| 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 2025 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) houses the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts. Within the school are two programs for aspiring graphic designers: the BFA with a major in Communication Design, and the Design BA with a Communication concentration. Students in both programs will complete the first-year requirement, consisting of courses such as Design, Drawing, and 3D Design. All students have opportunities to work one on one with instructors; complete an internship; and study abroad through the Fox School’s Florence Program. Recent graduates have been hired at places such as Saatchi & Saatchi, Microsoft, Chanel, Boeing, Amazon, IBM, Fred Segal, Google, Nickelodeon, The Guggenheim, Starbucks, Disney, Verizon, New York Magazine, Meta, Levi Strauss & Co., the American Museum of Natural History, Guess, Pentagram, Bain & Company, and 24 Seven.
Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) has a number of paths to study Graphic Design. Options include BFA degrees in Graphic Design, Graphic Design/Art History, and Graphic Design/Creative Writing; an Art History BFA with a Graphic Design minor; and a Creative Writing BFA with a Graphic Design minor. Across programs, students will have opportunities to engage with visiting artists; travel to places such as Argentina, Thailand, and Peru; and complete a professional internship. Programs culminate with a final project and portfolio to be presented at the Graphic Design BFA Show. Graduates can be found at places such as The Getty, Apple, Nickelodeon, IBM, Hallmark, R/GA, Fossil, Pentagram, YouTube, and Meta.
Missouri State University (MSU) is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Within the school is the Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts and Letters—home to the Art and Design Department and the Design BFA program. Tracks include Graphic Design and Graphic Design and Illustration. All students have the opportunity to complete a design internship as well as design workshops and coursework that focuses on editorial design, interactive new media, information graphics, publication, information architecture, web design, and more. The program culminates with the Senior Portfolio and Presentation. MSU graduates have been hired at places such Boeing, Apple, The Walt Disney Company, Amazon, Walmart, Hallmark, CoxHealth, and Bass Pro Shops.
Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts at Webster University (Webster) houses the Department of Art, Design and Art History (DADAH). Within the department are several paths to study graphic design. Options include the Graphic Design BFA, Motion Graphic Design (MGD) certificate, and the Graphic Design minor. Across programs, students benefit from studio-based curriculums; public lectures; professional internships; immersive workshops and seminars; art exhibitions; access to state-of-the-art studios and labs; and short-term study abroad experiences in places such as Florence and Venice. Graduates go on to launch their own studios or land positions at places such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Disney, Booz Allen Hamilton, IBM, MasterCard, KPMG, Smithsonian Institution, AT&T, and Nestle.
The School of Visual Studies at University of Missouri (Mizzou or MU) has a Graphic Design BFA program that features internship opportunities with the Kansas City Royals and at places such as Hallmark and Veterans United. Other program benefits include a studio-based curriculum; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; workshops and seminars; and study abroad experiences in places such as the UK, Ireland, and Spain. The program culminates with a portfolio of the student’s best work. Graduates have been hired at places such as Microsoft, Leo Burnett, Cosmopolitan, Warner Music, and HGTV.
