Best Online Graphic Design Degrees & Programs 2024

Graphic design is one of the rare careers where you get paid to be creative. Graphic designers use design principles, visual arts, and typography to connect and communicate with their audience.

Great graphic design is fundamentally human: It’s about making something that strikes a chord with other people. This is why, even as AI may change how graphic designers do their jobs in the future, it won’t replace them altogether. According to the Bureau for Labor Statistics (BLS), graphic design jobs will continue to grow through 2033.

Today, you can break into the field without ever leaving your house by enrolling in one of these top online graphic design programs.

Unsurprisingly, most graphic designers are visually creative. However, they are also gifted communicators, capable of expressing themselves through their work and in conversations with clients. Graphic designers are also comfortable with technology and familiar with the latest software applications and coding languages.

There are many different types of graphic design bachelor’s programs for students to choose from. Depending on the school, graphic design students can earn a bachelor of science (BS), bachelor of arts (BA), bachelor of fine arts (BFA), or bachelor of science in design (BSD).

In general, BA programs include more liberal arts courses than either BS or BFA programs. BS and BSD programs emphasize more technical training, while BFA programs are most suitable for students committed to pursuing careers in the arts.

Both on-campus and online bachelor’s programs consist of at least 120 credits of coursework, including core curriculum courses and major requirements. Most bachelor’s programs take full-time students about four years to complete.

Some online graphic design programs offer concentrations such as 3D modeling, web design, motion graphics, and interactive design. Some also provide internship opportunities, allowing students to gain valuable experience in the field. Graduating students often create a portfolio of their work, which they can then present to prospective employers.

There are several good reasons to get your graphic design degree online.

Online programs let you choose when and where to study, making it easier to balance school with other responsibilities and commitments.

The digital nature of graphic design makes it especially well suited for online learning. Great online programs equip you with all the relevant industry skills (like design principles, layout, color theory, illustration, and digital imaging) while also strengthening your competence with digital collaboration tools and design software.

An online degree can also help you build a comprehensive design portfolio, develop a professional network, and qualify for skilled graphic design careers across industries.

Thanks in part to the pandemic, remote learning has become the default for many students, and schools that offer high-quality online degree programs report excellent student experiences and outcomes.

As an online graphic design student, you can expect to spend your days designing, drafting, experimenting, illustrating, problem-solving, and even copywriting. Coursework can be intensive, creatively demanding, and require a good amount of independent learning.

But you won’t have to do it all on your own: The excellent online programs we’ve ranked on this page provide a great deal of instruction, structure, and support to make sure students thrive and succeed.

The visual and performing arts, including graphic design, are popular majors among students. During the 2020-2021 academic year, over 90,000 undergrads earned a visual and performing arts degree, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Studying graphic design can be a fun and rewarding way to explore your creative side. However, before choosing it as your major, you should consider the job market for graphic designers. The BLS projects that the graphic design field will see 6,600 job openings each year from 2023-2033, which would represent 2% growth — about as fast as the national average for all occupations.

However, many graphic design graduates also work in fast-growing industries, such as web design and advertising. The BLS projects that jobs for web developers and designers will increase 8% over the next decade — faster than average.

According to Payscale, graphic designers earned an average annual salary of $50,530 as of December 2023. Web designers made slightly more, earning an average income of $55,510 per year, as did marketing specialists ($56,100 per year).

You don’t need a graduate degree to succeed as a graphic designer. However, some graduates of bachelor’s in graphic design programs pursue master’s degrees or doctorates.

Master’s in graphic design programs provide bachelor’s degree-holders with further training, which can help them improve their design skills and stand out to potential employers. In contrast, Ph.D. programs in graphic design typically emphasize research. Degree-seekers study design theory and history and write about various subjects, such as sustainability in design and design in urban environments.

Often, individuals who earn a Ph.D. in graphic design pursue academic careers.