| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington University in St. Louis | St. Louis |
| 2 | Kansas City Art Institute | Kansas City |
| 3 | Missouri State University | Springfield |
| 4 | Webster University | St. Louis |
| 5 | University of Missouri | Columbia |
Our 2024 ranking of the top 5 graphic design school programs in Missouri. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is home to the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts, which houses the College of Architecture; the Graduate School of Art; the Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Design; and Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum. Together, these academic divisions provide access to numerous maker spaces and exhibitions; a dedicated art and architecture library; one of the nation’s first Master of Urban Design programs; and approximately 3,500 significant pieces of art and installations by 19th-, 20th- and 21st-century American and European artists.
Sam Fox also provides dozens of degree programs, including a Design BA with a Communication concentration, and a Communication Design BFA. All first-year students will take Digital Studio and two courses such as 2D Design, Drawing, or 3D Design. Electives from the Sam Fox School and advanced studio courses allow students to create an area of focus.
The BA program is designed for students seeking a liberal arts curriculum within the studio major, while the BFA provides an immersive studio experience. Students in both programs benefit from low student-to-faculty ratios allowing opportunities to work one on one with instructors; internship opportunities; and study abroad for a summer or semester in Florence.
Across programs, students have access to courses such as Global Topics in Visual Communication; Design in Social Systems; Type as Image: The Design of Books; UX Research methods for Design; Applied Illustration; Letterpress Printing; Programming Design; image and Meaning; Multimedia Design: Time/Sound/Space; Content to Cover: The Design of Books; and Printing Propaganda: The Letterpress Poster. Courses for the BA and BFA programs at Washington University in St. Louis are supplemented by seminars and readings.
The BA program culminates with a final project. BFA students will complete the BFA Capstone + Thesis Exhibition to graduate. Students in both programs will take Professional Practice Seminars highlighting portfolio development, CV creation, interviewing, public speaking, and developing job search skills.
The BA and BFA programs at Washington University in St. Louis are accredited by the College Art Association of America (CAA) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Graduates are prepared to pursue roles across all areas of design. Recent Sam Fox alumni have been hired at places such as Pixar, Walt Disney Imagineering, Google, IBM Design, The Atlantic, Nickelodeon, YouTube, Isaac Mizrahi, New York Magazine, Meta, Guggenheim Museum, Levi Strauss & Co., American Museum of Natural History, Pentagram, Princeton University Press, National Gallery of Art, and Gensler.
Founded in 1853, Washington University in St. Louis serves approximately 15,190 students enrolled in more than 300 academic programs across seven schools. The Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts was founded in 2006 after the merging of Architecture and Art, and the WashU Museum. Washington University in St. Louis has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1913.
Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) has multiple paths to study Graphic Design. This includes the traditional Graphic Design BFA; double majors in Graphic Design and Art History, and Graphic Design and Creative Writing; an Art History major with a Graphic Design Minor; and a Creative Writing major with a Graphic Design minor.
All students will complete the first-year Foundation program along with courses and requirements such as Graphic Design Histories; Social Innovation; Branding and Identity; Visual Inquiry; Information and Data Visualization; Type and Image; Self-Directed Inquiry; Interaction; Research and Process; and Professional Practices.
Additional courses for the Graphic Design/Art History program Courses may include Contemporary Art; Global/Comparative Art; Modern Art; Baroque Art; and Art History Seminar. Students in the Graphic Design/Creative Writing program will complete 15 credit hours of literature courses and 12 credits in Creative Writing Workshop. Writing Seminar and Critical Studies I-II are also part of this program.
Across programs, students benefit from interactions with visiting artists; faculty-led travel to places such as Peru, France, Thailand, Argentina, and Vietnam; and the opportunity to complete a professional internship in Missouri, the U.S. or abroad.
