35 Best Bachelor’s in Creative/Design

The University of Florida consistently boasts high rankings in just about every category! In 2021, UCF was ranked sixth in the best public universities and 30^th among the best national universities (U.S. News & World Report). So, it should come as no surprise that our #1 best bachelor’s in creative/design comes from this top-ranking research university.

UCF’s Bachelor of Design in interior design is perfect for creative individuals with strong analytical skills. Oh, and self-motivated ones too. Sound like you? This program will prepare you for careers in retail, healthcare, office, and hospitality design. You can also choose minors in landscape architecture, and sustainability and the built environment.

This program entails eight semesters of courses, such as Architectural Design, Design Innovation, History of Interior Design, and Design Communication Systems. UCF believes in first-hand design experience, which is why you will be taking road trips to meet professional designers in firms, buildings, and exhibitions in places like Chicago and Atlanta. Oh yeah, and we can’t forget the international trips to Detmold, Germany during the summer!

The flagship university of the Minnesota System, UMN-Twin Cities is one of the most notable in the country, and 50,000+ passionate students agree! If designing clothes is your forte, check out UMN’s Bachelor of Science in apparel design. UMN states that its program “emphasizes both creative and technical studio work and covers the social, economic, and historical aspects of apparel.”

Some of the courses include Fashion, Ethics, and Consumption; Color and Design in Two and Three Dimensions; and Illustration for Apparel Design. You will also complete a required internship which serves as an essential step that links your coursework and future career. However, this entire program leads up to a final portfolio which you will present at the annual senior fashion show—your time to shine!

Graduates from UMN’s apparel design program end up working in all kinds of careers like product development, quality assurance, product design, and more. If you believe UMN is in your future, you can apply online through the Golden Gopher Application or the Common Application. You may self-report your academic record, and ACT/SAT scores are optional.

Temple was founded initially as a night school in 1884 and has evolved into the top-tier research university it is today in the iconic city of Philadelphia. The Tyler School of Art and Architecture prepares students for careers in print and screen-based design through the Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic and interactive design (GAID).

Temple describes GAID majors as a “tight-knit network of students, teachers, and alumni that embraces the power of design to open minds, move hearts, shape environments and heal communities.” While the program and classes are small and intimate, you will also receive the perks of resources like the art and culture scene in Philadelphia.

This program is competitive and requires a handful of prerequisites, including Graphic Design and Computers for Design. Additionally, a portfolio review process is required during your sophomore year. Once in the program, the fun will begin through courses like Digital Narratives, Advertising Design, Advanced Typography, and a Collaborate Design Workshop in Rome!

Nestled between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains, Virginia Tech is made up of nine colleges, graduate school, 110 undergraduate majors, 170 master’s and doctoral majors, and 34,440 students. One of these programs is the Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative technologies that focuses on the intersection of digital technology and creative expression.

VT’s BFA in creative technologies is a multidisciplinary degree with rigorous courses focused on digital technology, production methods, and theory. A perk of VT’s BFA in creative technologies is that rather than focusing on one specific technology platform or type of design, it allows you to pursue all types of technology design fields with the understanding that technology is constantly evolving.

Graduates pursue careers in all types of design fields like gaming, film, animation, video production, motion graphics. Others use the BFA as a pathway to go to graduate school. VT’s creative technology degree is competitive and requires an extensive application process with a portfolio requirement and completion of art prerequisites.

UCLA is not only one of the top research universities in the nation but also the most applied-to school in the nation. At UCLA, you will find more than 125 majors and 90 minors to choose from, including the Bachelor of Arts in design media arts, a degree that is notable for its quality and affordability.

UCLA’s BFA in design media arts features a multidisciplinary, comprehensive focus on innovation in media design. The program website states that the “curriculum features a solid foundation in form, color, space, motion, typography, and interactivity, followed by a broad selection of area studies courses in video, visual communication, network media, game design, and narrative.”

You will take a mixture of lecture and studio courses such as Media Histories, Tangible Media, 3D Modeling and Motion, and Game Design in small classes with no more than 22 students. UCLA’s renowned faculty are designers and media artists who serve as not only instructors but mentors for students.

