Top Graphic Design Programs in New York

A top college or university is a school that is cost-effective, convenient, and chock-full social programs for students. At least this is what qualifies as a top school according to students, alums, and bloggers! Other considerations that may influence the status of any given school include recreational opportunities, class size, and quality of facilities and technology. On the other hand, the organizations behind most “best schools” lists consider a different set of factors such as graduation and retention rates, the number of program offerings, peer assessment, faculty resources (student-teacher ratio), financial resources, and student selectivity.

While students, alums, bloggers, and others publish “top” schools lists, organizations such as Princeton Review, Forbes, and U.S. News & World Report publish “best” lists. Although the evaluation process and the publishers are quite different, many of the same schools find their way onto both lists. New York happens to be home to nearly a dozen “top” and “best” schools that offer outstanding graphic design programs.

Continue reading to find out which New York schools are on the top schools list and what they have to offer. Please note that the schools below are in order from largest to smallest student population.

Top Graphic Design Programs New York City

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Queens
St. John’s University
Student Population: 15,720
Backdrop: Urban 98-acre campus, easy access to New York
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Illustration, Graphic Design

New York
Fashion Institute of Technology
Student Population: 10,000
Backdrop: Urban, 5-acre campus in New York’s Chelsea area
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Computer Animation and Interactive Media, Graphic Design, Illustration; M. F. A. Illustration; A. A. S. Communication Design, Fine Arts, Illustration

New York
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
Student Population: 927
Backdrop: Urban, access to all of New York
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Graphic Design

Top Graphic Design Programs State of New York Cities and Towns

Syracuse
Syracuse University
Student Population: 14,671
Backdrop: Central New York, 200-acre campus overlooking downtown Syracuse
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Computer Art and Animation, Graphic Design, Communications Design, Illustration; M. F. A. Computer Art, Illustration

Rochester
Rochester Institute of Technology
Student Population: 13,582
Backdrop: Suburban, 1,300-acre campus, easy access to Buffalo
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Film and Animation, Illustration, Graphic Design, 3D Digital Graphics, New Media Design and Imaging; B. S. Game Design and Development, Media Arts and Technology, New Media Interactive Development; M. F. A. Computer Graphics Design, Film and Animation, Graphic Design; M. S. Game Design and Development

Oswego
State University of New York at Oswego
Student Population: 8,500
Backdrop: Rural, 700-acre campus on Lake Ontario
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Illustration, Graphic Design, Studio Art with Concentration in Digital Media

New Paltz
State University of New York at New Paltz
Student Population: 6,814
Backdrop: Small town, 216-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Graphic Design

Purchase
Purchase College, State University of New York
Student Population: 4,052
Backdrop: Small town, 550-acre campus, easy access to New York City
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Graphic Design, B. A. New Media

New York
School of Visual Arts
Student Population: 3,650
Backdrop: Urban, 1-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Animation, Cartooning, Computer Art, Graphic Design, Illustration; M. F. A. Computer Art

Albany
Sage College of Albany
Student Population: 900
Backdrop: Urban, 15-acre campus
B. F. A. Graphic and Media Design

More Programs to Consider: