Top 50 Private Graphic Design Schools and Colleges in the U.S. – 2025 Rankings

Serving more than 150 students, Graphic Design is the largest department at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Across programs, students benefit from dedicated studios and facilities for screen printing, bookbinding, and papermaking. The four-year BFA program is project-based with shared, collaborative spaces, while the MFA features individual, private workspaces and two tracks that allow students to customize the curriculum. Graduates of the Graphic Design Department at RISD go on to land positions at places such as Google, Apple, Meta, Nike, CVS Health, The New York Times, and Pentagram.  

The School of Art (SoA) at Yale University houses a competitive Graphic Design MFA program that accepts just 12 students per year. Up to six students are accepted into the preliminary-year program. The 60 credit hour MFA features immersive workshops and studios; designated workspaces; access to VR and motion capture tools at the Center for Collaborative Arts and Media; field trips to film festivals and conferences; and the option to take elective courses across professional schools at Yale. Some 2,000 courses are available each year. Graduates are prepared to pursue advanced roles across industries. Alumni have been hired at places such as Google, Morgan Stanley, Amazon, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Apple, Meta, Bain & Company, Epic Systems, Deloitte, CBS, and Yale Center for British Art (YCBA).

The Design Department at School of Visual Arts (SVA) serves more than 700 BFA and MFA students, making it the school’s third largest program. Across programs, students benefit from opportunities to work with the student-run Visual Arts Press; participation in workshops and exhibitions; internships with major companies and studios; four undergraduate concentrations including Graphic Design, Motion Graphics, 3D Design, and Interaction Design; and private studios with 24-hour access for graduate students. At the end of every academic year, the Design Department also hosts an Industry Review Day for graduating seniors. SVA Design alumni go on to land positions at places such as Amazon, Google, Apple, Epic Games, Microsoft, IBM, Warner Bros., HBO, Disney, YouTube, IDEO, R/GA, and Walmart.

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has a Graphic Design program with BA, BFA, and minor options. At the graduate level, the program has Graphic Design and Visual Experience MA and MFA options. Across programs, students have opportunities to collaborate with companies such as BMW and Disney through the university’s in-house design studio SCADpro, and study abroad at SCAD’s Lacoste, France campus. Program alumni go on to land roles at places such as IBM, Disney, Apple, Google, Riot Games, Ralph Lauren, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, Meta, Verizon, Airbnb, Under Armour, and Hulu. 

Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) provides several paths to study graphic design including BFA, MA, and MFA degrees. BFA students can customize an area of specialization and/or select a minor such as Illustration, Game Design, or Interactive Arts. Housed in a loft studio space with dedicated computers and workspaces, the graduate programs highlight seminars, internships, and the GDMA Workshop, which provides the opportunity to create and exhibit a self-directed design project and portfolio. MICA alumni go on to establish careers at places such as DreamWorks Animation, Google, Ogilvy, Apple, The New York Times, MoMA, DC Comics, Nike, Adobe, Netflix, LucasArts, NPR, and Under Armour. 

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) houses the Visual Communication Design (VCD) Department, home to the Studio BFA (VCD) and the Studio MFA (VCD). SAIC’s Continuing Studies Department also provides a Graphic Design certificate with an emphasis in Print Media. BFA and MFA students benefit from the VCD Department’s active AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) student chapter; the annual visiting designer lecture series Exploratory Languages; and participation in student workshops and lectures through the Chicago International Poster Biennial (CIPB). Graduates are frequently hired by companies such as Amazon, Leo Burnett, Google, Oracle, Prada, Target, and Nike. 

The School of Art at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (Cooper Union) is home to an Art BFA program that allows students to focus in graphic design through electives and studio courses. Examples include Graphic Design I-II; Experimental Printmaking; Advanced Typography; and Animation. All students have the opportunity to complete an internship and/or study abroad experience. Cooper Union graduates go on to land positions at places such as Amazon, The Whitney Museum of American Art (The Whitney), NVIDIA, Microsoft, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Google, Apple, Oracle, Intel, Cisco Systems, Meta, Uber, Cognizant, Gensler, AECOM, and The Noguchi Museum. 

Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) houses the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts. Within the school are two programs for aspiring graphic designers: the BFA with a major in Communication Design, and the Design BA with a Communication concentration. Students in both programs will complete the first-year requirement, consisting of courses such as Design, Drawing, and 3D Design. All students have opportunities to work one on one with instructors; complete an internship; and study abroad through the Fox School’s Florence Program. Recent graduates have been hired at places such as Saatchi & Saatchi, Microsoft, Chanel, Boeing, Amazon, IBM, Fred Segal, Google, Nickelodeon, The Guggenheim, Starbucks, Disney, Verizon, New York Magazine, Meta, Levi Strauss & Co., the American Museum of Natural History, Guess, Pentagram, Bain & Company, and 24 Seven. 

