100 Best Graphic Design schools in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 605K citations received by 19.2K academic papers made by 159 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: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

2. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Graphic Design

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Graphic Design

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

4. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Graphic Design

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

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

5. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Graphic Design

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

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

6. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Graphic Design

#6 in North America

#8 in the World

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

7. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Graphic Design

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

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

8. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Graphic Design

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

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

9. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Graphic Design

#10 in North America

#12 in the World

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

10. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Graphic Design

#11 in North America

#13 in the World

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

11. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Graphic Design

#12 in North America

#16 in the World

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

12. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Graphic Design

#13 in North America

#17 in the World

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

13. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Graphic Design

#14 in North America

#20 in the World

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

14. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Graphic Design

#15 in North America

#21 in the World

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

15. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Graphic Design

#16 in North America

#22 in the World

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

16. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Graphic Design

#17 in North America

#23 in the World

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

17. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Graphic Design

#18 in North America

#25 in the World

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

18. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Graphic Design

#19 in North America

#26 in the World

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

19. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Graphic Design

#21 in North America

#29 in the World

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

20. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Graphic Design

#22 in North America

#30 in the World

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

21. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Graphic Design

#23 in North America

#31 in the World

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

22. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Graphic Design

#24 in North America

#32 in the World

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

23. Brigham Young University - Provo

For Graphic Design

#25 in North America

#34 in the World

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

24. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Graphic Design

#26 in North America

#36 in the World

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

25. University of Texas at Austin

For Graphic Design

#27 in North America

#37 in the World

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

26. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Graphic Design

#29 in North America

#40 in the World

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

27. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Graphic Design

#30 in North America

#42 in the World

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

28. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Graphic Design

#31 in North America

#44 in the World

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

29. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Graphic Design

#32 in North America

#45 in the World

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

30. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Graphic Design

#34 in North America

#54 in the World

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

31. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Graphic Design

#35 in North America

#56 in the World

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

32. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Graphic Design

#36 in North America

#57 in the World

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

33. Utah State University

For Graphic Design

#38 in North America

#63 in the World

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

34. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Graphic Design

#40 in North America

#66 in the World

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

35. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Graphic Design

#41 in North America

#67 in the World

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

36. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Graphic Design

#42 in North America

#69 in the World

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

37. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Graphic Design

#43 in North America

#70 in the World

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

38. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Graphic Design

#44 in North America

#71 in the World

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

39. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Graphic Design

#45 in North America

#72 in the World

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

40. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Graphic Design

#46 in North America

#75 in the World

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

41. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Graphic Design

#47 in North America

#76 in the World

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

42. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Graphic Design

#49 in North America

#80 in the World

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

43. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Graphic Design

#50 in North America

#82 in the World

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

44. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Graphic Design

#51 in North America

#84 in the World

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

45. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Graphic Design

#52 in North America

#85 in the World

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

46. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Graphic Design

#53 in North America

#86 in the World

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

47. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Graphic Design

#55 in North America

#91 in the World

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

48. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Graphic Design

#56 in North America

#94 in the World

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

49. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Graphic Design

#57 in North America

#95 in the World

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

50. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Graphic Design

#58 in North America

#99 in the World

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

51. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Graphic Design

#59 in North America

#101 in the World

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

52. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Graphic Design

#60 in North America

#106 in the World

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

53. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Graphic Design

#61 in North America

#107 in the World

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

54. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Graphic Design

#62 in North America

#114 in the World

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

55. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Graphic Design

#63 in North America

#115 in the World

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

56. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Graphic Design

#64 in North America

#131 in the World

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

57. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Graphic Design

#65 in North America

#132 in the World

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

58. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Graphic Design

#67 in North America

#138 in the World

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

59. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Graphic Design

#68 in North America

#139 in the World

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

60. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Graphic Design

#69 in North America

#142 in the World

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

61. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Graphic Design

#71 in North America

#149 in the World

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

62. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Graphic Design

#72 in North America

#150 in the World

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

63. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Graphic Design

#73 in North America

#155 in the World

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

64. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Graphic Design

#74 in North America

#156 in the World

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

65. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Graphic Design

#75 in North America

#159 in the World

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

66. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Graphic Design

#76 in North America

#163 in the World

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

67. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Graphic Design

#77 in North America

#165 in the World

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

68. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Graphic Design

#78 in North America

#167 in the World

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

69. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Graphic Design

#79 in North America

#172 in the World

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

70. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Graphic Design

#80 in North America

#173 in the World

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

71. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Graphic Design

#81 in North America

#177 in the World

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

72. Boise State University

For Graphic Design

#82 in North America

#180 in the World

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

73. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Graphic Design

#84 in North America

#187 in the World

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

74. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Graphic Design

#85 in North America

#188 in the World

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

75. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Graphic Design

#86 in North America

#190 in the World

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

76. University of North Texas

For Graphic Design

#87 in North America

#193 in the World

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

77. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Graphic Design

#88 in North America

#194 in the World

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

78. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Graphic Design

#90 in North America

#201 in the World

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

79. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Graphic Design

#91 in North America

#202 in the World

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

80. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Graphic Design

#92 in North America

#204 in the World

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

81. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Graphic Design

#93 in North America

#207 in the World

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

82. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

North Carolina | Charlotte

For Graphic Design

#94 in North America

#217 in the World

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

83. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Graphic Design

#95 in North America

#218 in the World

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

84. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Graphic Design

#96 in North America

#219 in the World

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

85. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Graphic Design

#98 in North America

#227 in the World

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

86. East Carolina University

North Carolina | Greenville

For Graphic Design

#99 in North America

#232 in the World

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

87. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Graphic Design

#100 in North America

#235 in the World

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

88. Miami University - Oxford

For Graphic Design

#101 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

89. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Graphic Design

#102 in North America

#239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

90. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Graphic Design

#103 in North America

#241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

91. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Graphic Design

#104 in North America

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

92. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Graphic Design

#105 in North America

#250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

93. Mississippi State University

Mississippi | Starkville

For Graphic Design

#106 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

94. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Graphic Design

#107 in North America

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

95. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Graphic Design

#108 in North America

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,127

96. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Graphic Design

#109 in North America

#268 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

97. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Graphic Design

#110 in North America

#271 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,827

98. Lehigh University

Pennsylvania | Bethlehem

For Graphic Design

#111 in North America

#273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $30,453

99. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Graphic Design

#112 in North America

#274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

100. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Graphic Design

#113 in North America

#280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,208

The best cities to study Graphic Design in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Tempe, Pittsburgh, College Park, and Seattle.