Top 25 Graphic Design School Programs in California - 2022 College Rankings

ArtCenter College of Design (ArtCenter) has a Graphic Design (Gx) Program with BFA and MFA (MGx) options. Minors in Graphic Design, Product Design, and Interaction Design are also offered through the Designmatters program, which combines studio courses, immersive, real-world studios, and Humanities & Sciences courses.

The 132-unit ArtCenter BFA in Gx explores both traditional and emerging media. Students in the program will complete 87 studio units and the remainder in Humanities & Sciences. Courses are taught by professors with expertise in packaging, transmedia design, motion, visual interaction, and print. Course examples include Narrative Sketching, Communication Design: Information and Context, Visual Interaction Design, Transmedia, Identity Systems, Graphic Design History, and Business. During the final term, BFA students will complete Portfolio and Career Preparation.  

The ArtCenter College of Design MGx Program has two options: two-year and three-year. The two-year option consists of 75 units completed across four full terms, plus one ArtCenter Lite (ACL) summer term. Consisting of 86 units, the three-year option is for students who need to develop additional design skills in order to complete the graduate degree. This program consists of two additional terms. Upon successful completion of both terms, the student can enter the traditional graduate track.

Course examples across options include LinkedIn Learning, Typography 3, Design Research/Strategy, Graduate Visual Interaction Design, and Professional Leadership. MGx students will complete a number of labs, including the Portfolio Lab, and a thesis is required to graduate.

Students in all ArtCenter College of Design programs have the opportunity to intern, network, and interview with the school’s industry partners including Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Warner Bros., Meta (formerly Facebook), Apple, Ford, Mattel, Nike, Netflix, BMW, DreamWorks, Blizzard Entertainment, Walt Disney Imagineering, Riot Games, and Honda.

ArtCenter Graphic Design alumni work in branding and corporate identity, printing and poster design, package design, motion graphics, film title design, publication design, environmental graphic design, transmedia design, exhibition design, web design and development, interface ceding, visual interaction design, art direction, production management, information architecture, app design, and broadcast graphics.

Many ArtCenter graduates have been hired at Google, Meta, design and consulting firm IDEO, and Local Projects—a exhibition and media design firm for museums and public spaces.

ArtCenter College of Design is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Founded in 1930, ArtCenter serves more than 2,000 students across campuses in Pasadena and Los Angeles, California. The school also has satellite studios in Petersen Automotive Museum (Miracle Mile, Los Angeles) and Berlin, Germany.

ArtCenter College of Design offers 11 undergraduate programs, seven graduate degree program leading to an MFA or MS, a joint MS/MBA program, and undergraduate minors in Business, Creative Writing, Material Science, Research, and Social Innovation.

The School of Arts and Architecture at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) houses the Department of Design Media Arts (DMA), which has multidisciplinary pathways leading a BA or MA in DMA. Students in both pathways will explore visual communication, narrative, game design, video, and network media. Foundation courses for the undergraduate program cover color, space and form, interactivity and motion, and typography. Graduate DMA students will complete a number of seminars, group critiques, and programming media courses along with research projects and a thesis project.

Courses for the UCLA DMA Programs are taught as studios, with no more than 22 students. Course examples for the undergraduate program include Design Futures, 3D Modeling and Motion, Word + Image, Tangible Media, Network Media, Special Topics in Design Media Arts, and Topics in Interactivity And Games. For the Senior Project, undergraduate DMA students may complete one of three courses including Interactivity and Games, Video and Animation, or Visual Communication and Image.

All UCLA DMA students have access to an endless number of labs, spaces, and other facilities. Examples include the Broad Art Center, DMA Labs, Video Labs, Experimental Digital Arts (EDA) Space, Media Arts Research Space (MARS), the Audio and Video Labs, Fabrication & Electronics Labs, the Shoot Room, Print Lab, Art | Sci Center, New Wight Gallery, the UCLA Game Lab, DMA Graduate Student Gallery, and the Arts Library.

Graduates of the DMA Programs at University of California Los Angeles are prepared to pursue careers in areas such as graphic design, multimedia design, advertising, UI/UX design, art or design direction, media art, web design, content strategy, branding and packaging, book art and publishing, exhibition design, presentation design, graphic art, motion art and design, and marketing. 

The University of California Los Angeles is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Established in 1919, UCLA is the second campus in the University of California System. Serving 45,900 students, UCLA offers more than 250 programs across 12 professional schools and UCLA College. To date, the school has helped launch more than 200 start-ups nationwide.

