100 Best Graphic Design schools in the United States
Updated:
Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Graphic Design. A graph of 852K citations received by 21.2K academic papers made by 165 universities in the United States 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
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
- Average Aid
- $11,992
- Enrollment
- 79,593
2. Carnegie Mellon University
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $32,964
3. University of Washington - Seattle
- Acceptance Rate
- 43%
- Receiving Aid
- 55%
- Average Aid
- $14,390
- Enrollment
- 55,620
4. University of Maryland - College Park
- Acceptance Rate
- 45%
- Average SAT
- 1445
- Average ACT
- 34
- Receiving Aid
- 65%
5. Pennsylvania State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 54%
- Average SAT
- 1310
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 66%
6. Purdue University
- Acceptance Rate
- 50%
- Average SAT
- 1325
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 60%
7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Average SAT
- 1545
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $21,519
8. University of California - Berkeley
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Receiving Aid
- 61%
- Average Aid
- $25,951
- Enrollment
- 45,699
9. University of Kansas
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Average SAT
- 1170
- Average ACT
- 24
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
10. Georgia Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 16%
- Average SAT
- 1430
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 73%
11. University of California-San Diego
- Acceptance Rate
- 25%
- Receiving Aid
- 70%
- Average Aid
- $24,176
- Enrollment
- 42,376
12. Stanford University
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1545
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $17,998
13. Florida State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 25%
- Average SAT
- 1315
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 95%
14. University of California - Santa Barbara
- Acceptance Rate
- 28%
- Receiving Aid
- 58%
- Average Aid
- $21,732
- Enrollment
- 26,068
15. University of Georgia
- Acceptance Rate
- 37%
- Average SAT
- 1275
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 84%
16. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign
- Acceptance Rate
- 44%
- Average SAT
- 1390
- Average ACT
- 32
- Receiving Aid
- 61%
17. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 57%
- Average SAT
- 1330
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 69%
18. University of Southern California
- Acceptance Rate
- 10%
- Average SAT
- 1495
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $41,496
19. University of Pittsburgh
- Acceptance Rate
- 50%
- Average SAT
- 1360
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 87%
20. University of Wisconsin - Madison
- Acceptance Rate
- 43%
- Average SAT
- 1435
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 60%
21. University of Texas at Austin
- Acceptance Rate
- 29%
- Average SAT
- 1360
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 69%
22. Brigham Young University - Provo
- Acceptance Rate
- 69%
- Average SAT
- 1370
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $14,643
23. University of Colorado Boulder
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Average SAT
- 1325
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 66%
24. Texas A&M University - College Station
- Acceptance Rate
- 63%
- Average SAT
- 1260
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 77%
25. North Carolina State University at Raleigh
- Acceptance Rate
- 40%
- Average SAT
- 1380
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 68%
26. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Average SAT
- 1395
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 81%
27. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
- Acceptance Rate
- 18%
- Average SAT
- 1440
- Average ACT
- 33
- Receiving Aid
- 66%
28. Columbia University
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1530
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $20,869
29. University of California - Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
- 9%
- Receiving Aid
- 60%
- Average Aid
- $22,441
- Enrollment
- 46,678
30. Harvard University
- Acceptance Rate
- 3%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $17,900
31. Cornell University
- Acceptance Rate
- 8%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $26,455
32. University of Missouri - Columbia
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Average SAT
- 1240
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 90%
33. Iowa State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Average SAT
- 1230
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
34. Indiana University - Bloomington
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Average SAT
- 1285
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 83%
35. Rutgers University - New Brunswick
- Acceptance Rate
- 65%
- Average SAT
- 1375
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 71%
36. University of Florida
- Acceptance Rate
- 24%
- Average SAT
- 1390
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 92%
37. University of Pennsylvania
- Acceptance Rate
- 6%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $26,017
38. Michigan State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 84%
- Average SAT
- 1250
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 97%
39. University at Buffalo
- Acceptance Rate
- 69%
- Average SAT
- 1295
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 86%
40. University of California - Irvine
- Acceptance Rate
- 26%
- Receiving Aid
- 71%
- Average Aid
- $21,533
- Enrollment
- 36,582
41. University of Houston
- Acceptance Rate
- 70%
- Average SAT
- 1240
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 83%
42. Utah State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Average SAT
- 1180
- Average ACT
- 24
- Receiving Aid
- 95%
43. San Diego State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 34%
- Receiving Aid
- 95%
- Average Aid
- $5,459
- Enrollment
- 39,241
44. George Mason University
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Average SAT
- 1240
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
45. New York University
- Acceptance Rate
- 9%
- Average SAT
- 1525
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $30,730
46. Northwestern University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1525
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $23,341
47. Rice University
- Acceptance Rate
- 8%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $20,587
48. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Acceptance Rate
- 19%
- Average SAT
- 1450
- Average ACT
- 32
- Receiving Aid
- 58%
49. University of Virginia
- Acceptance Rate
- 17%
- Average SAT
- 1470
- Average ACT
- 33
- Receiving Aid
- 44%
50. Ohio State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 51%
