| Ranking | School | State | Ranking by State | National Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Savannah College of Art and Design | Georgia | #1 in Georgia | #8 |
| 2 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | North Carolina | #1 in North Carolina | #10 |
| 3 | University of Florida | Florida | #1 in Florida | #14 |
| 4 | Ringling College of Art and Design | Florida | #2 in Florida | #21 |
| 5 | Auburn University | Alabama | #1 in Alabama | #33 |
| 6 | University of Georgia | Georgia | #2 in Georgia | #37 |
| 7 | Florida State University | Florida | #3 in Florida | #42 |
| 8 | Full Sail University | Florida | #4 in Florida | #43 |
| 9 | University of Tennessee | Tennessee | #1 in Tennessee | #45 |
| 10 | Louisiana State University | Louisiana | #1 in Louisiana | Unranked |
| 11 | University of Arkansas | Arkansas | #1 in Arkansas | Unranked |
| 12 | University of Miami | Florida | #5 in Florida | Unranked |
| 13 | Clemson University | South Carolina | #1 in South Carolina | Unranked |
| 14 | University of Central Florida | Florida | #6 in Florida | Unranked |
| 15 | Tulane University | Louisiana | #2 in Louisiana | Unranked |
| 16 | University of South Carolina | South Carolina | #2 in South Carolina | Unranked |
| 17 | Appalachian State University | North Carolina | #2 in North Carolina | Unranked |
| 18 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | North Carolina | #3 in North Carolina | Unranked |
| 19 | University of North Florida | Florida | #7 in Florida | Unranked |
| 20 | Mississippi State University | Mississippi | #1 in Mississippi | Unranked |
| 21 | Georgia State University | Georgia | #3 in Georgia | Unranked |
| 22 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | Florida | #8 in Florida | Unranked |
| 23 | Florida Atlantic University | Florida | #9 in Florida | Unranked |
| 24 | Kennesaw State University | Georgia | #4 in Georgia | Unranked |
| 25 | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | Tennessee | #2 in Tennessee | Unranked |
Our 2026 ranking of the Top 25 Graphic Design School Programs in the South. We considered over 150 southern colleges with graphic design programs for this year's rankings. For an explanation of our ranking criteria, click here.
We define the South as Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas.
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has a Graphic Design program with BA, BFA, and minor options at the undergraduate level, and Graphic Design and Visual Experience MA and MFA options at the graduate level. Across 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 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.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh (NC State) houses the College of Design, home to the Graphic and Experience Design program. Degrees include the Bachelor of Graphic and Experience Design (BGXD) and Master of Graphic and Experience Design (MGXD). Recognized by the AIGA and considered one of the nation’s top NASAD-accredited programs, the BGXD focuses on typography, user research, digital prototyping, and service design. The MGXD is one of the few STEM-designated graphic design graduate programs in the U.S. Across programs, students have opportunities to complete an internship and study abroad in places such as Greece and Prague. Graduates have secured positions at places such as IDEO, Red Hat, IBM, Pentagram, Lenovo, R/GA, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), and Adobe.
The School of Art and Art History at the University of Florida (UF) houses the Graphic Design BFA, Design and Visual Communications MFA (MxD), and Graphic Design minor programs. 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.
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 School of Industrial and Graphic Design (SIGD) at Auburn University houses the oldest NASAD-accredited programs in the state of Alabama. Options for aspiring graphic designers include a Graphic Design BFA and the Industrial and Graphic Design Processes minor. These studio-based programs highlight 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.
The Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia (UGA) provides several paths to study graphic design. Degree-seeking students can earn an Art BFA with an emphasis in Graphic Design or an AB in Interdisciplinary Art and Design. A Design and Media minor and a New Media certificate are available to students in other majors. Dodd highlights include state-of-the-art studios; immersive workshops and seminars; galleries for instruction and student exhibitions; participation in the Annual Bachelor of Fine Arts Exit Show; visiting artists; and the year-round Studies Abroad Program in Cortona, Italy. Dodd graduates have secured roles at places such as Disney, Amazon, Wieden+Kennedy, Delta Air Lines, Apple, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), Gray Media, Deloitte, and Cox Communications.
