Top Graphic Design Schools Admission and Tuition Comparison

Rhode Island School of Design is ranked first in Graphic Design and Yale University is placed in second.
Graphic design is the art of communication, stylizing, and problem-solving through the use of type, space and image. The field is considered a subset of visual communication and communication design, but sometimes the term "graphic design" is used interchangeably with these due to overlapping skills involved. Graphic designers use various methods to create and combine words, symbols, and images to create a visual representation of ideas and messages. A graphic designer may use a combination of typography, visual arts and page layout techniques to produce a final result. Graphic design often refers to both the process (designing) by which the communication is created and the products (designs) which are generated.(read more at wiki)


Academic Factors Comparison Between Best Colleges in Graphic Design Major

1 public and 9 private schools are ranked in the top 10 Graphic Design colleges. The average acceptance ratio of the schools is 47.44% where Yale University has the tightest acceptance ratio of 6% and Virginia Commonwealth University has the highest ratio of 81%. Total 79,617 students are enrolled into best Graphic Design schools where Virginia Commonwealth University has the largest population with 30,872 students and Cranbrook Academy of Art has the smallest with 140 students. The average graduation rate is 76.00% and the average students to faculty ratio is 9.56:1 at those colleges.
Next table shows the academic information and key facts of the best Graphic Design colleges including acceptance ratio, graduation rates, student population, and students to faculty ratio.
Table. Best Graphic Design Colleges Overview
RankName Acceptance RatesGraduation RatesPopulationStudent-Faculty Ratio
1 Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, RI
34%90%2,477 9:1 (11.11 %)
2 Yale University
New Haven, CT
6%98%12,458 6:1 (16.67 %)
3 Maryland Institute College of Art
Baltimore, MD
57%73%2,112 9:1 (11.11 %)
4 Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA
22%90%13,258 10:1 (10.00 %)
5 Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
81%62%30,872 18:1 (5.56 %)
6 Cranbrook Academy of Art
Bloomfield Hills, MI
--140 -
7 Art Center College of Design
Pasadena, CA
69%73%2,138 9:1 (11.11 %)
7 California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
24%66%1,455 7:1 (14.29 %)
9 School of Visual Arts
New York, NY
74%64%4,406 9:1 (11.11 %)
10 The New School
New York, NY
60%68%10,301 9:1 (11.11 %)
Average47.44%76.00%79,617 (Total) 9.56:1 (10.47 %)

Best Graphic Design Colleges 2018 Tuition & Fees Comparison and 2019 Estimated Costs

Next table lists 2017-2018 tuition & fees and compares the costs between Best Graphic Design Colleges. The 2017-2018 costs are officially published by IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education. The estimated costs for year 2018-2019 are calculated and estimated based on each school's tuition rates last year.

For the undergraduate programs, the average tuition & fees of best Graphic Design schools is $45,273 where Carnegie Mellon University has the most expensive costs with $52,310 and Virginia Commonwealth University has the lowest amount of tuition with with $33,656. The average graduate tuition & fees of best Graphic Design schools is $42,175 where Rhode Island School of Design has the highest tuition with $48,470 and Virginia Commonwealth University has the lowest amount of tuition with with $25,654.
UndergraduateGraduate
Table. Best Graphic Design Colleges 2018 Undergraduate Tuition & Fees Comparison and 2019 Estimation
RankSchool Name 2018 Tuition & Fees2019 Estimated Tuition & Fees
In-StateOut-of-StateIn-StateOut-of-State
1Rhode Island School of Design $48,370$49,663
2Yale University $51,400$53,394
3Maryland Institute College of Art $46,990$48,635
4Carnegie Mellon University $52,310$52,310
5Virginia Commonwealth University $13,624$33,656 $14,137$35,083
6Cranbrook Academy of Art --
7Art Center College of Design $42,008$43,469
7California Institute of the Arts $47,446$49,316
9School of Visual Arts $38,000$39,561
10The New School $47,276$49,083
Average$13,624$45,273$14,137$46,724
Table. Best Graphic Design Colleges 2018 Graduate School Tuition & Fees Comparison and 2019 Estimation
RankSchool Name 2018 Tuition & Fees2019 Estimated Tuition & Fees
In-StateOut-of-StateIn-StateOut-of-State
1Rhode Island School of Design $48,470$49,869
2Yale University $41,000$42,236
3Maryland Institute College of Art $46,990$48,635
4Carnegie Mellon University $42,597$42,597
5Virginia Commonwealth University $13,633$25,654 $14,141$26,043
6Cranbrook Academy of Art $38,050$39,129
7Art Center College of Design $44,362$45,901
7California Institute of the Arts $47,446$49,316
9School of Visual Arts $42,570$44,319
10The New School $44,607$46,397
Average$13,633$42,175$14,141$43,445