Founded in 1819, the University of Cincinnati is a public research university with more than 46,000 students and 414 degree programs. U.S. News & World Report ranks UC as one of the Best National Universities. If fashion design is your passion, then UC’s Bachelor of Science in fashion design is worth checking out.

UC’s fashion design program provides a pathway for creative discovery, experimentation, and concentration through courses in theory, fashion communication, drawing, and technical pattern drafting, among others. You will specialize your degree plan through electives in advanced craft, digital design and development, and sustainability. This 122 credit program takes five years to complete, and in your final semester, you will take Senior Design Seminar and capstone courses.

Graduates enjoy careers in all facets of fashion design: technical designers, textile designers, design directors, fashion researchers, and trend forecasters, among others. While portfolios are not required for admission, the strength of test scores, class rank, and GPA are important components, along with diverse backgrounds, co-curricular activities, and creative flair!

Founded in 1867, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign holds a threefold mission: teaching, research, and public service. Currently, over 47,000 students from all 50 states and 100+ countries call this highly ranked public university home. UIUC’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design is for students who aim to enter careers in visual design communications.

This 122 credit program combines lecture courses in design history, theory, and research and studio courses such as typography and image-making. You can tailor this program to match your interests and career goals through electives like photography, video, traditional printmaking, and advanced interaction design. However, the ultimate goal in UIUC’s program is to develop problem-solving skills by searching for opportunities where design can occur.

As a senior, you will showcase a portfolio for review in Chicago during a lecture series of regional and national designers. Graduates are ready for a myriad of careers in the design field like interactive design, art direction, publication design, environmental design, and more.

Another excellent Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design is from Iowa State University’s College of Design. ISU’s College of Design is one of the best in the nation and offers nine undergraduate majors, including the BFA in graphic design. This program includes one year of the Core Design Program and three years of BFA design coursework.

Specifically, Iowa State’s graphic design focuses on how to design through visual and verbal material. You can apply this concept-based curriculum to all types of media like print, digital, motion, and environmental. You will have hands-on learning, such as working with clients from Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, and National Alliance for Mental Illness.

As a senior, you will complete an eight-week summer internship or a study abroad trip to the College of Design in Rome or Graphic Design in Europe. ISU graduates become graphic designers in private, corporate, public, and nonprofit settings. ISU states that 100% of its BFA graphic design graduates are employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation.

A leading public research university with more than 36,000 students, North Carolina State University is home to the Wolfpack! NC State is located in the bustling urban center of Raleigh, which Forbes ranks as the No. 3 Best City for Young Professionals. If you are looking for a non-studio, interdisciplinary creative/design program, check out NC State’s Bachelor of Arts in design studies.

While this program covers general design studies, you can choose to concentrate on non-profit studies or business administration. You will take departmental requirement courses like Design Inquiry, Drawing, and Digital Imaging. You will also take a mixture of art and design history and theory courses and a handful of electives to customize this program.

Career opportunities range from artists and designers to corporate-level art design directors. Current graduates are working in fields like textile design, art and design education, filmmaking, photography, fashion design, and much more. Design studies is not a transitional program where you will transfer to a studio-based program, so if you want to study a specific form of design, this program is not for you.

The University of Illinois Chicago ranks within the Top 20 in Diversity (U.S. News & World Report) and Top 10 Best Value (Wall Street Journal). The College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts is a group of schools that feature programs in visual arts, design, theatre, music, architecture, and art history, and serve as a leader in the visual and performing arts in the world.

You will find 16 undergraduate programs from UIC’s College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts, including a Bachelor of Arts in design studies. This program entails 30-32 credits from the general education core, 16 credits from pre-design studio courses, 68 credits from design course requirements, and at least 22 credits of electives to reach 120 hours.

UIC’s School of Design also offers minors in architectural studies, art, art history, museum and exhibition studies, music, and theater. If you are looking for a studio-based program, check out the bachelor’s in graphic design and industrial design. UIC admissions counselors review applications for academic preparedness and potential fit to the UIC community.

Arizona State University is globally-ranked as a top research university, but how cool is it that U.S. News & World Report ranks ASU as #1 for innovation? How especially appropriate since we are discussing creative design programs! ASU’s Bachelor of Arts in design studies is a non-studio program that encompasses all of the institution’s design disciplines.

