| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yale University | New Haven |
| 2 | University of Hartford | Hartford |
| 3 | University of Connecticut | Multiple |
| 4 | Central Connecticut State University | New Britain |
| 5 | Sacred Heart University | Fairfield |
Our 2024 ranking of the top 5 graphic design school programs in Connecticut. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
Yale University (Yale) is home to the School of Art (SoA). Within the school is an Art major for students enrolled in Yale College, and MFA degrees in Graphic Design, Photography, Painting and Printmaking, and Sculpture. Across programs, students have the option to enroll in elective courses in other professional schools across the university.
Other Yale SoA features include visiting professionals that take part in lectures and critiques; free evening events hosted by faculty members and visiting artists; and two galleries—Green Hall and 32 Edgewood Gallery. Both galleries are open year-round with frequent exhibitions by students, faculty, and special guests.
The Graphic Design MFA program at Yale University accepts just 12 students each year and up to six students into the preliminary-year program. This option is ideal for students with experience in an area outside of design. Consisting of 60 credit hours, the MFA consists of workshops, lectures, exhibitions, and presentations. Students also benefit from immersive studio work; individual sessions with editing and writing tutors; group thesis meetings; and access to more than 2,000 courses each year.
Examples of required courses for the program include Interactive Design and the Internet: Software for People; Critical and Professional Practice; Advanced Graphic Design: Ad Hoc Series and Systems; First-Year Graduate Studio: Graphic Design; Second-Year Graduate Studio: Graphic Design; Writing as Visual Practice; and Degree Presentation in Graphic Design.
All MFA students benefit from designated workspaces in the design studio loft; access to motion capture and VR tools at the Center for Collaborative Arts and Media; unlimited access to equipment such as the RISO Digital Duplicator, Vandercook presses, bookbinding materials, and wide format printers; opportunities to attend conferences and film festivals; and access to Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library; and
The Yale SoA Graphic Design MFA culminates with the completion of a thesis and a professional portfolio. The program takes two years to complete, full-time. Graduates are prepared to pursue design roles at advertising agencies, print and online publishing companies, public relations firms, computer systems design companies, design firms, web design studios, manufacturing companies, and marketing firms.
Established in 1701, Yale University is one of the oldest institutes of higher learning in the U.S. A member of the Ivy League, the school houses approximately 15,080 students served by more than 10,500 staff members. Eighty majors are provided across more than 100 departments and schools including Yale College, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and Yale Professional Schools—including the School Art (SoA).
Established in 1869, Yale SoA was the nation’s first art school connected with an institution of higher learning. The school serves more than 100 students enrolled in five programs. As part of Yale University, the School of Art is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
University of Hartford (UHart) houses Hartford Art School (HAS). Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the school serves approximately 400 students enrolled in eight studio majors leading to a BFA, one Art History BA, two MFA degrees, and a number of minors.
All programs feature small class sizes; studio-based curriculums; access to a 65,000 square foot facility that houses senior studio spaces and 100 Apple computer stations; and study abroad experiences at art and design institutions such as Slade School of Fine Art (London); University of Tasmania (Australia), and Glasgow School of Art (Scotland).
For students interested in pursuing a career in graphic design, UHart’s Hartford Art School provides a 18 credit hour Visual Communication Design (VCD) minor and a 120 credit hour BFA program.
The full-time degree program begins a foundation year that focuses on creative growth and skills development. Upon successful completion of the foundation year, students will begin working their way through design intensives and independent studios. In all, BCD students will complete 77–80 studio credits in the major, plus 45–46 academic credits.
Course examples for the program include Issues in Design; Experimental Typography; Design Systems; Sequential Graphics; Type I-II; Image Making and Meaning; and Design Problem Solving. Electives allow students to create a focus. Elective examples include Advertising Illustration; Book Arts; Foundation 2D Studio; Digital Illustration; and Printmaking.
All VCD BFA students have the opportunity to gain hands on experience through the Civic Design course, and the design internship. In the Civic Design course students have a chance to work with local clients.
