| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Louisville | Louisville |
| 2 | Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights |
Our 2024 ranking of the top graphic design school programs in Kentucky. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
The College of Arts and Sciences at University of Louisville (UofL) dates back to 1907, when it was established as the College of Liberal Arts. The college housed 104 students, 15 departments, and three undergraduate and graduate courses of study. Today, the College of Arts and Sciences houses more than 30 departments and programs, making it the largest academic unit at UofL.
Within the college is the Department of Art + Design and the Hite Institute of Art + Design (Hite). Founded in 1937 as the Department of Fine Arts, the department and institute serve approximately 400 majors enrolled in BA, BFA, MA and MFA programs in the studio, critical and curatorial studies, design, and art history areas. Programs for Graphic Designers include the BFA in Graphic Design.
Program features include access to state-of-the-art production facilities, studios, and labs; opportunities to work on projects in teams made up of design and communication majors; and internship opportunities at places such as KFC, Humana Innovation, Zimmer Design, Volunteers of America, 22squared, Brown-Forman, Casual Living Brands, First Build, and JUMP Agency.
Admission to the UofL Graphic Design BFA is selective, admitting just 20-22 students each year. This professional, preparatory program (PPP) focuses on technical skills, conceptual development, and persuasive composition. Course and elective examples include Type I-II; Design and Meaning (Visual Semiotics); Book Forms; Wayfinding and Environmental Graphic Design; Adventures in Design: Methods + Process; Identity Systems; History and Issues of Graphic Design; Design for Public Issues; Lettering and Font Design; Web Design; Design for interaction; Packaging Design; and Data Visualization.
In addition to a variety of courses and electives, the Graphic Design BFA program at UofL provides opportunities to enhance the degree through Directed Studies. This option allows design students to collaborate with engineering students in their Engineering + Entrepreneurship Capstone course.
The Graphic Design BFA culminates with a final project, portfolio, and presentation. Graduates of this PPP are prepared to pursue leadership roles across industries. Program alumni have also gone on to pursue graduate studies at places such as Cranfield University (UK), Carnegie Mellon, University of Georgia, Pratt Institute, and Auburn University.
Graduates enjoy an 85% job placement rate with companies such as ESPN, PepsiCo, Department of the Army, Humana, Kentucky Derby Museum, Creative Artist Agency, Kindred Healthcare, Churchill Downs, Texas Roadhouse, Yum! Brands, Sanger & Eby, VIA Studio, McFadden Marketing, Kaleidoscope, Rock Group, Griffin Technology, Power Agency, MODE, Speed Museum, TMP Worldwide, and BCH.
University of Louisville was established in 1798 as Jefferson Seminary, making it one of the oldest municipal universities in the state. Today, UofL is a public research university that serves approximately 23,045 students enrolled in more than 200 degree programs across 12 colleges and schools. University of Louisville is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
The College of Arts and Sciences (COAS) at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) provides more than 100 programs across 10 departments and the School of the Arts (SOTA). The COAS SOTA houses 30 degree programs with access to 15 regional art partners, dozens of specializations, and more than 100 events a year. The SOTA also houses an Art and Design program with 12 areas of study. This includes Visual Communication Design (VCD) Major track.
All COAS programs emphasize liberal arts, communication, history, interdisciplinary study, and culture. Leading to a BA or BFA, the SOTA Art and Design/VCD program provides access to state-of-the-art labs and studio spaces in the NKU Fine Arts Center, including a letterpress facility where students can work on bookmaking, design, and printmaking; workshops and seminars; cooperative education experiences; career development resources; and internship opportunities.
The BA is a general studies degree that requires a final project to graduate. The BFA is a professional program recognized by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD) as the entry-level degree. BFA students will complete focused, advanced coursework and portfolio development courses. The program culminates with the Senior Capstone and Exhibition.
Course examples for the VCD track include Techniques in Visual Communication Design; Typography I-III; Creating Visual Form; Interaction Design for Visual Communication I-II; Motion Design; Visual Communication Design I-III; Information Design; History of Visual Communication Design; Printmaking; Drawing I-II; Painting; History of Art: Renaissance Modernism; and Screen Printing.
Graduates of the Art and Design/Visual Communication Design programs at Northern Kentucky University are prepared to pursue careers in areas such as advertising, exhibition design, illustration, brand and identity design, experience design, environmental graphic design, package design, corporate design, book design, web design, app design, entertainment design, user interface/user experience (UI/UX) design, arts management, digital production design, and information design.
NKU alums are at regional and national firms, companies, and studios such as LPK, IBM, Disney, COHO creative, Landor, goDutch, Agar, ICON, BraveBerlin, Kaleidoscope, Pixels & Dots, BLDG, LifeFormations, Applied Imagination, and Upstream 360.
Northern Kentucky University was established in 1968 as Northern Kentucky State College. The school enrolled 1,000 students just a year later. In 1976, Northern Kentucky State became a university. Today, this four-year, public university serves approximately 15,825 students enrolled in more than 200 programs across eight colleges and schools. Northern Kentucky University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
