100 Best Graphic Design schools in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Graphic Design. A graph of 909K citations received by 21.5K academic papers made by 164 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

Arizona | Tempe

For Graphic Design

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

2. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Graphic Design

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

3. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Graphic Design

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

4. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Graphic Design

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

5. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Graphic Design

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

6. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Graphic Design

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Graphic Design

#7 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

8. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Graphic Design

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

9. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Graphic Design

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

10. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Graphic Design

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

11. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Graphic Design

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

12. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Graphic Design

#13 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

13. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Graphic Design

#14 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

14. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Graphic Design

#15 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

15. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Graphic Design

#16 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

16. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Graphic Design

#17 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

17. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Graphic Design

#18 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

18. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Graphic Design

#19 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

19. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Graphic Design

#20 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

20. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Graphic Design

#23 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

21. University of Texas at Austin

For Graphic Design

#24 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

22. Brigham Young University - Provo

For Graphic Design

#25 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

23. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Graphic Design

#26 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

24. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Graphic Design

#27 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

25. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Graphic Design

#28 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

26. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Graphic Design

#29 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

27. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Graphic Design

#30 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

28. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Graphic Design

#31 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

29. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Graphic Design

#33 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

30. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Graphic Design

#34 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

31. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Graphic Design

#36 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

32. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Graphic Design

#37 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

33. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Graphic Design

#38 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

34. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Graphic Design

#39 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

35. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Graphic Design

#40 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

36. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Graphic Design

#42 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

37. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Graphic Design

#43 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

38. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Graphic Design

#44 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

39. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Graphic Design

#45 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

40. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Graphic Design

#47 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

41. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Graphic Design

#48 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

42. Utah State University

For Graphic Design

#49 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 92%

43. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Graphic Design

#50 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Receiving Aid: 62%
Average Aid: $12,053
Enrollment: 41,137

44. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Graphic Design

#52 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

45. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Graphic Design

#53 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

46. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Graphic Design

#54 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

47. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Graphic Design

#55 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

48. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Graphic Design

#56 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,589

49. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Graphic Design

#57 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

50. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Graphic Design

#58 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

51. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Graphic Design

#59 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

52. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Graphic Design

#60 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

53. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Graphic Design

#61 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

54. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Graphic Design

#62 in North America

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

55. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Graphic Design

#63 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

56. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Graphic Design

#64 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

57. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Graphic Design

#65 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

58. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Graphic Design

#66 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

59. University of Houston - Clear Lake

Texas | Houston

For Graphic Design

#67 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 80%

60. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Graphic Design

#68 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

61. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Graphic Design

#69 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

62. Boise State University

For Graphic Design

#70 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 84%
Average Aid: $9,507
Enrollment: 27,198

63. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Graphic Design

#71 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

64. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Graphic Design

#72 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

65. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Graphic Design

#74 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

66. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Graphic Design

#75 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

67. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Graphic Design

#76 in North America

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

68. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Graphic Design

#77 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 94%

69. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Graphic Design

#78 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

70. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Graphic Design

#79 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $6,347

71. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Graphic Design

#80 in North America

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

72. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Graphic Design

#81 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

73. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Graphic Design

#82 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

74. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Graphic Design

#83 in North America

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

75. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Graphic Design

#84 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

76. University of North Texas

For Graphic Design

#85 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 90%

77. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Graphic Design

#86 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

78. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Graphic Design

#87 in North America

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

79. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Graphic Design

#88 in North America

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

80. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Graphic Design

#90 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

81. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Graphic Design

#91 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

82. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Graphic Design

#93 in North America

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

83. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Graphic Design

#94 in North America

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

84. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Graphic Design

#95 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

85. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Graphic Design

#98 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

86. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

North Carolina | Charlotte

For Graphic Design

#99 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 75%

87. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Graphic Design

#100 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

88. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Graphic Design

#101 in North America

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 85%

89. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Graphic Design

#102 in North America

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

90. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Graphic Design

#104 in North America

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

91. Lehigh University

Pennsylvania | Bethlehem

For Graphic Design

#105 in North America

#270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $34,154

92. Mississippi State University

Mississippi | Starkville

For Graphic Design

#106 in North America

#275 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

93. College of William and Mary

Virginia | Williamsburg

For Graphic Design

#107 in North America

#276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 55%

94. East Carolina University

North Carolina | Greenville

For Graphic Design

#109 in North America

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 77%

95. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Graphic Design

#110 in North America

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

96. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Graphic Design

#111 in North America

#298 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

97. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Graphic Design

#112 in North America

#306 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

98. Kent State University at Kent

For Graphic Design

#113 in North America

#314 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%

99. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Graphic Design

#114 in North America

#315 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

100. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Graphic Design

#115 in North America

#318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

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.