| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rutgers University | Camden |
| 2 | The College of New Jersey | Ewing |
| 3 | Monmouth University | West Long Branch |
| 4 | Kean University | Union |
| 5 | Fairleigh Dickinson University | Madison |
| 6 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | Newark |
| 7 | Montclair State University | Montclair |
| 8 | Rowan University | Glassboro |
| 9 | Ramapo College of New Jersey | Mahwah |
| 10 | William Paterson University | Wayne |
Our 2022 ranking of the top graphic design school programs in New Jersey. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
The College of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University – Camden, (Rutgers-Camden) has a Graphic Design Program with BA and Minor options. Consisting of 18 credit hours, the Graphic Design Minor is an interdisciplinary program that requires the following courses: Graphic Design I-II, Visual Fundamentals, Communication Design, Introduction to Computer Graphics, and Drawing I.
The Graphic Design Program requires 21 credits in the Concentration. Course examples include Graphic Design Studio I-V, Computer Multimedia, Typography, Special Topics in Graphic Design, and Artist in Society. All Graphic Design BA students will complete the Senior Capstone in Graphic Design. The Electronic Arts Internship is strongly recommended, but not required.
Graduates of the Graphic Design Programs at Rutgers University – Camden work in packaging design, interactive design, marketing, print design, advertising, public relations, and web design, among others.
Rutgers University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Founded in 1766 as Queen's College, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, is the eighth oldest university in the U.S. With campuses in Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick serving more than 71,000 students, Rutgers is also the largest university in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. The Camden campus was established in 1926 as South Jersey Law School. Serving around 7,230 students, Rutgers-Camden offers nearly 70 degree programs in six colleges and schools.
The School of the Arts and Communication at the College of New Jersey (TCNJ) houses the new Department of Design and Creative Technology, home to the Specialization in Graphic Design. Part of the Visual Arts Program, the Specialization leads to a BFA. A Graphic Design Minor is also available.
The BFA has two options within the Graphic Design Specialization: Print and Digital Media. Coursework across options explores multimedia design, typography, graphic design history, web design, and image-making. Course examples for the program include Conceptual Image, Design Fundamentals, Web 1, History of Graphic Design, Identity, Advanced Typography, 3D Graphic Design, Motion Graphics, and User Interface/User Experience Design.
The culminating experience for the Visual Arts-Graphic Design Program is the three-course Capstone. Students will complete Theories & Practice in Graphic Design, Professional Practice in Graphic Design, and Senior Portfolio in Graphic Design.
Graduates of the TCNJ BFA Program are prepared to pursue a graduate degree or immediate employment in the field. Program alumni have been accepted into graduate programs at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), New York University (NYU), and School of Visual Arts (SVA).
Program alumni are Packaging Designers, Book Designers, Advertising Designers, Web Designers, Brand Managers, Corporate Identity Designers, and Information Designer, among others.
The College of New Jersey is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Established in 1855 as the New Jersey State Normal School, TCNJ serves approximately 7,400 students enrolled in more than 50 programs across seven schools.
The Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Monmouth University houses the Department of Art and Design, home to the Design and Animation Program, which has a Concentration in Graphic and Interactive Design. A Minor in Graphic and Interactive Design is available to non-BFA candidates.
Leading to a BFA, the Design and Animation Program with a Concentration in Graphic and Interactive Design requires 120 credit hours, with 54 credits at the 200 level or higher. Before entering upper level coursework, students must pass the Art & Design Student Portfolio Review. Course examples for the program include Graphic Design Studio I-III, 3D Modeling, Lighting and Rendering, Creative Book Arts, Web Design/Interactive Design I-II, Digital Imaging, Animation/Motion Graphics, Global Understanding, Print: Intaglio/Relief, Historical Perspectives, Typography, and Advanced Digital Imaging and Illustration.
In the final year of the BFA Program, students will complete an internship, and the Senior Year Experience: Client/Thesis, and Senior Year Experience: Thesis/Portfolio courses. All students will participate in the Senior Show.
Graduates of the Monmouth University BFA in Graphic and Interactive Design are prepared for career paths such as Book/Editorial Design, Graphic Design (UI/UX, Motion, Print, Web), Illustration, Interactive Media Design, Trade Show or Exhibition Design, Architectural Graphics, Web Design, Corporate Production/Management, Communications/Marketing, Interaction Design, Product/Packaging Design, and Signage/Information Graphics.
Monmouth University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Founded as Monmouth Junior College in 1933, the school serves more than 4,600 students enrolled in more than 50 degree programs and dozens of certificate programs. Programs at Monmouth University are housed in eight departments and schools.
Kean University houses the Michael Graves College of Architecture and Design. Within the College is the Robert Busch School of Design, which has a Graphic Design (GD) Program with two options: a GD BFA and a second GD BFA in Interactive Advertising (GD: IA). The Kean University Graphic Design Program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Students in both options have opportunities to work with local and regional clients through the Design Studio Practicum. Other program benefits include the Lecture Series, internships and collaborations with nonprofit and public partners, part-time employment, and study abroad experiences at Kean University, China.
