Best Graphic Design Programs
Ranked in 2020, part of Best Fine Arts Schools
Graphic designers are creative professionals who use
Graphic designers are creative professionals who use art and technical skills in a variety of industries, including publishing, business, fashion and advertising. These are the best fine arts schools for graphic design. Read the methodology »
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Graphic Design Graduate Programs in America
1-25 of 37 results
Harvard Graduate School of Design
- Cambridge, MA ·
- Harvard University ·
- Graduate School
- · Rating 4.29 out of 5 7 reviews
Harvard University, Graduate School, CAMBRIDGE, MA. 7 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars. Featured Review: Master's Student says Great survey of urban planning if you have no prior background in architecture or urban studies; cohort skews younger (early to mid twenties) so might be an adjustment for older students with more... Read 7 reviews.
Roski School of Art and Design
- Los Angeles, CA ·
- University of Southern California ·
University of Southern California, Graduate School, LOS ANGELES, CA.
Carnegie Mellon College of Fine Arts
- Pittsburgh, PA ·
- Carnegie Mellon University ·
- · Rating 3.29 out of 5 7 reviews
Blue checkmark. Carnegie Mellon University, Graduate School, PITTSBURGH, PA. 7 Niche users give it an average review of 3.3 stars. Featured Review: Master's Student says I graduated from the School of Design at the College of Fine Arts. This is one best design program at a major research university. The cross disciplinary approach, and ability to take courses at... Read 7 reviews.
College of Arts and Sciences - Suffolk University
- Suffolk University ·
- Graduate School ·
School of Christian Studies and the Arts - Mississippi College
- Mississippi College ·
- CLINTON, MS
Rhode Island School of Design
- PROVIDENCE, RI
- · Rating 4.33 out of 5 6
College of the Arts - University of Florida
- Gainesville, FL ·
- University of Florida ·
- · Rating 4 out of 5 1 review
Blue checkmark. University of Florida, Graduate School, GAINESVILLE, FL. 1 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars. Featured Review: Alum says Being an art student at the University of Florida is a mix of highs and lows. On the bright side, the classes are diverse, the professors are knowledgeable, and the facilities are top-notch, which... Read 1 reviews.
College of Fine Arts - Boston University
- Boston, MA ·
- Boston University ·
Boston University, Graduate School, BOSTON, MA.
University of Washington College of Arts & Sciences
- Seattle, WA ·
- University of Washington ·
University of Washington, Graduate School, SEATTLE, WA.
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Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts
- Syracuse, NY ·
- Syracuse University ·
- · Rating 5 out of 5 1 review
Syracuse University, Graduate School, SYRACUSE, NY. 1 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars. Featured Review: Master's Student says It has been amazing. All my teacher’s are supportive and giving me the tools to succeed in my future career. They know about outside opportunities I should follow as well. It is fantastic and I love... Read 1 reviews.
- Providence, RI ·
- · Rating 4.33 out of 5 6 reviews
Blue checkmark. Graduate School, PROVIDENCE, RI. 6 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars. Featured Review: Master's Student says Great! Challenging school with amazing professors who care about their students. Has amazing resources and funding. Read 6 reviews.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences - University of Denver
- Denver, CO ·
- University of Denver ·
Blue checkmark. University of Denver, Graduate School, DENVER, CO.
Rochester Institute of Technology - College of Art and Design
- Rochester, NY ·
- Rochester Institute of Technology ·
Blue checkmark. Rochester Institute of Technology, Graduate School, ROCHESTER, NY. 1 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars. Featured Review: Other says I ONLY WISH THE TEACHERS WERE MORE ENAGAGE WITH STUDENTS AND HELPING TO ACQUIRE INTERNSHIPS OR WORK STUDY PROGARAMS IN THIS FIELD OF WORK ITS ALL ABOUT THE CONNECTIONS Read 1 reviews.
College of Arts and Humanities - University of Central Florida
- Orlando, FL ·
- University of Central Florida ·
University of Central Florida, Graduate School, ORLANDO, FL.
School of Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication (ATEC) - University of Texas - Dallas
- Richardson, TX ·
- University of Texas - Dallas ·
Blue checkmark. University of Texas - Dallas, Graduate School, RICHARDSON, TX.
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Tyler School of Art and Architecture
- Philadelphia, PA ·
- Temple University ·
Temple University, Graduate School, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
College of Fine Arts- Ohio University
- Athens, OH ·
- Ohio University ·
- · Rating 5 out of 5 2 reviews
Ohio University, Graduate School, ATHENS, OH. 2 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars. Featured Review: Niche User says Students are encouraged to teach undergraduate students and lead classes of their own during their time in graduate school. Graduate students seem to enjoy this more interactive experience. Read 2 reviews.
