Top 25 Graphic Design Schools and Colleges in the Midwest – 2026 College Rankings

The Department of Visual Communication Design (VCD) at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) houses the Studio BFA and MFA with a VCD pathway. An Adult Continuing Education (ACE) Graphic Design certificate with a Print Media focus is also available. Students in the BFA and MFA programs benefit from the AIGA student chapter; participation in workshops and lectures through the Chicago International Poster Biennial (CIPB); and the annual visiting designer lecture series Exploratory Languages. Some of the top hiring companies for SAIC VCD graduates include Google, Leo Burnett, Nike, Deloitte, Prada, Motorola, Conagra Brands, Oracle, Target, and Aon.

The Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) houses a Communication Design BFA and a Design BA with a Communication concentration. Highlights across programs include opportunities to work on projects with Interbrand (a division of Omnicom Group) and Digitas; internships at places such as Disney and New York Magazine; and participation in the Sam Fox School Florence Semester Program. In addition to Disney and New York Magazine, graduates have been hired at places such as IDEO, Boeing, Amazon, Saatchi & Saatchi, Netflix, HBO, Microsoft, Pentagram, IBM, Google, Nickelodeon, Levi Strauss & Co., the Guggenheim Museum, and the American Museum of Natural History.

The Graphic Design Program at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) provides opportunities to work on client projects at Design Works—MCAD's in-house studio. Hands-on studio electives allow students to gain additional experience in different areas of graphic design. Degree options include a Graphic Design BFA; the Graphic and Web Design MA; and a Visual Studies MFA that includes graphic design, digital media, animation, illustration, and more. Across programs, students 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. MCAD art and design alumni can be found at places such as the Science Museum of Minnesota, Amazon, Walker Art Center, Disney, Netflix, 3M, The New York Times, Target, Starbucks, Best Buy, General Mills, Medtronic, and Design Works. 

Ullman School of Design at the University of Cincinnati (UC) houses the Communication Design BS and a STEM-designated MDes. The BS consists of five paid, semester-long professional co-op experiences, allowing students to enter the market with nearly two years of real-world industry experience. The interdisciplinary, collaborative MDes requires a summer-long teaching or co-op experience. Possible co-op employers include Disney, IBM, Nike, Toyota, and Macy's. Graduates have established careers at places such as NASA, SpaceX, GE Aerospace, Disney, Apple, Boston Scientific, Toyota, and Macy's. 

The Department of Design at the University of Kansas (KU) houses a Design BFA with a concentration in Visual Communication Design. Program highlights include access to studio spaces and state-of-the-art letterpress, Risograph (Riso), and digital fabrication labs; the option to specialize through the Book Arts certificate or minors in Photography or Design Entrepreneurship; professional internships at places such as Hallmark, Abbott Laboratories, Kansas City Magazine, and Garmin; and short-term, semester-long, and year-long study abroad in places such as Switzerland, Paris, and New Zealand. KU Design graduates have gone on to secure roles at places such as NASA, Intel, Ford, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and GM.

The Department of Art, Art History, and Design (AAHD) at Michigan State University (MSU) has several paths to study graphic design. Options include the Graphic Design BFA and minor, and a customizable, fully funded Land-Grant MFA. This means all MFA students receive a full tuition waiver and a stipend. Across programs, all students have opportunities to work in the agency-like workspace known as MSU Design Center. Students will also work and learn in state-of-the-art facilities and classroom-studios located in Kresge Art Center. MSU Design graduates can be found at places such as Google, Leo Burnett, FCB Chicago, CBS, Newell Brands, Saatchi & Saatchi, GM, Marquee Sports Network, and iHeartMedia. 

Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) provides several paths to study graphic design. Degree options include BFAs in Graphic Design, Graphic Design/Art History, and Graphic Design/Creative Writing. A studio minor in Graphic Design is also available. Across programs, students have opportunities to study abroad in places such as Thailand and Peru and complete professional internships at places such as Hallmark, R/GA, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and VML. Programs culminate with a final project and portfolio, along with participation in the Graphic Design BFA Show. Graduates have been hired at places such as Pentagram, Google, Apple, R/GA, Nickelodeon, IBM, Hallmark, VML, TikTok, Hyperakt, and YouTube. 