The College of Fine Arts at Florida State University (FSU) is home to the Department of Art. Within the department are the Studio Art BA, BFA, and MFA degree programs. An interdisciplinary Graphic Design graduate certificate is also available to graduate students in all departments. BA students must choose one concentration; BFA students must select two; and MFA students may focus through electives or an established concentration. Examples include Electronic Arts (MFA); Printmaking; Book Arts; Installation (MFA); Digital Media; Photography; Moving Image; Drawing; and Papermaking (MFA). The MFA is a fully funded program, with additional scholarship/fellowship opportunities. FSU alumni go on to establish careers at places such as Disney, Lockheed Martin, Amazon, IMAX, Deloitte, L3Harris, Publix, and PwC.
Full Sail University (Full Sail) provides multiple paths to study Graphic Design. Options include AAS and BS degrees in Graphic Design; a Digital Arts and Design BS; an undergraduate certificate in Visual Design; and a Media Design MFA. All programs highlight real-world, project-based design curriculums; access to design and production facilities such as the 3D Arts Center and Studio V1 Virtual Production; and internship opportunities at places such as Goodby Silverstein & Partners (GS&P), DC Comics, and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Graduates of the Design programs at Full Sail can be found at places such as Disney, Google, Epic Games, DC Comics, Adobe, Netflix, Electronic Arts (EA), and SoFi Stadium.
The School of Design at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT) provides two paths to study graphic design. Options include a Graphic Design BFA and a Graphic Design minor that’s ideal for Advertising and Journalism majors. The minor also has three tracks including The Idea of Design, The Art of Identity Design, and The Art of Presentation Design. All students benefit from 24/7 access to specialized facilities, including the School of Design Fab Lab and dedicated workspaces; small class sizes; and collaborative design studios. BFA students have opportunities to complete an internship at places such as Regal Entertainment Group and Fjällräven. All students will complete the Graphic Design Capstone for presentation at the Annual Senior Show. Graduates have been hired at places such as Google, Boeing, IDEO, Discovery, Coca-Cola, Accenture, and HGTV.
The School of Art at Louisiana State University (LSU) houses the BFA and MFA degrees in Graphic Design. Across programs, students have the opportunity to participate in workshops and lectures led by visiting artists, and the Arts, Visualization, Advanced Technologies and Research (AVATAR) Initiative, Other program highlights include access to the Design Shop, studio spaces, the IDEA Hub, teaching labs, and the Fabrication Factory; internships at places such as Sony, Halliburton, and IBM ; and participation in the Digital Art and Design Association (DADA) or Graphic Design Student Organization (GDSA). In addition to Sony, Halliburton, and IBM, graduates have secured positions at places such as DreamWorks, Pixar, Travel + Leisure, Lucasfilm, The Washington Post, Disney, VML, and the Baltimore Museum of Art.
The School of Art at University of Arkansas (U of A) houses a Graphic Design program with BFA and MDes options. All students benefit from professional internship opportunities; access to state-of-the-art equipment in the Design Lab and designated workspaces in the Studio + Design Center located in the Windgate Arts and Design District; collaborative projects; and participation in the U of A Chapter of the AIGA Student Group. MDes students receive funding support through a variety of assistantships (including a full-tuition waiver), research stipends, and research fellowships. Graduates have been hired to work with the Dallas Cowboys and at places such as Amazon, Saatchi X, CBRE, Walmart, and J.B. Hunt.
The University of Miami (UM) provides multiple paths to study graphic design. The College of Arts and Sciences houses a Studio Art BFA with a Graphic Design and Multimedia (GDM) concentration; a flexible, general studies Art BA with access to all GDM courses, plus a mandatory 15-credit minor in Interactive Media, Advertising, User Experience Design, or other option; and the Illustration and Multimedia MFA. The School of Communication houses the Human-Centered Design and Computing BSC; an Experience and Information Design (XiD) MS; and a Creative Technologies and Interactive Arts MFA. Highlights across programs include visiting artist seminars and critiques; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; gallery visits; and interdisciplinary studio courses. Graduates can be found at Sony Music Publishing, Yahoo!, the Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, Royal Caribbean Group, and Catena Media.
