A bachelor of arts degree and associate of arts degree are two of the most common types of degrees needed to become a graphic designer. There are options for continuing your education for higher degrees, but a B.A. or A.A. will help you land the job.
A bachelor's degree will generally take four years. The courses consist of general education credits and then your major credits, which will mostly be computer design courses to teach you about the Adobe CS software.
An associate's degree will take around two years, with basic general education classes and computer design courses. Design courses might be similar to those offered at a four-year university.
Newspapers, public relations departments, advertising agencies and marketing departments all hire graphic designers for everything from website production to producing publications and materials needed to promote the company. There is also the option of working at a graphic design firm.
According to Salary.com, a graphic designer's median U.S. income is $45,810. Depending on where you live and the demand for graphic designers, that figure might be more, but chances are it's going to be less. Realistically, a starting salary for a graphic designer will be around $34,000 to $35,000. If the job is at a newspaper, it's more likely the salary figure will be lower---around $30,000.