Top 25 Graphic Design BFA Programs in the U.S. – 2026 College Rankings

Graphic Design is the largest department at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). The four-year BFA is a project-based program where students work and learn in shared, collaborative spaces. Students will complete an internship in their junior or senior year. Graduates have secured roles at places such as The New York Times, Skydance, Google, LAIKA, Apple, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and Nike. 

The School of Art at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) houses a Graphic Design BFA program with a minor in Digital Arts, Critical Studies, or Arts Education. Students have access to faculty mentors beginning on day one; opportunities to complete an internship with a major design studio; study abroad experiences in places such as London and Paris; and unlimited 24/7 access to state-of-the-art facilities and labs. CalArts alumni have been recruited by places such as Walt Disney Imagineering, Google, Riot Games, Pixar, Apple, Blizzard Entertainment, DreamWorks, and Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE). 

The School of Design (SoD) at Pratt Institute (Pratt) has a Communications Design BFA with an emphasis in Graphic Design or Illustration. Students have opportunities to complete an internship and study abroad in places such as Milan, Tokyo, and London. Students also have access to production labs, makerspaces, and the Design Studio. SoD graduates have secured roles at places such as Nickelodeon, HBO, PepsiCo, DreamWorks, Rockstar Games, Dior, Hasbro, Google, Penguin Random House, Amazon, The New Yorker, Sony, Gensler, Apple, Coach, and West Elm. 

The Graphic Design BFA program at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) provides opportunities to collaborate on designs for partners such as Amazon, Netflix, and Porsche through the school’s in-house design studio, SCADpro. In addition, students can study in France at SCAD Lacoste or other locations such as Berlin, Tokyo, and Naples. Graduates go on to secure positions at places such as NBC, Microsoft, Disney, Riot Games, eBay, Apple, Google, Nike, Warner Bros., Gensler, Deloitte Digital, Mattel, Target, Calvin Klein, and Ogilvy.

The School of Design and Creative Technologies at the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) houses a BFA in Design. Industry professionals lead all project-based courses and activities. 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.

The School of Art and Art History at the University of Florida (UF) houses the Graphic Design BFA. Program features include access to state-of-the-art studios and labs, including the MxD lab; opportunities to work on projects with major companies; professional internships; and study abroad experiences in places such as Spain, Italy, and the UK. In addition to launching their own studios, UF Design graduates have secured positions with the Miami Heat and at places such as Electronic Arts (EA), Microsoft, Disney, Apple, IBM, IDEO, Google, R/GA, Interbrand (a division of Omnicom Group), Viacom, Gensler, Kate Spade, and Verizon.

The School of Art at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (Cooper Union) houses a multidisciplinary Art BFA with the option to customize an academic track through specialized courses and free electives. Other program highlights include access to the Herb Lubalin Study Center of Design and Typography; professional internships at places such as The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Pentagram, and The New York Times; and study abroad experiences in places such as London, Berlin, and Amsterdam. Cooper Union graduates have secured positions at places such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), The Noguchi Museum, Gensler, Intel, and NVIDIA.

Ringling College of Art and Design (RCAD) houses an award-winning design studio that allows its Graphic Design BFA students to gain valuable experience working with real clients on design and branding campaigns. The school’s INDEX (Industry Experience) Center also helps students secure internships with local, regional, and national studios. Other program highlights include study abroad experiences in the Netherlands and France; visiting artists from places such as DreamWorks; and opportunities to submit creations to the ADDY Awards. Graduates have gone on to secure positions at places such as Saatchi X, Hallmark, Microsoft, DreamWorks, Google, Leo Burnett, Disney, Nickelodeon, Sony, Intel, Amazon, Target, Hasbro, Mattel, Ogilvy, American Greetings, Cartoon Network, Apple, and Squarespace.

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 include 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.

The College of Fine Arts at Boston University (BU) houses a Graphic Design BFA that provides access to state-of-the-art production facilities, including new studios and printing spaces. Other program highlights include printmaking workshops at MASEREEL in Kasterlee, Belgium; partnerships with local design studios; the Studio Arts Program at BU's Venice (Italy) Center; and design intensives in Amsterdam. Graduates of the BU Graphic Design BFA program have been hired at places such as Google, NBCUniversal, Microsoft, Amazon, IBM, Southwest Airlines, ESPN, CarGurus, PUMA, Liberty Mutual, Candlewick Press, Deloitte, CVS Health, Merck, Dropbox, and PwC.

The Graphic Design BFA program at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) provides opportunities to work on client projects at DesignWorks—MCAD's in-house studio. Hands-on studio electives allow students to gain additional experience in different areas of graphic design. Students also benefit from optional internships; opportunities to participate in activities at local galleries, art centers, and design nonprofits; and study abroad experiences in places such as the UK and Japan. Graduates can be found at places such as the Science Museum of Minnesota, Amazon, Walker Art Center, Disney, 3M, Netflix, The New York Times, Target, Starbucks, Best Buy, General Mills, Medtronic, and DesignWorks.

The School of Industrial and Graphic Design (SIGD) at Auburn University houses the oldest NASAD-accredited programs in the state of Alabama. Within the school is a studio-based Graphic Design BFA program that features collaborative hands-on projects; professional internships; and specialized study abroad experiences in Italy, Japan, Ireland, Germany, and Taiwan. Graduates have landed positions at places such as Microsoft, Apple, Google, Accenture Interactive, Home Depot, IBM, Aflac, and Pinterest.

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) houses a Graphic Design BFA that provides access to state-of-the-art production facilities, internship opportunities, and study abroad experiences. The school also houses BFA degrees in New Media Design, Illustration, and 3D Digital Design. For these programs, students can create a concentration through electives and minors such as Computer Graphics, Visualization, New Media Design, and Letterpress Printmaking. RIT BFA graduates can be found at places such as Hasbro, Boeing, Nickelodeon, Disney, Microsoft, Google, Warner Bros., Apple, Deloitte Digital, HP, Northrop Grumman, PepsiCo, ESPN, Intel, P&G, Nike, IDEO, and Under Armour.