University of Southern California (USC) is home to the USC Gayle Garner Roski School of Art and Design. First organized in 1883 and founded in 1895, USC Roski is one of Southern California’s oldest art and design schools. Besides a long history in the arts and design, Roski students benefit from an experimental and collaborative approach to learning, cross-disciplinary curriculums, hands-on studio courses, internship opportunities at places such as DreamWorks, National Geographic, MTV and Lego, and study abroad experiences Italy, London, Australia, and South Africa.

Degree options for designers include the BFA, MFA, and the Dual BFA/MFA Progressive Degree in Design. A Minor in Communication Design is also available. The Design BFA is a 128-unit, intensive, four-year pre-professional degree that requires a complementary Minor such as Advertising, Communication, Designing Products, Marketing, Digital Experiences, Business, Multimedia Experiences, or Entrepreneurship. Students may also choose 26 units of electives to customize a specialization in any  area of design or other discipline. Selections may be from Roski or non-Roski courses from across USC.

Course examples for the Design BFA Program include Art and Design Studio I-II, 3D Design: Materials and Tools, Publication Design, Web Design, Advanced Design Projects, and Professional Practice in Design. Professional Internship in the Arts is a required component of the program, as well as the Senior Thesis completed over two courses.

The USC Roski Design MFA requires at least 56 units of study, including 26 elective units. Eighteen elective units must be from Roski School of Art and Design, and eight can be from departments and schools outside Roski. Suggest electives include Design Studio Co-Lab, Design Pedagogy, Directed Research, Design Study Tour, and Field Internship Experience. Examples of required courses for the program include Design Theory, Contemporary Issues in Design, Designers in Residence Forums, Individual Studies, and Advancement. MFA students will also complete a Master’s Thesis.

In addition to all USC Roski has to offer, MFA students benefit from the school’s partnership with organizations such as the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and the opportunity to participate in discussions, seminars, and visits from leaders in the design industry.

The Communication Design Minor consists of 24 units and includes coursework in digital imaging, business, communication, visual literacy, marketing, and public relations. Specific course examples include Ideas in Intermedia, Marketing of Creative Disruption and Innovation, Advertising Media and Analysis, Video Installation and Moving Image Environments, Business and Professional Communication, and The Cultures of New Media. Communication Design Minors also have the opportunity to participate in the New York Design and International Study Tours, or the Practicum in Advertising and Promotion.

Graduates of USC Roski School of Art and Design have been hired by hundreds of top companies, studios and other organizations. Examples include Conde Nast, Cisco, Pinterest, American Apparel, PETA, NBCUniversal, DreamWorks Animation, J. Crew, Disney Interactive, MTV Networks, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Skechers, Vogue, L’Oreal, Paramount Pictures, DirectTV, 20th Century Fox, Fandango, Macy’s, E! Entertainment, Harper’s Bazaar Magazine, The Walt Disney Company, Marvel Studios, Mattel, Oliver Peoples, American Express, and Beats.

University of Southern California is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Established in 1880 and serving 49,500 students across several campuses and centers, and 23 schools and divisions, USC is the oldest private research university in California and it is the largest private sector employer in the City of Los Angeles. University of Southern California offers 600 graduate and professional programs in the areas of business, law, engineering, film, occupational therapy, pharmacy, and medicine.

The Academy of Art University has graphic design programs at all degree levels. Housed in the School of Graphic Design and leading to an AA, BFA, MA, MFA or Certificate, the programs explore branding, experience design, print, packaging, communication design, innovation, editorial design, typography, user experience, environmental design, and motion graphics. Students work with all forms of media including traditional, digital, emerging, and interactive.

Course examples across programs include Branding Principles, Design Technology: Visual Design Tools, Human-Centered Design, Information Design, Package Design 3: Advanced 3D Branding, Social Media Strategy, The Power of Signs: Semiotics & The Visual Arts, Type Systems, Typography: Hierarchy and Form, User Experience Design, Visual Literacy, and Web Design.

Depending on the program, students will complete a final project or thesis. All students have the option to complete an internship. Graduates will leave the Graphic Design Programs with a professional portfolio.

Academy of Art University graduates have been recruited by Apple, Google, IDEO, Nike, R/GA, Square, and The Clorox Company, among others. Job titles include Art Director, Creative Director, Graphic Designer, Product Designer, Service Designer, and User Experience Designer.

Academy of Art University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Founded in 1929, Academy of Art University is a family-owned private university that serves more than 7,000 students. Academy of Art is also one of the nation’s largest private art and design schools. Divided into 22 schools, Academy of Art University offers more than 129 degree programs in 40+ areas of study. Programs lead to the AA, BA, BFA, BS, B. Arch, MAT, MA, MFA and M. Arch degrees.

