
The state of Missouri is home to so many top colleges and universities, it’s tough to keep count. These schools make regular appearances on numerous “top school” lists based on a variety of factors that may affect everything from student finances to the student’s social life. The groups behind many top schools lists are usually students, alumni, and bloggers that understand what’s important to, well, students! They consider factors such as cost, location, access to (and quality of) production facilities, job placement services, types of clubs and organizations, access to recreation, class size, cultural activities, and even Greek life.
Missouri’s top schools can also be found on a number of “best schools lists, although for different reasons. Organizations such as Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report gather information related to graduation and retention rates, number of program offerings, faculty resources, financial resources, and student selectivity to determine which schools will make the cut. Fortunately, Missouri’s top schools and its best schools offer top-tier programs for aspiring graphic designers.
Continue reading to find out which Missouri graphic design school programs are tops and what they have to offer. Please note that the schools listed below are in order by student population from largest to smallest.
Top Graphic Design School Programs Missouri Major Cities
Columbia
University of Missouri
Student Population: 26,024
Backdrop: City, 1,250-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Art, B. F. A. Art with Graphic Design Focus, M. F. A. Art, M. F. A. Art with Graphic Design Focus
Springfield
Missouri State University
Student Population: 16,157
Backdrop: City, 450-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Art with Option in Computer Animation, Digital Arts, Graphic Design, Illustration; B. S. Electronic Arts with Option in Computer Animation Studies, Multimedia Studies
St. Louis
University of Missouri
Student Population: 13,159
Backdrop: Urban, 350-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Studio Art with Graphic Design Emphasis
St. Joseph
Missouri Western State University
Student Population: 4,928
Backdrop: Small City/Suburban, 740-acre campus, easy access to Kansas City
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Digital Animation, Graphic Design, Studio Art with Concentration in Illustration; M. A. A. Integrated Media
St. Louis
Webster University
Student Population: 3,380
Backdrop: Urban, 47-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Art with Alternative Media, Graphic Design Emphasis, B. A. Interactive Digital Media; M. A. Art with Graphic Design Emphasis
St. Louis
Maryville University
Student Population: 2,968
Backdrop: Urban, 130-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. A., B. F. A. Graphic Design, B. F. A. Interactive Design
Kansas City
Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI)
Student Population: 676
Backdrop: Urban, 18-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Illustration, Painting, Digital Filmmaking, Animation, Digital Media, Graphic Design
Top Graphic Design School Programs Missouri Other Cities and Towns
Parkville
Park University
Student Population: 12,061
Backdrop: Suburban 800-acre campus, easy access to Kansas City
Degrees Offered: B.A. Graphic Design
Cape Girardeau
Southeast Missouri State University
Student Population: 10,386
Backdrop: Small town, 400-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Art with Concentration in 3D Imaging and Animation, Graphic Design; B. S. Technology Management, Computer and Multimedia Graphics Option; M. S. Technology Management with Focus on Graphics and Multimedia
Warrensburg
University of Central Missouri
Student Population: 8,970
Backdrop: Small town, 1,561-acre campus, easy access to Kansas City
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Graphic Design, Studio Art with Illustration Emphasis
Joplin
Missouri Southern State University
Student Population: 5,666
Backdrop: Small town, 365-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. A. Art with Graphic Design Emphasis
Maryville
Northwest Missouri State
Student Population: 5,290
Backdrop: Rural, 240-acre campus, easy access to Kansas City
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Art with Graphic Design Specialization, B. S. Interactive Digital Media with Visual Imaging Concentration, Computer Science Concentration or New Media Concentration
More Programs to Consider:
- San Francisco & Online
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#15) - 2020
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#23) - 2020
- Top 40 Nationally for Illustration (#29) - 2020
- Atlanta, Georgia; Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and SCAD eLearning
- Animation – BFA, MA, MFA
- Film and Television – BFA, MA, MFA
- Graphic Design – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Illustration – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Immersive Reality - BFA
- Interactive Design and Game Development – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Motion Media Design – BFA, MA, MFA
- Sequential Art – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Visual Effects – BFA, MA, MFA
- User Experience (UX) Design – BFA
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#3) - 2020
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#12) - 2020
- Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#9) - 2020
- Top 40 Nationally for Illustration (#9) - 2020
- Winter Park, FL & Online
- Computer Animation - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
- Game Programs - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
- Graphic Design & Digital Arts - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
- Film & Digital Cinematography - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
- Mobile Development - Bachelor's - Online
- Simulation & Visualization - Bachelor's - Campus
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#19) - 2020
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#17) - 2020
- Top 5 in Florida for Graphic Design (#4) - 2020
- Online
Sources
Peterson’s, www.petersons.com
Princeton Review, www.princetonreview.com
U.S. News & World Report College Rankings, www.usnews.com/rankings