Majoring in graphic design has become more popular in modern times thanks to the growing technology of our culture. As a result, there are many excellent opportunities to earn the degree both online or on-campus.
Yesterday, a ranking of the Top 30 best schools offering accredited online degrees in graphic design was released, placing Kentucky Wesleyan College at number eight.
Students who receive a degree in graphic design have a variety of occupational opportunities, depending upon the degree. In addition to becoming a graphic designer, other career paths include photographer, film and video director, multimedia artist or animator, digital marketer, web designer or art director to name a few.
Research editor Gwen Smith searched across the United States to find the best accredited online degrees in graphic design. In addition to the programs offered through accredited schools, factors which influenced the ranking were cost, average salary after graduation, student to faculty ratio, and graduation rates.
The Top 10 schools in the ranking are as follows:
- Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Los Angeles, California
- University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
- Midway University in Midway, Kentucky
- Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia
- Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont
- West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas
- Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Kentucky
- Upper Iowa University in Fayette Iowa
- California State University, San Bernardino in San Bernardino, California
KWC Graphic Design Assistant Professor Heather Logsdon said she was very pleased and a little surprised by the ranking.
“I didn’t think it would catch on as quickly as it has,” Logsdon said. “I’m very proud of the program; it’s very competitive with the bigger institutions. It makes me very happy that we’re doing something and we’re doing something right.”
Logsdon said the college recently started online graphic design classes to afford students the opportunity to accept positions in the field while still being able to complete their degree. With a rate of 90 percent of graphic design students receiving job offers, the program allows students to receive their bachelor’s degree online without ever stepping into the classroom.
“Not only is graphic design a flexible field,” Logsdon said, “but it also offers traditional artists a new venue.”
She said there are a lot of students who are double majors in art and graphic design as it’s an easy transition for artists.
“Graphic design gives them that outlet to still be creative and still make money. I think that’s why it’s so popular,” Logsdon said.
KWC Class of 2011 graduate and Publisher at Tanner Publishing Co., Taylor West recalled how a class taken to fulfill a general education requirement, changed the course of his future.
“My freshman year I started out as a biology major and took an intro design course to fulfill a general education requirement,” West said. “I enjoyed it so much I switched my major and continued with graphic design classes. While in the Kentucky Wesleyan Visual Arts program I learned more than how to draw and use Photoshop — I learned how to think critically and solve real-world problems by using design as a communication tool.”
For more information about the “Top 30 Best Bachelor’s in Graphic Design Programs,” click here.