The College of Arts & Sciences at University of San Francisco (USF) houses the Department of Art + Architecture. The Design BA Program here is interdisciplinary and explores Graphic Design, Environmental Design, and Digital Media Design. The program consists of 49 units in the major, nine units of studio and design seminar electives, the Design Internship, Professional Practice in Design, and the Senior Design Project.

Examples of course requirements include Visual Communication I-II, Digital Media Design, Fabrication Lab, Typography, and Design Fundamentals. Elective examples include Sustainable Systems In Design, Copy Culture, Advanced Typography, Interaction Design and Critical Brand/Package Design. In addition to the Design Internship, BFA students can obtain experience through the Exhibition Design Practicum, which encompasses the curation, design, organizing, and launch of an exhibition in the University of San Francisco Thacher Gallery.

The USF Design BA Program culminates with the Senior Thesis Exhibition. Graduates will leave the program with an industry-ready, professional portfolio.

USF Design alumni work in design studios, for start-ups, museums and other non-profit entities, and in-house for companies in just about every industry. Some go on to enroll in graduate programs at New York University (NYU), Pratt Institute, Rhode Island School of Art and Design (RISD), Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), and University of the Arts London, among others.

Companies and organizations that have hired USF Design graduates include Apple, Disney, Etsy, Google, Harper Collins, Oracle, Pandora, San Francisco Magazine, The Discovery Science Center in Orange County, The Harvey Milk Center for the Arts, and Twitter.

University of San Francisco is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Established in 1855 as the St. Ignatius Academy, USF San Francisco’s first university. When it opened, this private, Jesuit university had just three students. Today, University of San Francisco serves more than 10,000 students enrolled in more than 100 program in five colleges and schools.

The Graphic Design Program at San Jose State University (SJSU) was established in 1969. It is the only program of its kind in a public university in Silicon Valley. Housed in the Department of Design within the College of Humanities and the Arts, the program features a mandatory internship component, community engagement projects, funded research, classes and workshops led by studio professionals, and opportunities to collaborate with students in other disciplines.

Degree pathways include the BA in Design Studies, specializing in Graphic Design, and the BFA in Graphic Design. The Design Studies BA is a 120 credit hour Liberal Arts Degree that encourages students to choose electives in arts and other areas. The program also encourages students to add a Minor from any of the following departments: Journalism and Mass Communications, Art and Art History, Psychology, Environmental Studies, Computer Science, Global Studies, English and Comparative Literature, Anthropology, Philosophy, General Engineering, Urban and Regional Planning or Business.

Course examples for the BA Program include Visual Communication & Process, Fundamental Graphic Visualization, Design Process, Visual Communication, Graphic Design Theory & History, Design Values Digital Applications, and Professional Practices. Recommended electives include Ergonomics for Design, Acting, and Architectural Project Materials. The BA Program culminates with the BA Senior Project, worth three credit hours.

The 120 credit hour Graphic Design BFA can be completed online or on-campus. Students in this program must complete 48 units in the major. Course examples include Digital Applications: Methodology, Advanced Typography, 3D Branding & Promotion Design, User Interface & Interaction Design, Special Topics in Experience Design, Visual Literacy: Image Making, Exhibition Design & Info Graphics, and Special Topics in Graphic Design. SJSU BFA students will complete Degree Project: Senior Studio, worth three credits, and present their work at the BFA Senior Show, held in the Spring.

Graduates of the San Jose State University Graphic Design Programs have found jobs in industries such as Advertising, PR and Marketing, Design, K-12 Education, Government, Internet & Software, Retail, Movies, TV and Music, and Human Resources.

Examples of top employers of SJSU graduates include Apple, Intel Corporation, Google, Starbucks, LinkedIn, Genentech, Microsoft, Amazon, Cisco, Target Corporation, PayPal, NBC Universal, IBM, Oracle, Nordstrom, Wells Fargo, The City of San Jose, Samsara Networks, JP Morgan Chase & Co., KPMG LLP, State Farm, and Western Digital.

San Jose State University is accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Established in 1857, SJSU is Silicon Valley’s Public University. Serving around 36,000 regular and special session students, the school offers more than 250 areas of study at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Programs at San Jose State University are housed in nine colleges and dozens of departments and schools.

The College of Liberal Arts at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) is home to the Art and Design Department. As part of Cal Poly, Art and Design students have access to 500 study abroad programs in 75 countries, more than 25 centers and institutes, and internships and co-op positions with companies such as Apple, Amazon, Disney, Boeing, Northrup Grumman, and the National Park Service. Graduates of all programs at Cal Poly also enjoy a high employment rate (or graduate school). Around 95% of the school’s alumni are either employed or in grad school within nine months of graduation.

