Are you ready to embark on a career in graphic design? Great! The first step is to explore your educational options. Excellent graphic design schools can be found throughout the world, and the schools below stand out for their art and design rankings, program offerings, and design-focused learning environments. This list of top graphic design schools is worth considering as you compare options.
Top Graphic Design Schools in the World
1. Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art (RCA) is one of the best art and design schools in the world. Located in London, United Kingdom, RCA is a strong choice for students who already have an art or design background and want to challenge themselves at the postgraduate level. RCA is a postgraduate-only university that offers graduate diplomas, master’s degrees, and research degrees; for graphic design-focused students, the Visual Communication MA is a common route.
Students in the Visual Communication MA complete a 180-credit, full-time program over one year, or 45 weeks. During this time, students can develop their practice, build a professional network, and study in London’s creative environment. If you are looking to take a major step in your graphic design career, RCA may be the right fit for you.
2. The New School
The New School is located in New York City, United States. Its Parsons School of Design offers undergraduate and graduate communication design programs for students at different stages of their design education. The Communication Design BFA is a 120-credit, full-time, on-campus degree completed in four years, while the Communication Design MPS is a 30-credit, full-time, on-campus master’s program completed in one year.
Parsons describes its Communication Design program as the oldest graphic and communication design course of study in the United States. Students study in Lower Manhattan, surrounded by museums, studios, media companies, and a design culture that extends across the United States and the world.
3. Glasgow School of Art
The Glasgow School of Art is located in Glasgow, Scotland, and is considered one of the top art and design schools in the world. Its communication design offerings include undergraduate study in Communication Design and master’s study through graphics, illustration, and photography pathways. These pathways can help students develop focused portfolios in areas such as graphic design, image-making, and lens-based media.
Programs at Glasgow School of Art are studio-based and project-based, encouraging students to collaborate artistically with their peers. Courses are offered on campus, supporting creative exchange and networking among students who may continue to collaborate after graduation. Students graduate from Glasgow School of Art with a deeper understanding of professional practice, visual communication, and the value of individual artistic perspectives.
4. Pratt Institute
The Pratt Institute has campuses in Brooklyn and Manhattan in New York City, as well as Pratt Munson in Utica, New York. Its BFA in Communications Design with an emphasis in Graphic Design is a 126-credit, four-year program that promotes a project-based, studio-focused approach to learning. Pratt also offers graduate study in Communications Design.
Professors at Pratt Institute focus on the impact of design on communities, media, ideas, and cultural norms. Each artist can develop a distinct visual voice and learn to present work professionally. Students who attend Pratt Institute also benefit from being part of New York’s wider design industry and creative community.
5. Politecnico di Milano
- Study Program
- Location: Italy | Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s and Master’s
Design students at Politecnico di Milano study in Milan, Italy, one of Europe’s major design capitals. The Bachelor of Science in Communication Design is a three-year program taught in Italian at the Milano Bovisa campus. It prepares students to design and manage visual and multimedia communication systems in analog and digital contexts.
International students considering the bachelor’s program should be ready to study in Italian. Students looking for graduate study may also consider Politecnico di Milano’s Master of Science in Communication Design, a two-year program offered in Italian or English at Milano Bovisa. Politecnico di Milano is also highly ranked in design, placing seventh globally for Design in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
6. School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Located in Chicago, United States, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is another prestigious art and design school. SAIC’s Visual Communication Design department emphasizes critical and analytical skills, helping students develop personal voice, visual language, and an understanding of design across physical and virtual communication media. The school lists Georgia O’Keeffe among its notable alumni and faculty.
Chicago gives students access to museums, public art, civic life, advertising, and design communities, while the school’s downtown location places students near Lake Michigan and the Art Institute of Chicago. These surroundings can help students find inspiration both within the city and beyond the studio.
SAIC also focuses on artists learning from other artists. Its Visual Communication Design department hosts an annual lecture series featuring leading designers and educators from the United States and abroad. SAIC’s broader Visiting Artists Program also brings renowned artists, designers, and scholars to campus.
7. Aalto University
Aalto University is located in Espoo, Finland, and began operating in 2010 after the merger of the Helsinki School of Economics, Helsinki University of Technology, and the University of Art and Design Helsinki. Its English-taught Bachelor’s Programme in Design and Media is part of a 3+2 study path that leads to both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Art and Design. The bachelor’s portion is a 180 ECTS, three-year program.
Aalto University has become a leading school for art and design, ranking ninth in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for Art and Design. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not pay tuition; students who are liable for tuition in the English-taught Design and Media bachelor’s program pay €15,000 per academic year unless they receive a tuition waiver scholarship. Analytical and creative students can thrive in Aalto University’s design-focused curriculum.
We hope that this article on the best universities for graphic design in the world was helpful. To learn more about studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students.
