| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana State University | Baton Rouge |
| 2 | Tulane University | New Orleans |
| 3 | Loyola University New Orleans | New Orleans |
| 4 | Louisiana State University-Shreveport | Shreveport |
| 5 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette |
Our 2023 ranking of the top 5 graphic design school programs in Louisiana. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
The College of Art & Design at Louisiana State University (LSU) houses the School of Art, which has a Graphic Design Program with both BFA and MFA pathways. Students in all School of Art programs have access to the Arts, Visualization, Advanced Technologies and Research (AVATAR) Initiative and the LSU Art Building, which houses classrooms, studio spaces, the Design Shop, IDEA Hub, teaching labs, and the Fabrication Factory.
School of Art students may also join the Digital Art and Design Association (DADA), participate in design competitions, and join the Graphic Design Student Organization (GDSA), which hosts field trips to local design firms and lectures,
The Graphic Design Programs at Louisiana State University explore branding, packaging design, print and editorial design, typography, information design, motion graphics, environmental design, illustration/digital imaging, and identity design. Consisting of 120 credit hours, the BFA curriculum includes courses such as Graphic Design I-III, Applied Typography, Digital Imaging Techniques, Graphic Abstraction, Letter Forms, Color Design, Prepress Production Techniques, and Interactive Multimedia Design.
The LSU Graphic Design MFA is a 60 credit hour program that combines workshops and lectures by visiting artists with art history courses, studio art electives, and graduate studios. A Teaching Seminar is part of the program as well as two Thesis Research courses worth six credits. The graduate Graphic Design Program culminates with the MFA Thesis Report and Exhibition.
Graduates of the Graphic Design Program at Louisiana State University work in advertising, corporate communications, design, publishing, education, and the non-profit sectors. Some graduates have launched their own businesses or studios.
Graphic Design alumni have been hired at Travel + Leisure, Sony Picture Entertainment, Halliburton, Disney, The Washington Post, DreamWorks, Nissan North America, SVAD-NYC, Lucasfilm, KPMG, Baltimore Museum of Art, Pixar Animation Studios, New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, Leftfield Entertainment, Hunter Museum of American Art, Bluebonnet, Modern Media, Modern Art Museum (Fort Worth, Texas), and Trace Labs.
Louisiana State University was founded in 1860 as the Louisiana State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy. The flagship institution of the Louisiana State University System, LSU serves approximately 37,355 students enrolled in more than 330 programs across 18 colleges, schools, and centers, and LSU Online. Louisiana State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). School of Art Concentration Areas are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Tulane University (Tulane) houses the School of Professional Advancement (SoPA), which has a variety of programs for students seeking a career in Graphic Design. At the undergraduate level, SoPA has a Digital Design BA Program with a Graphic Design Track, a Post-Baccalaureate (PBC) Certificate in Digital Design with a Concentration in Graphic Design, and a Graphic Design Minor.
The Digital Design BA requires 42 credit hours in the major, 18 elective credit hours, and 60 credit hours in general requirements. The Digital Design PBC requires 30 major hours, and the Graphic Design Minor requires 18 credit hours. Course examples across programs include Branding and Semiotics, Digital Illustration, Digital Imaging, Interactive Design Studio, Copywriting, Packaging Design, Motion Design Studio, Digital Page Layout, Design Studio, and History of Graphic Design.
In addition to a variety of courses, the Design Programs at Tulane provide the option to study in other tracks; participate in symposiums, social events, and professional conferences; complete a professional internship; and study abroad.
Graduates of the Tulane University Design Programs work in advertising, book publishing, marketing, app design, web design, public relations, and entertainment. Program alumni also work at museums, for magazines and newspapers, and in-house for specific brands or companies. Job titles include Creative Director, Print Designer, Brand Manager, Front-End Web Developer, Publication Designer, Type Designer, Art Director, Packaging Designer, Illustrator, and Environmental Designer, among others.
Founded in 1834 as Medical College of Louisiana, Tulane University was the first major research institution to require public service for graduation. Serving more than 14,500 students, Tulane offers more than 275 programs across one colleges and nine schools. Tulane University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
The College of Music and Media at Loyola University of New Orleans (LOYNO) houses the School of Communication and Design, home to the Department of Design. Housed in the recently renovated Monroe Hall, the Department of Design has its own AIGA chapter, which hosts guest artists and fundraising events. The Department also provides internship opportunities at places such as the New Orleans Museum of Art and Peter Mayer Advertising, and students have access to study abroad programs in more than 50 countries. Examples include India, Korea, Brazil, Spain, and the UK.