The College of Design at University of Minnesota Twin Cities (UMTC) has several paths to study graphic design. Options include the Graphic Design BFA; a Graphic Design track for MFA, MS, and PhD students; and BS degrees in User Experience (UX) Design and Product Design. Across programs, students have opportunities to participate in collaborative design projects, immersive workshops, and advanced studios; travel abroad to Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, and many other locations; and complete a professional internship at Target, GM, and the Minnesota Star Tribune, among others. Graduates are routinely hired at these and other places such as Perkins & Will, U.S. Bank, 3M, and John Deere.

The Department of Art, Art History, and Design (AAHD) at the University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame) houses a Design program with BA, BFA, and MFA options. The Design MFA is a fully funded terminal degree program with a concentration in Visual Communication Design (VCD). The Design BA and BFA programs allow students to concentrate in VCD and/or select a double major or a minor, such as Collaborative Innovation. All students have opportunities to collaborate on real-world projects; join the AIGA student chapter; participate in design competitions and studio tours; and intern at places such as Leo Burnett and DreamWorks. Graduates have landed positions at these and other places such as Apple, Microsoft, The New York Times, Google, IDEO, Amazon, Mattel, Booz Allen Hamilton, Dell, Nike, Ogilvy, IBM, Disney, HarperCollins, Deloitte Digital, Estée Lauder, Target, Newell Brands, Uber, and Spotify.

The Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design (SOAAD) at Indiana University Bloomington (IU Bloomington) provides several paths to study graphic design. Within the Studio Art program are BA and BFA degrees with a Graphic Design concentration, and an MFA with a Graphic Design specialization. Across programs, students have opportunities to complete an internship at places such as Adidas, EY, and HubSpot. Other highlights include access to Digital Printing Labs, the Letterpress Studio, and Prototyping Labs; workshops and critiques by notable artists and designers; the McKinney Visiting Artist Series; and study abroad experiences in places such as Milan, Italy and Kyoto, Japan. Graduates have been hired at places such as Leo Burnett, Disney, Google, Publicis Groupe, Amazon, Ogilvy, Target, PwC, ESPN, The Washington Post, Crate & Barrel, Hearst, Intuit, the E.W. Scripps Company, and People Inc.

Columbia College Chicago (Columbia) provides several paths to study graphic design including the BA, BFA, and minor in Graphic Design. The BA allows students to pursue a minor or double concentration, and choose a track in Publication Design or Web Design. Popular minors include Creative Advertising, Motion Graphics, User Experience, Design Management, Photography, and Marketing. The BFA is a studio-intensive program that highlights collaborative programs, networking opportunities, and portfolio courses. Across programs, students have opportunities to intern at places such as Leo Burnett and 50,000feet. Graduates have been hired at places such as PepsiCo, Google, Leo Burnett, DDB, Apple, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, L'Oréal Groupe, Vogue, DreamWorks, Framestore, and Rockstar Games.

Ball State University (BSU) houses the School of Art, which provides several paths to study graphic design. Options include the Graphic Design BFA; a Graphic Design Studies BS; and minors in Graphic Arts Technology, Studio Art, and Digital Media. Studio Art students can craft their own concentration area through electives. Across programs, students benefit from an immersive studio environment, with access to state-of-the-art production facilities; opportunities to work in the student-led graphic design studio—Studio 165+; participation in the 10-week virtual One Creative Mentorship Program; and internships at places such as the David Owsley Museum of Art (DOMA). Graduates have been hired at places such as Google, Disney, NASA, LPK, The Star Tribune, UPS, Target, VMware, and Angi. 

The Department of Art at Kansas State University (K-State) provides several paths to study graphic design. Options include the Visual Communication Design (VCD) BFA, the Art MFA with a VCD emphasis, and a VCD minor. The VCD BFA and minor explore areas such as package design, digital media, typography, and publication layout. The MFA program focuses on advanced research across these areas, as well as communication frameworks and visual systems. Students in both programs benefit from internship opportunities; small class sizes with assigned studio spaces; and participation in the AIGA student group, which hosts studio tours, workshops, trips to national conferences, networking events, and visiting artists. Graduates have landed positions at places such as Kansas City Magazine, VML, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Garmin, Oracle Health, BVK, Textron Aviation, and Dimensional Innovations (DI).