Web Design Degrees
Web design is the practice of creating sites that are intuitive, well-laid out, and provide a convenient user experience for desktop, tablet, or mobile visitors. Professionals in this field are responsible for giving websites their aesthetic and creative traits. This can be a crucial part of establishing a company or product's brand identity.
As such, it's a fairly important field in terms of marketing. However, it's also important for other pursuits. Government websites, for example, can benefit from effective web design that makes it easier for citizens to access resources. Entertainment websites will also find simple navigation to be important. As more of the world moves onto the internet, web designers will have a role in defining what this online presence looks and feels like.
There are degrees available in this field on several levels. Students can choose the level of education that makes sense for them and best prepares them for the web design jobs they're interested in.
What Kinds of Web Design Degrees Are There?
Students interested in web design have several options available to them in terms of degrees. Like with many fields, different levels of education and training prepare students for different job opportunities. Each degree has its own investment requirements in terms of time and money. Students might want to consider their career aspirations when choosing a program to determine how much education is required. Doing so may help to make sure that students are not overprepared or underprepared for their desired roles.
Associate Degrees in Web Design
An associate degree in web design is around 60 credits that can be completed in about two years on a full-time schedule, or longer if done part-time. Associate degree credits focus strongly on web design skills, however, there may also be general education courses included as well. An associate degree can prepare students for entry-level jobs in the industry, however, they can also be used to earn transferable credits for use in a four-year degree. This may be a more economic choice to obtain useful web design skills with less time commitment.
Bachelor's Degrees in Web Design
A bachelor's degree in web design is about 120 credits. Students can typically complete these in four years on a full-time schedule or longer if done part-time. In addition to a curriculum focusing on web design, students should also expect general education classes as well. These may include literature or fine arts courses.
Students may have the choice between a Bachelor of Arts, which might focus more on the design and thought behind web design; a Bachelor of Science, which will likely have more content covering the technical aspects; or a Bachelor of Technology, which is similar to a Bachelor of Science but usually has more practical classes as opposed to theoretical ones.
Master's Degrees in Web Design
Master's degrees in web design are available for students who are interested in pursuing further study. These programs usually cover around 40-50 credits depending on the school. These can be completed in about 18 months if undertaken full time. Students interested in part-time options can have up to 5 years to finish the program in some locations. Master's programs contain sophisticated courses covering web design and often culminate in a final project or research effort to demonstrate student skill.
Doctoral Degrees in Web Design
Doctoral degrees specifically in web design tend to be rare. However, students might want to consider pursuing a Ph.D. in a related field such as computer science if they are interested in a doctoral degree. Ph.D. programs typically have around 72 credits to be completed in as little as 2.5 years but students may choose to take up to 6. A defining feature of doctoral degrees is the strong element of independent research. Students interested in this program should be prepared to analyze and synthesize content to form an original creation.
Certificates in Web Design
Certificates in web design offer students the opportunity to learn more about their field. These courses of study usually have around 12-18 credits depending on the program and can typically be completed in 6 months to 1.5 years if taken full time.
Certificates may be useful to students looking to demonstrate expertise in a certain area of web design to potential employers. Some certificate credits may be transferable to bachelor's or master's degrees. However, this varies widely from school to school, so students are encouraged to research this thoroughly before applying.
Best Bachelor's Degrees in Web Design
1. University of Washington-Bothell Campus
| Tuition | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate | Financial Aid % | Placement Services | Career Services | Accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $11,390 | 74% | 69% | 63% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
2. Brigham Young University-Idaho
| Tuition | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate | Financial Aid % | Placement Services | Career Services | Accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $4,208 | 96% | 60% | 61% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
3. University of Arizona
| Tuition | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate | Financial Aid % | Placement Services | Career Services | Accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $12,379 | 85% | 65% | 91% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
4. Northwest Missouri State University
| Tuition | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate | Financial Aid % | Placement Services | Career Services | Accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $8,238 | 73% | 52% | 98% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
5. Lindenwood University
| Tuition | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate | Financial Aid % | Placement Services | Career Services | Accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $18,100 | 88% | 50% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits |
6. Lewis-Clark State College
| Tuition | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate | Financial Aid % | Placement Services | Career Services | Accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $6,982 | 100% | 38% | 94% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
7. University of Arkansas at Little Rock
| Tuition | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate | Financial Aid % | Placement Services | Career Services | Accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $9,512 | 66% | 43% | 95% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits |
8. Touro College
| Tuition | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate | Financial Aid % | Placement Services | Career Services | Accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $18,663 | 69% | 61% | 88% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
9. Husson University
| Tuition | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate | Financial Aid % | Placement Services | Career Services | Accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $18,420 | 85% | 57% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits |
10. Davenport University
| Tuition | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate | Financial Aid % | Placement Services | Career Services | Accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $19,338 | 82% | 49% | 98% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits |
11. CUNY Brooklyn College
| Tuition | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate | Financial Aid % | Placement Services | Career Services | Accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $7,440 | 45% | 54% | 83% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
12. Trevecca Nazarene University
| Tuition | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate | Financial Aid % | Placement Services | Career Services | Accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $26,098 | 62% | 56% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
13. