US News & World Report ranks Rhode Island School of Design No. 1 in the nation for graphic design. RISD offers two options for students, a two-year track for undergraduates and a three-year track for those with other degrees. The program has 13 full-time faculty members, as well as a number of part-time faculty.
Rhode Island School of Design
2 College St.
Providence, RI 02903
401-454-6300
www.risd.edu
US News & World Report ranks the Cranbrook Academy of Art No. 2 (in a tie) in the nation for graphic design. The Academy is solely focused on art and specifically offers a 2D Graphic Design department. Within the department, studios are open 24 hours a day and education is focuses on learning through creativity. Visiting artists work with graphic design students.
Cranbrook Academy of Art
39221 Woodward Ave. Box 801
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303
248-645-3300
www.cranbrookart.edu
US News & World Report ranks Yale University No. 2 (in a tie) for graphic design in the nation. Graphic Design students in Yale’s School of Art focus on a combination of basic methodology and representation through studio work. The school accepts up to ten students each year and has 38 faculty members.
Yale University
1156 Chapel St.
New Haven, CT 06520
203-432-2600
art.yale.edu
US News & World Report ranks the Virginia Commonwealth University No. 4 in the nation for graphic design. Besides hands-on creation and communication, the university's program covers history, theory and awareness of contemporary issues, The Graphic Design Department has 12 full-time faculty and several adjunct faculty members.
Virginia Commonwealth University
School of the Arts
325 North Harrison St.
Richmond, VA 23284
866-534-3201
www.vcu.edu
US News and World Report ranks Carnegie Mellon University No. 5 in the nation for graphic design. The university has five schools: Architecture, Art, Design, Drama and Music. Graphic Design students study within the Design Department. The school emphasizes learning to communicate through design.
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-268-2349
www.cfa.cmu.edu
US News & World Report ranks the Maryland Institute College of Art No. 6 (in a tie) in the nation for graphic design. The institute encourages graphic design students to focus on the interdisciplinary aspects of graphic design, looking to use public art for political, social, cultural, commercial and technological purposes.
Maryland Institute College of Art
1300 Mount Royal Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21217
410-225-2256
www.mica.edu
US News & World Report ranks the School of Visual Arts No. 6 (in a tie) in the nation for graphic design. The school emphasizes all aspects of visual art, with individual departments focusing on specific areas such as graphic design.
School of Visual Arts
209 E. 23rd St.
New York, NY 10010
212-592-2100
www.schoolofvisualarts.edu
US News & World Report ranks the California Institute of the Arts No. 8 in the nation for graphic design. The institute’s program in Graphic Design focuses on practical skill as well as conceptual skills. Students stay in communal residential studios, and studios are open 24 hours a day.
California Institute of the Arts
24700 McBean Parkway
Valencia, CA 91355
661-255-1050
calarts.edu
US News & World Report ranks the Pratt Institute No. 9 in the nation for graphic design school. Graphic design students are part of the Art and Design school, which has 10 departments.
Pratt Institute
200 Willoughby Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11205
718-636-3600
www.pratt.edu
US News & World Report ranks the California College of the Arts No. 10 in the nation for graphic design. The college has an extensive media lab and focuses on digital technology use within graphic design.
California College of the Arts
1111 Eighth St.
San Francisco, CA 94107
415-703-9523
www.cca.edu