The List of All U.S Colleges With a Graphic Design and Photography Major
Can you recognize fonts at a glance? Do you love taking pictures of small moments and things that other people might miss? You may be a future Graphic Design and Photography major! Read on to find out more about this creative field and every school that offers this major.
Why Study Graphic Design and Photography in College?
If you enjoy visualizing information and think that you would enjoy developing unique imagery for others, then chances are that Graphic Design and Photography is the perfect major for you.
Humans are very visual creatures. We prefer things that employ beautiful colors, are cleverly arranged, and are just generally pleasant to look at. Many organizations–whether they are large corporations, schools and nonprofits, government agencies–are finding that the appearance of their message can help them stand out compete in an information-saturated environment.
Graphic designers and photographers help organizations develop cohesive visual content, which can not only attract people, but also distinguish their brand from competitors. They combine knowledge from the fine arts, such as color theory and composition, with the practical demands of conveying information to people in a engaging way.
As a Graphic Design and Photography major, you will take a curriculum that will reflect the artistic and pragmatic skills you need to succeed in this field. You’ll take traditional studio classes along with classes that focus on industry-standard software and tools. Some programs even teach students basic coding or marketing skills. Many programs push students to complete several internships in order to further develop your portfolio while learning essential workplace skills.
As we mentioned, graphic designers and photographers are employed by virtually every industry. Here are some of the assignments you might work on:
- Developing logos
- Assisting with the design of a website
- Creating promotional materials
- Designing paper products, especially stationary, invitations, etc.
- Shooting original photos for commercial purposes
Some schools will separate Graphic Design and Photography into two separate majors while other schools leave it combined. Although there is a distinction between the two, they often overlap; many professional photographers use the same software that graphic designers use to enhance their photos, while graphic designers benefit from being able to take original photos for their designs. As you go through the list below, you should pay attention to how they’ve structured their degree program.
How Can You Increase Your Chances of Acceptance?
While other majors often just require a general admissions application, Graphic Design and Photography is a major that often requires a portfolio. If you aren’t already taking visual arts electives, you may want to talk with your guidance counselor to make sure you’re signed up for art classes next year so that you can use your class assignments as the foundation for your portfolio.
Along with the portfolio, you’ll want to make sure you are in the ballpark of the freshman profile. Sometimes called the “Class of ___ Profile,” the freshman profile highlights the average GPA and test scores of the admitted students from last year. The closer you are to these averages, or if you’re above them, the better your chances are of being admitted to the school in general.
Because you want to start working on your portfolio as early as possible, working with a company like CollegeVine can help you prepare to apply to your dream school. We personalize the advice to suit your academic and professional goals and also take into consideration your current grade level and profile.
For 9th and 10th graders, we focus on optimizing your profile. For example, if you are interested in Graphic Design and Photography, you will be paired with a graduate from a top school who will advise you to take classes like AP Studio Art and to participate in extracurriculars like National Art Honor Society.
For 11th and 12th graders, you would receive in-depth guidance for understanding how to create a perfect college list based on factors that matter to you, and you’ll receive accurate predictions of your admissions chances. We guide you through each step of the application process so that your entire application is as strong as possible.
Which Colleges Have a Graphic Design and Photography Major?
We researched over 1400 schools to figure out every college that offered Graphic Design and Photography:
Abilene Christian University | ACU
Albertus Magnus College
Alfred State College
American University
Anderson University (Indiana)
Anderson University (South Carolina)
Andrews University
Anna Maria College | AMC
Appalachian State University
Arizona State University | ASU
Arkansas State University | A–State
Arkansas Tech University | ATU
ArtCenter College of Design | ArtCenter
Assumption College
Auburn University
Auburn University at Montgomery | AUM
Augsburg University
Augustana College
Austin Peay State University | APSU
Azusa Pacific University | APU
Baldwin Wallace University | BW
Ball State University | BSU
Barton College
Becker College
Belhaven University
Bellevue University
Benedictine University
Bethel College (Indiana)
Bethel University (Minnesota)
Bismarck State College | BSC
Bluefield College
Bluffton University
Bob Jones University | BJU
Boise State University | BSU
Boston University | BU
Brescia University
Brevard College
Briar Cliff University
Bridgewater State University
Brigham Young University | BYU
Brigham Young University–Hawaii | BYU–Hawaii
Broward College
C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University | LIU Post
Cabrini University
Caldwell University
California Baptist University | CBU
California College of the Arts | CCA
California Institute of the Arts | Cal Arts
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona | Cal Poly Pomona
California State University, Dominguez Hills | CSUDH
