| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rutgers University - Camden | Camden |
| 2 | The College of New Jersey | Ewing |
| 3 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | Newark |
| 4 | Ramapo College of New Jersey | Mahwah |
| 5 | Kean University | Union |
Our 2024 ranking of the top graphic design school programs in New Jersey. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) at Rutgers University-Camden (Rutgers-Camden) is the institutions largest academic unit. Housing three schools and 16 departments, the FAS provides more than 30 undergraduate majors and 15+ graduate programs. All FAS students benefit from small classes, one-on-one interactions, and professors who are active in the arts, business, science, technology, languages, and more.
Opportunities within the FAS include hands-on experience through experiential learning, professional internships, and study abroad experiences in places such as Indian and Argentina.
Within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences is the Visual, Media, and Performing Arts (VMPA) Department, home to the Visual Arts program and the Graphic Design (GD) minor. Visual Arts degrees the BA and BFA with a concentration in Graphic Design.
Consisting of 18 credit hours, the Graphic Design minor is an interdisciplinary program that requires the following courses: Drawing I; Graphic Design I-II; Typography; Visual Fundamentals; and Digital Photography. The minor can be added to most creative majors and others outside of the VMPA Department.
Both the Visual Art BA and BFA programs require 27-30 credit hours in the core. Course examples include Graphic Design I; Visual Fundamentals; Computer Animation; Digital Photography; and Drawing I. The Graphic Design BA program requires 21 credits in the concentration and the BFA requires 33. Course examples include Graphic Design Studio I-III; Computer Multimedia; Introduction to Video and Film; Typography I; Special Topics in Graphic Design; and Artist in Society. For both programs, the Electronic Arts Internship is recommended, but not required.
BFA students will complete the Professional Practices in Graphic Design course. All Graphic Design students will complete the Senior Capstone in Graphic Design and a professional portfolio. Capstone projects have won awards (or been recognized) by organizations such as the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), CMYK Creative Agency, the Graphis Awards, University & College Designers Association (UCDA), Applied Art Magazine, and Graphic Design USA (GDUSA).
As part of Rutgers Camden, graduates of the Visual Art: GD programs enjoy a 86% success rate. Program alumni goon toe work in areas such as advertising, publishing, marketing, film and television, public relations, web design, interactive design, animation, packaging design, corporate identity design, print design, social media, healthcare, retail, consulting, research, and education.
Rutgers University-Camden is part of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (Rutgers). Founded in 1766, Rutgers is the 8th oldest university in the U.S. and New Jersey’s land-grant university. The school has locations in all 21 New Jersey counties.
Rutgers-Camden was founded in 1926 as South Jersey Law School and the College of South Jersey, which joined Rutgers in 1926. Serving approximately 6,075 students today, Rutgers University-Camden provides nearly 70 degree programs across four colleges and schools. The school is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) is home to the School of the Arts and Communication. Within the school is the Department of Design and Creative Technology. Launched in 2021, the department houses a Visual Arts BFA program with specializations in Graphic Design, Fine Art, and Photography/Video. A Graphic Design minor is also available.
The Department of Design and Creative Technology provides a number of benefits. Students in the department have the opportunity to complete an internship at places such as DreamWorks, NFL Films, Amazon, MTV Networks, and Nickelodeon. Students also have opportunities to work in teams on original projects for local clients. Past projects have included interactive art installations in downtown Trenton, New Jersey, and multimedia platforms for a local farmer’s market.
Other Department highlights include mock interviews; direct mentorship from faculty members; portfolio development workshops and courses; mock interviews, and resume review sessions.
The Visual Arts BFA program at The College of New Jersey allows students to specialize in one of two areas within graphic design: Print or Digital Media. Across options, coursework explores typography, graphic design history, multimedia design, image-making, and web design. Course examples include Theory and Practice in Graphic Design; Design Fundamentals; 3D Graphic Design; Printmaking I-II; Visual Thinking; Book Arts; Typography; Drawing I-II; Computers for Designers; History of Graphic Design; User Interface/User Experience Design; Conceptual Image; Web I-II; Identity; Motion Graphics; Advanced Typography; Design Center; and Learning Assistanceship in Design and Creative Technology.
