Top 25 Graphic Design Schools and Colleges in the South – 2022 College Rankings

The College of Design at North Carolina State University (NC State University) houses the Department of Graphic and Industrial Design, which offers a Bachelor of Graphic Design (BGD) and a Master of Graphic Design (MGD). Both programs are recognized by the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The NC State MGD is one of the few graphic design graduate programs with STEM Classification (CIP).

At the undergraduate level, students will learn how to collaborate with computer programmers, software engineers, and ethnographers; implement human-centered research methods, communicate information and messages through digital platforms, images, and typography; and produce product packaging, applications, websites, identity systems, data visualizations, signage, books, and magazines.

Collaborative Research and Design Projects are a major component of the BGD Program. In the Department of Graphic and Industrial Design’s Collaborative Sponsored Studios, students have the opportunity to work on real-world projects with clients and developers, engineers, designers, and other business professionals. Companies that students have worked with include Hanes, Coca Cola, IBM, Caterpillar, Bosch Appliances, Lowe’s, Under Armour, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, and John Deere. 

In addition to working in Collaborative Studios, NC State BGD students have the opportunity to take an advanced studio in another College of Design discipline (a swing studio), study abroad for a semester or summer at the NC State Prague Institute, and gain professional experience through paid internships.

The NC State MGD Program has two-year and three-year options. The two-year program, MGD II, is designed for students with a BFA in Graphic Design and experience in the field. The three-year program, MGD III, is for students with a BA in another field or with a Concentration in Graphic Design. Students in this program will take two semesters of specialized coursework before entering the MGD II Program.

All students will participate in graduate studios, seminars, and workshops, they will have opportunities to take electives at affiliate universities such as Duke University and University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and work on collaborative projects and research with major companies and institutes such as IBM, the Institute of Emerging Issues, SAS, NC State Laboratory for Analytic Sciences, and Red Hat. For the graduate project, MGD students will research an area of focus, record conclusions, design studies and mock-ups, and present the project to the public.

Graduates of the MGD Program at North Carolina State University are prepared for leadership positions in user experience and user interface design (UX/UI), with expertise in artificial intelligence (AI), research, data visualization, and digital typography. Graduates are also qualified to teach universities or pursue a PhD in Design or other related area.

NC State MGD alumni go on to establish successful careers at consulting firms, software companies, and colleges and universities. Examples include Adobe, Lenovo, IBM, Fjord, IDEO, Red Hat Software, Carnegie Mellon, University of Washington, Pratt Institute, and University of Michigan.

North Carolina State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Established in 1887 as a land-grant institution focusing in agriculture and engineering, NC State employs more than 9,000 faculty and staff members that serve 36,000+ students enrolled in more than 260 degree programs across 11 colleges.

Auburn University has a Graphic Design Program that is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Housed in the College of Architecture, Design, and Construction’s School of Industrial and Graphic Design, the BFA in Graphic Design (BFA GDES) is Alabama’s only Graphic Design Program to receive accreditation by the NASAD.

Consisting of 123 credit hours, the Auburn GDES Program explores branding and packaging, wayfinding design, UI/UX, illustration, app design, typography, motion design, and publishing. Course examples for the program, Graphic Design I-II, Graphic Processes, Typographics, Photo Design, Interactive Media, and Research, Writing, & Presentation. Other program benefits include cross-disciplinary collaborations, a professional studio environment with hands-on design instruction, guest lectures, exhibitions, and design symposiums. An optional internship is part of the program as well as study abroad experiences in England, Hong Kong, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Taiwan or Scotland.

During the final year of the Auburn Graphic Design BFA Program, students will complete a professional portfolio of their best work.

Auburn GDES alumni go on to secure positions with magazines, advertising agencies, publishers, design studios, marketing firms, web design companies, and more. They work in branding and packaging, illustration, environmental graphics, web design and development, interactive media, and exhibition design, among other areas.

