| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design | Milwaukee |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | Madison |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Milwaukee |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin–Stout | Menomonie |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | Eau Claire |
Our 2024 ranking of the top 5 graphic design school programs in Wisconsin. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) has a Communication Design (CD) program that explores graphic design, interactive media, and advertising. Leading to a BFA, this 120 credit hour program requires all students to complete the First-year Experience (FYE), which includes courses such as Systems of Drawing; Visual Language; Digital 2D; Process of Inquiry; Digital 4D; and Fabrication.
Students will complete 78 studio credits, including courses such as Communication Design I-IV; Advertising Design; Computer Studio I-III; Information Graphics; Packaging Design; History of Illustration and Communication Design Since 1850; Identity Design; Patterns in Nature; Critical and Creative forms; Information Design and Research Methods; Advanced Computer Studio; and The Creative Professional in Context.
For students interested in enhancing the degree, MIAD provides a number of minor options. Examples include Advertising; Digital Media Production; Book Arts; Copywriting; Arts Management; Business; Art History; Writing; Soft goods; and Sustainability.
The Communication Design BFA program at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design culminates with a thesis (two courses, six credit hours) and the Professional Portfolio/Practice course, worth three credits. Graduates are prepared to pursue design roles across industries, pursue graduate study, or launch their own creative agencies and design studios.
Program alumni are Graphic Designers, Illustrators, Book Designers, Art Directors, Package Designers, User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) Designers, Advertising Designers, Publication Designers, Brand Managers; and Web Designers.
Companies that have hired MIAD graduates in interns include Google, Nike, GE Healthcare, Land’s End, General Motors, Delta Faucet, Harley-Davidson, High Sierra, Ford Motor Company, Kohler Company, Hanson Dodge Creative, Milwaukee Tool, Fiskars, PIVOT Cycles, Trek, and Generac.
Founded in 1974, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design serves 900 degree-seeking students, 600 pre-college students, and 250 outreach/special programs students. For degree-seeking students, MIAD provides seven degree programs, five studio minors, and nine liberal studies minors. The school’s affiliation with Marquette University provides access to additional courses in Humanities and Sciences, and other resources.
Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design is a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD)—a consortium of 39 leading art schools in the United States and Canada. The school is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
The Department of Art at University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW Madison) dates back to 1910 when the UW Engineering Department in the College of Letters and Science launched a Manual Arts program. Today, as a division of UW – Madison’s School of Education, the Department of Art provides BS, BFA, MA, and MFA degrees in Studio Art; a BS in Education; and undergraduate certificates in Art Studio and Graphic Design. The BS and BFA programs allow students to enroll in the Graphic Design option.
The 18 credit hour certificate introduces students to the field of graphic design. Course examples include 2D Design; Introduction to Digital Forms; Basic Graphic Design; Typography; History of Graphic Design; and Information Graphics. Students in this program come from all majors and backgrounds.
The UW Madison BFA requires 72 credits hours of studio courses and 18 in aesthetics, while the BS requires 45 studio credits and 13 in aesthetics courses. Most majors complete their required foundation courses through the Art and Artists First-Year Interest Group (FIG). This learning community is designed specifically for first-year UW-Madison students. Benefits include small class sizes of no more than 20 students; interdisciplinary learning; instructors who are dedicated to serving first year students; and a close-knit environment that encourages collaboration, support networks, and creative confidence.
First-year students may also enroll in the Art Foundations Program—a series of lecture and studio courses that explore drawing, digital media, 2D and 3D design, and art history. Course examples across both options include Foundations of Contemporary Art; Two-Dimensional Design; History of Graphic Design and Typography; Foundations of Contemporary Art; Global Arts; Introduction to Digital Forms; Current Directions in Art; Three-Dimensional Design; and Drawing Methods and Concepts.
Students in the Graphic Design option can expect to take courses such as Digital Art and Code; 3D Digital Studio; User Experience and Graphic Design; Typeface Design; Motion Typography; Design for Posters, Installation and Environments; Information Graphics; Relief Printmaking; Graphic Design for Branding and Identity; Colloquium in Art; Graphic Design for Packaging; Product Development for Graphic Design; Graphic Design for Games; Digital Art and Code; Lithography; and Graphic Design for Publications.
In the final year of the Studio Art BFA and BS programs (with a Graphic Design option) students will complete the Graphic Design Practicum, and the Design Portfolio and Professional Practice course. The program culminates with the Senior Graphic Design Thesis and Exhibition course.
Graduates of the Studio Art programs at University of Wisconsin-Madison are prepared to pursue design careers across industries. Examples include advertising, marketing, publishing, multimedia design, animation and film, publication design, user experience design, public relations, exhibit design, interactive design, and photography.
