| Ranking | School | City | Ranking by Region | National Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design | Milwaukee | #10 in the Midwest | #48 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | Madison | #14 in the Midwest | Unranked |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Milwaukee | Unranked | Unranked |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin–Stout Polytechnic | Menomonie | Unranked | Unranked |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | Eau Claire | Unranked | Unranked |
Our 2026 ranking of the top 5 graphic design school programs in Wisconsin. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
The Communication Design BFA program at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) is a 120-credit-hour, multidisciplinary program with an option that allows students to minor in Book Arts, Copywriting, Advertising, Media Production, and more. Students can also enhance the degree through specialized electives and experiential learning opportunities such as internships at Nike, Harley-Davidson, and the Milwaukee Brewers, and study abroad experiences in Spain, Italy, and Thailand. Examples of companies that frequently hire MIAD graduates include NASA, Google, Nike, Ford, GM, Harley-Davidson, Lands’ End, Milwaukee Tool, Kohler, High Sierra, Cramer-Krasselt, and Delta Faucet.
The Department of Art at University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW Madison) houses the Art BFA and BS programs, along with Studio Art MA and MFA programs. For all programs, students can add the Graphic Design Option or enroll in the Graphic Design certificate program. A Design and innovation MS is also available in the College of Engineering. Across programs, students benefit from internship opportunities; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; courses taught by notable artists and designers; and collaborative projects. Graduates can be found at places such as Disney, Little, Brown and Company, Amazon, Deloitte Digital, Microsoft, Epic Systems, Duluth Trading Company, Google, IBM iX, Lucasfilm, Trek Bicycle Corporation, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Milwaukee Public Museum, Ford, Lands’ End, Target, American Family Insurance, Uline, The Quatro Group, and Orange Hat Publishing.
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UW-Milwaukee) is home to the Peck School of the Arts. Within the school are several paths to study graphic design. Options include the Design and Visual Communication (DVC) BFA that operates as a lab; an interdisciplinary Digital Arts and Culture (DAC) BA and DAC minor; MA and MFA degrees in Art with a Design concentration for both; a Design minor for non-majors that focuses on typography and vector illustration; and certificates in Design Entrepreneurship, Digital Fabrication, and Illustration for BA, BFA, MA, and MFA students. Degree-seeking students can showcase works at the Designer Entrepreneur Showcase and public events, complete an internship with the Milwaukee Bucks and Kohl’s, and participate in the immersive study abroad program, Design Week in Milan. Graduates have been hired at places such as Microsoft, Disney, Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM), Interbrand, Harley-Davidson, Cramer-Krasselt, Trek Bicycle Corporation, and Quad.
The School of Art and Design (SOAD) and the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management (CSTEMM) at the University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic (UW-Stout Polytechnic) provide several paths to study graphic design. Options include a Graphic Design and Interactive Media BFA; an interdisciplinary Design MFA with a focus in Graphic Design; minors in Studio Art, Interaction Design, and Design; and a Graphic Communications BS (GCOS). Across programs, students benefit from hands-on projects with the Jim Henson Workshop, Target, and Trek Bicycle Corporation; participation in the Cooperative Education and Internship Program (CEIP); opportunities to present projects at design competitions and conferences, film festivals, exhibitions, and the SOAD Showcase; and access to state-of-the-art production facilities such as the new motion capture studio, the digital processing lab, and dedicated graphic design studios. Graduates have secured positions at places such as Apple, Grainger, DreamWorks, Microsoft, Carlson Print Group, Quantum Graphics, Amazon, Conagra Brands, National Public Radio (NPR), Menards, 3M, and Kwik Trip.
The Department of Art and Design at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UW-Eau Claire) houses the BA and BS degrees in Graphic Communications; an Integrative Visual Arts BFA; the BA or BS in Studio Art with customized design electives; and the standard major in Studio Art with a mandatory certificate or minor. Across programs, students benefit from field trips to art and design centers such as New York and Chicago; participation in the Client Communication and Management Career Fair and the Career Conference; study abroad experiences in places such as Argentina, France, and South Korea; and internships with GIPHY and the Mayo Clinic Health System, to name a few. Graduates have been hired at places such as the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD), Target, the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, PPG Industries, Best Buy, Menards, and Visit Eau Claire.