The culminating experience for all programs is the final project and a professional portfolio of the student's best work. Graduates of the Design programs at Kansas City Art Institute have been hired to work in a variety of design roles at places such as Nickelodeon, Fossil, The Getty Museum, Pentagram, Hallmark, R/GA, Airbnb, Salesforce, VML, Radius, Hyperakt, Design Army, Populous, and Barkley.
Kansas City Art Institute was established in 1885 as a Sketch Club. Situated just steps from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art within Kansas City’s arts corridor, this four-year art and design college serves more than 700 students enrolled in 13 studio majors across 15 program areas. Kansas City Art Institute is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Missouri State University (MSU) is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The school is also home to the Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts and Letters, which houses the Art and Design Department. Within the department is a Design BFA program with tracks in Graphic Design; Graphic Design and Illustration; Sequential Art; and Illustration.
The Graphic Design track explores areas such as publication design, interactive new media, web design, information architecture, editorial design, and information graphics. Course examples for this 18-credit hour focus area include Communication Design/Methodology; Advanced Graphics; Web Design for Design Majors; Image Design; Advanced Typography; and Basic New Media Design.
In the Graphic Design and Illustration track, students explore traditional illustration techniques, information graphics, web design, and more. Students in this 33 credit hour focus area will take 15 credit hours in graphic design along with nine hours in illustration, six hours in special topics, and three hours of design electives. In addition to the courses for the Graphic Design track, students in this track will take courses such as Materials and Techniques for Illustration; Illustration; and Intermediate Illustration.
In the special topics courses, students will have the opportunity to explore a range of topics such as comic book illustration, book arts, letterpress printing, scientific illustration, art direction, and history of the book. Students in the Graphic Design track may take a special topics course to satisfy the three-credit hour design course requirement.
All students have the opportunity to complete a design internship, where they will work with outside organizations under the supervision of a Design faculty member.
The final semester of the Design BFA program includes the Professional Design Practicum course. In this design workshop, students will produce materials for their senior portfolio. Projects will include works for a non-profit organization (or a selected design issue), a related written thesis, and a public presentation.
Graduates of the Design BFA program at Missouri State University are prepared to pursue careers in areas such as computer graphic design, advertising, book publishing, entertainment, web development, Newspaper and magazine publishing, journalism, consulting, scientific illustration, comic book publishing, exhibit design, public relations, consulting, education, and design research. Some program alumni also go on to launch their own design studios or freelance businesses.
Missouri State University graduates have been hired at places such as Mercy Health System, The Walt Disney Company, Boeing, CoxHealth, Apple, Bass Pro Shops, Amazon, and O’Reilly Auto Parts.
Founded in 1905, Missouri State University has four physical campuses including three in Missouri (Springfield, West Plains, and Mountain Grove) and one in Dalian, China. The school also houses the Fruit Experiment Station at Mountain Grove and Missouri State Outreach (online courses and programs). More than 24,000 MSU students also have access to over 160 degree programs with 270+ options across eight colleges. Missouri State University has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1915.
Webster University (Webster) is home to the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts, which provides more than 50 undergraduate and graduate programs across four departments. This includes the Department of Art, Design and Art History (DADAH), which hosts public lectures, art exhibitions, workshops, and more. DADAH is also home to the Graphic Design program leading to a BFA or a minor.
Webster University also has a Motion Graphic Design (MGD) certificate program jointly managed by the Department of Art, Design and Art History and the School of Communications’ Media Arts Department. The program combines typography and design techniques with film, video, and animation. Consisting of 18 credit hours, the program requires the following courses: Time Studio; StoryLab or Production Hours; Type Dialogues; Graphics and Effects; Motion Graphics; and Design Concepts.
Upon completion of the MGD certificate program, students will be prepared to work on projects for interactive environments, animation, television, film, and more.
Also consisting of 18 credit hours, the Graphic Design minor at Webster University requires Introduction to Drawing; Digital Visualization; and Design Concepts. Students can select the remaining credits from elective options such as Book Arts and Letterpress; Design for UX/UI; Color Photographics; Type Dialogues; Screenprinting; and Design for Digital Portfolios. The Graphic Design minor can be added to most majors with department approval. Upon completion of the minor, graduates are prepared to pursue entry-level positions in graphic design.