California State University, East Bay | CSU East Bay
California State University, Fresno | CSU Fresno
California State University, Fullerton | CSU Fullerton
California State University, Long Beach | Long Beach State
California State University, Northridge | CSUN
California State University, Sacramento | Sacramento State
California State University, San Bernardino | CSUSB
California University of Pennsylvania | Cal U
Calvin College
Campbell University
Cardinal Stritch University
Carroll University
Carson–Newman University
Castleton University
Catholic University of America | CUA
Cedarville University
Central Connecticut State University | CCSU
Central Michigan University | CMU
Central State University
Central Washington University | CWU
Champlain College
Chapman University
Charleston Southern University | CSU
Chowan University
City College of New York | CCNY
Clarke University
Coastal Carolina University | Coastal
Coker College
Colby–Sawyer College
College of Saint Rose
Columbia College (Missouri)
Columbia College Chicago
Concordia University Chicago
Concordia University Irvine
Concordia University Nebraska
Concordia University Wisconsin | CUW
Concordia University, St. Paul
Cornerstone University
Creighton University
Culver–Stockton College
Daemen College
Dakota State University | DSU
Dakota Wesleyan University | DWU
Dallas Baptist University | DBU
Daytona State College
Defiance College
Delta State University
DePaul University
Dixie State University | DSU
Dominican University (Illinois)
Dominican University of California
Drake University
Drexel University
Drury University
East Central University | ECU
East Tennessee State University | ETSU
Eastern Illinois University | EIU
Eastern Mennonite University | EMU
Eastern New Mexico University | ENMU
Edgewood College
Edinboro University
Elizabeth City State University | ECSU
Elizabethtown College | E-town
Elms College
Emmanuel College (Georgia)
Emmanuel College (Massachusetts)
Emporia State University
Evangel University
Fairleigh Dickinson University | FDU
Fairmont State University
Farmingdale State College | SUNY Farmingdale
Fashion Institute of Technology | FIT
Fayetteville State University | FSU
Ferris State University
Fitchburg State University
Flagler College
Florida A&M University | FAMU
Florida Atlantic University | FAU
Florida Gateway College | FGC
Fontbonne University
Freed–Hardeman University | FHU
Frostburg State University
George Fox University | GFU
George Washington University | GW
Georgia Southern University
Georgian Court University | GCU
Goshen College
Grace College & Seminary
Graceland University
Grand Valley State University | GVSU
Grand View University
Hastings College
Herzing University
High Point University
Houston Baptist University | HBU
Huntington University
Illinois State University | ISU
Illinois Wesleyan University
Indian River State College | IRSC
Indiana State University | ISU
Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis | IUPUI
Indiana University Northwest | IU Northwest
Indiana University South Bend | IU South Bend
Indiana Wesleyan University | IWU
Iowa State University
Ithaca College
Jackson College
Jacksonville University
James Madison University | JMU
John Brown University | JBU
John Paul the Great Catholic University | JPCatholic
Johnson & Wales University | JWU
Judson University
Kansas Wesleyan University | KWU
Kent State University
Kentucky Wesleyan College | KWC
Keuka College
La Sierra University | LSU
Laguna College of Art and Design | LCAD
Lake Erie College
Lake Washington Institute of Technology | LWTech
Lakeland University
Lander University
Lasell College | LC
Lawrence Technological University | LTU
Lenoir–Rhyne University
Lewis University
Lindenwood University
Lipscomb University
Louisiana College
Louisiana Tech University | La. Tech
Loyola University Maryland
Loyola University New Orleans
Lubbock Christian University | LCU
Madonna University
Malone University
Manhattanville College
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Marian University
Marietta College
Marquette University
Mars Hill University
Marshall University
Maryland Institute College of Art | MICA
Marymount Manhattan College
Marymount University
Maryville University
Marywood University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MIT
McPherson College
Mercy College
Mercyhurst University
Merrimack College
Messiah College
Michigan State University
MidAmerica Nazarene University | MNU
Middle Tennessee State University | MTSU
Midland College | MC
Midland University
Midway University
Millersville University of Pennsylvania | MU
Milligan College
Minnesota State University Moorhead | MSUM
Mississippi University for Women | MUW
Missouri Southern State University
Missouri State University | MSU
Missouri Western State University
Mitchell College
Montana State University | MSU
Montana State University–Northern | MSU–Northern
Mount St. Joseph University
Mount St. Mary’s University
Mount Vernon Nazarene University | MVNU
National Louis University | NLU
Nazareth College
Nevada State College | NSC
New College of Florida
New Jersey Institute of Technology | NJIT
New York City College of Technology | CUNY City Tech
New York Institute of Technology | NYIT
New York University | NYU
Norfolk State University | NSU
North Central College
North Dakota State University | NDSU
Northeastern Illinois University | NEIU
Northeastern University
Northern Arizona University | NAU
Northern Illinois University | NIU
Northern Michigan University | NMU
Northern Vermont University–Johnson | NVU Johnson
Northwest Florida State College | NWFSC
Northwest Missouri State University
Nova Southeastern University | NSU
Oberlin College
Oklahoma Baptist University | OBU
Oklahoma Christian University | OC
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology | OSUIT
Olivet Nazarene University | ONU
Olympic College
Otis College of Art and Design
Ottawa University | OU
Pace University
Pacific Northwest College of Art | PNCA
Pacific University
Palm Beach Atlantic University | PBA