The Art and Design Department has a 120 credit hour BFA Program with a Graphic Design Concentration that explores design history, animation, book arts, human-centered design, typography, identity design, UI/UX design, and illustration. Specific course and elective examples for the program include Interaction Design (I-III), Graphic Design I-II, Advertising Design, Digital Video, Typography (I-III), and Animation, Video, and Interactive Design, Type in Motion, Illustration (I-II), Book Arts, and Advanced Interactive Media Art. BFA students will complete 52 credit hours in the Graphic Design Concentration.

The Cal Poly Graphic Design (Art and Design) BFA Program culminates with the Senior Portfolio Project course. Graduates have obtained positions in creative agencies, design studios, in-house creative departments, and in the tech and entertainment industries. Some program alumni have gone on to graduate school, while others have launched successful start-ups or freelance careers.

California Polytechnic State University is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Founded in 1901, Cal Poly is part of the 23-campus California State University System. The school’s campuses and ranches cover 9,718 acres, making Cal Poly the second largest land-holding university in California (UC Berkeley is the largest), and one of the largest land-holding universities in the U.S. Serving close to 22,300 students, California Polytechnic State University offers more than 100 degree programs in six colleges.

The College of the Arts at California State University-Long Beach (CSULB) houses the School of Art (SoA), which is the largest academic unit on campus. SoA students have access to state-of-the-art facilities, work studios, seven configurable galleries, international travel opportunities, and guest artists. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) since 1970, SoA employs over 130 full-time and part-time faculty that serve nearly 2,000 students.  

Programs for Graphic Designers include the BA, BFA, and MFA. All provide the opportunity to study Graphic Design through a concentration or elective coursework. A 21-unit Graphic Design Minor that includes courses such as Graphic Design I, Perspective and Rendering Systems, and Media Design: User-Centered Design, is also available.

Across degree pathways, students will study graphic design, concept development, typography, motion graphics, packaging design, user-centered design, visual art writing, art direction, color theory, photography, printmaking, and advertising. Students will also have the opportunity to complete an internship at a local or national company. 

Graduates of the CSULB SoA are prepared for careers in advertising, corporate design, user experience design, web design, publishing, public relations, consulting, industrial design, exhibit design, packaging design, and brand management, among others.

California State University-Long Beach (CSULB) is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The school opened on September 28, 1949 as Los Angeles-Orange County State College in a small converted apartment building. On the first day of classes, State College had just 160 students and 13 full-time faculty. Today California State University-Long Beach employs more than 4,000 professionals that serve nearly 39,300 students. One of the 23 campuses of the California State University System, CSULB offers more than 300 programs in eight colleges.

Azusa Pacific University (APU) is home to the School of Visual and Performing Arts, which houses the Departments of Art, Cinematic Arts, Design, and Theater Arts. The Design Department has an 18 credit hour Design Studies Minor and a Design BA Program that explores Visual Communication Design, User Interface and Experience Design, Editorial Design, Branding and Identity, and Vector and Digital Illustration.

Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the Design BA features networking opportunities with industry leaders in design, individual mentorship, and the opportunity to gain work experience through the APU Internship Program.

Course examples for the program include Design Fundamentals I-III, Using Digital Media in a Visual World, Introduction to Digital Interface and Print Interface, Graphic Design I-IV, Graphic Design Process, Multimedia, Printmaking: Serigraph, Advanced Photography Studio, and Illustration. A Design Internship is part of the program as well as a final portfolio of the student’s best work.

Graduates of the Azusa Pacific University Design BA Program are prepared to pursue positions in a variety of areas in Design, Visual Arts, and Graphic Design.

Azusa Pacific University is an Evangelical Christian university that opened in 1899 as The Training School for Christian Workers. The first graduating class consisted of just 12 people. Today, APU serves around 8,110  students enrolled in more than 150 programs in the Azusa Pacific Seminary, the Honors College, and the Schools of Nursing; Behavioral and Applied Sciences; Education; Theology; and Visual and Performing Arts.

The College of Environmental Design at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) houses the Department of Art, home to the Visual Communication Design (VCD) Program. Leading to a BFA and accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the program features hands-on projects and studios, the option to enhance the degree through electives, design workshops, opportunities to exhibit work throughout the program, and the internship program.

