We have ranked the 15 Best Graphic Design Colleges in the United States. Graphic Design is a growing field given the proliferation of online businesses and websites. Graphic Designers earned a median salary of $53,380.00 in 2020. Graphic Designers have the flexibility of being freelance (self-employed), or working for design firms. Some Graphic Design companies include video game design and development companies, for example. All serious internet-based businesses need Graphic Designers.
Best Graphic Design Colleges in the United States Ranking Criteria:
In ranking the Best Graphic Design Colleges in the United States, we looked at the academic influence that these schools have had in Graphic Design. This was determined by looking at the h-index from the faculty of these schools in publications and citations in Graphic Design in particular. We also looked at the proliferation of these programs in relevant websites with high domain authority and legitimacy that mention these programs.
The Best Graphic Design Colleges
1. Yale University, New Haven, CT
Tuition + Fees: $53,000
Acceptance Rate: 6%
Graduation Rate: 98%
Student body: 15K
Median SAT/ACT: 1515/34
2. School Of Visual Arts, Manhattan, NY
Tuition & Fees: $40,000
Acceptance Rate: 70%
Graduation Rate: 64%
Student body: 4,000
Median SAT/ACT: 1191/26
3. Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
Tuition & Fees: $52,000
Acceptance Rate: 51%
Graduation Rate: 70%
Student body: 5,000
Median SAT/ACT: 1180/27
4. Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Tuition & Fees: $50,000
Acceptance Rate: 5%
Graduation Rate: 97%
Student body: 25,000
Median SAT/ACT: 1520/34
5. The New School, New York City, NY
Tuition & Fees: $49,000
Acceptance Rate: 57%
Graduation Rate: 68%
Student body: 10K
Median SAT/ACT: 1255/27
6. Cooper Union, New York City, NY
Tuition & Fees: $47,000
Acceptance Rate: 16%
Graduation Rate: 90%
Student body: 1,000
Median SAT/ACT: 1396/32
7. California Institute Of The Arts, Los Angeles County, CA
Tuition & Fees: $49,000
Acceptance Rate: 23%
Graduation Rate: 66%
Student body: 2,000
8. Rhode Island School Of Design, Providence, RI
Tuition & Fees: $51,000
Acceptance Rate: 24%
Graduation Rate: 90%
Student body: 3,000
Median SAT/ACT: 1310/29
9. New York University, New York City, NY
Tuition & Fees: $52,000
Acceptance Rate: 20%
Graduation Rate: 85%
Student body: 47,000
Median SAT/ACT: 1410/31
10. Columbia University, New York City, NY
Tuition & Fees: $53,000
Acceptance Rate: 6%
Graduation Rate: 95%
Student body: 28,000
Median SAT/ACT: 1505/34
11. University Of California, Los Angeles, CA
Tuition & Fees: $13,000
Acceptance Rate: 14%
Graduation Rate: 91%
Student body: 44K
Median SAT/ACT: 1405/32
12. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Tuition & Fees: $55,000
Acceptance Rate: 17%
Graduation Rate: 90%
Student body: 16K
Median SAT/ACT: 1500/34
13. Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Tuition & Fees: $14,000
Acceptance Rate: 86%
Graduation Rate: 62%
Student body: 26K
Median SAT/ACT: 1165/24
14. School of The Art Institute Of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Tuition & Fees: $49,000
Acceptance Rate: 59%
Graduation Rate: 66%
Student body: 4,000
Median SAT/ACT: 1230/25
15. Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO
Tuition & Fees: $38,000
Acceptance Rate: 69%
Graduation Rate: 58%
Student body: 1,000