Design is the construction of a marketable product for consumer use. It is the creative process in areas such as fashion, graphics, advertising, photography, and web design.
The best online design schools should possess either regional or national accreditation from an accrediting body that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
In addition, you can often recognize top online design schools based on:
The following levels of design degree online programs are available:
The amount of time it takes a student to earn an accredited online design degree depends on the level of design degree being pursued and the pace of the student.
Typically, the breakdown is as follows:
Courses from top online design schools focus on visual design, with a heavy emphasis on computer design programs, which requires familiarity with a computer. Courses could include the following:
Design offers many venues of application, including specializations in:
Popular online design degrees prepare graduates for a variety of exciting professions in the world of visual arts fields. These professions could include the following:
A graphic designer creates and manipulates images to express a specific message or purpose.
A graphic designer plans, analyzes, and creates visual solutions to communications problems in print and electronic media sources. Graphic designers from top online design schools develop the layout and production design of various publications and produce promotional displays for print and Internet sources based on client specifications.
A graphic designer can earn an average yearly salary of around $42,400, with entry-level positions coming in around $35,000 per year. The graphic design profession expects a 13% increase in job demand through the year 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This anticipated increase is due to the high volume of advertisers and computer design firms in need of talented graphic designers.
In order to become a graphic designer, an individual should study design from an accredited online design school. Most graphic designers have at least a bachelor’s degree, and hands on experience with computers and graphics. A degree from a top online design school often includes internships or other applicable courses that provide the practice in a real world setting. It is also helpful to have work experience in an artistic or computer field.
| School | Certificate | Associates | Bachelors | Masters | PhD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Arizona State University
1151 S Forest Ave
Tempe, AZ, 85287 http://www.asu.edu/
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X | X | |||
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Ohio State University-Main Campus
190 N. Oval Mall
Columbus, OH, 43210 http://www.osu.edu
|
X | ||||
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University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
100 Church Street SE
Minneapolis, MN, 55455 http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/index.php
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X | ||||
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The University of Texas at Austin
2608 Whitis Ave
Austin, TX, 78712 http://www.utexas.edu
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X | X | |||
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University of Florida
355 Tigert Hall
Gainesville, FL, 32611 http://www.ufl.edu/
|
X | ||||
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Northern Virginia Community College
4001 Wakefield Chapel Rd
Annandale, VA, 22003 http://www.nvcc.edu
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X | X | |||
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Liberty University
1971 University Blvd
Lynchburg, VA, 24502 http://www.liberty.edu
|
X | ||||
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University of Washington-Seattle Campus
1400 NE Campus Parkway
Seattle, WA, 98195 http://www.washington.edu
|
X | ||||
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Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
201 Old Main
State College, PA, 16802 http://www.psu.edu/
|
X | ||||
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
601 E John Street
Champaign, IL, 61820 http://www.illinois.edu/
|
X | ||||
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Indiana University-Bloomington
107 South Indiana Ave.
Bloomington, IN, 47405 http://www.iub.edu
|
X | ||||
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College of Southern Nevada
6375 W. Charleston Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV, 89146 http://www.csn.edu
|
X | ||||
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University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
440 Church Street
Ann Arbor, MI, 48109 http://www.umich.edu
|
X | ||||
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Purdue University-Main Campus
Hovde Hall of Administration
West Lafayette, IN, 47907 http://www.purdue.edu
|
X | ||||
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Florida State University
211 Westcott Bldg
Tallahassee, FL, 32306 http://www.fsu.edu
|
X | ||||
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University of California-Los Angeles
405 Hilgard Ave
Los Angeles, CA, 90095 http://www.ucla.edu/
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X | X | |||
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University of Houston
212 E. Cullen Building
Houston, TX, 77204 http://www.uh.edu
|
X | X | |||
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Riverside Community College
4800 Magnolia Avenue
Riverside, CA, 92506 http://www.rcc.edu/
|
X | ||||
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Temple University
1801 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA, 19122 http://WWW.TEMPLE.EDU
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X | X | |||
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Pima Community College
401 North Bonita Avenue
Tucson, AZ, 85709 http://www.pima.edu
|
X | ||||
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East Los Angeles College
1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez
Monterey Park, CA, 91754 http://www.elac.edu/index.htm
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X | X | |||
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California State University-Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Blvd
Long Beach, CA, 90840 http://www.csulb.edu
|
X | ||||
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University of North Texas
Chestnut Ave.
