| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yale University | New Haven |
| 2 | University of Connecticut | Multiple |
| 3 | University of Hartford | Hartford |
| 4 | Central Connecticut State University | New Britain |
Our 2025 ranking of the top graphic design school programs in Connecticut. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
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 School of Fine Arts at University of Connecticut (UConn) has several paths to study graphic design. Options include BFA degrees in Art and Studio Art, and a BA in Art. BFA students may participate in the study abroad program Graphic Design in London. Students in all programs may concentrate in Graphic Design. Other program benefits include; opportunities to work with real clients in UConn’s Design Center; workshops led by visiting artists; internships and co-ops; and access to state-of-the-art labs and studios. Program alumni have gone on to establish careers at places such as Lockheed Martin, IDEO, Electronic Arts (EA), Food & Wine, Google, NBCUniversal, Amazon, Wolf Olins, CVS, Ogilvy, and Crispin.
University of Hartford (UHart) houses Hartford Art School (HAS). Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the school provides two paths to study graphic design including the Visual Communication Design (VCD) BFA and minor. Program benefits include access to 65,000 square feet of production and studio space; the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through a design internship or the Civic Design course; and study abroad experiences at Glasgow School of Art (Scotland) and Slade School of Fine Art (London), among others. UHart Design graduates have been hired at places such as NASA, Amazon, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET), NBC, Apple, Nike, ESPN, Boston Scientific, Netflix, Stanley Black & Decker, Cigna, RTX, Pentagram, and CVS Health.
The Department of Art and Design at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) has a Graphic/Information Design BA program that provides the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through the Central Design course. Set up as an in-house design studio, the course features real projects and productions with local non-profits. These projects become a part of the student’s final portfolio. Other program benefits include the option to add a minor such as Marketing or Computer Science; internship and study abroad opportunities; small class sizes; and portfolio development. CCS graduates can be found at places such as HP, Collins Aerospace, IBM, Honda, Merck, Intel, CBS Health, and Pfizer.