Auburn University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Chartered in 1856 as the East Alabama Male College, the school went on to become the first land-grant college in the South in 1872. Today, Auburn serves a diverse population of more than 31,500 students, making it one of the largest universities in the region. Auburn University offers 150 majors and programs across 15 colleges and schools.

Established in 1925, the College of the Arts at University of Florida (UF) houses the fully accredited schools of Art + Art History, Music, Theatre and Dance, the Center for Arts in Medicine, and the Digital Worlds Institute. In the School of Art + Art History, students interested in design can earn a Graphic Design BFA, an MFA in Graphic Design/Design & Visual Communications (MXD), or a Graphic Design Certificate.

The 120 credit hour Graphic Design BFA explores art history, drawing, design, and 2D, 3D, and 4D. Course examples for the program include Workshop for Art Research and Practice: WARP, Visual Methods and Processes, Space Studio, Digital Imaging, Graphic Design: Visual Systems in Design, Technologies and Processes, and Image, Form and Meaning. Students in the UF Graphic Design BFA will take Design Workshop, studios such as Design and Professional Practice Studio and Senior Design Studio, and they will work with clients on real-world projects. Students will leave the program with a professional portfolio of their best work.

The University of Florida MXD MFA is a terminal degree consisting of 60 credit ours of study. In existence for more than 20 years, this design-centered, interdisciplinary program has two-year and three-year options that consists of studios, seminars, workshops, practicums, and internship opportunities. The MFA also provides opportunities to develop entrepreneurial skills and teaching skills through electives. Examples include Seminar in Social Entrepreneurship, Creativity in Entrepreneurship, Teaching Art in Higher Education, and Methods of Research in Art Education. Students have the option to complete a Thesis or MFA Creative Project.

In the 15 credit hour Graphic Design Certificate Program at University of Florida is open to students majoring in Art or Art History. Courses include Perceptual Drawing, Visual Methods and Processes, Typography 1: Letterform, Design Thinking, and Graphic Design Practice. The UF Graphic Design Certificate Program takes four semesters to complete.

Graduates of the Graphic Design and Visual Communications Programs at University of Florida are designers, educators, entrepreneurs, and creative directors, among others. Program alumni work at major companies such as Apple, Walt Disney Imagineering, Meta (formerly Facebook), Verizon, Microsoft, IBM, IBM, Twitter, JetBlue, Kate Spade, West Elm, IDEO, Fossil, Viacom, JetBlue, and for the Miami Heat.

MDX MFA alumni have also laned positions at Google, L’Oréal, University at Buffalo, University of Colorado–Boulder, Illinois State University, Alabama at Birmingham, Ball State University, Northern Alabama University, Auburn University, and the University of Florida.

The University of Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Founded in 1858 as Gainesville Academy, the school opened with just a few students. Serving nearly 58,000 students today, UF encompasses a 2,000-acre campus with more than 900 buildings, including the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum-certified building in the State of Florida. The University of Florida offers more than 300 undergraduate and graduate programs in 14 colleges and schools.

The Franklin College of Arts & Sciences at University of Georgia (UGA) houses the Lamar Dodd School of Art, which has both undergraduate and graduate programs for designers. The BFA in Fine Arts has Graphic Design, Photography & Expanded Media, Printmaking & Book Arts, and Scientific Illustration Concentrations. All concentrations require successful completion of the Franklin College Core and Area VI coursework. Course examples include Art History, Color and Composition, Drawing, Professional Seminar, and Three-Dimensional Design.

Students in the Graphic Design Concentration have opportunities to study in other associated subject areas through design focus tracks and electives. To create a track, BFA students may choose nine credit hours from the following courses: Art, Design & Architectural History, Communications & Media, Cultural Studies, Interaction & Computing, Marketing & Strategy, and Studio Art & Design. Elective examples include Data Visualization, Graphic Design Field Study, Internship in Art, and Topics in Digital Platforms & Dynamic Media I.

