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

Graphic Design is the largest department at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Serving more than 150 students, the department has an MFA with customizable two-year and three-year tracks. Program highlights include dedicated private workspaces; graduate studio and seminar sequences; up to two professional internships with organizations such as Pentagram, the Brooklyn Museum, and Squarespace; and study abroad experiences at Sweden’s Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS), the Estonia Academy of Arts (EKA) in Tallinn Estonia, Ewha Womans University in South Korea, and the Academy of Arts, Architecture & Design (UMPRUM) in the Czech Republic. Graduates have secured roles at places such as The New York Times, Google, LAIKA, Apple, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Nike and Skydance.

Yale University provides a competitive Graphic Design MFA with two-year and three-year tracks. The two-year track accepts just 12 students annually, while the three-year track accepts seven students annually. Students benefit from trips to film festivals and conferences; designated workspaces; access to the Center for Collaborative Arts and Media; immersive workshops and studios; and some 2,000 elective courses across Yale’s professional schools. Graduates have been hired at places such as The New York Times, Google, Microsoft, CBS, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Apple, Nike, Deloitte, Amazon, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), Bain & Company, Goldman Sachs, and Pentagram.

The Design Department at School of Visual Arts (SVA) houses the Design/Design as Entrepreneur MFA program. With 24/7 access to private studios, the interdisciplinary MFA provides students with the opportunity to pitch an independent entrepreneurial venture, such as a product or app, at a public venture forum. Students also have opportunities to work with the student-run Visual Arts Press; participate in exhibitions, workshops, and the annual Industry Review Day; and intern with top creative studios. SVA Design graduates have landed positions at places such as Microsoft, HBO, Google, DreamWorks, Amazon, Pentagram, Disney, Marvel, Apple, IDEO, Epic Games, and YouTube.

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has Graphic Design and Visual Experience MFA programs. Students have 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 in 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 Design MFA led by accomplished industry professionals. Students also benefit from partnerships with Netflix, IBM, and Gensler; 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 a Design and Visual Communications MFA (MxD) program that provides opportunities to work on projects with major companies and studios. Other program highlights include professional internships; access to state-of-the-art studios and labs, including the MxD lab; and study-abroad experiences in places such as Spain, Italy, and the UK. UF Design graduates have launched their own studios and 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 the Arts and Architecture at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) houses the Department of Design Media Arts (DMA). Within the department is a competitive, three-year Media Arts MFA program, that features immersive studio courses, small class sizes, professional internships, and study-abroad experiences. MFA students will complete a thesis project to be presented at the UCLA MFA Exhibition. Graduates can be found at places such as NBCUniversal, Apple, Riot Games, Microsoft, Nike, Getty Images, Netflix, Google, Disney, Amazon, Mattel, Deloitte, and Hulu.

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

The Graphic Design Program at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) provides a Visual Studies MFA that encompasses graphic design, digital media, animation, illustration, and more. Program highlights include 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. MCAD art and design alumni can be found at places such as the Science Museum of Minnesota, Amazon, 3M, Walker Art Center, Disney, The New York Times, Target, Starbucks, Netflix, Best Buy, and General Mills. 

The Graphic Design Program at Otis College of Art and Design (Otis) houses a STEM-designated Graphic Design MFA. Program highlights include opportunities to work at Otis Design Lab, the school’s in-house design agency; collaborative studio projects; sponsored mentor projects; and visiting artist workshops. Otis Graphic Design graduates have secured positions at places such as DreamWorks, Ogilvy, Apple, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), IDEO, Microsoft, Condé Nast, Hallmark, Disney, R/GA, Cartoon Network, Google, HBO, Nike, Warner Bros., Mattel, Amazon, Nickelodeon, and GUESS.

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) houses STEM-designated Visual Communication Design (VCD) MFA that allows students customize the degree by specializing in a specific sequence or selecting courses across design disciplines. Other program highlights include dedicated studio spaces; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; collaborative projects with partners such as Starbucks, Unilever, and Kraft; professional internships; and participation in RIT’s Creative Industry Day. 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.

Full Sail University (Full Sail) houses a project-based Media Design MFA that provides internship opportunities at places such as Goodby Silverstein & Partners (GS&P), DC Comics, and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Other program highlights include access to state-of-the-art production facilities such as the 3D Arts Center and Studio V1 Virtual Production; an online, accelerated 12-month format; and the culminating Capstone and Portfolio evaluated by a professional panel of designers. Full Sail Media Design graduates can be found at places such as Disney, Google, Epic Games, DC Comics, Adobe, Netflix, Electronic Arts (EA), and SoFi Stadium.

The Communication Design (ComDes) MFA program at Texas State University (Texas State) has 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 program provides access to the Multidisciplinary Innovation Lab (The MiL) and the ComDes Fabrication Lab and Print Facility. Other program highlights include immersive workshops, a visiting artists series, and paid graduate assistantships. Graduates have established careers at places such as Amazon, Disney, Google, DDB, Microsoft, Leo Burnett, Dell, BBDO, Apple, Deloitte, Adidas, and VML.