Course examples for the program include 2D Design, 4D Design, Typography, Illustration, Visual Thinking, VCD Workshop: Typography, VCD Workshop: Illustration, and Visual Communication Design. Professional Practices in Visual Communication Design is the Capstone course for the VCD BFA Program. The culminating portfolio review will be conducted by program alumni who are design professionals and leaders in the field.

Upon completion of the Visual Communications BFA Program at Cal Poly Pomona graduates will have a professional portfolio of their best work.

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The school opened in 1938 as the Voorhis Unit of California State Polytechnic College in San Luis Obispo with an all-male population of 110 students. Today, Cal Poly Pomona serves a co-ed population of nearly 28,000 students.

Sitting on nearly 1,450 acres, Cal Poly Pomona is the second largest in area of all California State University campuses. One of the two polytechnics in the California State University System, Cal Poly Pomona offers undergraduate degrees in nearly 100 majors, close to 40 master’s degrees, 13 teaching credentials, and one doctorate houses in eight academic colleges.

The College of Arts and Letters at California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State) houses the Department of Design, home to the Graphic Design Program. Leading to a BFA, Graphic Design at Sacramento State consists of 121 credit hours of study (minimum), including 78 in the major. Students interested in obtaining skills in additional areas may do so though electives.

Other program features internship opportunities, workshops, career services, study abroad experiences, and participation in the Graphic Resources and Information Design Students (G.R.I.D.S.) organization. Also a student chapter of the AIGA, G.R.I.D.S. meets frequently and organizes additional workshops, field trips, and lectures.

Course examples for the Graphic Design BFA Program at Sacramento State include Graphic Design Systems, The Photographic Self, Typography I-II, Design and Thinking, Digital Imaging, User Experience Design, Design Fundamentals, User Interface Design, and Visual Basics II. Students will also take the Graphic Design Digital Portfolio and Professional Practice course in the final year of the program.

Elective options include (but are not limited to) Ethnographic Analysis, World Design and Visual Culture, Digital Photography, Field Work in Graphic Design, Advertising, Buyer Behavior, Public Relations and Ethics in Business, Advanced Electronic Art, Special Problems, Principles of Marketing, Buyer Behavior, Digital Printmaking, Introduction to Programming Logic, Public Relations and Ethics in Business, Marketing Research and Information, and Media Communication and Society.

Graduates of the Graphic Design BFA Program at California State University, Sacramento have been hired at major corporations, design firms advertising agencies, multimedia companies, and many others. Program alumni are Graphic Designers, Multimedia Designers, Brand Managers or Designers, Type Designers, Web Designers, Project Managers, Signage Designers, Prepress Technicians, Exhibition Designers, Print Designers, Production Artists, Exhibit Designers, Packaging Designers, and Publication Designers.

California State University, Sacramento is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Established in 1947 as Sacramento State College, the school opened with 235 students. Today, Sacramento State serves more than 31,500 students making it the sixth largest of the 23-campus California State University System. With more than 115 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs, California State University, houses seven colleges including Arts and Letters; Business; Education; Engineering and Computer Science; Health and Human Services; Natural Sciences and Mathematics; and Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies.

The College of Communications & Fine Arts at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) houses the Department of Art and Art History, which has a Graphic Design (GRPH) Emphasis within the Studio Arts Program. Serving more than 1,000 students, the Studio Arts Program features include assigned faculty advisors for every student, small class sizes, Professional and Interdisciplinary Track options, and the opportunity to exhibit student work throughout the year at juried and student-run shows at the Thomas P. Kelly, Jr. Student Art Gallery.

Course options for the Professional Track include Design Entrepreneurship, Advanced Studio Studies, Creative Direction, Motion Graphics, and Design Praxis: Professional Practices in Graphic Design. Interdisciplinary Track course options include Screen Printing, Color Photography, Multimedia Narratives, Drawing III: Formal Issues, Experiencing Art and Social Justice, and Digital Photography.

Other course examples for the program include Social Design, Experimental Typography, Portfolio Workshop in Studio Arts, Graphic Design I-II, and Three-Dimensional Design.

Leading to a BA in Studio Arts, the Graphic Design Program at Loyola Marymount University culminates with the Senior Design Thesis. Graduates are prepared to seek positions in all areas of Graphic Design.

Loyola Marymount University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Established in 1911, the school serves more than 10,000 students enrolled in 55 major and 59 minor undergraduate degrees and programs, 47 master's degree programs, 13 credential programs, one education doctorate, one doctorate in juridical science, and one juris doctorate.

Programs at Loyola Marymount University are housed in seven colleges and schools and across three campuses LMU Westchester (Los Angeles), LMU Downtown (Law School), and LMU Playa Vista (Silicon Beach).