The BA in design studies features courses from three categories: communication for design, design history, and general design. You will take a compilation of courses that focus on graphic design, industrial design, interior design, architectural studies, and landscape architecture. Within this program, you also have the opportunity to study abroad and earn credit for courses!

Careers that stem from ASU’s BA in graphic design are unlimited. Graduates have become audio-visual specialists, graphic designers, industrial designers, architectural drafters, museum curators, talent agents, and more. Some graduates have used this degree as a pathway to journalism, education, or graduate school. If ASU sounds like it’s for you, check out admission requirements here.

The University of Houston’s Bachelor of Science in industrial design was created in 2003 at the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, and this program was the first of its kind in not only Texas, but across Oklahoma, Arkansas, and New Mexico. Today, it is one of the only industrial design programs in the southern United States.

The industrial design program is built on the pedagogy of integrated, collaborative, and project-oriented learning to build critical thinking, communication, and artistic skills. You will complete at least 132 credit hours which include the university’s core curriculum, program requirements, and electives. UH also offers a Bachelor of Science in environmental design and interior architecture, as well as minors in architecture and world cities.

Graduates can expect to start careers in a variety of areas like product design, user experience design, service and social impact design, medical and health care design, and entrepreneurship, among others. UH evaluates applicants on a holistic level (no test scores required!) You can apply through the ApplyTexas platform.

Ranked among the top 10 Public Universities by U.S. News & World Report, the Georgia Institute of Technology includes nearly 40,000 students who study on the main Atlanta campus, at campuses in France and China, and online. Georgia Tech’s Bachelor of Science in industrial design, accredited by the National Association of School of Art and Design (NASAD), is perfect for future industrial designers or graduate students.

Georgia Tech’s 130-credit industrial design program is a cross-disciplinary degree that emphasizes critical thinking, design skills, and design communication. You will complete six industrial design studios after the first year of introductory courses. Major requirement courses include Digital Design Methods, History of Modern Industrial Design, User-Centered Design Methods, and Smart Product Design.

If traveling appeals to you, then you can complete the International Plan where you spend two full terms at an industrial design program to develop proficiency in another language. This program encourages all students to “develop a diverse background in order to expand individual talents and respond to emerging opportunities in the field.”

Ferris State University, a mid-sized public institution in Big Rapids, Michigan, includes seven colleges, each offering a myriad of academic programs from associate to doctoral degrees. From FSU’s College of Business you can earn a Bachelor of Science in design, a program that prepares you for careers like art and creative directors, web or print designers, production managers, and more. 

FSU’s design program is collaborative and hands-on. You will complete real-world projects for real clients as you build your portfolio. Courses include Design Foundations, Visual Communication, Principles of Experience Design, and Interactive Design Development. You can also earn certificates in user experience design, user interface design, and graphic design to further customize your program.

There’s a lot happening at Kennesaw State University, and after a glance through the rankings, you will see why. KSU is the second-largest university in Georgia, with more than 41,000 students and 150+ programs of study. Here’s a program if you’re interested in designing virtual games: a Bachelor of Science in computer game design and development.

This program gives you the knowledge and experience of working with digital media, human-computer interaction, game design, 2D and 3D graphics, software engineering, artificial intelligence, and all that comes along with game design and development! If this sounds overwhelming, don’t worry: you can choose a specific concentration in media-production, distributed-mobile, education-serious, planning-management, and simulation-informatics.

Along with general education courses, you will complete 18 credits in lower-division major requirements, 43 credits in major required courses, 17 credits in major elective tracks, and eight credits in free electives.

One of the nation’s preeminent public universities, the University of Maryland, College Park is home to more than 40,700 students, and you could be one of them, especially if you love both computer science and digital design. With the Bachelor of Arts in immersive media design, these two fields join together, producing a program that focuses on creativity, innovation, and ever-emerging digital technology.

This BA in immersive media is a joint major between the Department of Computer Science and Department of Art, which allows you the opportunity to learn in hands-on, collaborative courses from both disciplines. You can choose one of two tracks—Innovative Coders or Emerging Creatives depending on whether you want to focus on immersive media’s technical or creative side.