Founded in 1848, University of Wisconsin–Madison serves approximately 48,560 students enrolled in more than 450 programs across 13 colleges and schools. University of Wisconsin–Madison has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1913. All programs in the UW Madison Department of Art are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UM-Milwaukee or UWM) is home to Peck School of the Arts, which hosts more than 350 public events annually. The school also houses the Departments of Film; Art and Design; Dance; Music; and Theater. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the Art and Design Department is home to the Design and Visual Communication (DVC) program, which leads to a BFA.
This 123 credit hour program operates as an ongoing laboratory featuring interdisciplinary projects; access to the aDream Lab and additional motion capture, VR and AR, and digital fabrication and design facilities; internships at local design firms; and access to the Golda Meir and American Geographical Society Libraries.
DVC BFA students also have opportunities to showcase their work during two public events held each year, and at the Designer Entrepreneur Showcase. This annual event is held each fall semester.
Other program features include free membership to United Adworkers—a Milwaukee organization made up of designers, photographers, advertising professionals, and directors; participation in AIGA-Wisconsin (AIGAWI), which hosts workshops, portfolio reviews, professional studios, and other AIGAWI events; and portfolio development.
The DVC BFA program at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee consists of 123 credit hours. All students will complete the First Year Program (FYE) before entering the Art and Design Core and DCV requirements. The FYE includes Drawing I; Art Survey: Creative Practice, Culture and Context; 2D Studio: Concept, Color and Composition; 3D Studio: Form, Idea and Technique; and Digital Arts: Culture, Theory, Practice.
Examples of Art and Design core courses and electives include Moving Images and Sound in Art and Design; Introduction to Typography; Art and Design Seminar; Drawing II; Introduction to Printmaking and Book Arts. DVC course examples include Typography II; Design Methodologies: Process, Communication and Theory; Design and Visual Communication I-II; Topics in Web, Interaction and Screen Design; Web Design II; Package Design; Experimental Typography; Motion Graphic; Advanced Design Workshop; Creative Coding; and Digital Media Workshop.
The DVC BFA Program at UWM culminates with Design and Visual Communication III—the Senior Capstone and Exhibition.
Graduates of the Design and Visual Communication (DVC) BFA program at University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee are prepared to pursue design roles across industries. Potential job titles include Graphic Designer, User Interface (UI) Designer, Advertising Director, Packaging Designer, Brand Manager, Printmaker, Exhibit Designer, Font Designer, Creative Director, Web Designer, and Motion Graphics Designer.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee was established in 1956 when Milwaukee State Teachers College and the Milwaukee Extension Center merged. Today, the school houses the state’s largest School of Education and Wisconsin’s only bachelor’s program in ASL/English Interpretation. UWM also serves approximately 23,000 students enrolled nearly 215 degree programs across six campuses, and 15 colleges and schools. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
University of Wisconsin-Stout (UW-Stout) is the only career-focused polytechnic university in Wisconsin—and Minnesota. With a near-perfect 99% placement rate, the school features industry partnerships with leading companies such as Sony, Target, 3M and Thomson Reuters; programs that focus on industry-relevant, hands-on learning; and state-of-the-art labs and studios that also function as lecture halls.
For students seeking a career in graphic design, University of Wisconsin-Stout has several options. At the undergraduate level, students can earn a Graphic Design and Interactive Media BFA or a Graphic Media and Print Management minor. At the graduate level, the school has a cross-disciplinary Design MFA.
Housed in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management (CSTEMM), the minor requires 18 credit hours. Course examples include Graphic Communications; Advertising Design; Introduction to 2D Digital Imaging; Premedia Graphics Production; and Cross-Media Campaigns.
Housed in the School of Art and Design and accredited by the National Association for Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the BFA and MFA programs encourage students to participate in research projects, co-ops, and/or study abroad programs. Students also have opportunities to participate in the internship program; work on real-world projects; and exhibit work at film festivals, competitions, design conferences, and UW-Stout galleries.
All UW-Stout Graphic Design and Interactive Media BFA students will complete 120 credit hours including the 40 credit hour Stout Core. Courses in the core focus on areas such as arts and humanities, social responsibility and ethical reasoning, communication skills, and global perspective. Degree requirements total 80 credit hours in core studios, art history, advanced topic studios, photography and moving image, studio art, technical requirements, and electives.
Course examples include Graphic Design I: Typography and Grid Systems; User Experience Design; Graphic Design II; Advertising Design; Drawing I-II; Publication Design; Product and Packaging Graphics; Serigraphy Printmaking; History of Design; Healthcare User Experience; Advanced Interactive Design; Signage and Exhibition Design; Alternations Process Photography; and Graphic Communications.