Boston University’s (BU) School of Visual Arts has several paths to study graphic design including the Visual Arts minor, and the BFA, MFA, and certificate in Graphic Design. Accredited by National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the programs feature workshops and immersive studio experiences; partnerships with area design studios and businesses; design intensives in Amsterdam; Printmaking workshops at the Franz Masareel Centrum in Kasterlee, Belgium; and the Studio Arts Program at Boston University’s Venice (Italy) Center. Graduates of the BU Graphic Design programs have been hired at places such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, ESPN, Amazon, Deloitte, NBCUniversal, IBM, Meta, Liberty Mutual, CVS Health, Accenture, PwC, Dropbox, and Merck.

Founded in 1895, Roski School of Art and Design at University of Southern California (USC Roski) is one of Southern California’s oldest art and design schools. The school provides BFA and MFA degrees in Design; a BFA/MFA Design Progressive degree; and an interdisciplinary Communication Design minor. Program highlights include hands-on studio courses; internships at places such as DreamWorks and MTV; and study abroad experiences in South Africa, London, and Australia, among others. Roski graduates have gone on to land positions at places such as Microsoft, Pixar, Sony, Apple, Nike, Google, IDEO, DreamWorks, Vogue, Condé Nast, Meta, Disney, MTV, Cisco, NBCUniversal, Starbucks, Mattel, American Express, Wieden+Kennedy, Paramount, Macy’s, NPR, Deutsch, GUESS, and Atlassian.  

The School of Design at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) provides two paths to study graphic design: the Graphic Design BFA, and the cross-disciplinary, STEM-designated Visual Communication Design (VCD) MFA. Students in both programs have opportunities to gain industry experience through cooperative education, internships, and collaborative class projects with RIT partners such as Starbucks, Kraft, and Unilever. Students also benefit from workshops; state-of-the art production facilities and studio spaces; and networking through RIT’s Creative Industry Day. RIT graduates have gone on to establish careers at places such as Boeing, Nike, Apple, Intel, Microsoft, Google, Cisco, Hasbro, Disney, Warner Bros., ESPN, Oracle, Northrop Grumman, PepsiCo., Nickelodeon, and Smithsonian Institution. 

Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) has a multidisciplinary Communication Design (CD) BFA program that provides access to a variety of degree-enhancing minor options. Examples include Advertising; Digital Book Arts; Animation; Games and Interactive Media; Copywriting; Media Production; and Arts Management. Students also have the option to personalize their own path of study through available courses, electives, and experiential learning. The program culminates with the Thesis and Portfolio Practice courses. MIAD graduates are routinely hired at places such as Google, Ford, Nike, GM, Harley-Davidson, Kohler Co., High Sierra, GE Healthcare, Lands’ End, Delta Faucet, and Milwaukee Tool. 

The Department of Art and Art History at University of Miami (UM) houses the Electronic Media area, which has a Graphic Design and Multimedia concentration. Leading to a BFA, the program features interdisciplinary studio courses; business field trips and gallery visits; seminars and critiques by visiting artists; access to state-of-the-art studios and labs; and participation in research and presentation projects. UM alumni go on to land positions at places such as Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, Pfizer, Warner Bros. Discovery, Google, Ford, NBCUniversal, P&G, The Miami Heat, ABC, Netflix, Levi Strauss & Co., Sundance Institute, ESPN, Royal Caribbean Group, Macy’s, J&J, Grainger, Allstate, and Old Navy. 

Baylor University (Baylor) is home to the College of Arts and Sciences. Established in 1919 and housing 25 departments, the college is one of Baylor’s oldest and largest units. Students seeking a degree in graphic design have two options—the Studio Art BA with a concentration in Graphic Design and the Graphic Design BFA. Across programs, students benefit from mandatory internships; smart classrooms; access to state-of-the-art computer labs and production studios; and portfolio preparation courses that cover interviewing, presentation skills, and job search strategies. Graduates have been hired at places such as Deloitte, IBM, The New York Times, Disney, ESPN, Amazon, the Dallas Symphony, Meta, AT&T, and Dell.

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 School of Fine and Performing Arts at Columbia College Chicago (Columbia) houses the Graphic Design Program, which has BA, BFA, and minor options. The minor is open to students in any creative major. The curriculums for the BA and BFA programs cover layout, packaging design, typography, information design, and the latest design software. All students will have opportunities to complete an internship at places such as Leo Burnett and FCB. Programs culminate with a final project and professional portfolio. Graduates have been hired at places such as Google, Apple, DreamWorks, Rockstar Games, Hiton Hotels and Resorts, NASCAR, Leo Burnett, DDB, L'Oréal SA, and Fox Television. 

The School of Professional Advancement (SoPA) at Tulane University (Tulane) has a Media + Design program with several paths to study graphic design. Options include the Digital Design BA with a Graphic Design track (online or on campus); an online Post-Baccalaureate (PBC) certificate in Graphic Design; the PBC Digital Design certificate (on campus); and the Graphic Design minor (on campus). Students in all programs have opportunities to participate in professional conferences and symposiums; the internship program; and study abroad experiences in places such as London and Greece. Graduates have been hired at places such as Ford, Walt Disney Imagineering, FX Networks, Gensler, Time Inc., HGA, and Jacobs.

Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is home to the College of Communications and Fine Arts (CFA), which houses the Studio Arts Program. Based on LMU’s Burns Fine Arts Center, this specialized BFA degree has seven concentrations. This includes Visual Communication Design (Graphic Design). In addition to the 96,000 square feet, state-of-the-art Burns Center, BFA students have access to internship opportunities, the study abroad program, and portfolio workshops. The program culminates with the Senior Design Thesis course and exhibit. Program alumni work at places such as Google, IDEO, American Express, United Airlines, Apple, Paramount Pictures, Wolff Olins, Atlassian, and the LA Philharmonic. 

Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD) has a Graphic Design BFA that provides opportunities to work on projects with companies such as Airstream and Red, White & BOOM!; select one or two minors; attend design seminars and workshops; participate in the American Advertising Federation sponsored event The Pitch and the CCAD-based AdGraph Collective; and engage with visiting artists and designers. All BFA students also have access to state-of-the-art equipment, labs, and studios. CCAD BFA graduates are routinely hired at places such as Saatchi & Saatchi, Pixar, Apple, Leo Burnett, JPMorganChase, IBM, Ogilvy, American Greetings, Disney, BBDO Worldwide, A&E, Gallo Winery, and Bath & Body Works. 

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) has two paths to study graphic design. Options include the Graphic Design BFA and an Illustrative Design BFA that blends graphic design, data visualization, branding, and motion design with illustration. Both programs feature hands-on projects for real-world clients; internship opportunities; teaching engagements and presentations led by design professionals; immersive workshops; and the option to complete the courses 100% online or through the hybrid online/campus pathway. Graduates have been hired at places such as DreamWorks Animation, Dell, IBM, Marvel, KPMG, Deloitte, Pixar, EY, Accenture, Disney, and Deck Nine Games. 

Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Chapman University (Chapman) is home to the Department of Art. Within the department is a Graphic Design program with BFA and minor options. The 24 credit hour minor is open to all students with approval. Both programs feature internship opportunities at places Quicksilver, Seventeen Magazine, and O’Neill and study abroad experiences in places such as Ireland, Thailand, and Spain. Graphic design students may also take courses from other majors such as Advertising, Creative Industries, Business, and Marketing. Chapman alumni are often hired at places such as Boeing, Google, Microsoft, Los Angeles Angels, Paramount Pictures, Apple, DreamWorks, Amazon, NBCUniversal, Disney, Blizzard Entertainment, Netflix, Walmart, and Experian. 

The School of Communication and the Arts (SCA) at Liberty University (Liberty U) houses the Department of Studio and Digital Arts (SADA). Within the department are several paths to study Graphic Design. Options include the Graphic Design BFA; Digital Design - Graphic Design BS; Studio and Digital Arts - Graphic Design BS; and the Graphic Design MFA. Across programs, students benefit from flexible delivery options; internship opportunities at places such as Disney, Bloomingdale’s and ESPN; access to state-of-the-art labs and studios; study abroad experiences in London and Paris; and extensive portfolio development workshops. Liberty U Graphic Design alumni can be found at places such as Disney, ESPN, Chicago Bulls, Hallmark, Ralph Lauren, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Motion Picture Association (MPA).

George Washington University (GW) is home to Corcoran School of the Arts and Design (Corcoran). Within the school is a Graphic Design minor program and BFA that features internships at places such as Condé Nast, Apple, and NBC. Other program highlights include study abroad experiences in places such as Japan, London, and Saudi Arabia; access to state-of-the-art studios and labs; experiential learning experiences in places such as San Francisco and New York; and participation in the World Studio’s Design Ignites Change and Corcoran’s NEXT Festival. Program alumni have been hired at places such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Booz Allen Hamilton, The Smithsonian, IBM, National Geographic, Amazon, Riot Games, Peace Corps, Apple, and Warner Bros. Discovery.

Flagler College (Flagler) provides two paths to study graphic design—the BFA and a minor. The Graphic Design BFA (GD BFA) is a professional degree that allows students to specialize in a specific area through electives. The Graphic Design minor is a 23 credit hour program that can be taken alone or with most Flagler majors. Other GD benefits include studio projects that can be submitted to design competitions such as the ADDY Awards; internship opportunities at places such as Cox Media Group; and the Art Study Abroad or Study Away New York electives. Graduates can be found at places such as Northrop Grumman, Amazon, Lucasfilm, Disney, The Wall Street Journal, Marvel, CNN, Walmart, and Publix. 

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at American University (AU) houses the Department of Art. Within the department is a Graphic and Visual Communication Design Program BA and a minor that can be added to most undergraduate and graduate programs. The BA covers illustration, editorial design, corporate identity, experience design, packaging, interactive design, multimedia, and more. All students have the unique opportunity to study abroad at Slade School of Fine Arts at University College of London, Glasgow School of Art in London, and many others. American University alumni can be found at places such as Microsoft, Amazon, JPMorganChase, Google, P&G, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, and Meta.