The Graphic Design BFA at Webster University is a studio-based program that requires 36 credit hours in the major. The program begins with core courses such as Current Art; Digital Visualizations; Materials and Making; and Creative Strategies. Upper division course examples include Design Theory and Methods; Topis in Design; Printmaking Concepts and Techniques; Design for Good; Professional Practice for Graphic Design; Early Renaissance Art; Keystone Seminar; and Short-Term Study Abroad Venice or Florence.
The Graphic Design BFA program at Webster University culminates with the DADAH BA and BFA Exhibition held in the Arcade Contemporary Art Projects Gallery. Students will have the opportunity to design, manage, and execute this group art exhibition from beginning to end.
Graduates are prepared to pursue advanced studies at Webster and other top universities, launch their own design studios or creative agencies, or seek design positions across industries. Webster alumni have been hired at places such as The Walt Disney Company, AT&T, the World Health Organization (WHO), Nestle, Octo Consulting Group (an IBM company), Booz Allen Hamilton, MasterCard, KPMG, Smithsonian Institution, and MRHFM Law Firm.
Webster University was founded in 1915 as Loretto College by the Sisters of Loretto. When it opened, the school became the first senior Catholic college for women in Missouri and one of the first Catholic women’s colleges west of the Mississippi River. Today, Webster serves a co-ed population of approximately 13,450 students enrolled in more than 160 programs across five colleges and schools. Webster University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
University of Missouri (Mizzou or MU) is home to the College of Arts and Science (C&S). Established in 1841 and housing 40 departments, the C&S is the oldest and largest academic division at Mizzou.
Within the C&S is the School of Visual Studies (SVS)—home to the Department of Art and the Graphic Design program. Leading to a BA or BFA, the program provides access to state-of-the-art facilities and studios, such as designated graphic design facilities and a media production studio; opportunities to get involved with the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) Student Chapter; workshops and seminars; internships; and study abroad experiences in places such as the UK, Spain, Dublin, and Austria.
Internships can be completed on or off campus. Mizzou students have interned at places such as Veterans United, Hallmark, Outdoor Brands, the Kansas City Royals, Mizzou Athletics, the Kansas City Chiefs, University Hospital, Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business at MU, Rachel Ray Magazine in New York, and MU Career Center.
The Graphic Design BA and BFA programs at University of Missouri require 120 credit hours. Both programs begin with a sequence of five courses that prepare students for the major. In the major, students will explore design history, corporate identity, letterpress printing, packaging design, and hand lettering.
Course examples include Digital Tools and Concepts; The History of Graphic Design; Interactive Media; Design Methods and Production; Packaging Design Systems; Design for Corporate Identity and Branding; Design Systems; Calligraphy and Hand Lettering; Introduction Typography; and Art History.
In the fourth year of the Mizzou Graphic Design program, students will complete the Design Senior Seminar and Portfolio Development course. Graduates are prepared to pursue design roles across industries. Examples include Graphic Designer, Multimedia Artist, Creative Director, Product Designer, Marketing Specialist, User Experience (UX Designer), Animation Designer, Production Artist, User Interface (UI) Designer, Art Director, and Digital Designer.
Program alumni have been hired at places such as Leo Burnett, Microsoft, VML Advertising, Nestle Purina, MCA records (Los Angeles), Hallmark, Cosmopolitan Magazine (NYC), Warner Music Group, Miami Dolphins, Salesforce, Arizona Cardinals, HGTV Magazine, and Kansas City Royals.
Some Mizzou Graphic Design alumni have also gone on to launch their own creative agencies or freelance business that serve clients in the U.S. and around the world.
Established in 1839, University of Missouri is one of only 64 universities across the U.S. and Canada to be a member of the Association of American Universities. The school serves approximately 31,120 students enrolled in more than 300 degree programs across eight colleges and schools. University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