- Average SAT
- 1405
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 75%
51. University of California - Davis
- Acceptance Rate
- 42%
- Receiving Aid
- 58%
- Average Aid
- $21,258
- Enrollment
- 39,707
52. University of Illinois at Chicago
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Average SAT
- 1230
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
53. California Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 3%
- Net Price
- $23,397
- Receiving Aid
- 68%
- Average Aid
- $60,201
54. Vanderbilt University
- Acceptance Rate
- 6%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $26,689
55. Princeton University
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $19,811
56. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
- Acceptance Rate
- 78%
- Average SAT
- 1100
- Average ACT
- 24
- Receiving Aid
- 90%
57. Syracuse University
- Acceptance Rate
- 42%
- Average SAT
- 1345
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $51,520
58. University of Utah
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Average SAT
- 1289
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 79%
59. University of Houston - Clear Lake
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Average SAT
- 1080
- Average ACT
- 21
- Receiving Aid
- 76%
60. Temple University
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
- Average Aid
- $11,891
- Enrollment
- 30,205
61. University of Arizona
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Average SAT
- 1290
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 98%
62. Boise State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 84%
- Receiving Aid
- 85%
- Average Aid
- $8,167
- Enrollment
- 26,670
63. University of Iowa
- Acceptance Rate
- 85%
- Average SAT
- 1225
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 88%
64. University of Central Florida
- Acceptance Rate
- 40%
- Average SAT
- 1270
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
65. University of Tennessee - Knoxville
- Acceptance Rate
- 46%
- Average SAT
- 1265
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 90%
66. Johns Hopkins University
- Acceptance Rate
- 8%
- Average SAT
- 1555
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $22,844
67. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Average ACT
- 21
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
- Average Aid
- $5,305
68. Colorado State University - Fort Collins
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Receiving Aid
- 74%
- Average Aid
- $10,554
- Enrollment
- 33,500
69. George Washington University
- Acceptance Rate
- 44%
- Average SAT
- 1425
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $45,466
70. Old Dominion University
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Average SAT
- 1200
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
71. Duke University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $23,422
72. University of Oklahoma - Norman
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Average SAT
- 1235
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 99%
73. University of New Mexico
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Average SAT
- 1030
- Average ACT
- 23
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
74. Oregon State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Receiving Aid
- 92%
- Average Aid
- $9,922
- Enrollment
- 35,622
75. Tufts University
- Acceptance Rate
- 10%
- Average SAT
- 1505
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $33,333
76. University of North Texas
- Acceptance Rate
- 72%
- Average SAT
- 1105
- Average ACT
- 23
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
77. Georgia State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 62%
- Average SAT
- 1160
- Average ACT
- 23
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
78. Clemson University
- Acceptance Rate
- 38%
- Average SAT
- 1310
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 84%
79. Wayne State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Average SAT
- 1150
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 97%
80. University of Cincinnati
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Average SAT
- 1255
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 87%
81. Brown University
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $26,608
82. University of Nebraska - Lincoln
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Average SAT
- 1210
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 97%
83. University of South Florida
- Acceptance Rate
- 41%
- Average SAT
- 1235
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 88%
84. Boston University
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Average SAT
- 1460
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $27,551
85. University of Massachusetts - Amherst
- Acceptance Rate
- 58%
- Average SAT
- 1390
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 87%
86. Auburn University
- Acceptance Rate
- 50%
- Average SAT
- 1310
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 81%
87. University of Chicago
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $27,979
88. University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Average SAT
- 1215
- Average ACT
- 24
- Receiving Aid
- 72%
89. University of Connecticut
- Acceptance Rate
- 54%
- Average SAT
- 1315
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 83%
90. Texas Tech University
- Acceptance Rate
- 71%
- Average SAT
- 1180
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 86%
91. Mississippi State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Average SAT
- 1260
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 97%
92. Lehigh University
- Acceptance Rate
- 29%
- Average SAT
- 1420
- Average ACT
- 32
- Net Price
- $33,289
93. College of William and Mary
- Acceptance Rate
- 33%
- Average SAT
- 1438
- Average ACT
- 33
- Receiving Aid
- 54%
94. Northeastern University
- Acceptance Rate
- 6%
- Average SAT
- 1505
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $34,770
95. East Carolina University
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Average SAT
- 1125
- Average ACT
- 23
- Receiving Aid
- 79%
96. Case Western Reserve University
- Acceptance Rate
- 29%
- Average SAT
- 1485
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $41,351
97. Yale University
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $26,044
98. West Virginia University
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Average SAT
- 1125
- Average ACT
- 23
- Receiving Aid
- 97%
99. Kent State University at Kent
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Average SAT
- 1115
- Average ACT
- 22
- Receiving Aid
- 96%
100. Miami University - Oxford
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Average SAT
- 1295
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 98%
The best cities to study Graphic Design in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Tempe, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and College Park.