Consisting of 120 credit hours, both programs include up to 51 hours of focused Graphic Design and Interactive Advertising coursework. Advanced coursework focuses on emerging technologies, branding, sound, video, motion graphics, and interactivity. Students will also explore design in relation to immersive experiences, the web, motion graphics, user experience (UX), augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), and social media. Course examples across options include Typography I-II, Web and Interactive Design, Promotional Design, Motion Graphic Design, Advertising, Concept to Print, Visual Techniques, Branding Strategy & Design, Advertising I-II, Identity and Information Design, Design for Advertising, Copywriting, and Computers in Graphic Design. Students will leave the Graphic Design Program with a professional portfolio of their best work.
Graduates of the Graphic Design Program at Kean University work at companies such as Google, Saatchi & Saatchi, Disney, Major League Baseball, Ogilvy, West Elm, GLOW, and Prudential. Titles include Graphic Designer, Brand Designer, Senior Graphic Designer, Social Media Strategist/Designer, Art Director, Mobile Designer, Design Director, Web Designer, and UX UI Designer.
Kean University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Founded in 1855, the school was the first public post-secondary institution in New Jersey. Kean serves more than 16,000 students enrolled in over 110 academic programs, including six doctoral programs in a variety of disciplines. Programs at Kean University are housed in over 25 colleges and schools.
The Graphic Design Program at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) has BA and Minor options. Housed in the School of the Arts in the Maxwell Becton College of Arts and Sciences, the program combines liberal arts courses with hands-on projects and internships. Students will master industry computer software such as Adobe Creative Cloud and work for real clients through the FDU Design Studio. The program also provides the opportunity to showcase student work through a contests, social media, and exhibits.
The Graphic Design BA Program at FDU has three concentrations: Print Design, Illustration, and Web Design. All offer the option to enhance the concentration through electives. Literary Publishing, Editorial Design, Children’s Book Publishing, Sell Your Design Online, The Digital Children’s Book, Interactive Publishing, Mobile App Design, Fashion Illustration, Cartooning, Mobile Web Design, and Social Media Marketing Design are just a few options.
Graduates of the FDU Graphic Design BA Program are prepared for positions at design studios, advertising agencies, film studios, game design studios, animation studios, publishing companies, comic books, web design studios, in-house design departments, museums, packaging companies, television studios, newspapers, magazines, marketing firms, and many others.
Fairleigh Dickinson University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Established in 1942, FDU was the first American university to own and operate an overseas campus (Wroxton College in Oxfordshire, UK) and the first comprehensive university in the world to require distance learning of its undergraduates. Serving more than 12,000 students enrolled in more than 100 programs, Fairleigh Dickinson is also New Jersey’s largest private university.
The School of Art and Design at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is part of the J. Robert and Barbara A. Hillier College of Architecture and Design. Within the School of Art and Design is a Digital Design Program with BA, MS, and MFA pathways. The BA requires 135 credits, the MS (MSDD) requires 30-45 credits, and the MFA (MFADD) requires 60-75 credits. Both graduate options are low-residency programs that prepare students for advanced or leadership positions in Digital Design. The MFA is a terminal degree that also prepares students for teaching positions. The BA, which has Entertainment and Interactive Media/Production Tracks, prepares students for entry-level to intermediate positions in the field.
Graduates of the Digital Design Programs at New Jersey Institute of Technology have been hired at NBC Universal Studios, SWD Tech Games, Method Studios, ETS, High 5 Games, SUSPECT vfx+design, KWD – Kim Wendell Design LLC, NTROPIC, and Grafx Co., among others. Common job titles include Graphic Designer, Pre-Viz Artist, Compositor, Art Director, UI/UX Designer, Storyboard Artist, Web Designer, Layout Artist, and Motion Graphics Designer.
New Jersey Institute of Technology is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Established in 1881 as Newark Technical School, NJIT serves more than 11,400 students. This public polytechnic university offers 126 degree programs through six colleges and schools.
The College of the Arts at Montclair State University (Montclair State) houses the Department of Art and Design, home to the Visual Communication Design Program. Consisting of 120 credit hours, this four-year program features small class sizes, focused studio work, and the opportunity to develop skills in additional areas of design through major and free electives.
Course examples for the program include See What I Mean: A History of Visual Communication Design, Drawing as Research, Typography I-II, Creative Coding, User Interface Design, Visual Communication Design Studio I-III, Motion Design, Introduction to Marketing, Applied Digital Innovation Design, and Lean Fabrication, Advanced Innovation and Digitally Mediated Making, and Innovation and 3D Printing.
