Graphic Design: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Graphic Design is a dynamic, practice-driven discipline that equips students with the technical and creative skills to translate complex ideas into compelling visual narratives. This program emphasizes the fusion of artistic expression with digital innovation, preparing graduates to thrive in diverse fields such as branding, advertising, publishing, and digital media.
- Computer-Assisted Art and Design: Mastery of industry-standard software tools to create, manipulate, and refine digital artwork with precision and efficiency.
- Printmaking Techniques: Exploration of traditional and contemporary methods for producing images on physical substrates, including relief, intaglio, and screen printing.
- Concepts Sketching: Development of rapid visualization skills to explore and communicate initial design ideas through hand-drawn sketches and thumbnails.
- Technical Drawing: Application of accurate, scalable drawing methods to represent objects and systems with clarity and consistency.
- Color Theory: In-depth study of color relationships, perception, and psychological impact to enhance visual communication and brand identity.
- Imaging and Digital Manipulation: Advanced training in photo editing, image compositing, and raster graphics to produce high-quality visual content.
- Studio Technique: Hands-on experience in managing a creative workflow, from concept development to final execution in a professional studio environment.
- Still and Life Modeling: Practice in observing and rendering static subjects to strengthen foundational drawing and composition abilities.
- Multimedia Applications: Integration of visual, audio, and interactive elements to create engaging content across digital platforms and devices.
- Communication Skills: Cultivation of verbal, written, and presentation abilities essential for collaborating with clients, teams, and stakeholders.
- Commercial Art Business Operations: Understanding of project management, client relations, pricing models, and ethical standards in professional design practice.
Graphic Design Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Graphic Design Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Graphic Design degrees, including Art Directors, Special Effects Artists and Animators and Web and Digital Interface Designers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 502,570 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art Directors 27-1011 | $111,040 | $61,060 - $211,410 | 50,370 | $53.38 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators 27-1014 | $99,800 | $57,220 - $174,630 | 21,280 | $47.98 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers 15-1255 | $98,090 | $47,840 - $192,180 | 111,400 | $47.16 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1121 | $80,190 | $47,040 - $194,530 | 97,890 | N/A |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other 27-1019 | $72,760 | $33,720 - $133,180 | 7,370 | $34.98 |
| Graphic Designers 27-1024 | $61,300 | $37,600 - $103,030 | 214,260 | $29.47 |
Graphic Design Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $51,477 in Wyoming to $108,792 in California—a 111% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Washington, and New York. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 502,570 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Graphic Design by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Graphic Design programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Graphic Design is found at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) (794 graduates), NUC University (NUC) (363 graduates), Ana G. Mendez University (AGMU) (282 graduates), Wake Technical Community College (Wake Tech) (234 graduates), and Brigham Young University (BYU–I), Idaho (233 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 6,255 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) |
Bachelor's
|
794 | Manchester, New Hampshire | Private | snhu.edu |
| NUC University (NUC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
363 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | nuc.edu |
| Ana G. Mendez University (AGMU) |
Bachelor's
|
282 | Orlando, Florida | Private | agmu.edu |
| Wake Technical Community College (Wake Tech) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
234 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | waketech.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
233 | Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
126 | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Public | faytechcc.edu |
| Liberty University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
125 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Bachelor's
|
124 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (CPP) |
Bachelor's
|
121 | Pomona, California | Public | cpp.edu |
| Pratt Institute |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
115 | Brooklyn, New York | Private | pratt.edu |
| San Diego City College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
114 | San Diego, California | Public | sdcity.edu |
| Santa Monica College (SMC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
106 | Santa Monica, California | Public | smc.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
90 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Art Center College of Design (ArtCenter) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
84 | Pasadena, California | Private | artcenter.edu |
| Oakland University (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
82 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
78 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Connecticut State Community College (CT State) |
Associate's
|
74 | Hartford, Connecticut | Public | ctstate.edu |
| Columbia College Chicago (CCC) |
Bachelor's
|
71 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | colum.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Bachelor's
|
68 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| Rasmussen University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
67 | Ocala, Florida | Private | rasmussen.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Bachelor's
|
67 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Sierra College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
62 | Rocklin, California | Public | sierracollege.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
|
62 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Los Angeles Film School (LAFS) |
Bachelor's
|
60 | Hollywood, California | Private | lafilm.edu |
| City College of San Francisco (CCSF) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
58 | San Francisco, California | Public | ccsf.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
|
55 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNL) |
Bachelor's
|
54 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | unl.edu |
| Cuyahoga Community College District (Tri-C) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
54 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | tri-c.edu |
| Cabrillo College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
53 | Aptos, California | Public | cabrillo.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Bachelor's
|
51 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| Mesa Community College (MCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
50 | Mesa, Arizona | Public | mesacc.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Bachelor's
|
50 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| Madison Area Technical College |
Associate's
|
50 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | madisoncollege.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
49 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Other Award
|
48 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Tyler Junior College (TJC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