Denton, TX, 76203 http://www.unt.edu
|
X | ||||
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Salt Lake Community College
4600 S Redwood Rd
Salt Lake City, UT, 84123 http://www.slcc.edu
|
X | ||||
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Brigham Young University
Main Campus
Provo, UT, 84602 http://www.byu.edu
|
X | ||||
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North Carolina State University at Raleigh
2101 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC, 27695 http://www.ncsu.edu
|
X | X | |||
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City College of San Francisco
50 Phelan Ave
San Francisco, CA, 94112 http://www.ccsf.edu
|
X | X | |||
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Santa Monica College
1900 Pico Blvd
Santa Monica, CA, 90405 http://www.smc.edu
|
X | X | |||
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Virginia Commonwealth University
910 W Franklin St
Richmond, VA, 23284 http://www.vcu.edu/
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X | X | |||
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Boston University
One Silber Way
Boston, MA, 2215 http://www.bu.edu
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X | X | |||
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San Jose State University
1 Washington Sq
San Jose, CA, 95192 http://www.sjsu.edu
|
X | ||||
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University of California-Davis
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA, 95616 http://www.ucdavis.edu
|
X | ||||
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University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
2624 Clifton Avenue
Cincinnati, OH, 45221 http://www.uc.edu
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X | X | |||
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Santa Ana College
1530 W. 17th Street
Santa Ana, CA, 92706 http://www.sac.edu
|
X | X | |||
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Texas State University-San Marcos
601 University Dr
San Marcos, TX, 78666 http://www.txstate.edu
|
X | X | |||
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San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Ave
San Francisco, CA, 94132 http://www.sfsu.edu
|
X | ||||
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Tidewater Community College
121 College Place
Norfolk, VA, 23510 http://www.tcc.edu
|
X | ||||
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Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis
425 University Blvd
Indianapolis, IN, 46202 http://www.iupui.edu
|
X | ||||
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Portland Community College
12000 SW 49th Avenue
Portland, OR, 97219 http://www.pcc.edu
|
X | X | |||
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Texas Tech University
Broadway and University Avenue
Lubbock, TX, 79409 http://www.ttu.edu
|
X | ||||
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Mt San Antonio College
1100 N Grand Ave
Walnut, CA, 91789 http://www.mtsac.edu
|
X | ||||
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Cuyahoga Community College District
700 Carnegie Ave
Cleveland, OH, 44115 http://www.tri-c.edu
|
X | ||||
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University of Utah
201 Presidents Circle
Salt Lake City, UT, 84112 http://www.utah.edu
|
X | ||||
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University of Kansas
Jayhawk Dr
Lawrence, KS, 66045 http://www.ku.edu
|
X | ||||
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California State University-Sacramento
6000 J St
Sacramento, CA, 95819 http://www.csus.edu
|
X | ||||
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University of Nevada-Las Vegas
4505 S Maryland Pky
Las Vegas, NV, 89154 http://www.unlv.edu
|
X | ||||
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Utah Valley University
800 W University Parkway
Orem, UT, 84058 http://www.uvu.edu
|
X | X | |||
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Oakland Community College
2480 Opdyke Rd
Bloomfield Hills, MI, 48304 http://www.oaklandcc.edu
|
X | ||||
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Iowa State University
137 Lynn Ave
Ames, IA, 50011 http://www.iastate.edu
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X | X | |||
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Portland State University
724 SW Harrison
Portland, OR, 97201 http://www.pdx.edu
|
X | ||||
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Long Beach City College
4901 E. Carson St.
Long Beach, CA, 90808 http://www.lbcc.edu
|
X | ||||
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Northeastern University
360 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA, 2115 http://www.northeastern.edu
|
X | X | |||
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Palomar College
1140 W. Mission
San Marcos, CA, 92069 http://WWW.PALOMAR.EDU
|
X | X | |||
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Central Michigan University
1200 S Franklin St # 121
Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859 http://www.cmich.edu
|
X | ||||
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El Camino Community College District