In the senior year of the VCD BFA program at University of Hartford, students will complete the Senior Project and Senior Portfolio courses. During the project course, students will work independently to identify and investigate a specific problem or theme in graphic design. During the Senior Portfolio course, faculty will assist students with the preparation and development a professional presentation. The course also focuses on career planning, resume preparation, and professionalism.
The project course ends with the production of the thesis. This final project will be displayed at a networking event attended by design professionals and recruiters.
Graduates of the Hartford Art School gone on to establish careers at advertising agencies, publishing companies, web design studios, newspapers and magazines, television networks, film studios, healthcare providers, technology companies, and more. Some program alumni have gone on to pursue an advanced degree, while others have launched their own studios or freelance businesses.
University of Hartford HAS alumni have worked on projects for Amazon and Netflix, and their work has been presented at museums and galleries such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET), Team Gallery, and Tanya Bonakdar Gallery. Graduates of the art and design programs at University of Hartford have also been hired at places such as ESPN, Travelers, Nike, Pentagram, and CVS Health.
Chartered in 1957, University of Hartford is a four-year private university that serves approximately 5,900 students from 48 states and 51 countries. The school provides more than 175 programs spanning the arts, business, education, engineering, technology, health, and humanities are provided across seven colleges and schools. University of Hartford has been continuously accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) since 1961.
University of Connecticut (UConn) is home to the School of Fine Arts. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), the school houses the Department of Art and Art History (AAH), which has several paths to study graphic design. They include the Art BA and BFA programs, and the Studio Art BFA. All options provide the option to select a concentration in Graphic Design; Illustration/Animation; Printmaking; Industrial Design; Painting/Drawing; Photography/Video; or Sculpture/Ceramics.
All BFA students have the opportunity to participate in participate in the study abroad program Graphic Design in London. For this overseas learning experience, students will enroll at Central Saint Martins (CSM), which is part of the University of the Arts London. Alongside CSM peers, UConn students will complete graphic design, art history, and elective coursework totaling 12-15 credit hours.
The Graphic Design concentration features a studio-based curriculum that explores print, installation, motion, and interactive design. In addition studios in interaction, motion, and publishing, students will develop professional skills in the Design Center. This award-winning student graphic design studio allows students to work on client-based projects for academic credit.
Other program features includes intensive workshops led by visiting artists; mentoring; internship and co-op opportunities; and access to state-of-the-art tools and facilities. This includes screenprinting, letterpress, animation, and ceramic studios; a risograph digital duplicator; dark rooms; wood and metal shops; laser and plasma cutters; and a CNC machine.
Courses for the concentration include Introduction to Digital Media; Graphic Design: Process and Thinking; Graphic Design 1: Typography; Graphic Design 2: Visual Systems; Graphic Design 3: Relational Design; and Graphic Design 4: Communication Dynamics. Students will also take common art courses such as Drawing I-II; Printmaking Studio; Criticism and Interpretation; and Studio Concepts.
The Art and Studio Art programs at UConn culminates with a body of work to be exhibited at the Annual Senior Show.
Graduates of the Art/Graphic Design programs at University of Connecticut are prepared to pursue design roles across industries. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Electronic Arts (EA), Ogilvy, IDEO, Google, Crispin, Food & Wine, Weiden+Kennedy, Wolf Olins, Viacom, Yale University Art Gallery, YouTube, Pentagram, NBCUniversal, Cigna, Bloomingdale’s, Best Buy, and Aetna.
Some UConn graduates go on to pursue graduate studies at places such as UCLA, Yale, NYU, Royal College of Art (London), School of the Art Institute of Chicago, New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), School of Visual Arts, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Carnegie Mellon, Pratt Institute, California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), MITMediaLab, and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).
Founded in 1881, University of Connecticut began as Storrs Agricultural School. When the school opened, it welcomed 13 male students and three faculty members. Today, UConn enrolls approximately 32,330 students, served by more than 18,000 faculty and staff. With one main campus at Storrs, and four regional campuses, the school provides eight undergraduate degrees with 129 majors; 17 graduate degrees in 100 research and professional practice fields of study; and six professional degree programs across 14 colleges and schools. University of Connecticut is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Central Connecticut State University (Central) is home to the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, which houses the Department of Art and Design. Within the department are two paths to graphic design. At the undergraduate level, students can earn a BA in Graphic/Information Design. At the graduate level, students can earn an Information Design MA.