During your first year, you will be absolutely immersed in immersive media, including theory and practice. Your second and third years will be focused on technical and artistic skills, along with collaborative group projects. During your final year, you will complete a year-long capstone project. Graduates work as artists, VR designers, and creative technologists in fields of computer science, healthcare, architecture, and more.

Founded in 1883, the University of Texas at Austin is a leading research institution with more than 51,000 students across 18 colleges and schools. You can earn either a BFA and BA in design; both programs include extensive course options, passionate and professional faculty, small cohorts, studio-based courses, and a complete package of everything related to this fascinating field.

The BFA is a pre-professional program that prepares you for careers in the design field. Around 2/3 of the program entails design courses, and 1/3 is one or more paid internships and a capstone project. The BA in design is just as “rich and rigorous,” but is for students who want more flexibility in their program through adding another major or future graduate school.

Sample courses in both the BFA and BA include Design Studio, Intro to 2D Design, Sketching, and Images in Communication. To apply to either design program, first, you will apply to UT Austin. Then, you will submit either a written, visual, or audio response to the creative prompt listed on the application webpage. UT is clearly looking for innovative, creative applicants, so think “outside the box!”

Just 20 years after the city of Auburn was born, Auburn University came into existence in 1856. Nearly 31,000 students call Auburn home, and with more than 150 majors and 300 clubs and organizations, Auburn absolutely has something for anyone! Check out Auburn’s BFA in graphic design: this program is nationally known and NASAD accredited!

Get ready to get involved through Auburn’s BFA in graphic design. You will enjoy hands-on instruction in small, professional studios with a strong camaraderie among faculty and students. While this program focuses on “typography, branding, UI/UX, publication, motion, illustration, packaging, app, and wayfinding design,” the goal is to become a versatile designer.

You have the opportunity to be a part of exhibitions, design symposiums, student design organizations, as well as attend guest lectures by leaders in the design field. You will gain relevant experience through the internship program and if traveling excites you, check out the study abroad opportunities in Ireland, Scotland, Taiwan, or Hong Kong!

There are more than 38,000 students at Texas State University, all united by one purpose: “to make a positive impact in our world.” Among the 200+ academic programs offered at Texas State is the BFA in communication design, which is not only one of the largest in the country but also one of the best in the Southwest US!

So we know what design degrees are, but what a communication design degree? Well, it’s like it sounds: you will rigorously study both design and communication. TSU states that the goal of this program is to produce students who are “excellent critical thinkers, fearless makers, and effective communicators as they enter the professional field of communication design.”

Specifically, you will take studio courses in topics like interactive design, typography, sustainable packaging, brand experience, and design research, to name a few. Students from TSU’s communication design are going places; in fact, many have received recognition in national competitions like The One Show, American Advertising Federation Awards, Creative Summit, and others.

Established in 1910, West Texas A&M University is a top-ranked school, including among the top Regional Universities West, Top Performers on Social Mobility, and among the Top Public Schools, overall! (U.S. News & World Report). WTAMU’s Department of Art, Theatre and Dance features a handful of design degrees, but here’s one that stands out: the BFA in graphic design.

This BFA requires 15 credits of foundation arts, 18 credits of intermediate arts, 45 credits of graphic design courses, and an internship. You will take courses like Art History, Drawing, Printmaking, Computer Art, and a seminar in Aesthetics and Visual Culture. Want to minor in something, too? You can choose minors in art, art history, dance, or theatre.

WTAMU students continuously win awards for their work, like these recent ones from the American Advertising Federation. If you need another reason to check out WTAMU, check out the Art & Design Student 2020 Exhibition at the Amarillo Museum of Art. OK, so you’re probably ready to see how to apply! Apply online using the WTAMU application, and don’t forget to schedule a visit, too.

In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Land Grant Act, which started the future of the now Purdue University. Rated at the 5^th Most Innovative School and #8 Public University in the by U.S. News & Report, Purdue is one of the best academic institutions in the nation. With more than 200 undergraduate majors to choose from, Purdue has something for everyone, but today we are going to detail the BFA industrial design!