The culminating experience for the Visual Arts: Graphic Design program is the three-course capstone. Students will complete Theories and Practice in Graphic Design; Professional Practice in Graphic Design; and Senior Portfolio.
Graduates of the Visual Arts-Graphic Design Program at TCNJ Students are prepared to pursue careers in branding, information design, advertising, web design, identity systems, publishing, and digital services. Program alumni have been hired at places such as TIME, Johnson & Johnson, NBCUniversal Media, Target, The Philadelphia Eagles, Nickelodeon, CBS, Etsy, HUGE, Arkadium, and MakerBot.
Some Visual Arts graduates also go on to launch their own startups and studios, while attend top design schools such as Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and School of Visual Arts (SVA).
Established in 1855 as the New Jersey State Normal School, The College of New Jersey serves approximately 7,630 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in more than 60 liberal arts and professional programs across seven schools. The College of New Jersey is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Established in 1973, the J. Robert and Barbara A. Hillier College of Architecture and Design at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) houses the School of Art and Design. Within the school is a Digital Design program leading to BA, MS, or MFA. The Digital Design BA requires 120 credits; the Digital Design MS (MSDD) requires 30-45 credits; and the Digital Design MFA (MFADD) requires 60-75 credits. Students in all programs benefit from access to state-of-the-art labs and studios; opportunities to complete an internship; visiting artists; workshops and seminars; and participation in the NJIT study abroad program.
The Digital Design BA at NJIT has two tracks: Interactive Media/Production(IMP) and Entertainment. The IMP track is ideal for students seeking careers in graphic design. Course examples include Communication in Art and Design: Traditional Media; Web/Exhibit Development; Color and Composition; Roadmap to Computing; Digital Design Studio I-IV; Information Design Techniques; Digital Marketing; Communication in Art and Design: Digital Media; Collaborative Design Studio; and Customer Insights.
The Digital Design BA program at New Jersey Institute of Technology culminates with a final project and portfolio.
The MSDD and MFADD at NJIT are low-residency programs that combine coursework from the UI/UX, Game Design and Interactivity, and Animation graduate certificates. The programs require many of the same courses. Across programs course options include Graphic Design and Color Theory; History of Art and Design I-II; Environmental Design; 3D Modeling and Composition; User Interface/User Experience in Digital Design; Video and Animation; Physical Computing for Designers – Interaction Design; Visual Storytelling and Storyboarding; Digital Audio; and Extended Reality Design Studio.
The graduate Design programs culminate with a studio project and the completion of a portfolio of the student's best work.
Graduates of the Digital Design Programs at New Jersey Institute of Technology are prepared to pursue creative roles such as Graphic Designer, Layout Artist, Packaging Designer, Pre-Visualization Artist, Storyboard Artist, Compositor, Web Designer, Corporate Identity Designer, Web Designer, UI/UX Designer, Newspaper and Magazine Graphic Designer, Motion Graphics Designer, and Advertising Designer.
MS and MFA students are prepared for leadership roles in design across industries. MFA graduates are also prepared to pursue teaching positions. NJIT alumni have been hired at places such as NBC Universal Studios, Amazon, ADP, Verizon, Facebook, UPS, Northop Grumman, Prudential, SWD Tech Games, Method Studios, High 5 Games, SUSPECT vfx+design, ETS, Grafx Co., and Ntropic.
Established in 1881 as Newark Technical School, New Jersey Institute of Technology is a public, polytechnic university that serves more than 13,000 students. More than 125 undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available across six specialized schools. New Jersey Institute of Technology is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA).
Ramapo College of New Jersey (Ramapo College) houses the School of Contemporary Arts (CA). Within the school are five majors leading to a BA. This includes Communication Arts. A Graphic Communications minor is also available. Course examples for this program include Graphic Design; Foundations of Visual Communication Design; Idea Development; User Experience Design; Publication Design; and Fundamentals of Interactive Media. Many courses in the minor can count toward some School of CA majors.
