses such as Global Topics in Visual Communication; Design in Social Systems; Type as Image: The Design of Books; UX Research methods for Design; Applied Illustration; Letterpress Printing; Programming Design; image and Meaning; Multimedia Design: Time/Sound/Space; Content to Cover: The Design of Books; and Printing Propaganda: The Letterpress Poster. 

Students in will also take Professional Practice Seminars highlighting portfolio development, CV creation, interviewing, public speaking, and developing job search skills. In addition, courses for the Communication Design BFA program at Washington University in St. Louis are supplemented by seminars and readings. 

The program culminates with the BFA Capstone + Thesis Exhibition. Graduates are prepared to pursue roles across all areas of design. Recent Sam Fox alumni have been hired at places such as Pixar, Walt Disney Imagineering, Google, IBM Design, The Atlantic, Nickelodeon, YouTube, Isaac Mizrahi, New York Magazine, Meta, Guggenheim Museum, Levi Strauss & Co., American Museum of Natural History, Pentagram, Princeton University Press, National Gallery of Art, and Gensler.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) houses the College of Fine and Applied Arts, home to the School of Art and Design. Within the school is an interdisciplinary 122 credit hour, BFA program that requires 37 credit hours in the major. Course examples include Introduction to Graphic Design; Advanced Interaction Design; Graphic Design Toolbox; Typographic Practice; Design Methods; Graphic Design Inquiry; Ethics of a Designer in the Global Economy; Type and Image; and Graphic Design Inquiry. 

All Graphic Design BFA students benefit from the programs lecture series; designated studio spaces; 44/7 access to computer labs and state-of-the-art production facilities; and the opportunity to join the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) Student Chapter. This professional organization provides networking opportunities, workshops, and trips Chicago-based design studios. 

All Graphic Design BFA students also have the opportunity to take advantage of enrichment programming such as minors, internships, and 300+ study abroad programs in more than 50 countries. 

The Graphic Design BFA program at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign culminates with the Senior Portfolio Review held in Chicago and the Graphic Design Capstone. This advanced studio is the student’s final preparation for practice in graphic design. Capstone projects may be presented at the Annual BFA Exhibition held at UIUC’s Krannert Art Museum.   

Graduates are prepared to pursue roles in advertising, user interface/user experience design (UI/UX), marketing, publications design, communications, multimedia design, and web design. Program alumni enjoy a 92% success rate (employed or pursuing an advanced degree).

The Graphic Design Department at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) provides a Graphic Design BFA that consists of 36 credit hours of core courses, 19 credits in foundation studios, 26 studio elective credits, and 39 credits in humanities and sciences. Course examples for the program include Introduction to Art and Design History 1-2; Publication Design; Graphic Design 1-3; Digital Production; Narrative Design; Web and Screen; Type Plus; Coding Concepts: Expressive Computation; Ideation and Process; Media Art Tools and Technique; Art and Globalization in the Atlantic World and Advanced Graphic Design Seminar. 

The MCAD Graphic Design BFA culminates with the Senior Project: Graphic Design course, worth six credit hours. Graduates are prepared to pursue titles such as Graphic Designer, Brand and Logo Designer, Editorial Illustrator, User-Experience (UX) Designer, Production Artist, Front-End Developer, Exhibiting Artist, and Web Designer. 

MCAD alumni can be found at design firms, advertising agencies, publishing companies, large corporations, museums, government agencies, small businesses, production studios, and start-ups. Some graduates have launched their own design studios or freelance businesses.

Boston University (BU) is home to the College of Fine Arts, which houses the School of Visual Arts. Established in 1954, the school houses state-of-the-art facilities such as Media Center, Computer Labs, and Darkrooms; the Engineering Production Innovation Center (EPIC); and the Visual Arts Resource Library. The SVA also houses a Graphic Design BFA program. 

As part of the SVA, Graphic Design students benefit from seminars and workshops; professional internship opportunities; visiting artists and designers; immersive studio experiences; and a variety of electives and minors that complement the curriculum. Elective examples include Editorial Design, Interactive Design, Exhibition Design, Experience Design, Motion Graphics, and Design for the Web. 

Other program benefits include National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) accreditation; partnerships with area design studios and businesses that lead to internships and employment; participation in a two-week design intensive in Amsterdam; and a two-week Printmaking workshop at the Franz Masareel Centrum in Kasterlee, Belgium. 

Students also have the opportunity to participate in the Studio Arts program in Venice, Italy, which consists of 16-18 credit hours in graphic design, drawing, painting, printmaking, art history, and sculpture. Courses are held at Boston University’s Venice Center, with some electives provided off-site at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia. 

Consisting of 132 credit hours, the Graphic Design BFA is a cross-disciplinary program that begins with first-year foundation courses. In the following years of the program, students can select courses from the College of Communication; Innovate@BU; the Faculty of Computing and Data Sciences; Hariri Institute for Computing; and Questrom School of Business. The program culminates with the thesis project and end-of-year exhibition at the Boston University Art Galleries. 

Graduates of the Graphic Design BFA program at Boston University have worked with companies such as Converse, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO), and Free People. Some program alumni go on to launch their own design studios or freelance businesses.

The College of Art and Design at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) houses the School of Design. Within the school is a Graphic Design BFA program that provides opportunities to gain industry experience through cooperative education and internships with top companies in New York and across the country. Coursework for this 120 credit hour program provides additional opportunities to gain real-world experience through collaborative class projects with RIT partners such as Kraft, Unilever, Starbucks, Roomba, and Wegmans. 

Each year, Graphic Design at RIT hosts multiple workshops that encourage collaboration and community engagement. Examples include PUSH and EUREKA! PUSH is a multi-day event led by industry designers. EUREKA allows students to work in multilevel, interdisciplinary teams to complete a project. Students will also work with stakeholders and community organizations on projects that will be presented to a panel of experts. The winning project will move forward to implementation. 

Besides participating in a variety of projects and workshops, Graphic Design BFA students will study everything from branding and identity systems to user interface/user experience (UI/UX) design. Senior electives allow students to choose advanced coursework a specific area of interest. Elective examples include Interactive Design III; Advertising Design; Editorial Design; Typography III; and Collaborative Design. 

All BFA students will take four Graphic Design Studio courses and others such as Motion Design I-II; Experiential Graphic Design; 2D Design; History of Graphic Design; 3D Design; Drawing I-II; and Professional Practices. The RIT Graphic Design BFA culminates with a Graphic Design Capstone and final public exhibition. Graduates are prepared to pursue creative roles across industries. 

Around 94% of all RIT Graphic Design graduates are employed, pursuing graduate study, volunteering, or in the military within six months of graduating. For those who are employed, typical job titles include Graphic Designer, Visual Designer, Product Designer, Associate Art Director, Identity/Packaging Designer, Illustrator, Digital Product Designer, Motion Designer, UI/UX Designer, Promotions Marketing Coordinator, Presentation Designer, and Social Media Director. 

Program alumni have been hired at places such as Walt Disney Company, ESPN, Adobe, Vogue Italia, Apple, Fisher-Price, Sesame Street, Sports Illustrated, and the NHL.