For students interested in a design minor, the UGA Dodd School offers a Digital Design + Media Minor consisting of 15 credit hours. With nine hours of upper division coursework, the program focuses on Graphic Design, Photography, and Time-Based Media.

Another option for designers is the Interdisciplinary Art & Design AB (BA). Program features include the Area VI coursework, experiential learning (study abroad in Cortona, Costa Rica, Ghana or field study), and the option to complete a minor, certificate program or double major in a field outside of the Dodd School of Art. The Interdisciplinary Art & Design AB requires 122 credit hours to graduate.

For graduate students, the Lamar Dodd School of Art at University of Georgia offers an MFA in Printmaking and Book Arts. Students in this program can take Area VI coursework, and study graphic design through electives. Other program features include private MFA studios with natural lighting and large windows, access to state-of-the-art equipment to produce print, paper and book arts media, and the multifunctional Project Space for installing, staging, critiquing, and exhibiting work. The Printmaking and Book Arts Program is also offered at the undergraduate level. The program leads to a BFA.

Graduates of the Art and Design Programs at University of Georgia work in a variety of positions at creative firms, retailers, broadcasting companies, magazines, museums, publishers, and more. Examples of companies that have hired UGA graduates include IBM Design, Meta (formerly Facebook), the Metropolitan Museum of Art, CNN & Turner Broadcasting, Bustle, Gensler, Free People, and Aveda.

University of Georgia is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Established in 1785 and the state’s flagship institution, UGA serves more than 40,000 students enrolled in 379 degree programs across 17 colleges and schools. Established in 1910, the Graduate School houses 250 of UGA’s 379 degree programs.

The College of Arts and Humanities at University of Central Florida (UCF) houses the School of Visual Arts & Design (SVAD), which offers an Emerging Media BFA with a Graphic Design Track. At the graduate level, SVAD offers an interdisciplinary Emerging Media MFA with a Studio Art and Design Track.

The Emerging Media BFA Program explores interactive and web design, typography, branding and packaging, UI/UX design, poster creation, publication design, film and broadcast graphics, and identity systems. Consisting of 120 credit hours, the program requires 63 credit hours in the major. Course examples include Type & Design, Intermediate Graphic Design I-II, Advanced Computer Graphic Design, Computer Art, Art in the Last 25 Years, and Special Problems in Graphic Design. In addition, Emerging BFA students will work on building a professional portfolio during the entire four years of the program.

With a focus on Electronic Media, SVAD Emerging Media MFA is a rigorous, 60 credit hour program that consists of individual and group critiques, experimentation with emerging and traditional media, and mentoring. The program requires 18 credit hours of electives and 18 in Thesis courses. Elective examples include Design Theory and Methods, Time Arts, Art, Design and Human Interactions, Serial Content, and The Professional Practice of Art. The UCF Emerging Media MFA Program culminates with a Thesis Exhibition.

University of Central Florida alumni work at Amazon, Google, Lockheed Martin, Walt Disney World, Microsoft, The Walt Disney Company, Universal Orlando Resort, AdventHealth, Salesforce, Meta (formerly Facebook), Orlando Health, and TEKsystems, among others.

University of Central Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Founded in 1963, University of Central Florida opened in 1968 as Florida Technological University. When it opened, the school had less than 2,000 students. Today, UCF serves more than 70,000 students making it the largest university by enrollment in the State of Florida, and one of the nation’s largest universities. Program offerings include 106 bachelor’s degrees, 95 master’s degrees, 31 research doctorates, three professional doctorates, and three specialist degrees.

The School of Professional Advancement (SoPA) at Tulane University (Tulane) has BA and Post-Baccalaureate (PABC) Certificate Programs in Digital Design with Concentrations in Graphic Design and Interactive UX/UI Design. The BA in Digital Design consists of 42 major hours, 18 elective hours, and 60 hours in general requirements. The Digital Design PABC requires 30 major hours and an additional UX/UI Design Concentration.