Purdue defines the field of industrial design well: “Industrial design is a strategic problem-solving process applicable to products, systems, services, and experiences that results in innovation, business success, and a better quality of life.” Purdue’s BFA in industrial design emphasizes form giving for manufactured goods, and graduates hold innovative critical thinking and problem-solving skills to apply in the industrial design field.

This program is 126 credits and includes major, core, and elective courses. Sample courses include Design Methodology, Materials and Processes, New Media Culture, and Furniture Development. You will also complete an internship and a seminar course on Ideas in Industrial Design II: Design And Creative Problem Solving Methods during your final year.

Michigan State University, home to the Spartans, is known for its dynamic, engaging opportunities across 200+ academic programs, 100+ research centers, and 900+ student clubs and organizations. MSU’s College of Arts and Letters offers a BFA in graphic design, described as “intensive, immersive, upper-study-level study” that prepares students for successful graphic design careers.

MSU’s 120-credit graphic design degree includes courses in two and three dimensions, electronic art, intermedia, photography, art history, visual culture, and of course, graphic design. You will complete three credits in experiential education requirements during your last year, which means an approved internship, service/community position, study abroad program, or research project.

To apply to this graphic design program, you should be in your second semester at MSU and have completed two graphic design prerequisite courses. Your application needs a portfolio of graphic design that you created in the studio art coursework at MSU, although expectations are in place for transfer students.

Arkansas Tech University encompasses drive, motivation, and grit, as seen among the spirit across its Russellville and Ozark campuses, along with its online programs. Oh yeah, and we must mention that ATU is known for its affordability; Washington Monthly rated ATU as #33 on the 2019 list of “Best Bang for your Buck” institutions.

Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, ATU’s BFA in graphic design will help you develop the knowledge and skills to succeed in various fields of advertising art. You will take courses like Art History, Digital Skills, Web and Production Design, Digital Illustration, all the while being immersed in hands-on learning through group projects, internships, and of course, product design.

During your final semester, you will take ART 4343 Professional Portfolio Preparation for Graphic Designers, which will aid you in preparing a resume and portfolio. Graduates become graphic artists and designers, and web art directors and designers and work in places like Cherwell Software and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and even at Arkansas Tech University!

San Jose State University boasts a rich history, and while many schools do, SJSU stands out because it was founded in 1857, before the Civil War! Today, SJSU is known as one of the most transformative universities in the country, always ready for big changes. Among the 250 academic programs is a BA in design studies, one that offers unique specialization.

Design studies is a broad field of study, but thankfully, you can narrow down your passion through specializations in graphic design, industrial design, interior design, or animation/illustration. You will complete 24 units in core courses like Art History, Design Drawing, and Design Methods before you begin taking 12 units in your specialization area.

If you choose to specialize in graphic design, industrial design, or interior design, a minor is recommended from another department like Anthropology, Business, Computer Science, or Global Studies, among others. Through research projects, internship opportunities, and community engagement projects, you will graduate with the range of skills necessary to begin working in the design field of your choice.

Appalachian State University boasts all sorts of rankings, including the “Best” among higher education institutions in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review, and Money.com. ASU’s BFA in graphic design prepares students for professional careers in all forms of visual communication design and emphasizes conceptual approaches, research, and production methods.

You will learn from professionally active designers through rigorous, hands-on courses across areas in studio art, art history, graphic design, and professional development. ASU states that course work stresses “conceptual thinking, typographic expression, formal and technical processes and skills, and proficiency in creative problem-solving and visual criticism,” all essential skills for the field of graphic design!

Graduates from ASU’s graphic design program have absolutely no problem finding jobs. They go on to become advertising or art directors, book designers, cartoonists, communication specialists, multimedia designers, typographers, and, of course, graphic designers in all types of professional settings. Think: Gap, McCall Publishing Company, Skyline Films, Amazon, Tiffany and Co., and the list continues!

Penn State has been a leader in higher education for more than 150 years and holds the No. 57 spot among national universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 “Best Colleges” rankings. Through Penn State, we have a Bachelor of Design in graphic design that combines the technical and creative skills necessary for successful graphic design careers.