The Graphic/Information Design BA is a multidisciplinary program that explores graphic design, interactive multimedia, design history, animation, digital design, 3D motion, and web design. A major component of the program is the 400-level Central Design course. Set up as an in-house design studio, the course provides the opportunity to work on real projects and productions with local non-profits. All projects will become a part of the student’s final portfolio.
To enhance the degree, BA students may also add a minor. Examples include Strategic Communication; Media Studies; Writing & Publishing; Art for Graphic Information Design Majors; Marketing; Game Studies; Graphics Technology; Computer Science; and Entrepreneurship.
Other program features include small class sizes; access to state-of-the-art tools and studios; internship and study abroad opportunities; on-campus and hybrid classes; full- and part-time schedules; and portfolio development.
Graduates of the Graphic/Information Design BA program at Central Connecticut State University are prepared to pursue careers in areas such as advertising, marketing, branding, packaging, motion graphics, design print media, digital illustration, web design, book arts and design, UI/UX design, 3D Design, storyboard art, layout design, exhibit design, logo design, and social media design.
The Information Design MA at Central Connecticut State University is a 36 credit hour program that explores design theory, process, and application. Course examples for the program include Integrated Marketing Communication; Graphic/Information Design Theory I-II; Advanced History of Design; Graphic/Information Design Practice I-II; Computer Applications for Graphic/Information Design; Central Design; Research Methods in Design; and Advanced Design Internship.
The Information Design MA program at Central culminates with the research project capstone. Graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles in graphic design, corporate information design, publishing, advertising, digital imaging, multimedia design, and web design.
Central Connecticut State University serves approximately 9,715 students, making it the largest university in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system. Founded in 1849 as the New Britain Normal School, Central is also Connecticut’s oldest public university. The school provides more than 150 programs across five academic schools. Central Connecticut State University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
The School of Communication, Media and the Arts (SCMA) at Sacred Heart University (SHU) houses the Department of Art and Design and the BA program. Students in this program may select a concentration from three options including Graphic Design, Illustration, or Studio Art. All concentrations can be taken as minors as well. Concentrations require 33 credit hours, while minors are 18 credit hours.
Across programs, features include five art studios for graphic design, illustration, and painting projects; access to the state-of-the-art Digital Design Laboratory; participation in the SCMA Student Art Club; and study abroad experiences in places such as India and Ireland.
Designed for students in related majors, the Graphic Design consists of courses such as Introduction to Digital Design; Graphic Design I-II; Design: Visual Organization; and Interactive 2D Animation.
The Graphic Design concentration for the Art and Design BA program requires 33 credit hours. All students in the concentration will take foundational courses including Design: Visual Organization; Design II: Color; Introduction to Digital Design; and Drawing I. Art history courses are also required and include Art in the Western World and one of the following: American Art; Studies in Modern Art; or Introduction to Eastern Art.
Students will take advanced level Graphic Design courses such as Advertising Design; Graphic Design I-IV; Design for the Web; Interactive Motion Graphics; Illustration; Interactive 2D Animation and Drawing II: Figure Drawing.
The BA program culminates with the senior capstone course—Graphic Design Portfolio. Guided by faculty and visiting professionals, the capstone focuses on developing a professional portfolio and promotional materials. Final projects will be presented in a public exhibition to area design, advertising, marketing, and recruitment professionals.
Graduates of the Art and Design BA program at Sacred Heart University are prepared to pursue design roles across industries. Possible job titles include Graphic Designer, Book Designer, Publications Designer, Brand Identity Designer, Art Director, Logo Designer, Web Designer, Advertising Designer, Packaging Designer, Layout Artist, Exhibit Designer, and Creative Director.
Founded in 1963, Sacred Heart University opened with 200 undergraduate students. Today, the school serves approximately 11,180 students from 42 states, DC, two. U.S. territories, and over 40 countries. Students at SHU have access to nearly 90 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and certificate programs across five distinct colleges and three schools. Sacred Heard University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
