Graphic Design

CIP Code: 50.0409

A graphic design degree prepares graduates for careers in Art directors, Special effects artists and animators, Web and digital interface designers and more. 578 colleges and universities offer this program.

Annual Degrees Awarded
10,676
Colleges Offering 578
Avg. Career Salary $87,197
Top Career Salary $111,040

What Can You Do With a Graphic Design Degree?

Graduates with this degree pursue careers in the following fields:

Art directors

$111,040 +4.2% growth

Special effects artists and animators

$99,800 +1.6% growth

Web and digital interface designers

$98,090 +7.0% growth

Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary

$80,190 +1.7% growth

Artists and related workers, all other

$72,760 +0.8% growth

Graphic designers

$61,300 +2.1% growth
$87,197
Average Salary Across Careers
$111,040
Highest Paying Career
6
Career Paths Available

Best Colleges for Graphic Design

Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees awarded. These are the top-rated colleges that produce the most graduates in graphic design.

# College Location Degrees Awarded Repit Grade
1 Boston University Boston, MA 49 A
2 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 46 A
3 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN 78 B+
4 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL 62 B+
5 University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI 48 B+
6 Northeastern University Boston, MA 42 B+
7 Fashion Institute of Technology New York, NY 32 B+
8 Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Tallahassee, FL 30 B+
9 California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, CA 121 B
10 Pratt Institute-Main Brooklyn, NY 115 B
11 Iowa State University Ames, IA 90 B
12 Oakland University Rochester Hills, MI 82 B
13 Portland State University Portland, OR 68 B
14 Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ 55 B
15 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE 54 B
16 California State University-Fresno Fresno, CA 44 B
17 University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MA 43 B
18 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 38 B
19 California State University-Sacramento Sacramento, CA 37 B
20 Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 36 B
21 Drexel University Philadelphia, PA 36 B
22 Chapman University Orange, CA 35 B
23 Tulsa Technology Center Tulsa, OK 35 B
24 University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL 32 B
25 University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL 31 B
26 State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, NY 30 B
27 University of Denver Denver, CO 28 B
28 University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC 26 B
29 Brigham Young University-Idaho Rexburg, ID 233 C+
30 Liberty University Lynchburg, VA 125 C+

Largest Graphic Design Programs

Schools ranked by number of graduates. These institutions produce the most graphic design graduates annually, including online and distance learning programs.

# College Location Degrees Awarded Repit Grade
1 Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH 794 C
2 Ana G. Mendez University Orlando, FL 282 D
3 Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, NC 234 C
4 Brigham Young University-Idaho Rexburg, ID 233 C+
5 Fayetteville Technical Community College Fayetteville, NC 126 C
6 Liberty University Lynchburg, VA 125 C+
7 Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ 124 C+
8 California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, CA 121 B
9 Pratt Institute-Main Brooklyn, NY 115 B
10 San Diego City College San Diego, CA 114 C
11 Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CA 106 C
12 Iowa State University Ames, IA 90 B
13 Art Center College of Design Pasadena, CA 84 C+
14 Oakland University Rochester Hills, MI 82 B
15 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN 78 B+
16 Connecticut State Community College Hartford, CT 74 C
17 Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL 71 C
18 Portland State University Portland, OR 68 B
19 Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA 67 C+
20 Rasmussen University-Florida Ocala, FL 67 C
21 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL 62 B+
22 Sierra College Rocklin, CA 62 C+
23 Los Angeles Film School Hollywood, CA 60 D
24 City College of San Francisco San Francisco, CA 58 C
25 Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ 55 B
26 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE 54 B
27 Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland, OH 54 C+
28 Cabrillo College Aptos, CA 53 C
29 Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY 51 C+
30 University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV 50 C+
10,676
Degrees Awarded Annually
578
Colleges Offering Program
6
Related Careers

About Graphic Design

Graphic Design is a degree program offered at 578 colleges and universities across the United States. Each year, approximately 10,676 students graduate with this degree.

Graduates with this degree can pursue careers such as art directors, special effects artists and animators, web and digital interface designers, art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary, artists and related workers, all other, and 1 more career paths.

Program Classification

CIP Code 50.0409
Field (2-digit CIP) 50
Category (4-digit CIP) 50.04

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do with a Graphic Design degree?
A Graphic Design degree can lead to careers as a art directors, special effects artists and animators, web and digital interface designers, art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary, artists and related workers, all other, and more. Top earners in related careers can make up to $111,040 annually.
How many colleges offer Graphic Design?
578 colleges and universities in the United States offer Graphic Design as a degree program. Each year, approximately 10,676 students graduate with this degree.
What are the best colleges for Graphic Design?
The best colleges for Graphic Design based on Repit's ratings include Boston University, University of Florida, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Rankings are based on the college's overall Repit grade and the number of degrees awarded in this program.
What is the salary potential with a Graphic Design degree?
Graduates with a Graphic Design degree can expect average salaries around $87,197 in related careers, with top earners making up to $111,040. Actual salaries depend on the specific career path, experience level, and location.