New York Graphic Design Schools: Most Expensive to Least Expensive

New York is home to 304 Title IV degree-granting. Title IV schools are approved for Title IV federal financial-aid programs, which makes them more accessible to students with financial need. To become a Title IV school an institution must (1) have accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, (2) offer a program of at least 300 clock hours in length (3) have signed a participation agreement with the Department, (4) grant an associate's degree or higher, and (5) have been in business for at least two years.

Besides being home to the nation’s second largest number of Title IV schools, New York is an entertainment capital, with nearly 200,000 salaried artists, designers, and more. Not surprisingly, many New York designers studied and trained in the state as most New York schools offer outstanding art and design programs—including graphic design. Many are high on the list of the nation’s best graphic design programs.

Although New York’s finest graphic design schools can expensive, the cost is well worth it. Graduating from a top NY graphic design school is a major accomplishment to most employers. This means, you will surely stand out from the crowd. If you’re ready to review New York’s graphic design schools, take a look at the most to least expensive schools below and what you can expect to pay. Keep in mind that resident tuition is typically lower than non-resident tuition and because these schools have Title IV status, a number of financial aid programs are available. 

Most Expensive New York Graphic Design Schools

Syracuse University, Syracuse - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate $40,380; Graduate $24,138 for the 2014-2015 school year. Tuition does not include fees or other expenses. 

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The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, New York - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate $39,600 for the 2014-2015 school year. New students receive a half-tuition scholarship worth $20,000 per year and returning students receive a full-tuition scholarship worth $39,600 per year. 

St. John’s University, Queens - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate $37,870; Graduate $27,480 for the 2014-2015 school year. 

Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate $36,596; Graduate $40,158 for the 2015-2016 school year.

School of Visual Arts, New York - Tuition Information: Undergraduate $35,000; Graduate $41,860 for the 2015-2016 school year. 

Sage College of Albany, Albany – Tuition Cost: Undergraduate $27,000 for the 2014-2015 school year.  
 

Least Expensive New York Graphic Design Schools

Purchase College, State University of New York, Purchase - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate residents $6,170, nonresidents $15,820 for the 2014-2015 school year.

State University of New York, Oswego - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate residents $6,170, nonresidents $15,820 for the 2014-2015 school year.

State University of New York, New Paltz – Tuition Cost: Undergraduate residents $6,170, nonresidents $15,820 for the 2014-2015 school year.  

Fashion Institute of Technology, New York - Tuition Cost: Undergraduate residents $5,468, nonresidents $14,490; graduate residents $8,698, nonresidents $17,810; Graduate residents $10,370, graduate nonresidents $20,190 for the 2014-2015 school year. 

More Graphic Design related programs to consider:  

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Full Sail University

Selected Campus Locations:

• Winter Park, FL & Online

Selected Programs: 

• Computer Animation - Online
• Computer Animation - Florida Campus
• Game Design - Online
• Game Design - Florida Campus
• Graphic Design & Digital Arts - Online
• Graphic Design - Florida Campus
• Simulation & Visualization - Campus
• User Experience – Online
• Artificial Intelligence - Online

Animation Career Review Rankings: 

• Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#14) - 2024
• Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#12) - 2024
• Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#36) - 2024

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Southern New Hampshire University

Selected Campus Locations:

• Online

Selected Programs: 

• BA in Game Art & Development
• BS in Game Programming & Development
• BA in Graphic Design
• BA in Graphic Design & Web Design
• BA in Graphic Design + User Experience Design (UX)

Animation Career Review Rankings: 

• Top 50 Private Graphic Design Schools in the US (#46) - 2024

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Image Campus

Selected Campus Locations:

• Buenos Aires, Argentina & Online

Selected Programs: 

• Desarrollo de Videojuegos (Tecnicaturas Superiores)
• Producción y Game Design (Tecnicaturas Superiores)
• Arte y Animación para Videojuegos (Tecnicaturas Superiores)
• Producción y Animación 3D (Tecnicaturas Superiores)
• Realización Integral de Dibujos Animados (Tecnicaturas Superiores)
• Tecnicatura Superior en Animación 3D para Videojuegos (Tecnicaturas Superiores) - NUEVA - ONLINE
• Programación de Videojuegos con Unreal, Unity y Godot (Tecnicaturas Superiores) - NUEVA - ONLINE
• Unreal Connectors (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
• Virtual Production (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
• Introducción a Unreal Engine (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
• Diseño de Interacción 3D en Realidad Virtual con Unreal Engine (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
• Realidad Aumentada con Unity (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
• Realidad Virtual para Arquitectura (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
• Audio Inmersivo (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
• Animación Profesional 3D (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
• Modelado Profesional 3D (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
• Visualización Arquitectónica (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
• Motion Graphics (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
• VFX (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
• Environments para Videojuegos con Unreal Engine (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
• Desarrollo de Videojuegos con Unity (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
• Game Design (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
• Concept Art (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
• Game Art (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
• Game Audio (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
• Game Quality Analyst (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)

Animation Career Review Rankings: 

• Top 25 International Animation Schools - 2024 (#23)

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CG Spectrum College of Digital Art & Animation

Selected Campus Locations:

• Online

Selected Programs: 

• 2D Animation
• 3D Animation
• 3D Modeling
• Concept Art
• Digital Illustration
• Game Art & Animation
• Game Design
• Game Programming
• VFX Compositing and FX
• Real-time 3D & Virtual Production
• Game Development - Programming, Design, Game Art & Animation, Real-time 3D & Virtual Production

Animation Career Review Rankings: 

• Top 25 International Animation Training Programs (#18) - 2024

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Arizona State University Online

Selected Campus Locations:

• Online

Selected Programs: 

• Online Bachelor of Science in User Experience
• Online Master of Science in User Experience
• Online Bachelor of Science in Design in Graphic Design
• Online Bachelor of Science in Graphic Information Technology – Full-Stack Web Development
• Online Bachelor of Science in Graphic Information Technology – User Experience

New York Graphic Design Scene

What makes New York one of the best states for graphic designers? For starters, New York is home more than 18,000 salaried graphic designers, and thousands of self-employed designers. The state has second highest employment level in this occupation, the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients, and at an average salary of $60,560 per year, New York is number two on the list of top five highest paying states for graphic designers. Of the top ten metropolitan areas for graphic designers, the New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division has the highest employment level and the sixth highest concentration of jobs and location quotients. The area is also number seven on the list of top paying metro areas for graphic designers.

Finally, the State of New York is home to the city where everyone wants to be—New York City. Some of the world’s largest advertising firms such as BBDO, JWT, and Omnicom Group can be found here as well as hundreds of other creative agencies, major publishers (including the BIG FIVE), web design companies, graphic design firms, technology firms, and more. New York’s large population of graphic designers can find work in all industries from advertising and public relations to education, printing, the tech sector and even aerospace.

Although employment opportunities are available in many fields, New York-based graphic designers often work in the top industries for this occupation including specialized design services; advertising, public relations and related services; newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers; printing and related support activities, and computer systems design and related services. 

While NYC is the state’s top city for graphic designers, Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, Syracuse and Albany are also worth exploring.

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