You can get an associate's, bachelor's, master's or even a doctoral degree in graphic design. No matter where you study, you will take courses such as drawing, typography and the theory of color and combine these courses with a strong background in computer aided design. You will also have to understand the psychological aspects of design; why one project sells and why another falls on its face. Choosing the best school possible will help you have the best career when you finish. Internationally famous graphic design schools can be found all over the world.
The Art Institutes in Chicago, New York, Pittsburgh, San Fransisco and other American cities are all famous for their associated schools as well as for their museums. Some of these institutions have programs that bear the name "graphic arts" while others talk about the individual topics of the field. As of 2011, you would pay about $30,000 per year for tuition and fees at any of these schools.
Many well-known colleges of graphic design not associated with larger institutions can be found as well. The Academy of Art University in San Fransisco is famous internationally for its program in graphic design and has a student body comprised of pupils from all over the world. The Digital Media Arts College in Boca Raton, Florida, has an excellent reputation in Latin America. The Rhode Island Institute of Design offers many programs in the various areas of design. Pratt Institute in New York is a place to study if you want to be in a big city.
If you want to study outside of the United States, there are many well-regarded colleges of graphic design throughout the world. In Europe, schools such as the European School for Advertising and Graphic Design in Angers, France, is famous throughout Europe for its quality education. Further north, Finlandia University -- while perhaps not as well-known as some graphic design schools -- has a solid reputation. Italy and England also offer reputable graphic design colleges such as Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London and The Florence Design Academy in Florence, Italy.
You will encountere other well-known colleges of graphic design in other parts of the world. In Montreal, Canada, McGill University has a college of graphic design and arts which draws students from all over the world. Toronto has the well-regarded International Academy of Design and Technology. In Mexico, La Universidad Nacional de Mexico has a program renown for its excellence all over Latin America. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Tonji University in Shanghai, China, are reputable colleges. In India, there is MIT's Institute of Design in Maharashtra. Australia has Curtin University of Technology in Perth and The Australian Academy of Design in Melbourne.