Course examples across programs include Typography Studio, Intro to UX Design, Letterpress Studio, Poster Design, Packaging Design, Interactive Technologies, Motion Design Studio, Social Media Studio, Designer as Author, Digital Illustration, SEO SEM, and Portfolio & Professional Practices.

Worth three credits, Portfolio & Professional Practices is a studio course that prepares students for entry into the workforce through mock interviews, portfolio reworking, personal branding, and developing presentation techniques.

Other program highlights include 16 flexible elective credits, the option to study in other tracks, and access to symposiums, social events, professional conferences, and internship opportunities.

Graduates of the Tulane University Digital Design Program work in-house for specific brands or companies, and in advertising, book publishing, marketing, app design, web design, public relations, entertainment, museums, and magazines and newspapers, among others. Job titles include Creative Director, Publication Designer, Packaging Designer, Brand Manager, Front-End Web Developer, Type Designer, Art Director, Illustrator, Print Designer, and Environmental Designer.

Tulane University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Founded in 1834, Tulane was the first major research institution to require public service for graduation. Serving more than 14,500 students, Tulane University offers more than 275 programs in 10 colleges and schools.

The Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business at Clemson University houses the Department of Graphic Communications, which has BS and MS pathways. Consisting of 400 students, the  Graphics Communications BS provides access to a 14,000-square-foot laboratory and two additional state-of-the-art labs equipped with packaging and printing equipment.

Students also benefit from interactions with students in the Packaging Science Department through the Sonoco Institute, which hosts workshops, classes, and seminars. A mandatory internship part of the program a as well as the opportunity to add a Business Administration or Packaging Science Minor.

Graduates of the Graphics Communications BS Program at Clemson University have been hired at R.R. Donnelley, Boston Beer Company, Newell Brands, The Hughes Agency, and Horizon Investments. Some program alumni have gone on to pursue graduate study at Clemson, Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), and Wake Forest University.

The Clemson University Graphic Communications MS Program has both Thesis and Non-Thesis options. Students in the Thesis option will complete 33 credit hours to graduate. Non-Thesis students will complete 30 credit hours. Core courses for both options include Current Developments and Trends in Graphic Communications, Package and Specialty Printing, Commercial Printing, and Graphic Communications Graduate Seminar.

The Thesis option requires the Master’s Thesis Research course. The Non-Thesis option requires Graphic Communications Research Problems I-II. For students without relevant work experience, an industrial internship is a required component of the MS Program—both options.

Graduates of the Graphic Communications MS at Clemson University are placed in creative, technical, and scientific positions; sales, marketing, and customer service; packaging, printing, and publishing; and academic and management.

For students seeking a program that provides a foundation in Art, Clemson University has a Fine Arts Program with BA and BFA pathways. Housed in the College of Architecture, Arts, and Humanities’ Department of Art, both programs are accredited by National Association for Schools of Art & Design (NASAD).

The Art BA is a Liberal Arts program that allows students to customize their studies with a double major or a minor in any area. Students in may also choose an emphasis such as Digital Art and Design Media. The Visual Arts BFA offers emphasis areas such as New Media, Drawing, Printmaking or Photography, with complementary coursework in Graphic Design and Animation.

Program benefits for both pathways include the visiting artist series, access to Lee Gallery, the annual field trip to art centers such as New York City, the four-week summer school in Orvieto, Italy, and the opportunity to exhibit works in the Lee Art Gallery in the senior year or the programs. In addition, Clemson Art students regularly display their work in national and regional venues, as well as locally in the Pendleton and Greenville arts districts.

Graduates of the Clemson University Art and Visual Arts Programs work at art museums and galleries, for publications, and in public relations, exhibit design, graphic design, illustration, art therapy, media, retail, animation and cartoons, and art journalism. Recent employers include Anthropologie, GDC Home, Museum of the Cherokee, Kaleidoscope Design Factory, and Greenville County Schools. 