Clemson University (Clemson) provides several paths to study graphic design. The school’s Department of Art houses a Visual Arts BFA with a Graphic Design emphasis and the Art BA with a Digital Art and Design media emphasis. The Department of Graphic Communications houses Graphic Communications BS and MS degrees. The BFA is a professional studio degree, while the BA is interdisciplinary, with a required minor or second major. The BS requires two industrial internships to graduate, while the MS attracts students with a technology background seeking leadership, packaging development, and research roles. Clemson visual design graduates can be found at places such as Disney, Lockheed Martin, Google, The Coca-Cola Company, Apple, BMW, Deloitte, Newell Brands, Adobe, RRD, and Capital One.
The School of Visual Arts and Design (SVAD) at University of Central Florida (UCF) has several paths to study graphic design. The school’s Emerging Media BFA has a Graphic Design track, while the Emerging Media MFA has a flexible Studio Art and Design track. Other SVAD pathways for aspiring graphic designers include an Art BA (Immersive Experience Design track); a Digital Media BA; and the Digital Arts and Emerging Experiences minor. Across programs students have access to specialized creative labs, studios, and makerspaces; the artist series; and professional internship opportunities at places like Disney, Lockheed Martin, and Universal Orlando Resort. Graduates can be found at these and other places such as Microsoft, NASA, Disney, Apple, NBCUniversal, DreamWorks, Netflix, Rockstar Games, Electronic Arts (EA), Amazon, Marriott International, SeaWorld, Warner Bros., Sony, and Blizzard Entertainment.
Tulane University (Tulane) provides several paths to study graphic design across three schools. The School of Professional Advancement (SoPA) houses the Digital Design BA with a Graphic Design track; the Graphic Design minor open to all majors; and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Graphic Design. The Newcomb Art Department in the School of Liberal Arts has a flexible, multidisciplinary Studio Art major with a Digital Arts concentration, and the School of Architecture houses an interdisciplinary Design BA that combines graphics principles with visual communication. Across programs, students can complete a professional internship; participate in professional conferences and symposiums; and study abroad in places such as Italy, Spain, and Denmark. Graduates have established careers at places such as Walt Disney Imagineering, Revlon, Gensler, FX Networks, Landor, Ford, and Sony Pictures Entertainment.
University of South Carolina (USC) provides several paths to study graphic design. Housed in the School of Visual Art and Design (SVAD)—the largest art school in the state—are the Studio Art BA, BFA, and MFA programs. The flexible BA program allows students to focus in Graphic Design, while BFA has a formal concentration in Graphic Design and Illustration. MFA students can select Graphic Design as their Main area of field work and creative research. All students have opportunities to work and learn in a dedicated 85,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art production facility; participate in workshops, engage with guest speakers, and attend special creative events through the South Carolina Chapter of the AIGA; complete a professional internship; and study abroad in places such as Amsterdam, Spain, and Italy. Graduates have landed positions at places such as Google, Boeing, Nike, Aramark, Humana, Reebok, IBM, Miami Marlins, the Girl Scouts of South Carolina, Anthropologie, Omnicom Advertising, and Lyft.
The Department of Art at Appalachian State University (App State) provides two paths to study graphic design. Options include the Graphic Design BFA and the Graphic Communications Management BS with concentrations in Print/Packaging Production and Cross Media Production. The BFA requires a minor such as Photography, while the BS requires a minor in General Business. All students benefit from internship opportunities with companies such as Coyne PR, Lowe’s, and Acuity Brands; study abroad experiences in places such as Austria, Thailand, and Italy; and field trips to New York design studios and museums. Graduates have been hired at places such as Brooklyn Academy of Music, Amazon, Wells Fargo, Gap, RRD, Cintas, Red Hat, Tiffany & Co., Bank of America, and Salem One.
The College of Arts + Architecture (CoA+A) at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) houses the Department of Art and Art History. Within the department is a Graphic Design BFA program that features 24/7 access to production facilities inside Rowe Arts Building, which also houses performance spaces and The Rowe Galleries. Other program highlights include professional internships with organizations such as the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Honeywell, and Bechtler Museum of Modern Art; the option to work for student-led Niner Media; and study abroad experiences such as the Graphic Design Studio track in Copenhagen, Denmark, and a graphic design-centered summer program in South Korea’s official UNESCO City of Design—Seoul. Graduates can be found at places such as Leo Burnett, Amazon, ESPN, The Charlotte Observer, IBM, ScentAir, the Charlotte Hornets, Lowe’s, and Belk.
The Graphic Design BFA program at the University of North Florida (UNF) has a unique component that allows students to work on design projects for partners such as MOCA Jacksonville. Housed in the College of Arts and Sciences’ (COAS) Department of Art, Art History, and Design, this limited access program also highlights a visiting artist series; study abroad experiences in London, Italy, Brazil, and Ireland; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; and the opportunity to exhibit works across two senior showcases in UNF Gallery Spaces. Graduates have landed positions with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Orlando Magic, as well as Chico’s, the Dalton Agency, WGI, Flamingo Magazine, and 63 Visual.
The Department of Art at Mississippi State University (MSU) houses a Studio Art BFA with a Graphic Design concentration. Program highlights include small class sizes; internships at places such as Hatch Show Print and ONEFASTBUFFALO; access to state-of-the-art facilities such as VIS[LAB]; study abroad experiences through the MSU-University of Arkansas Rome Center Partnership; and participation in the BFA Presentation and Exhibition event. Graduates have secured roles at places such as Google, V2K, Animation World Network (AWN), Rolling Stone, the Grammy Museum Mississippi, and Delta Magazine.
The Ernest G. Welch School of Art and Design at Georgia State University (GSU) provides two paths to study graphic design. Options include a Studio BFA with a Graphic Design concentration and the Studio MFA with a Graphic Design specialization. Most admitted MFA students receive full funding and access to dedicated graduate studios. All students have access to the Creative Media Center, the EXLAB, and computing labs with 24/7 entry. Other highlights across programs include design seminars; professional internships; and student exhibitions. Graduates have been hired at places such as BBDO, Google, Apple, Cartoon Network, Accenture, Disney, Amazon, Home Depot, and Peachtree Publishing Company.
The School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC) at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (Florida A&M or FAMU) houses a Graphic Design BS that focuses on brand development and creative campaigns for motion graphics, UX/UI design, web, digital media, print, social media, and animation. Students will create works using state-of-the-art print production labs, and the SJGC Mac Lab, FAMU Fab Lab, and FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Makerspace. Other program highlights include the HBCU in LA program featuring partnerships with Pixar, Paramount, and Disney; and study abroad experiences in Japan, Hungary, and Sweden, among others. Graduates can be found at places such as Pixar, Major League Baseball (MLB), Disney, Nike, Paramount, Apple, Target, Newell Brands, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), the Orlando Sentinel, and the Mississippi Museum of Art.
The Department of Visual Arts and Art History at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) provides several paths to study graphic design. Options include a BFA in Graphic Design; a Studio Art BA with a Graphic Design concentration; and a Visual Art MFA with a Graphic Design concentration. Students in all programs benefit from collaborations with the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami (MOCA) and the Boca Museum of Art; access to state-of-the-art production facilities across the Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton campuses; and dedicated study abroad programs in places such as Spain, Italy, and France. FAU Design alumni have gone on to establish careers at places such as Boeing, Google, Lockheed Martin, Amazon, Deloitte Digital, Microsoft, Live Nation Entertainment, Hard Rock Digital, and iHeartMedia.
The School of Art and Design (SOAAD) at Kennesaw State University (KSU) provides several paths to study graphic design. Options include an Art BFA with a Graphic Communication concentration; a flexible Art and Design MA; and certificates in Graphic Design with Photoshop and Illustrator, Digital Arts, and Adobe Certified Professional in Visual Design. Highlights across programs include summer art intensives; professional internships at places such as Delta Air Lines, Home Depot, and Yamaha; small class sizes; study abroad experiences in Thailand, France, and Italy, among others; and the visiting artist series. Graduates can be found at places such as Boeing, Cox Media Group, Warner Bros., UPS, FedEx, Lockheed Martin, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Atlanta Magazine, and the High Museum of Art.
The Department of Art (UTC Art) at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) houses an Art BFA program with a concentration in Graphic Design/Design Research and Practice. Students seeking a shorter program can enroll in the Digital Arts certificate program or the Graphic Design with Photoshop and Illustrator training track. Degree-seeking students benefit from studio visits; access to state-of-the-art labs and studios; faculty mentorship; cooperative education assignments with partner companies; and professional internships with local creative agencies and museums. Graduates have secured roles at places such as Waterhouse Public Relations, Hunter Museum of American Art, Volkswagen Chattanooga, 6 Strong Media, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Astec Industries, and Southern Champion Tray.
