Top 25 Graphic Design MFA Programs in the U.S. – 2025 College Rankings

Serving more than 150 students, Graphic Design is the largest department at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Across programs, students benefit from dedicated studios and facilities for screen printing, bookbinding, and papermaking. The Graphic Design MFA features individual, private workspaces and two tracks that allow students to customize the curriculum. Graduates of the Graphic Design Department at RISD go on to land positions at places such as Google, Apple, Meta, Nike, CVS Health, The New York Times, and Pentagram. 

The School of Art (SoA) at Yale University houses a competitive Graphic Design MFA program that accepts just 12 students per year. Up to six students are accepted into the preliminary-year program. The 60 credit hour MFA features immersive workshops and studios; designated workspaces; access to VR and motion capture tools at the Center for Collaborative Arts and Media; field trips to film festivals and conferences; and the option to take elective courses across professional schools at Yale. Some 2,000 courses are available each year. Graduates are prepared to pursue advanced roles across industries. Alumni have been hired at places such as Google, Morgan Stanley, Amazon, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Apple, Meta, Bain & Company, Epic Systems, Deloitte, CBS, and Yale Center for British Art (YCBA).

The Design Department at School of Visual Arts (SVA) serves more than 700 students, making it the school’s third largest program. Design MFA 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 concentrations including Graphic Design, Motion Graphics, 3D Design, and Interaction Design; and private studios with 24-hour access. 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.

Cranbrook Academy of Art (Cranbrook) has a Graphic Design MFA program led by professional artists and designers across industries. This two-year degree highlights immersive studio time; visiting artists and critics; workshops; and access to a dedicated, state-of-the-art fabrication lab. In addition, each year (for a one month period), the program converts into book design studio with the Designer-in-Residence leading hands-on workshops, while students work on design and production. The program culminates with the MFA Thesis Book and Graduate Degree Exhibition (GDE). Potential employers include Google, Marvel, IDEO, Sony, Amazon, Blizzard Entertainment, Apple, Samsung, Adidas, Bose, and Pentagram. 

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 MFA program that provides opportunities to work with partners such as IBM, McKinsey & Company, and Logitech. Other program highlights include project-based courses taught by industry professionals; dedicated studio spaces; and access to state-of-the-art fabrication labs. UT Austin 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 School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) houses the Visual Communication Design (VCD) Department, home to the Studio MFA (MFA). Students benefit from the VCD Department’s active AIGA student chapter; the annual visiting designer lecture series Exploratory Languages; and participation in student workshops and lectures through the Chicago International Poster Biennial (CIPB). Graduates are frequently hired by companies such as Amazon, Leo Burnett, Google, Oracle, Prada, Nike, and Target.  

California College of the Arts (CCA) has a Design MFA that focuses on graphic, industrial, and interaction design. Program benefits include dedicated studio spaces; access to facilities such as the Prototyping Studio and Hybrid Lab, and the Book Arts and Letterpress Studio; and the opportunity to participate in a yearly retreat at Headlands Center for the Arts. CCA design alumni have been hired at places such as Microsoft, Google, The New York Times, Apple, IBM, Adobe, Meta, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), and Pentagram. 

The School of Art and Design at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) houses the Design for Responsible Innovation MFA. Formerly the Graphic Design MFA, the program focuses on areas such as graphic design, systems and service design, interaction, narrative, and visual analytics. Other program benefits include access to studio spaces and state-of-the-art production facilities; internships; and the study abroad program. Graduates have been hired at places such as Boeing, Apple, Nike, Google, Pfizer, Disney, Microsoft, Walmart, Lockheed Martin, Intel, Ford, Meta, Target, and IBM. 

Boston University’s (BU) School of Visual Arts houses a Graphic Design MFA that features workshops, immersive studio experiences, and design initiatives in Amsterdam. Accredited by National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the program also highlights partnerships with area design studios and businesses; Printmaking workshops at the Franz Masareel Centrum in Kasterlee, Belgium; and the Studio Arts Program at Boston University’s Venice (Italy) Center. BU School of Visual Arts graduates have been hired at places such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, ESPN, Amazon, Deloitte, NBCUniversal, IBM, Meta, Liberty Mutual, CVS Health, Accenture, PwC, Dropbox, and Merck.

The Graphic Design MFA Program at Otis College of Art and Design (Otis) provides the opportunity to enhance the degree through electives and experiential learning experiences such as internships and studies abroad. Students also benefit from immersive studios and workshops; courses taught by industry professionals; and access to state-of-the-art production facilities. Otis Graphic Design alumni have gone on to establish careers at places such as IDEO, Apple, Mattel, Google, Nike, Microsoft, Amazon, Universal Music Group, Condé Nast, Disney Experiences, Nike, DreamWorks, Lionsgate, GUESS, Nickelodeon, Hallmark, Ogilvy, WB Network, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), HBO, Warner Bros., Deutsch, Cartoon Network, and R/GA. 

The Graphic Design Program at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) provides an interdisciplinary MFA that highlights hands-on training through internships and collaborative client projects. Students also benefit from study abroad experiences in places such the UK, Italy, and Japan; and participation in the local creative community, consisting of art centers, galleries, and design nonprofits. MCAD art and design alumni can be found at places such as Amazon, Netflix, Disney, The New York Times, Starbucks, 3M, Target, and General Mills. 

The School of Design at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is home to the cross-disciplinary, STEM-designated Visual Communication Design (VCD) MFA. Students in this program 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; access to state-of-the art production facilities and studio spaces; and networking through RIT’s Creative Industry Day. Graduates go on to land positions 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 Department of Art, Art History, and Design (AAHD) at Michigan State University (MSU) houses a fully funded, customizable MFA program that features dedicated studios and opportunities for external study. Students also benefit from teaching opportunities beginning in the second semester; individual studio visits by 45 visiting artists throughout the program; and generous summer, research, and dissertation completion fellowships. The program culminates with the Thesis Exhibition at MSU Broad. Graduates can be found at places such as Leo Burnett, GM, Rocket Mortgage, and TechSmith.