College of Visual and Performing Arts - George Mason University
- Arlington, VA ·
- George Mason University ·
George Mason University, Graduate School, ARLINGTON, VA.
College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts - University of Illinois at Chicago
- Chicago, IL ·
- University of Illinois Chicago ·
University of Illinois Chicago, Graduate School, CHICAGO, IL.
- Clinton, MS ·
Blue checkmark. Mississippi College, Graduate School, CLINTON, MS.
Western Washington University
- Bellingham, WA ·
- · Rating 4.26 out of 5 23 reviews
Graduate School, BELLINGHAM, WA. 23 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars. Featured Review: Other says I feel that It will be great because is the career that I love. I haven't been in the course yet since I will be starting on FALL 2024. Read 23 reviews.
College of Arts and Letters - Missouri State University
- Springfield, MO ·
- Missouri State University ·
Missouri State University, Graduate School, SPRINGFIELD, MO.
ArtCenter College of Design
- Pasadena, CA ·
- · Rating 4.57 out of 5 7 reviews
Graduate School, PASADENA, CA. 7 Niche users give it an average review of 4.6 stars. Featured Review: Master's Student says I haven't started the program yet, but through extensive research, I've found it to be one of the best options available. Numerous reviews and testimonials from current and past participants... Read 7 reviews.
Division of Humanities & the Arts - CUNY City College of New York
- New York, NY ·
- CUNY City College of New York ·
CUNY City College of New York, Graduate School, NEW YORK, NY. 1 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars. Featured Review: Master's Student says The psychology program at CUNY City College of New York continues to surprise me with interesting classes like Gender and Psychology as well as Trauma and resilience. It shows the deep and diversity... Read 1 reviews.
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
- Minneapolis, MN ·
- · Rating 4.75 out of 5 8 reviews
Blue checkmark. Graduate School, MINNEAPOLIS, MN. 8 Niche users give it an average review of 4.8 stars. Featured Review: Master's Student says Although my degree (sustainable design) is fully online, the curriculum is very hands-on and encourages students to incorporate the real-world and our community action into our education. I... Read 8 reviews.
Blue checkmark. Suffolk University, Graduate School, BOSTON, MA.
Southern Adventist University
- Collegedale, TN ·
- · Rating 4.67 out of 5 6 reviews
Graduate School, COLLEGEDALE, TN. 6 Niche users give it an average review of 4.7 stars. Featured Review: Other says Southern Adventist University has an amazing fine art program. Professors meet with students one by one, letting students know what areas can grow, and help build a strong portfolio. The fine arts... Read 6 reviews.
Maryland Institute College of Art
- Baltimore, MD ·
- · Rating 4.58 out of 5 24 reviews
Graduate School, BALTIMORE, MD. 24 Niche users give it an average review of 4.6 stars. Featured Review: Master's Student says Three year low residency vigorous, intense, and comprehensive. Lots of freedom to explore multiple disciplines. Critiques take center stage, especially during the winter session when one's work away... Read 24 reviews.
Showing results 1 through 25 of 37
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Join a premier group of graduate students from twenty-four countries who are preparing to shape the world by addressing the complex challenges facing society through design practice and research.
Experts in the Field
The College of Design offers two distinct doctoral programs aimed at broadening student knowledge within the design field.
PhD in Design
The PhD in Design is an on-campus program intended for students who seek to deepen their knowledge of both theory and research. The PhD in Design program offers very generous financial support including: tuition, insurance, travel support, and a stipend. All majors, freshmen through doctoral students, have dedicated studio space with 24-hour access. Lab spaces are state-of-the-art, and the College of Design facilities are among the best in the nation.
The Doctor of Design program is a distance education program for established practicing professionals working with creative and case-based research problems who intend to apply the results of their studies to design practice. DDes students conduct original investigations through design-based practices, cases, and methods. The program provides a forum for connecting design research to the needs of society, by promoting the application of new knowledge in design and addressing design impacts on larger systems.
Recent News
November 25, 2024
Doctoral Students Showcase Work through Design Probes: Research Strands
On November 21, the College of Design’s doctoral programs brought together practitioners from the Doctor of Design and PhD in Design programs to showcase their outstanding research in a poster session and review titled “Design Probes: Research Strands.” Students bridge academia and practice across diverse design fields, and the event showcased the collaborative ecosystem that spans the college’s four departments and fosters a vibrant environment for interdisciplinary perspectives.
November 12, 2024
Cultivating Design Solutions with Green Heffa Farms
In the spring of 2024, PhD student and instructor Erin White brought students from his D101 Design Thinking course to solve multiple challenges faced at Green Heffa Farms. The students, many of whom are not design majors, addressed challenges such as storage issues, workflow efficiency and social media strategy.
