If you’ve ever been interested in a career in graphic design, you’re in luck. This article lists the best online graphic design programs to help you get the skills you need.
Graphic design is a growing and rapidly changing field with plenty of opportunity for both veteran designers and newcomers alike. If you want to break into the field, you’ll need the right skills, the right expertise, and a great portfolio.
Luckily, an online graphic design program can help you achieve all three. While many universities offer programs graphic and digital design programs, the very best institutions are listed below.
The top 11 online colleges offering online graphic design degrees.
1. Sessions College
Tuition: $5,500 per year
Sessions College is our top choice for an online graphic design degree, given its affordable tuition and the fact that it’s highly focused on creative arts such as graphic design, illustration, and photography. Because of its narrow focus, Sessions College offers highly specialized degrees that can help any prospective graphic designer forge their future.
Students at Sessions College can expect to develop a range of core skills and expertise in domains such as drawing, illustration, use of technology and tools, and artistic and design principles — all in a self-paced, project-based, and fully online program. Additionally, all students will create a professional portfolio to help showcase their work to potential employers and clients alike.
2. Penn State World Campus
Tuition: $18,450 per year
If you want a college with a long history in remote education, Penn State is one of your best bets. The school has been operating distance learning for more than 100 years, including 25 years of experience as an online college. Its World Campus program boasts an impressive 20,000 students.
The college’s Bachelor of Design in Digital Multimedia helps students gain the skills and portfolio needed to succeed in a graphic design-oriented field. Additionally, scholarships are also available for a variety of different students, increasing accessibility.
3. Maryville University
Tuition: $21,800 per year
Maryville University provides a low-barrier degree program that doesn’t require students to submit test scores. More than that, its online graphic design program helps students gain valuable career skills while being mentored by professional designers.
The college’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Media is aimed at providing the skills and knowledge needed to use modern-day graphic design tools in a creative way. Because of that, it ranks well in our list of the best online graphic design degrees.
4. Arizona State University Online
Tuition: $15,700 per year (for online students)
For students looking to get their foot in the door in the graphic design field, an online degree from Arizona State University can help them get a leg up. This online program focuses on the efficient use of creative skills to accomplish any goals that a business or potential client might have.
The Arizona State University online design program also helps students keep up with the rapidly changing field of design by imparting both key skills and flexibility when it comes to tools and technology. This approach is part of the reason why Arizona State ranks high on lists of the best online colleges.
5. Academy of Art University
Tuition: $23,500 per year
The Academy of Art University prides itself on providing a custom graphic design curriculum crafted by industry experts. As you might expect from an art school, this online degree program prepares students for the workforce by finding the right blend between creativity and business savvy.
Students taking classes through the online program will have the same level of access to both resources and instructors as on-campus students. Expect a wide range of materials, including instructional videos, slideshows, documentation, and even interviews with experts in the field. This program also emphasizes constructive criticism — both from professors and peers alike.
6. Full Sail University
Tuition: $24,000 per year
Full Sail is a private university that offers both on-campus and online degree programs, including one focused on graphic design. According to the college, its design program mixes knowledge associated with traditional fine arts with the digital skills needed to thrive in the graphic design field.
Students will hone their creative skills, aesthetic eye, and business savvy during the program — including through project-based learning, peer and instructor critiques, and the study of digital and popular culture. You’ll leave the program equipped with a range of skills, including advertising, branding, and media integration.
7. Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
Tuition: $19,880 per year
Like other design- and art-focused schools, Rocky Mountain College provides an array of different educational programs that help equip students with both the visual composition and technology skills needed to succeed in today’s graphic design industry.
Students will graduate from this online degree program with a thorough understanding of multi-disciplinary design, which includes disparate segments like branding, UX and UI design, and web design. Along with a comprehensive skill set, the program also helps students create a professional portfolio to showcase their skills.
8. University of Maryland Global Campus
Tuition: $12,336 per year (in-state); $15,264 (out-of-state)
If you’re looking for a portfolio-focused program, the University of Maryland Global Campus may be a good fit. This online Bachelor’s in Graphic Communication equips students with the skills and technological know-how to compete in a rapidly changing digital environment.
The college’s graphic design curriculum is specifically designed from the ground up by experts, scholars, and employers. While it focuses on graphic design skills, the graphic communication degree also includes coursework in marketing and innovation, which can help students increase their skills’ marketability.
9. Savannah College of Art and Design
Tuition: $37,575 per year
Savannah College of Art and Design’s undergraduate programs are fully online and remote offerings that teach students the skills needed to succeed in today’s modern world. Although its graphic design program is heavily focused on digital tools and aesthetic expertise, it also places just as much emphasis on the role of graphic designers as storytellers.
The program will help students learn a range of different competencies, including how visual identity is so important to today’s top brands and organizations. Savannah College of Art and Design promises that its online degree program mixes entrepreneurship and modern technology with user-centered design.
10. Southern New Hampshire University
Tuition: $15,000 per year
Recognized as one of the best and most accessible graphic design programs around, Southern New Hampshire University’s online Bachelor’s can help students learn how to translate creative ideas into deliverables.
By coaching students through the key competencies of concept, design, and digital media, this Online Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and Media Arts can help students break into an innovative and creative career in graphic design. Expect courses ranging from typography to user interface and experience design.
11. California Baptist University
Tuition: $18,780 per year
For those looking for an affordable but high-quality graphic design education, California Baptist University should be on your research list. All students at CBU pay the same tuition rate — even if they’re not currently residing in-state.
The degree itself focuses on creative disciplines such as photography, lighting, drawing, composition, and color theory. Along with the artistic side, students will also get hands-on experience and instruction in cutting-edge tools like Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop.