Park University
Pennsylvania College of Technology | Penn Tech
Pensacola State College
Peru State College
Pittsburg State University | PSU
Plymouth State University | PSU
Point Loma Nazarene University | PLNU
Point Park University
Portland State University | PSU
Pratt Institute
Queens College, City University of New York | CUNY QC
Radford University
Ramapo College of New Jersey | RCNJ
Regent University
Reinhardt University
Rhode Island School of Design | RISD
Rider University
Robert Morris University | RMU (Pennsylvania)
Rochester Institute of Technology | RIT
Roger Williams University | RWU
Rogers State University
Rutgers University–Newark
Sacred Heart University | SHU
Saginaw Valley State University | SVSU
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | SMWC
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota | SMU
Salem State University
Sam Houston State University | SHSU
Samford University
San Jose State University | SJSU
Savannah College of Art and Design | SCAD
Seattle Central College
Seattle Pacific University | SPU
Seminole State College of Florida
Seton Hill University
Shawnee State University | SSU
Siena Heights University | SHU
Sierra Nevada College | SNC
Silver Lake College
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | SRU
South Dakota State University
South Seattle College | SSC
Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University | SOSU
Southeastern University
Southern Adventist University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale | SIU
Southern Nazarene University | SNU
Southern New Hampshire University | SNHU
Southern Utah University | SUU
Spelman College
Springfield College
St. Ambrose University
St. Augustine’s University
St. Cloud State University | SCSU
St. Edward’s University
St. Thomas Aquinas College | STAC
State College of Florida
State University of New York at Canton | SUNY Canton
State University of New York at Cobleskill | SUNY Cobleskill
State University of New York at Cortland | SUNY Cortland
State University of New York at Fredonia | SUNY Fredonia
State University of New York at New Paltz | SUNY New Paltz
State University of New York at Oneonta | SUNY Oneonta
State University of New York at Potsdam | SUNY Potsdam
State University of New York at Purchase | SUNY Purchase
Stephens College
Sterling College
Stevenson University
Stonehill College
Suffolk University
Sullivan University
Syracuse University
Taylor University
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi
Texas State University
Texas Woman’s University | TWU
The College at Brockport, State University of New York | SUNY Brockport
The College of New Jersey | TCNJ
The State University of New York at Buffalo | SUNY Buffalo
Thomas Jefferson University
Touro College
Transylvania University
Trevecca Nazarene University
Trinity International University | TIU
Troy University (Alabama)
Union College (Nebraska)
University of Akron
University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas–Fort Smith | UAFS
University of Bridgeport
University of California, Los Angeles | UCLA
University of Central Florida | UCF
University of Central Missouri | UCM
University of Central Oklahoma | UCO
University of Charleston
University of Colorado Denver | CU Denver
University of Dayton
University of Findlay | UF
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Illinois at Chicago | UIC
University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | UIUC
University of Iowa
University of Jamestown
University of Kansas
University of La Verne
University of Louisiana at Lafayette | UL Lafayette
University of Lynchburg
University of Mary Hardin–Baylor | UMHB
University of Maryland Eastern Shore | UMES
University of Maryland University College | UMUC
University of Maryland, Baltimore County | UMBC
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth | UMass Dartmouth
University of Massachusetts Lowell | UMass Lowell
University of Minnesota Duluth | UMD
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | Minnesota
University of Mobile
University of Mount Olive
University of Nebraska–Lincoln | UNL
University of Nevada, Las Vegas | UNLV
University of North Florida | UNF
University of North Georgia | UNG
University of Northern Iowa | UNI
University of Northwestern – St. Paul
University of Oregon
University of Saint Francis | USF
University of Saint Mary | USM
University of South Carolina | USC
University of South Dakota | USD
University of South Florida St. Petersburg | USFSP
University of Southern Indiana | USI
University of Southern Mississippi | Southern Miss
University of Texas of the Permian Basin | UT Permian Basin
University of the Arts | UArts
University of West Georgia | UWG
University of Wisconsin–Green Bay | UW–Green Bay
University of Wisconsin–Platteville | UW–Platteville
University of Wisconsin–River Falls | UW–River Falls
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point | UW–Stevens Point
University of Wisconsin–Stout | UW–Stout
Virginia Commonwealth University | VCU
Virginia Tech
Walla Walla University
Walsh University
Wayland Baptist University | WBU
Wayne State College
Weber State University
Webster University
West Chester University | WCUPA
West Texas A&M University | WTAMU
West Virginia University | WVU
Western Carolina University | WCU
Western Kentucky University | WKU
Western Michigan University | WMU
Western Nevada College
Western State Colorado University
Westfield State University
Wheeling Jesuit University | WJU
Whitworth University
Wichita State University | WSU
WIlliam Woods University | WWU
Wilson College
Winona State University | WSU
Woodbury University
Wright State University
Xavier University
Yale University
York College of Pennsylvania
Youngstown State University
How We Help Students Improve Their Chances
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For more advice on improving your admissions chances, check out these posts:
What Does a Rigorous High School Schedule Look Like?
What is a Good, Bad, and Excellent SAT Score? Here’s How to Think About It.