For students seeking an undergraduate degree, the LOYNO Department of Design has a Graphic Design BDes that requires 120 credit hours, including 72 in the major. The program explores digital methods using adobe creative suite and analog methods such as hand lettering, screenprinting, drawing, and letterpress. Students may select from three Tracks: Print, Interactive, and Motion/Film. Course examples cross Tracks include Bookbinding/Book Arts, Environmental Communication, Writing: Technique + Technology, Understanding Media, Digital Filmmaking, and Media Play.
Course examples for the major include Illustration Design, Typography Lab 1-2, UX Design Practicum, Motion Design and narrative, Business of Design, Social/Political Design, Print Design and Narrative, and Design Photography. In addition to a variety of courses, GDes students will complete a Design Internship and Design Capstone to graduate.
Graduates of the Design Programs at Loyola University New Orleans are prepared to pursue positions such as Graphic Designer, Creative Director, Package Designer, Motion Graphics Designer, Publications Designer, Web Designer, Book Designer, UI/UX Designer, Brand Manager, and Exhibition Designer, among others. Program alumni also are also prepared for graduate study and teaching positions.
Established in 1904 as Loyola College, Loyola University New Orleans is a private, Jesuit university that serves approximately 4,550 students enrolled in close to 150 programs across five colleges and Loyola Online. Situated on 24 acres across from Audubon Park and Audubon Zoo, Loyola University New Orleans is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
The School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Louisiana State University-Shreveport (LSUS) houses the Department of Arts and Media. Within the Department is a Digital Arts BFA Program that prepares students for careers in Advertising, Graphic Design, Web Design, and other creative industries. Program features include an interdisciplinary curriculum, internships at local companies and studios, access to the Digital Arts Computer Lab, and the opportunity to study abroad for a few weeks, a semester, or longer.
The Digital Arts BFA at LSUS requires 120 credit hours. Course examples include Computer Graphics, Creative Problem Solving, Adobe Photoshop, Intermediate Drawing, Motion Graphics, and Digital Painting. Students also have access to courses such as Typography, Package Design, Digital Illustration, Experimental Design, Small Business Advertising, Interactive Design, Corporate Identity Design, Web Design, History of Media Arts, Advertising Campaign, Design for Social Impact, and Independent Study in Digital Arts.
The Digital Media BFA Program at Louisiana State University-Shreveport culminates with the Senior Capstone Project. Approximately 86% of reporting LSUS graduates employed, enrolled in graduate school, volunteering full-time, or in the military. Some of the top employers across the LSU System include Disney, Halliburton, Deloitte & Touche, Baker Hughes, KPMG, CB&I, and Ernst & Young.
Louisiana State University-Shreveport was established in 1967. The school serves approximately 8,880 students enrolled in a dozen graduate programs and more than 20 undergraduate majors. Programs at LSUS are housed across a number of colleges and schools. Louisiana State University-Shreveport is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette) houses the College of the Arts. Within the College is the Department of Visual Arts, which has 10 Concentration options leading to a BFA. Programs in the Department consist of a core curriculum in Art Foundations and Art History, with the option to Minor in Studio Art or Art History. Examples of core curriculum courses include Appreciation of the Visual Arts, Conceptual and Formal Development through Drawing, Art Since 1945, Design I-II, Art and the Computer, and Drawing I-III.
In the Graphic Design Concentration, students have 24/7 access to a 2500 square foot Graphic Design Studio equipped with Mac workstations, binding equipment, high-resolution large format scanners, photographic equipment, backdrops, lights, DSLR cameras, and lenses. Located in UL Lafayette’s Fletcher hall, the Studio also houses a collection of professional graphic design work for research and a printing lab with wood and metal type, with a sign maker press.
Course examples for the program include Visual Communications, Typography I-II, Design Production Process, Interactive Design, and Studio Practices I-II. In the Senior year of the program, students will complete Senior Art Project I and Senior Project II. This Capstone Project culminates with the Senior Exhibition.
Graduates of the Graphic Design Program at University of Louisiana at Lafayette are prepared to pursue positions such as Advertising Graphic Designer, Book Designer, Layout Artist, Packaging Designer, Corporate Designer, Art Director, Logo Designer, Brand Identity Developer, UI/UX Designer, Interactive Designer, Production Artist, Creative Director, TV Graphic Designer, Magazine Designer, and Web Designer.
Founded on July 4, 1898 as the Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute, University of Louisiana at Lafayette serves approximately 15,220 students enrolled in 50 graduate programs and more than 240 undergraduate majors, minors , and concentrations. Programs at UL Lafayette are housed across nine colleges and 41 academic schools and departments. University of Louisiana at Lafayette is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
