| Ranking | School | City | Ranking by Region | National Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington University in St. Louis | St. Louis | #3 in Midwest | #20 |
| 2 | Kansas City Art Institute | Kansas City | #13 in Midwest | Unranked |
| 3 | Missouri State University | Springfield | Unranked | Unranked |
| 4 | Webster University | St. Louis | Unranked | Unranked |
| 5 | University of Missouri | Columbia | Unranked | Unranked |
Our 2026 ranking of the top 5 graphic design school programs in Missouri. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
The Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) houses a Communication Design BFA and a Design BA with a Communication concentration. Highlights across programs include opportunities to work on projects with Interbrand (a division of Omnicom Group) and Digitas; internships at places such as Disney and New York Magazine; and participation in the Sam Fox School Florence Semester Program. In addition to Disney and New York Magazine, graduates have been hired at places such as IDEO, Boeing, Amazon, Saatchi & Saatchi, Netflix, HBO, Microsoft, Pentagram, IBM, Google, Nickelodeon, Levi Strauss & Co., the Guggenheim Museum, and the American Museum of Natural History.
Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) provides several paths to study graphic design. Degree options include BFAs in Graphic Design, Graphic Design/Art History, and Graphic Design/Creative Writing. A studio minor in Graphic Design is also available. Across programs, students have opportunities to study abroad in places such as Thailand and Peru and complete professional internships at places such as Hallmark, R/GA, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and VML. Programs culminate with a final project and portfolio, along with participation in the Graphic Design BFA Show. Graduates have been hired at places such as Pentagram, Google, Apple, R/GA, Nickelodeon, IBM, Hallmark, VML, TikTok, Hyperakt, and YouTube.
The Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts and Letters at Missouri State University (MSU) houses the Art and Design Department, which provides many paths to study graphic design. Options include the BA in Visual Art and Culture with a Studio Art track that highlights design coursework; BFA degrees in Design with Graphic Design, Sequential Art, and Graphic Design and Illustration tracks; an interdisciplinary MFA in Visual Studies; a Design minor for non-majors that focuses on graphic design/visual communication and digital art; and a New Media Arts certificate. Degree-seeking students have interned at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and HY-C. Study abroad opportunities include faculty-led graphic design-focused trips to South Korea; short-term immersion trips that focus on art and design in Florence, Italy; and study excursions in Krakow, Poland for senior designers. Graduates have been hired at places such as Boeing, VML, Bass Pro Shops, UPS, Walmart, HLK Agency, Forvis Mazars, Revel Advertising, and FleishmanHillard.
The Department of Art, Design and Art History (DADAH) at Webster University (Webster) houses the Graphic Design BFA and minor programs and certificates in Motion Graphic Design, User Experience (UX) Design, and Entrepreneurship with a Graphic Design track. All programs are studio-based and allow students to participate in immersive workshops and seminars, attend public lectures and art exhibitions, and access state-of-the-art studios and labs. Degree-seeking students have opportunities to intern at local creative agencies and museums, and participate in short-term art immersion and faculty-led summer sessions in places such as Greece, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, and the Netherlands. Graduates can be found at places such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Nestlé, the Smithsonian Institution, Disney, and IBM.
The School of Visual Studies (SVS) at the University of Missouri (Mizzou) houses a Graphic Design BFA program with a dedicated study abroad track in Copenhagen, Denmark and design collaborations in London. BFA students also have opportunities to add a Museum minor, the Media Technology and Design certificate, or an Arts Entrepreneurship certificate; intern with the Kansas City Royals or organizations such as the Museum of Art and Archaeology and the State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSMO); and participate in workshops and seminars. The BFA also provides a direct path into the SVS Visual Studies MA and MFA programs. Graduates have been hired at places such as Goodby Silverstein & Partners (GS&P), Microsoft, Warner Music Group (WMG), Opus Agency, HGTV, and the Big Ten Network.