August 20, 2024
Bringing New Life to Paper Streets
The City of Durham has over 600 “paper streets” – narrow strips of land planned for use as a street, but never built. College of Design students partnered with the city’s Office of Performance and Innovation to bring new life to these previously underutilized spaces, envisioning micro-parks, art installations, educational outdoor spaces, and valuable pedestrian corridors.
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Symposium in Honor of Giuliana Bruno: With Keynotes by Isaac Julien and Emanuele Coccia
The Renovated Gund Hall: A Paradigm for the Revitalization of Mid-Twentieth-Century Architecture
Harvard Graduate School of Design students returned for the fall 2024 semester to…
Nov 20, 2024
The Body in Intimate Spaces: Designing Toilets and Sewage Systems in Laila Seewang and Chris Reed’s FLUSH Studio
The bathroom is inevitably a space where we find ourselves spending time each…
Nov 15, 2024
Nexus Podcast: Ryan Clarke
Season 4, Episode 2: dweller has been unearthing the Black origins of electronic music…
Nov 18, 2024
The GSD Community Feels at Home in the Smithsonian Design Triennial
Challenging and wide-ranging conceptions of “home” underpin the design projects on view at the Cooper…
A New Way of Seeing: The Laboratory for Computer Graphics and Spatial Analysis
In 1965, as students protested the escalating war in Vietnam, President Lyndon B.
Nov 13, 2024
Can a National Housing Policy Solve the Affordability Crisis in Cities?
In the United States, where over 80 percent of the population lives in cities, a…
Oct 31, 2024
An Interview with Jay Wickersham: The Architecture and Legacy of H. H. Richardson
Foremost among nineteenth-century American architects stands H. H. Richardson. While most frequently associated with his…
Oct 28, 2024
CHANGING CLIMATES: Projects and Research by Bas Smets
exhibition dates: OCT 28 – DEC 20, 2024
Bas Smets , Curator
An Interview with Richard Sennett: Democracy and Urban Form
Sociologist and urban theorist Richard Sennett. Photo by Thomas Struth. In fall 1981,…
Oct 24, 2024
Ask Me How: Germane Barnes on Establishing a Black Columnar Order from a Place of Joy
If you want to reach Germane Barnes, ask a young person for help. “All my…
Oct 23, 2024
How Stacey Berman Builds Worlds On Stage and Screen
Stacey Berman had been working as a costume designer for films when…
Announcements
Hanif Kara Receives the 2024 Soane Medal
Hanif Kara, Professor in Practice of Architectural Technology at the Harvard Graduate…
Oct 8, 2024
The History of Gund Hall
Gund Hall, Harvard University Graduate School of Design, 1972. Photo by Scott Rosenthal.
Sep 17, 2024
Contemporary Memorials: Spaces of Engagement, Calls to Action
The Robert E. Lee Statue at Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA, in June 2020. (Mobilus in…
Sep 10, 2024
GSD Announces Fall 2024 Public Programs and Exhibitions
The Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) announces its fall 2024 schedule of public…
Aug 27, 2024
Graduate Program
The Doctor of Design (D.Des.) program at the Harvard Graduate School of Design is a leading doctoral degree program for professionals who wish to conduct rigorous, intensive design research. The program is geared towards applied research that advances design related knowledge in a broad range of scales from product design to buildings and landscapes to urban design and regional planning.
COMMENTS
Advance your career with specialized education by gaining expertise in design theory, research, and practice through 2024 Graphic Design PhD Programs.
The Doctor of Design (DDes) program at the Harvard Graduate School of Design is a leading doctoral degree program for highly creative and motivated professionals who wish to conduct rigorous, intensive design research.
The program integrates theory with practice in the application of emergent and established technologies to digital design solutions. To obtain your master's degree, you must complete a creative thesis based on your explorations; for a PhD, you will need to complete a research-based dissertation.
Find the right graphic design program for you. See top-ranked programs, tuition, enrollment data and more. See the full 2024 rankings list here.
Compare the top graphic design graduate schools in the U.S. Find the top graduate schools offering masters in graphic design degrees and PhD in graphic design programs.
Graphic Design degrees teach students how to communicate a message through visual content. Graphic Design classes offered by international art schools present the basics of visual hierarchy, typography, and pictures, to create messages that are visually appealing and easy to understand.
The College of Design offers two distinct doctoral programs aimed at broadening student knowledge within the design field. The PhD in Design is an on-campus program intended for students who seek to deepen their knowledge of both theory and research.
Doctoral programs at the Harvard Graduate School of Design are non-studio degree programs that allow in-depth studies of topical areas that span the traditional design disciplines.
The Graduate School of Design educates leaders in design, research, and scholarship to make a resilient, just, and beautiful world.
The Doctor of Design (D.Des.) program at the Harvard Graduate School of Design is a leading doctoral degree program for professionals who wish to conduct rigorous, intensive design research.