Elective examples include Introduction to Social Network Analysis; Digital Marketing Strategy and Practice; Writing for the Internet; Digital Illustration; Usability Design and Testing; Premedia Graphics Production; Trend Tracking and Forecasting; Video Production; and Consumer Psychology.
The Graphic Design and Interactive Media BFA program at UW-Stout culminates with the Senior Project – Graphic Design course. Graduates are prepared to pursue design roles in fields such as advertising, book publishing, corporate identity design, public relations, film and television, packaging design, magazine and newspaper publishing, marketing, exhibit design, and comic book publishing.
Examples of companies that have hired UW-Stout’s graphic design alumni include FCB, Target, Hatch Design, National Public Radio (NPR), Innopark (India), Madison Companies, WorkSimple - The Social Goal Management Company, Ponzi Vineyards, Volume One, Strapped to a Meteor, and Ziba.
The Design MFA program at University of Wisconsin-Stout is a 60 credit hour, terminal degree program that can be completed in a hybrid on-campus/online format. Also, NASAD-accredited, the MFA allows students to focus in Graphic Design and Interactive Media; User Experience Design; Industrial and Product Design; Cinema, Video, and Photography; Sustainable Design; Animation and Digital Media; Game Design and Development; and Interior Design.
Course examples for the program include Design Seminar I-II; Sustainable Design Practice; Ethics in Design; Critical Issues in Design and Education Practice; and History of Design Seminar. Focus areas are 30 credit hours including 12 credits in design/art studio selectives, and nine credits in focus electives.
The Design MFA at UW-Stout culminates with the Creative Thesis in Design course worth nine credit hours. Students will present final projects to thesis committee and the pubic in an exhibition or lecture.
Graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles across industries. Program alumni have been hired at places such as DreamWorks Animation, Shutterfly, Edward Jones, Apple, Vancouver College of Art and Design, Wold Architects and Engineers, Ramsey EnglerLTD, UW-River Falls, and UW-Stout.
Established in 1891, University of Wisconsin-Stout is one of just 125 polytechnic universities in the U.S. and the only one in the State of Wisconsin. Serving approximately 7,225 students, the school offers more than 65 undergraduate and graduate programs, many of which are unique to UW-Stout or are not available anywhere else in the Midwest. University of Wisconsin-Stout is accredited by Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Housing 22 departments and close to 50 majors, the College of Arts and Sciences CAS) at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UW-Eau Claire or UWEC) is the largest of the schools four colleges. Among the departments in the CAS is the Department of Art and Design, home to the BA and BS programs in Art with a Graphic Communications emphasis.
Program features include on campus and off campus internships; participation in the on-campus Career Conference and the Client Communication and Management Career Fair; and access to Foster Gallery—the largest art gallery in the Eau Claire area. Also, a learning space, Foster Gallery hosts guest speaker presentations, exhibition receptions, student installations, open viewings, and the annual juried student art show.
Travel experience is also a major component of the Art: Graphic Communications programs. The department hosts domestic field trips to places such as New York and Chicago, as well as overseas experiences in places such as Paris, Rome, and Florence.
BA/BS students will take courses such as Foundations: Drawing and Composition; Typography; Identity and Development Design; Graphic Design: Concepts and Experimentation; User Experience and Web Design; Motion Graphics; History of Graphic Design; Design for Community and People; Digital Design: Expanded Media; Global Art History Since 1400; and Portfolio and Professional Development.
All Graphic Communications students have the opportunity to take interdisciplinary electives such as Animation Programming; Multimedia Communication; Web Database Design and Implementation; Introduction to Integrated Strategic Communication; Fundamentals of Web Page Design; and Introduction to Web Programming.
In the final year of the Art: Graphic Communications BA/BS programs at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, students will participate in the Senior Exhibition. This culminating experience provides the opportunity for students to present their best work to faculty, peers, and the public.
Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in areas such as graphic design, printing, marketing, communications, and computer science. Potential job titles include Graphic Designer, Layout Artist, Brand Identity Designer, Marketing and Communications Graphic Designer, Art Director, Multimedia Artist, Brand Manager, Web Designer, Creative Director, and Marketing Manager.
UW-Eau Claire Graphic Communications graduates have been hired at places such as Minnesota Wild, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD), Mason Companies, PPG Industries, LA, Inc., Volume One, and Wilmington Trust Company.
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire was established in 1916. The school serves approximately 9,480 students enrolled in more than 200 academic programs across four colleges. UW-Eau Claire is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
