| Ranking | School | City | Ranking by Region | National Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh | #7 on East Coast | #12 |
| 2 | Temple University | Philadelphia | #15 on East Coast | Unranked |
| 3 | Drexel University | Philadelphia | #17 on East Coast | Unranked |
| 4 | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | #19 on East Coast | Unranked |
| 5 | Pennsylvania State University World Campus | University Park | Unranked | Unranked |
Our 2026 ranking of the top 5 graphic design school programs in Pennsylvania. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
Carnegie Mellon University’s (CMU) School of Design provides several paths to study graphic design. Options include a BDes with a Communication Design track; the BXA intercollege degree program with Bachelor of Computer Science and Arts (BCSA), Bachelor of Humanities and Arts (BHA), and Bachelor of Science and Arts (BSA) pathways; and the Design MA, MDES, and undergraduate minor. Across programs, students have access to dedicated studio spaces and state-of-the-art production facilities. Students may complete a professional internship and study abroad in places such as Paris and London. CMU Design graduates are routinely hired at places such as Microsoft, Deloitte Digital, Capital One, Amazon, Hulu, Google, The New York Times, Apple, IDEO, Netflix, R/GA, Volkswagen, and GoDaddy.
The Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University (Temple) houses several STEM-certified programs for aspiring graphic designers. Options include the Graphic and Interactive Design (GAID) BFA; a GAID MFA; the GAID BFA with a certificate in Creative Entrepreneurship (through partnership with Temple’s Fox School of Business); the GAID minor for non-majors; and complementary minors in Illustration and Emerging Media, and User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design. Across programs students benefit from faculty mentorship and real world experience through hands-on learning projects; participation in the Collaborative Design Workshop in Rome; and access to the Digital Fabrication Studio and other state-of-the-art facilities. GAID graduates have secured roles at places such as the MTV, Google, The New York Times, Nickelodeon, Pentagram, Hallmark, NBCUniversal, NFL Films, Chronicle Books, the Philadelphia Flyers, Anheuser-Busch, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design at Drexel University (Drexel) has a Graphic Design BS program with a mandatory co-op component. This six-month full-time work experience highlights partnerships with places like Apple, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and ESPN. A Graphic Design minor is also available and open to students across all majors. The Graphic Design program includes studio tours and trips to Design Philadelphia events; access to state-of-the-art facilities such as the Hybrid Making Lab, Computer Lab, and wood and metal shops; and participation in the annual trip to New York City. The culminating Senior Showcase attracts industry professionals and the public. Graduates often secure employment at places such as Marvel, Google, Ketchum, Amazon, Under Armour, Penguin Random House, The Franklin Institute, Urban Outfitters, Comcast, and Spotify.
The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) houses the Stuart Weitzman School of Design. Within the school is a Design BA program for undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Program highlights include integrative studios; access to electives such as Graphic Design, Mixed Media Animation, and User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) Design; professional internships; study abroad experiences; and a year-long design project culminating with a public exhibition and panel critique by notable designers. Weitzman Design graduates have secured positions at places such as Vogue, Google, Pentagram, Apple, Disney, Riot Games, Adidas, MSNBC, Target, Gensler, Unity, Nike, LOFT, Nestlé, Mediabistro, Adobe, the YMCA, and Digitas Health.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus (Penn State World Campus) houses a Digital Multimedia Design BDes program that can be completed 100% online. Students in this program can also design their own path. The College of Arts and Architecture at Penn State provides several additional paths to study graphic design. Options include a Graphic Design BDes, an MFA with a concentration in Graphic Design, and a Graphic Design minor. Across all programs, students benefit from professional partnerships with companies such as Lockheed Martin, Adidas, and 3M, along with possible internship opportunities at places such as TIME, Penguin Random House, and Victoria’s Secret. Students also benefit from small class sizes, collaborative projects, and study abroad experiences in places such as Ireland, Denmark, and Italy. Graduates have been hired at places such as NASA, Knopf Doubleday, Apple, Google, Boeing, Nike, MTV, Pentagram, Amazon, Disney, The New York Times, Under Armour, Burberry, IBM iX, and Razorfish.
