Best Universities for Graphic Design in North America

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Graphic Design. A graph of 663K citations received by 21.8K academic papers made by 182 universities in North America was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Graphic Design

#1 in the United States

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

2. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Graphic Design

#2 in the United States

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

3. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Graphic Design

#3 in the United States

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

4. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Graphic Design

#4 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

5. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Graphic Design

#5 in the United States

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

6. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Graphic Design

#6 in the United States

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

7. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Graphic Design

#7 in the United States

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

8. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Graphic Design

#1 in Canada

#10 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

9. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Graphic Design

#8 in the United States

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

10. Stanford University

United States | California

For Graphic Design

#9 in the United States

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

11. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Graphic Design

#10 in the United States

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

12. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Graphic Design

#11 in the United States

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

13. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Graphic Design

#12 in the United States

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

14. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Graphic Design

#13 in the United States

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

15. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Graphic Design

#14 in the United States

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

16. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Graphic Design

#15 in the United States

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

17. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Graphic Design

#16 in the United States

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

18. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Graphic Design

#17 in the United States

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

19. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Graphic Design

#18 in the United States

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

20. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Graphic Design

#2 in Canada

#28 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

21. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Graphic Design

#19 in the United States

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

22. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Graphic Design

#20 in the United States

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

23. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Graphic Design

#21 in the United States

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

24. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Graphic Design

#22 in the United States

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

25. Brigham Young University - Provo

United States | Utah

For Graphic Design

#23 in the United States

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,521

26. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Graphic Design

#24 in the United States

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

27. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Graphic Design

#25 in the United States

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

28. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Graphic Design

#3 in Canada

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

29. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Graphic Design

#26 in the United States

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

30. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Graphic Design

#27 in the United States

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

31. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Graphic Design

#28 in the United States

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

32. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Graphic Design

#29 in the United States

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

33. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Graphic Design

#4 in Canada

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

34. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Graphic Design

#30 in the United States

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

35. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Graphic Design

#31 in the United States

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

36. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Graphic Design

#32 in the United States

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

37. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Graphic Design

#5 in Canada

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

38. Utah State University

United States | Utah

For Graphic Design

#33 in the United States

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

39. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Graphic Design

#6 in Canada

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

40. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Graphic Design

#34 in the United States

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

41. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Graphic Design

#35 in the United States

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

42. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Graphic Design

#36 in the United States

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

43. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Graphic Design

#37 in the United States

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

44. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Graphic Design

#38 in the United States

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

45. George Mason University

United States | Virginia

For Graphic Design

#39 in the United States

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

46. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Graphic Design

#40 in the United States

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

47. San Diego State University

United States | California

For Graphic Design

#41 in the United States

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $9,934
Enrollment: 37,402

48. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Graphic Design

#7 in Canada

#79 in the World

Enrollment: 35,900
Founded: 1957

49. New York University

United States | New York State

For Graphic Design

#42 in the United States

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

50. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Graphic Design

#43 in the United States

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

51. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Graphic Design

#44 in the United States

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

52. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Graphic Design

#45 in the United States

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

53. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Graphic Design

#46 in the United States

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

54. Dalhousie University

Canada | Nova Scotia

For Graphic Design

#8 in Canada

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Enrollment: 30,867
Founded: 1818

55. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Graphic Design

#47 in the United States

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

56. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Graphic Design

#48 in the United States

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

57. University of Houston

United States | Texas

For Graphic Design

#49 in the United States

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

58. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Graphic Design

#50 in the United States

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

59. Rice University

United States | Texas

For Graphic Design

#51 in the United States

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,902

60. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Graphic Design

#52 in the United States

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

61. Syracuse University

United States | New York State

For Graphic Design

#53 in the United States

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,651

62. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Graphic Design

#54 in the United States

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

63. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Graphic Design

#55 in the United States

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

64. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Graphic Design

#56 in the United States

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

65. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Graphic Design

#57 in the United States

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

66. University of Saskatchewan

Canada | Saskatchewan

For Graphic Design

#9 in Canada

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 20,953
Founded: 1907

67. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Graphic Design

#58 in the United States

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

68. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Graphic Design

#59 in the United States

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

69. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

United States | Wisconsin

For Graphic Design

#60 in the United States

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $5,963

70. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Graphic Design

#10 in Canada

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

71. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

United States | Colorado

For Graphic Design

#61 in the United States

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

72. Oregon State University

United States | Oregon

For Graphic Design

#62 in the United States

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,260
Enrollment: 34,292

73. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Graphic Design

#63 in the United States

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

74. Wayne State University

United States | Michigan

For Graphic Design

#64 in the United States

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

75. University of Central Florida

United States | Florida

For Graphic Design

#65 in the United States

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

76. University of New Mexico

United States | New Mexico

For Graphic Design

#66 in the United States

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,280

77. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Graphic Design

#67 in the United States

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

78. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Graphic Design

#68 in the United States

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

79. Temple University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Graphic Design

#69 in the United States

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

80. University of Oklahoma - Norman

United States | Oklahoma State

For Graphic Design

#70 in the United States

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

81. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

United States | Colorado

For Graphic Design

#71 in the United States

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

82. Boise State University

United States | Idaho

For Graphic Design

#72 in the United States

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $9,892
Enrollment: 26,115

83. Carleton University

Canada | Ontario

For Graphic Design

#11 in Canada

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 9,109
Founded: 1942

84. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Graphic Design

#73 in the United States

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

85. Old Dominion University

United States | Virginia

For Graphic Design

#74 in the United States

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 92%

86. Tufts University

United States | Massachusetts

For Graphic Design

#75 in the United States

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

87. University of North Texas

United States | Texas

For Graphic Design

#76 in the United States

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1120
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

88. Auburn University

United States | Alabama

For Graphic Design

#77 in the United States

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 79%

89. University of Manitoba

Canada | Manitoba

For Graphic Design

#12 in Canada

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 29,800
Founded: 1877

90. Georgia State University

United States | Georgia

For Graphic Design

#78 in the United States

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

91. University of Delaware

United States | Delaware

For Graphic Design

#79 in the United States

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

92. Clemson University

United States | South Carolina

For Graphic Design

#80 in the United States

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 85%

93. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Graphic Design

#81 in the United States

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

94. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

United States | North Carolina

For Graphic Design

#82 in the United States

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 75%

95. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Graphic Design

#83 in the United States

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

96. George Washington University

United States | District of Columbia

For Graphic Design

#84 in the United States

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

97. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Graphic Design

#13 in Canada

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

98. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Graphic Design

#85 in the United States

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

99. East Carolina University

United States | North Carolina

For Graphic Design

#86 in the United States

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $9,020
Enrollment: 27,151

100. Texas Tech University

United States | Texas

For Graphic Design

#87 in the United States

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 88%