The B.Des. entails 121 credits divided into 45 hours in general education, 73 hours of major requirements, and hours of 3-9 electives. Required courses include Experience Design Process + Methods, Applied Experience Design, Time and Sequence, and Design Thinking and Creativity. Additionally, you will complete an internship to gain essential real-world experience in the design field.

Graduates from this program are employed in design studios, advertising agencies, packaging, publications, corporate design, film graphics, and Web/interactive design. To apply for Penn State’s B.Des. program, you need to take five prerequisite graphic design courses (and pass each one with at least a C) and create and submit a portfolio for review.

Classified as an institution of “Very High Research Activity” from Carnegie Classification, Texas Tech University includes over 40,000 students and nearly 1,8000 faculty and staff. TTU’s School of Art was established in 1967 and offered a BFA in Studio Art and Graphic Design! Today, you can earn a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in graphic design, a program that focuses on problem-solving skills.

This program focuses on conceptual development, design history and theory, and integrating form for concise communication, all the while creating work for the social good. You will learn about areas such as branding and identity design, publication design, interactive design, and emerging technologies while completing 123 credits in art foundations coursework, graphic design courses, studio art, and history electives.

Alumni from TTU’s graphic design program work in design and advertising agencies all over the country, including Nike, SW Airlines, The New York Times, AT&T, and many others. Graphic design at TTU is a limited and competitive program that entails a handful of prerequisite courses, an interview process, and a portfolio review.

Founded in 1851, Florida State University is not only the oldest higher education institution in Florida but also one of the nation’s most elite research universities! With 41,717 current students from every Florida county and 131 countries, FSU is incredibly diverse. FSU’s Department of Interior Design Architecture & Design offers both a Bachelor of Arts and Science in interior design.

Accredited by both the NASAD and the CIDA, the interior design degrees entail 77 credits of required courses in addition to the university’s general education credits. You will complete both lecture and studio courses that focus on all aspects of interior design and how it relates “healthcare, office, retail, mixed-use and low-income housing.” Notable courses include Furniture Design Studio, Computer-Aided Design, and Construction Systems.

FSU’s interior design programs are limited access, and while there is no portfolio requirement for admission, you will take diagnostic courses in design to determine whether you are a good fit. Your “First-Year Review” will be conducted after you complete these courses, and all diagnostic courses should be passed with a B- or higher.

If you’re looking for a top-ranking school with a small-town feel, check out Southwestern Oklahoma State University, complete with dedicated professors, small classes, and affordable tuition. SWOSU offers several BFA programs, including one in graphic design that includes comprehensive training in design-related software and prepares students for exciting careers in this industry.

Through this program, you will complete 14 credits of required arts and design courses, 12 credits of art history courses, 36 credits of major courses, and 18 credits of electives in studio art. Specifically, you will study advertising design, typographic design, art history and theory, photography, and plenty of hands-on studio courses in the state-of-the-art graphic design lab.

SWOSU reports that graduates of its BFA in graphic design find jobs within “the creative staffs of advertising agencies, design studios, publishing houses or corporate communications departments in entry-level positions such as graphic designer, production artist for a design staff, or as a junior art director.” Interested in SWOSU? Check out the application requirements and apply online here.

Part of the State University of New York, the Fashion Institute of Technology is an internationally known college in the design industry. Academic programs at FIT are dynamic and rigorous, with plenty of experiential learning opportunities. As you can imagine, FIT features many design degrees, so it was hard to narrow down one, but we did: the BFA in fashion design.

Future fashion designers, this degree is for you! You can choose a concentration in children’s wear, intimate apparel, knitwear, special occasion, or sportswear. During your first four semesters, you will take general education courses and design courses. However, starting with semester five, you will start coursework in your chosen concentration.

You can also earn this degree in Italy, with the international BFA program—the opportunities at FIT are incredibly exciting! Graduates currently are working all over the world in careers like designers, stylists, CAD designers, designer assistants, and collection specialists. Many graduates start their own businesses or work in notable design houses like Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and Polo Ralph Lauren!

Founded in 1848, a top-ranking research university UW-Madison has graduated more than 445,000 alumni living all over the globe, including notable designers, artists, photographers, musicians, and the list impressively expands! If you’re interested in fashion design, UW has you covered with the Bachelor of Science in textiles and fashion design, a unique program with loads of opportunities.