All majors at Ramapo College must complete an internship or co-op. Students have gained experience by working with newspaper, magazine, and book publishers; film, television, and interactive media companies; and museums and other non-profit organizations; and public relations and promotions firms. Examples include as Wiley Publishing, Ogilvy Health, KPMG, the Diabetes Foundation, Viacom, Kenneth Cole, Prestige BMW, NBCUniversal, Mercedes Benz, Prudential Center – New Jersey Devils, ESPN Radio, Buzzfeed, The Record, and Push to Walk.
Other School of CA benefits include access to state-of-the-art editing and multimedia labs, production equipment, and the latest industry software; opportunities to participate in visual arts productions and exhibitions; and study abroad experiences.
The Communication Arts major at Ramapo College has five areas of concentration. The ideal option for students interested in studying graphic design is Visual Communication Design (VCD). This includes graphic design, print and digital publishing, motion graphics, web design, and interactive animation.
Course examples include Graphic Design; Typography; Publication Design; Idea Development; Motion Graphics and Title Design; Media and Technology; Digital Culture; Web Design I-II; Photography for Designers; User Experience (UX) Design; Packaging Design; Visual Identity Design; and Publication. Design.
The program culminates with the Senior Project: Communication Design course, which covers career studies; the capstone project; portfolio; and presentation. Final portfolios will consist of three formats: physical book, website, and a digital portfolio.
Graduates of the VCD program at Ramapo College of New Jersey are prepared to pursue careers in book publishing, advertising design, motion graphics, package design, information architecture, print design, marketing, interaction design, UX/UI design, and public relations.
Founded in 1969, Ramapo College of New Jersey is a state-supported four-year liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies institution. The school serves approximately 5,300 students enrolled in more than 60 programs across five schools. Ramapo College of New Jersey is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Kean University is home to the Michael Graves College of Architecture and Design, which houses the Robert Busch School of Design (RBSD) and the School of Public Architecture. Within the School of Design are two paths to study graphic design including the Graphic Design (GD) BFA and the Interactive Advertising (GD IA) BFA.
Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), both programs are studio-based with opportunities to complete an internship and engage with leading artists and designers at professional events such as the Lecture Series, Charrette, and the Thinking Creatively Conference.
Other program benefits include collaborations with nonprofit and public partners; study abroad experiences at Kean University, China; the Lecture Series; access to state-of-the-art production facilities studios, and labs; and the opportunity to work part-time in the faculty-led studio K-Labs.
Consisting of 120 credit hours, both programs include up to 51 hours of focused graphic design and interactive advertising coursework. Advanced coursework focuses on branding, motion graphics, video, emerging technologies, interactivity, and sound. Students will also explore immersive experiences, social media, user experience (UX) design, the web, and emerging technologies such as augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR).
Course examples across pathways include History of Visual Communications; Graphic Design Fundamentals I-II; Branding Strategy and Design; Concept to Print; Typography I-II; Composition, Type and Image; Computers in Graphic Design; Advertising I-III; Promotional Design; Art History, Modern Art; Design for Advertising; Motion Graphic Design; Studio Skills; and Web and Interactive Design.
The Graphic Design and Interactive Advertising BFA programs at Kean University culminate with the Major Capstone course and portfolio. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in all areas of graphic design, advertising, book publishing, packaging, corporate identity design, marketing, newspaper and magazine publishing, brand design, exhibit design, user interface/user experience UI/UX, design, web design, art direction, poster design, social media design, front-end development, app design, and copywriting.
Program alumni have been hired at places such as Google, Disney, Saatchi & Saatchi, FCB, R/GA, Ogilvy, IDEO, West Elm, Prudential, Major League Baseball, Publicis, Twitter, McCann, Brandfirst, KBS+P, Neon, Area23, Grey Worldwide, We Are Social, Big Spaceship, Shandwick, H4B, Chelsea, GLOW, Droga5, and Bokksu.com.
Founded in 1855, Kean University was New Jersey’s first public post-secondary institution. The school serves more than 17,000 students enrolled in 130+ academic programs across more than 25 colleges, schools, and departments. Kean University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
