School and Ranking Info
Schools within 25 miles of Newport News, VA, that offer programs in graphic design and multimedia are limited to community colleges and private, for-profit schools. However, there is one high-ranking public university about 65 miles away that offers undergraduate and graduate programs in graphic design and visual communication, as well internships and the chance to study overseas.
- Winner: Virginia Commonwealth University enrolls over 30,000 students a year and has a student-faculty ratio of 17-to-1. This school offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Design/Visual Communications.
School Info Chart
| Category | Virginia Commonwealth University |
|---|---|
| Rankings | #166 among Top National Universities (2022); #83 among Top Public Schools (2022); #4 among Best Graduate Schools for Graphic Design (2023); #4 among Best Graduate Schools for Fine Arts (2020)* |
| Location | Richmond, VA |
| School Type | 4-year, public |
| Tuition & Fees (2021-2022) | Undergraduate: $15,319 (in-state), $36,657 (out-of-state)** |
| Graphic Design and Multimedia Degrees Offered | Bachelor's and master's |
| Graphic Design and Multimedia Degrees Awarded (all levels) in 2020-2021 | 56** |
| Most Popular Graphic Design and Multimedia Programs in 2020-2021 | Bachelor's (56)** |
| Undergraduate Graduation Rate (in 150% of normal degree time) for 2015 entering class | 68%** |
| Noteworthy | Virginia Museum of Fine Arts provides fellowships for eligible art students |
Sources: *U.S. News & World Report; **NCES College Navigator.
Virginia Commonwealth University
- Graphic arts students have access to digital labs, an in-house publishing bureau and letterpress equipment
- School of the Arts sponsors exhibitions and guest lectures
- Transdisciplinary internship program
In 1968, the Medical College of Virginia and the Richmond Professional Institute joined together to create Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), now comprised of two campuses in the Richmond area. VCU's School of the Arts consists of 3,000 students, offers 16 programs and hosts regular galleries and exhibitions of student art. Students are encouraged to submit work to university publications, pursue internships, participate in collaborative projects and attend career-enhancing seminars and workshops.
Through the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design program, students develop a firm grasp of the fundamentals of visual communication and design. The program consists of 120 credits and usually takes four years to complete. Once enrolled, students learn about the history of visual communication and pursue courses in design technology, imaging and typography. In the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Design/Visual Communications program, graduate students explore advanced research methods and problem solving techniques as they relate to visual concepts. Applicants must submit a portfolio with 20-30 pieces of work. Courses may include topics in interdisciplinary team design, motivational graphics and visual interface design. The program culminates in a final project or thesis.