47 | Tyler, Texas | Public | tjc.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
46 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout |
Bachelor's
|
46 | Menomonie, Wisconsin | Public | uwstout.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
44 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnostate.edu |
| DePaul University |
Bachelor's
|
44 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) |
Bachelor's
|
44 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | miad.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
43 | Lowell, Massachusetts | Public | uml.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Bachelor's
|
42 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
39 | Arnold, Maryland | Public | aacc.edu |
| College of the Canyons |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
38 | Santa Clarita, California | Public | canyons.edu |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) |
Other Award
|
38 | Boston, Massachusetts | Public | massart.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
38 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
37 | Sacramento, California | Public | csus.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| Drexel University |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| Coastal Carolina University (CCU) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Conway, South Carolina | Public | coastal.edu |
| California Baptist University (CBU) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Riverside, California | Private | calbaptist.edu |
| Chapman University |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Orange, California | Private | chapman.edu |
| Rio Hondo College (RHC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
35 | Whittier, California | Public | riohondo.edu |
| Aims Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
35 | Greeley, Colorado | Public | aims.edu |
| Tulsa Technology Center (Tulsa Tech) |
Other Award
|
35 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Public | tulsatech.edu |
| Joliet Junior College (JJC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
34 | Joliet, Illinois | Public | jjc.edu |
| Rogue Community College (RCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
34 | Grants Pass, Oregon | Public | roguecc.edu |
| Flagler College (Flagler) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Saint Augustine, Florida | Private | flagler.edu |
| Troy University (TROY) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Troy, Alabama | Public | troy.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
32 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| Rasmussen University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
32 | St. Cloud, Minnesota | Private | rasmussen.edu |
| Century College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
32 | White Bear Lake, Minnesota | Public | century.edu |
| Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | New York, New York | Public | fitnyc.edu |
| University of North Florida (UNF) |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | unf.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
|
31 | North Dartmouth, Massachusetts | Public | umassd.edu |
| Hinds Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
31 | Raymond, Mississippi | Public | hindscc.edu |
| Bellevue University |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Bellevue, Nebraska | Private | bellevue.edu |
| Bryan University |
Associate's
|
30 | Tempe, Arizona | Private | bryanuniversity.edu |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | famu.edu |
| Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
30 | Prestonsburg, Kentucky | Public | bigsandy.kctcs.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
|
30 | New Paltz, New York | Public | newpaltz.edu |
| Wilkes Community College (WCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
30 | Wilkesboro, North Carolina | Public | wilkescc.edu |
| Cleveland State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | csuohio.edu |
| Diablo Valley College (DVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
28 | Pleasant Hill, California | Public | dvc.edu |
| Riverside City College (RCC) |
Other Award
|
28 | Riverside, California | Public | rcc.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
28 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| Ferris State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
28 | Big Rapids, Michigan | Public | ferris.edu |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
28 | Perkinston, Mississippi | Public | mgccc.edu |
| Northwest Mississippi Community College (NWCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
28 | Senatobia, Mississippi | Public | northwestms.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | Private | aguadilla.inter.edu |
| Liceo de Arte y Tecnologia (LAT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
28 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | liceo.edu |
| Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
28 | Beaumont, Texas | Public | lit.edu |
| Irvine Valley College (IVC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
27 | Irvine, California | Public | ivc.edu |
| College of Southern Nevada (CSN) |
Associate's
|
27 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | csn.edu |
| Monroe Community College |
Associate's
|
27 | Rochester, New York | Public | monroecc.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Gurabo) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Gurabo, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| De Anza College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
26 | Cupertino, California | Public | deanza.edu |
| Red Rocks Community College (RRCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
26 | Lakewood, Colorado | Public | rrcc.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) |
Associate's
|
26 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | cvtc.edu |
| Atlantic University |
Master's
|
26 | Guaynabo, Puerto Rico | Private | atlanticu.edu |
| Quinnipiac University (QU) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Hamden, Connecticut | Private | qu.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | University Center, Michigan | Public | svsu.edu |
| Rockland Community College (RCC) |
Associate's
|
25 | Suffern, New York | Public | sunyrockland.edu |
| Spartanburg Community College (SCC) |
Other Award
|
25 | Spartanburg, South Carolina | Public | sccsc.edu |
| Columbia Central University (CCU) |
Associate's
|
25 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | Private | columbiacentral.edu |
| Elgin Community College (ECC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
24 | Elgin, Illinois | Public | elgin.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Graphic Design programs
How much can I earn with a Graphic Design degree?
Salaries for Graphic Design graduates vary by role and location. Art Directors earn a median of $111,040 annually, while Special Effects Artists and Animators earn around $99,800. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $108,792 compared to $51,477 in Wyoming. Approximately 502,570 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Graphic Design programs?
Currently 578 accredited institutions offer Graphic Design degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) (794 graduates), NUC University (NUC) (363 graduates), and Ana G. Mendez University (AGMU) (282 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Graphic Design growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 9,715 in 2010 to 10,676 in 2023-24. This represents a 10% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Graphic Design degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Art Directors, Special Effects Artists and Animators, and Web and Digital Interface Designers. Related occupations employ approximately 502,570 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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