| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh |
| 2 | Temple University | Philadelphia |
| 3 | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia |
| 4 | Drexel University | Philadelphia |
| 5 | Pennsylvania State University | University Park |
Our 2025 ranking of the top 5 graphic design school programs in Pennsylvania. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
The College of Fine Arts (CFA) at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is home to the School of Design, which houses a Graphic Design BDes program; the BXA intercollege degree program; and a Design minor. The BDes has tracks in Communication Design; Products Design; and Environments Design for Environments. Across programs students have access to collaborative dedicated studio spaces, along with opportunities to complete an internship and/or study abroad in places such as London, Paris, and Milan. CMU Design graduates have been hired at places such as Microsoft, Amazon, Google, IBM, Apple, Oracle, IDEO, Netflix, Meta, Adobe, R/GA, Volkswagen, Mayo Clinic, NVIDIA, and JPMorgan Chase.
The Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University (Temple) is home to the Department of Graphic and Interactive Design (GAID). Within the department are GAID BFA and MFA programs, and a GAID/Entrepreneurial Studies BFA provided in partnership with Temple’s Fox School of Business. Course examples across programs include Advanced Typography; Brand Identity; Art Direction; Packaging; Launch a New Venture in 100 Days; Visual Design Graduate Seminar; and Collaborative Design Workshop in Rome. GAID alumni go on to land positions at places such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Google, MTV, Simon & Schuster, Nickelodeon, The New York Times, and Hallmark.
The College of Arts and Sciences at University of Pennsylvania (Penn) houses the Stuart Weitzman School of Design. Within the school is a Design BA that explores graphic design, animation, prototyping, emerging technologies, fabrication, design systems, and web design. Electives allow students to study additional areas of design. The program culminates with a year-long design project, public exhibition, and panel critique by leading artists and designers. Weitzman Design and Penn alumni can be found at places such as The Walt Disney Company, Riot Games, Unity Technologies, MSNBC, Adidas, United Way Miami, Nestle, Williams-Sonoma, LOFT, Target, Modern Luxury, Digitas Health, YMCA, and Mediabistro.
The Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design at Drexel University (Drexel) houses Graphic Design BS and minor programs. The 24 credit hour minor is open to all Drexel students. The BS program highlights co-op experiences at places such as Google, Lockheed Martin, and Amazon; access to state-of-the-art studios and labs such as the Hybrid Making Lab, the Computer Lab, and wood and metal shops; studio tours and trips to Design Philadelphia events; and participation in the annual field excursion to New York City. The program culminates with a Senior Showcase, attended by industry professionals and the public. Graduates have established careers at places such as Saatchi & Saatchi, Marvel Entertainment, Time Inc., Sesame Workshop, ESPN, Penguin Random House, and Meta.
The Stuckeman School at Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) houses the Department of Graphic Design. Within the department is a four-year Graphic Design BDes program; a Graphic Design minor with a Capstone Studio; and an Art MFA program. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the interdisciplinary BDes highlights collaborative projects; professional partnerships with companies such as Lockheed Martin, Adidas, and 3M; and small class sizes with individualized attention. The Art MFA has a Graphic Design concentration jointly supported by the School of Visual Arts. Graduates of the Art and Design programs at Penn State go on to secure roles at places such as NASA, Apple, KPMG, Boeing, EY, Amazon, IBM, Deloitte, RTX, Macy’s, PwC, and Motorola.
