School and Ranking Information
The majority of schools in the San Francisco area that offer graphic design degree programs are either private for-profit colleges or 2-year public institutions. Based on program offerings and student services, the following school is considered one of the top schools in the area for graphic design:
- Winner: California College of the Arts is the only 4-year private, not-for-profit school in a roughly 10-mile radius of San Francisco with degrees in this field. This school offers a bachelor's degree in graphic design.
School Info Chart
| Category | California College of the Arts |
|---|---|
| Rankings | #10 Graduate Fine Arts Schools (2020), #4 Graphic Design Graduate Programs (2023)** |
| Location | San Francisco, CA |
| School Type | 4-year, private, not-for-profit |
| Undergraduate Tuition & Fees (2021-2022) | $53,312* |
| Graphic Design Degrees Offered | Bachelor's |
| Graphic Design Degrees Awarded in 2020-2021 | 27* |
| Undergraduate Graduation Rate (in 150% of normal degree time) for 2015 Entering Class | 65% |
| Noteworthy | Graphic design students and alumni have won numerous awards |
Sources: *NCES College Navigator, **U.S. News and World Report
California College of the Arts
- CCA has 495 faculty members, with the vast majority of them teaching undergraduate courses
- Student-exchange program with over 30 different arts schools in numerous cities
- The school has $23 million in scholarship funds, with the average amount per undergraduate recipient at nearly $23,000.
Founded in 1907 by Frederick Meyer, California College of the Arts (CCA) is a 4-year not-for-profit private school. In fall 2021, it enrolled approximately 1,630 students between its San Francisco and Oakland campuses. Programs range from animation to writing. This school has a comparably low student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1.
CCA offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design, consisting of a total of 126 credits. The curriculum includes hands-on studio courses, core major requirements and general education coursework. Students can participate in an internship with a design firm. CCA also offers a Master of Fine Arts in Design with courses in graphic design.