Some program alumni have gone on to pursue graduate study at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Northwestern University, Christie’s Education, Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD), and University of Georgia.

Clemson University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The school opened as Clemson Agricultural College in 1893 with 446 students. Today, Clemson University serves 26,400 students enrolled in more than 200 degree programs and 90+ minor options.

The College of Arts & Sciences (COAS) at University of North Florida (UNF) has a BFA Program that offers an interdisciplinary major in Graphic Design & Digital Media. Housed in the COAS Department of Art, Art History, and Design, the program features internship opportunities, study abroad experiences in Brazil, Italy, and others, visiting artists, and participation in two Senior Showcases in UNF Gallery Spaces.

The Graphic Design & Digital Media BFA is a limited access program that requires a review before taking restricted classes. Areas explored include motion graphics, advertising design, poster design, web design, visual identities, and packaging, among others. With 24 major and free electives, BFA students have opportunities to explore other areas of art and design. Course examples for this 120 credit hour  program include Creativity and Critique, Visual Systems, Process and Methods, UI and Interaction Design, Graphic Symbols and Semiotics Type Communication, Visual Identity, and Time-Based Media.

In the final year of the UNF Graphic Design & Digital Media BFA Program, COAS students will complete the Professional Practices course and a Graphic Design Portfolio. Graduates are prepared to pursue positions at advertising agencies, creative firms, design studios, marketing companies, production studios, web design firms, public relations firms, and in-house design departments at companies in just about every industry.

University of North Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Chartered in 1965, UNF is one of 12 public universities in the State University System of Florida (SUSF). The school serves 17,000 students across six colleges and Hicks Honors College. University of North Florida offers 60 bachelor's degree with 75 areas of concentration, 36 master's degrees with 72 areas of concentration, five doctoral degrees with three areas of concentration, and one specialist degree.

The University of Miami (UM) houses the College of Arts and Sciences, home to the Department of Art and Art History, which offers a BFA with a Concentration in Graphic Design and Multimedia. Part of the Electronic Media Area, the Graphic Design and Multimedia BFA is multidisciplinary program that provides access to studios, computer labs, drawing classrooms, and exhibition spaces. Course examples for the program include 2D and 3D Design, Color Digital Photography, Drawing, Graphic Design I-III, Introduction to Electronic Media, Experimental Illustration for Print and Interactive Media, Multimedia I-III, and Typography.

Also part of the program is the Seminar in Professional Practices, which requires placement in a professional design or multimedia setting. Student may also enroll in the UM Internship (UMI) Program, which allows students to obtain real-world work experience at a design studio or creative agency in the Miami/Broward area.

The Graphic Design and Multimedia Program at the University of Miami culminates with a professional portfolio and exhibition. Potential job titles for graduates of the program include Art Director, Graphic Designer, Multimedia Artist, Packaging Designer, 3D Artist, Computer Graphic Designer, Web Designer, Media Specialist, Brand Manager, Exhibit Designer, Digital Artist, Layout Designer, Multimedia Producer, Illustrator, User Experience Designer, Concept Artist, and Digital Media Designer, among others.

The University of Miami is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Founded in 1925, this private research university opened in 1926 with 646 full-time students enrolled in programs across the College of Liberal Arts, the School of Music, and the Evening Division. Today, University of Miami serves more than 17,000 students enrolled in nearly 350 majors and programs across 12 colleges and schools.

The College of Arts + Architecture (COA+A) at University of North Carolina Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) has a 120 credit hour Graphic Design BFA Program that consists of 78 credit hours in the major. Housed in the COA+A Department of Art and Art History, the BFA is a professional degree program that takes four years to complete. Major components of the program include several graphic design projects, an internship, Senior Seminar, the recurring summer experience in Rome, and the BFA Senior Exhibition.