16007 Crenshaw Blvd
Torrance, CA, 90506 http://www.elcamino.edu
|
X | ||||
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College of DuPage
425 Fawell Blvd.
Glen Ellyn, IL, 60137 http://www.cod.edu
|
X | ||||
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University of Illinois at Chicago
601 S Morgan
Chicago, IL, 60607 http://www.uic.edu/index.html/
|
X | X | |||
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American InterContinental University-Online
5550 Prairie Stone Pky-Ste 400
Hoffman Estates, IL, 60192 http://www.aiuonline.edu
|
X | ||||
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Pasadena City College
1570 E Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA, 91106 http://www.pasadena.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
University of Kentucky
175 Funkhouser Dr
Lexington, KY, 40506 http://www.uky.edu
|
X | ||||
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Mesa Community College
1833 W Southern Ave
Mesa, AZ, 85202 http://www.mc.maricopa.edu
|
X | X | |||
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University of Akron Main Campus
302 Buchtel Common
Akron, OH, 44325 http://www.uakron.edu
|
X | ||||
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Santa Rosa Junior College
1501 Mendocino Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA, 95401 http://www.santarosa.edu
|
X | X | |||
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Fresno City College
1101 E. University Ave
Fresno, CA, 93741 http://www.fresnocitycollege.edu
|
X | X | |||
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De Anza College
21250 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Cupertino, CA, 95014 http://www.deanza.edu/
|
X | X | |||
|
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Ave NE
Washington, DC, 20002 http://www.gwu.edu
|
X | ||||
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Suffolk County Community College
533 College Rd
Selden, NY, 11784 http://www3.sunysuffolk.edu
|
X | ||||
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Auburn University Main Campus
Auburn Alabama
Auburn, AL, 36849 http://www.auburn.edu
|
X | ||||
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University of Pennsylvania
1 College Hall 34th and Spruce Sts
Philadelphia, PA, 19104 http://www.upenn.edu
|
X | ||||
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Western Michigan University
1903 West Michigan Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI, 49008 http://www.wmich.edu
|
X | ||||
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San Antonio College
1300 San Pedro Ave
San Antonio, TX, 78212 http://www.alamo.edu/sac/sacmain/sac.htm
|
X | X | |||
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Northern Arizona University
Knoles Drive Babbitt Administrative Center
Flagstaff, AZ, 86011 http://home.nau.edu/
|
X | ||||
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Saddleback College
28000 Marguerite Pky
Mission Viejo, CA, 92692 http://www.saddleback.edu
|
X | X | |||
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San Diego Mesa College
7250 Mesa College Dr
San Diego, CA, 92111 http://www.sdmesa.edu/
|
X | ||||
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Weber State University
3848 Harrison Blvd
Ogden, UT, 84408 http://www.weber.edu
|
X | ||||
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Ohio University-Main Campus
E Mulberry
Athens, OH, 45701 http://www.ohio.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Harrisburg Area Community College-Harrisburg
One HACC Dr
Harrisburg, PA, 17110 http://www.hacc.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Drexel University
3141 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA, 19104 http://www.drexel.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Fullerton College
321 E Chapman Avenue
Fullerton, CA, 92832 http://www.fullcoll.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
3801 W Temple Ave
Pomona, CA, 91768 http://www.csupomona.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Los Angeles Pierce College
6201 Winnetka Ave
Los Angeles, CA, 91371 http://www.piercecollege.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Cerritos College
11110 Alondra Blvd
Norwalk, CA, 90650 http://WWW.CERRITOS.EDU
|
X | ||||
|
Southwestern College
900 Otay Lakes Rd
Chula Vista, CA, 91910 http://www.swccd.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
College of the Canyons
26455 Rockwell Canyon Rd
Santa Clarita, CA, 91355 http://www.canyons.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Lansing Community College
419 N Capitol Ave
Lansing, MI, 48901 http://www.lansing.cc.mi.us
|
X | X | |||
|
The University of Texas at El Paso
500 W. University Ave
El Paso, TX, 79968 http://www.utep.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
CUNY Queens College
65-30 Kissena Blvd
New York, NY, 11367 http://www.qc.cuny.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Sierra College
5000 Rocklin Road
Rocklin, CA, 95677 http://www.sierracollege.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Community College of Allegheny County
800 Allegheny Ave
Pittsburgh, PA, 15233 http://www.ccac.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Johnson County Community College
12345 College Blvd
Overland Park, KS, 66210 http://www.jccc.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Missouri State University
901 S National
Springfield, MO, 65897 http://www.missouristate.edu
|
X | ||||
|
St. John's University-New York
8000 Utopia Pky
New York, NY, 11439 http://www.stjohns.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
900 S Illinois Ave
Carbondale, IL, 62901 http://www.siuc.edu
|
X | ||||
|
San Joaquin Delta College
5151 Pacific Ave
Stockton, CA, 95207 http://www.deltacollege.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Milwaukee Area Technical College
700 W State St
Milwaukee, WI, 53233 http://matc.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Glendale Community College
6000 W Olive Ave
Glendale, AZ, 85302 http://www.gc.maricopa.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Los Angeles Valley College
5800 Fulton Avenue
Los Angeles, CA, 91401 http://www.lavc.edu
|
X | ||||
|
Los Angeles City College
855 N Vermont Ave
Los Angeles, CA, 90029 http://www.lacitycollege.edu/
|
X | ||||
|
Santa Barbara City College
721 Cliff Drive
Santa Barbara, CA, 93109 http://www.sbcc.edu
|
X | X | |||
|
Ivy Tech Community College-Central Indiana
50 W. Fall Creek Parkway N. Drive
Indianapolis, IN, 46208 http://www.ivytech.edu/indianapolis/
|
X |