The Montclair Visual Communication Design Program culminates with two Visual Communication Design Studio Courses: IV Thesis and V Portfolio/Thesis Exhibition.
The Visual Communication Design Program at Montclair State University leads to a BFA. Graduates are prepared careers in Graphic Design, User Interface Design, Exhibit Design, Creative Coding, Advertising Design, Packaging Design, Art Direction, Book Design/Publishing, Corporate Branding, Public Relations, and Teaching, among others.
Montclair State University alumni work or teach at Simon & Schuster, The City College of New York (CUNY), Ogilvy, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Cooper Union, Instagram, Saatchi & Saatchi, CBS Local, MLB Network, Fanbrandz, VSA Partners, MSNBC, CDGNYC, Dressbarn, and School of Visual Arts.
Montclair State University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Founded in 1908 as New Jersey State Normal School at Montclair, Montclair State serves 21,005 students enrolled in more than 300 majors, minors, concentrations and certificate programs in 11 colleges and schools.
The Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts (CCCA) at Rowan University houses the Art Department, which has a Studio Art Program that offers a Specialization in Graphic Design. Leading to a BFA, the program is a studio intensive degree that requires 120 semester hours to graduate. Areas explored include design, packaging, experimental design, publication design, corporate identity and branding, interactive design, design history, information graphics, and design applications.
Other program features include visiting artists and designers, internship opportunities, guided independent study, and field trips to design studios and exhibits locally and throughout the region.
Rowan University Graphic Design graduates work at advertising agencies, major design studios, in-house design departments at corporations, non-profits, and other organizations. Some program alumni have gone on to establish successful freelance careers or launch their own studios and creative agencies.
Rowan University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Founded in 1923 as a teacher preparation school, Rowan serves more than 18,500 students enrolled in 90 bachelor’s, 48 master’s, two professional, and nine doctoral degree programs in 17 colleges and schools.
The Visual Communication Design (VCD) Program at Ramapo College of New Jersey (Ramapo College) is housed in the School of Contemporary Arts. Leading to a BA in Communication Arts, the program provides internship opportunities, hands-on learning, study abroad experiences, and access to editing and multimedia labs, the latest industry software, and state-of-the-art production equipment.
Course examples for the program include Visual Identity Design, Idea Development, Design Theory and Criticism, Publication Design, Interactive Animation Design, Creative Advertising and Public Relations, Idea Development, and Intro to Video Game Studies.
Ramapo College of New Jersey also offers a Graphic Communication Minor. Consisting of 15 credit hours, the program requires courses such as Graphic Design, Idea Development, Fundamentals of Interactive Media, Foundations of Visual Communication Design, and a 300-level production course such as Publication Design, User Experience Design, Motion Graphics & Title Design, Game Design or Web Design.
Graduates of the VCD and Graphic Communication Programs at Ramapo College of New Jersey are prepared to pursue careers in Advertising Design, UX/UI Design, Information Architecture, Animation, Interaction Design, Print Design, Package Design, Motion Graphics, Front-End Coding, and Game Design. Common industries for Ramapo College alumni include advertising, media, technology, corporate, publishing, healthcare, non-profit, and government.
Ramapo College of New Jersey is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Founded in 1969, Ramapo College serves 6,110 enrolled in more than 40 undergraduate majors, minors, concentration, and graduate programs in five schools including the Anisfield School of Business (ASB), the School of Social Science and Human Services (SSHS), the School of Theoretical and Applied Science (TAS), the School of Contemporary Arts (CA), and the School of Humanities and Global Studies (HGS).
The College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at William Paterson University (WPU) houses the Department of Art, home to the Art BFA Program. Concentration options include Graphic and Interactive Design, Interdisciplinary, Animation and Multimedia, Painting, Drawing and Printmaking, Photography, and Sculpture and 3D Design.
The Art Department also has a Visual Communication Minor that consists of 18 credit hours. Course examples include Advanced Publication Design, Print and Media Design, Advanced Typography, Advanced Graphic Design Studio, Package and Advertising Design, and Interactive Online Media.
Consisting of 99 credits in the major, the BFA provides a liberal arts background with intensive studio arts coursework. Students will choose from courses such as Computer Paint and 2D Art, 3D Computer Graphics I – Modeling, Illustration, Fine Art and Design, Digital Imaging/Lighting I-II, Interactive Online Media, Package and Advertising Design, Advanced Publication Design, Advanced Cell Animation, Interactive Multimedia, Advanced Typography, Print and Media Design, Visual Communication Laboratory, and Web Design.
Other program features include workshops, seminars, internship opportunities, and portfolio development. Graduates of the WPU Art BFA Program are prepared to pursue positions in all areas of Visual Art and Design.
William Paterson University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Founded in 1855 as Paterson City Normal School, WPU is the third oldest public institution in the State of New Jersey. William Patterson University serves 9,635 students enrolled in nearly 150 degree and certificate programs in five colleges.