Course examples include 2D and 3D Design, Digital Foundations, Graphic Design I & II, Design Thinking, Interactive Art and Design, Communications Design, Print Production, Typography I-II, UX/UI Design Strategies, and Design Research. Students graduate from the UNC Charlotte Graphic Design Program with a professional portfolio of their best work.

Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in areas such as advertising and marketing, publications design, book design, exhibit design, UI/UX design, public relations, multimedia design, film and video, animation, web design, and computer systems design.

University of North Carolina-Charlotte is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Founded in 1946, UNC Charlotte serves around 30,150 students enrolled in more than 200 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in nine colleges. University of North Carolina Charlotte is a public research university and the third largest school in the 16-campus UNC System.

The College of Communication and Fine Arts at University of Memphis (U of M)  houses the Department of Art, home to the Graphic Design Program which has BFA and MFA pathways. A 12 credit hour Graduate Certificate is also available. Courses for this program include History of Graphic Design, Print Communication Design, Writing/Design Process, and Interactive Media Design.

The Graphic Design Program covers print and digital design, visual communication, creative solutions, and current industry computer applications. Students in all programs have access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, internship opportunities, and instructors that have both professional and design education experience.

The BFA requires 120 credit hours to graduate and the MFA requires 60. Students in the BFA Program will complete 67 hours in Graphic Design. Course examples include Computer Assisted Graphic Design, Visual Thinking, Typographic Design I-II, Interactive Media Design, Electronic Pre-Press Production, Print Communication Design, and Graphic Design Methods. Graduates will leave the U of M Graphic Design BFA Program with a professional portfolio.

The MFA in Art with  Graphic Design Concentration consists of 42 credit hours in 7000-level courses. Completed on a full-time schedule, the MFA culminates with the Thesis Exhibition.

Graduates of the Graphic Design Programs at University of Memphis are prepared to pursue titles such as Computer Graphic Designer, Web Designer, Media Specialist, Brand Manager, Digital Media Designer, Design Director, Graphic Designer, Multimedia Artist, Illustrator, User Experience Designer, Packaging Designer, 3D Artist, Exhibit Designer, Digital Artist, Layout Designer, Multimedia Producer, and Concept Artist.

University of Memphis is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). This public research university was established in 1912 as West Tennessee State Normal School. Serving close to 21,625 students, U of M offers more than 375 areas of study, subjects, and disciplines leading to degrees and certificates at all levels. Programs at U of M are housed in 13 colleges and schools.

The Department of Design at University of Tampa (UT) is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Housed in the UT College of Arts and Letters, the Department provides access to and participation in the Visiting Artist Program, the Art and Design Immersion Travel Course, experiential learning activities at local galleries and museums, the campus-based, 30,000-square-feet R.K. Bailey Art Studios, and the Ferman Center for the Arts.

The UT Graphic Design BFA is housed in the Department of Design. Topics of study for the program include traditional design, visual communication: art and contemporary + history and theories, advanced study in typography, digital design, collaboration and entrepreneurship, and socially responsible design. Course examples include Graphic Design I-IV, Printing, Mixed Media Painting, Publishing and Book Arts, Typography I-II, Branding and Packaging, Design Thinking, Intaglio Printmaking, Digital Photography, and Graphic Design Portfolio Studio.

Students are also encouraged to complete a professional internship and they may add a minor to help expand their skill sets. Examples include Communication, Media and Culture, Digital Media, Film and Media Arts, Interactive Media, Public Relations, Writing, New Media, and the Advertising Minor, with courses in Communication Department and the John H. Sykes College of Business.

The University of Tampa Graphic Design BFA culminates with the Senior Capstone Project and Exhibit at the UT Scarfone/Hartley Gallery.

University of Tampa is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Founded in 1931 as Tampa Junior College, the school opened with just 62 students. Today, UT is a global research university that serves 10,500 students. More than 200 academic programs are available in four colleges including the College of Arts and Letters, Sykes College of Business, the College of Natural and Health Sciences, and the College of Social Sciences, Mathematics, and Education.