| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston University | Boston |
| 2 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Boston |
| 3 | Lesley University | Cambridge |
| 4 | Northeastern University | Boston |
| 5 | University of Massachusetts Lowell | Lowell |
Our 2025 ranking of the top 5 graphic design school programs in Massachusetts. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
Boston University’s (BU) School of Visual Arts has several paths to study graphic design including the Visual Arts minor, and the BFA, MFA, and certificate in Graphic Design. Accredited by National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the programs feature workshops and immersive studio experiences; partnerships with area design studios and businesses; design intensives in Amsterdam; Printmaking workshops at the Franz Masareel Centrum in Kasterlee, Belgium; and the Studio Arts Program at Boston University’s Venice (Italy) Center. Graduates of the BU Graphic Design programs have been hired at places such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, ESPN, Amazon, Deloitte, NBCUniversal, IBM, Meta, Liberty Mutual, CVS Health, Accenture, PwC, Dropbox, and Merck.
Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) has two paths to study graphic design: the Communication Design BFA and a Communication Design certificate that can be completed entirely online. All students benefit from industry partnerships; access to state-of-the-art production facilities, labs, and studios; and internships at design studios, MassArt Art Museum (MAAM), galleries, and performance venues. The program culminates with the Senior Design Portfolio and Senior Degree Project courses. Graduates have gone on to land positions at places such as Microsoft, REI, Google, Penguin Random House, Apple, Yelp, IBM, Pinterest, Adobe, and Chronicle Books.
The College of Art and Design at Lesley University (Lesley) is accredited by the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD). The school houses a Graphic Design program with BFA, minor and post-baccalaureate certificates options. In addition to AICAD accreditation, students in all programs benefit from small class sizes; studio-based curriculums; faculty mentorship; and access to state-of-the-art labs and studios. BFA students also benefit from the design internship requirement, which provides opportunities to work at places such as Hasbro, New Balance, and Puma. Graduates can be found at places such as Puma, Hasbro, New Balance, the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM), and iRobot.
Northeastern University (Northeastern) provides multiple paths to study graphic design. Options include the Graphic and Information Design BFA; Architecture and Graphic and Information Design BS; Communication Studies and Graphic and Information Design BA; Graphic and Information Design and English BA; Graphic and Information Design and Mathematics BS; a Graphic and Information Design minor; and a certificate in Information Design and Visualization. All students may participate in the co-op program, which provides opportunities to work at places such as NBCUniversal, Ogilvy, New Balance, and Autodesk, Inc. Across programs, graduates have been hired at Microsoft, Apple, Google, IBM, Disney Interactive, Goldman Sachs, MIT, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, JPMorgan Chase, and CVS Health.
The College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (FAHSS) at University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell) houses the Department of Art and Design. Within the department is a Graphic Design program that highlights small class sizes; participation in clubs and organizations such as AIGA Student Group and the Art Student Union; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; and co-ops and internship opportunities. Leading to a BFA, the Graphic Design program explores interaction design, motion graphics, app design, user experience, publication design, typography, and web design. The program culminates with the Senior Studio project. UMass Lowell Art and Design Graduates go on to land positions at places such as Amazon, Fidelity Investments, The LEGO Group, and RTX Corporation.