UW-Madison states that the textiles and fashion design (TFD) is a “unique hybrid program that combines a deep understanding of materials and techniques with an academic base of history, science, and contemporary design.” While you can focus on textiles or design, you are encouraged to experiment with both. Part of this degree emphasizes environmental, economic, and cultural sustainability.

At UW-Madison, you will take hands-on studio courses and learn to print, pattern, illustrate, weave, dye, and design while also attending lectures and collaborating on projects with industry partners. UW-Madison’s partnership with the Fashion Institute of Technology (see ranking #30), allows seniors to spend their final year at FIT in New York City! Check out the details here.

Ever been in a public place (think grocery store or restaurant), and out of nowhere, someone yells out “O-H!” to which a responder yells back “I-O!” There you have some serious Ohio State, and you may hear this chant all over the globe. Ohio State is a top-ranked research institution that offers more than 12,000 courses across 18 colleges and schools.

Ohio State’s Bachelor of Science in design (BSD) in interior design focuses on “how human needs and environmental conditions impact potential spatial design opportunities.” You will learn how to plan and develop private and public interior environments like commercial, educational, or healthcare, for example. You will learn about sustainable design strategies and research-based design through coursework and plenty of studio opportunities.

As soon as you begin Ohio State’s BSD program, you can jump into research opportunities and projects that may eventually be displayed at the Urban Arts Space. You will also get involved with the student organizations like Design for 90 and D3: Design Develop Deploy. We also can’t forget to mention the study abroad opportunities to São Paulo, Brazil or Milan, Italy!

Established in 1965, California State University, San Bernardino is nestled in the gorgeous San Bernardino Mountains. CSUSB is ranked among the best colleges and universities in the Western U.S., according to U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and Princeton Review. Through CSUSB’s Department of Art and Design, you will find a BFA in design with four ways to customize your program.

Through CSUSB’s graphic design program, you can choose concentrations in interface design, 3D design, motion graphics and video design, or marketing. You will complete 121 units total, divided into lower and upper-division core courses, capstone courses, concentration courses, and electives. Sample core classes include Digital Applications Basics, Digital 3D and Time-Based Media, Typography and Layout, and Art History Methodologies.

During your final year, you will research, design, and execute a capstone thesis project. As you can see from these courses, you will gain knowledge and skills in both traditional media and in cyberspace, so you will graduate as a multi-faceted designer.

The University of the District of Columbia is both historic and modern at the same time. Founded in 1851 as a “public historically black urban-focused land-grant university” in Washington D.C., UDC is now the only public institution of higher learning in the nation’s capital. Through UDC’s BA in Studio Art, Graphic Design, and Photography, you will have access to some of the most prestigious art collections and resources in the world.

You will choose from a BA in studio art, graphic design, or photography. The studio art program focuses on studio courses in painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, and drawing. Graphic design emphasizes communication courses that explore logos, posters, digital typography, and web design. The photography program includes darkroom and digital photography classes, as well as lighting, commercial, and experimental photography.

All programs are 120 credit hours and include foundation design courses, concentration courses, and electives. Regardless of which concentration you choose, you will take courses like Foundations of Design, Introduction to Drawing, Digital Applications, and Visual Thinking. One of the best parts is you will be just a few blocks from The National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian, and many other notable art galleries.

Imagine a culture that encompasses hard work, perseverance, and grit while also being diverse, innovative, and creative. This culture describes Virginia Commonwealth University, a top-ranking university that is also the largest employer in Richmond, VA! VCU’s BFA in graphic design emphasizes collaboration and understanding your role as a shaper and interpreter within a culture.

VCU’s graphic design program is 122 credit hours and includes major core requirements, ancillary requirements, and open electives so you can choose courses based on your interests. You will take courses like Web Design, Design Activism, Typeface Design, and Research as Practice. Another requirement is courses called Dialogues, where you will practice peer-to-peer reflection, dialogue, and debate to further understand diversity within design.

The most important goal is this program is to understand that “design is inseparable from culture,” and all the coursework, collaboration, and projects reinforce this truth. VCU graphic design alumni are creative directors, interaction/interface designers, broadcast/film designers, exhibition designers, and environmental designers.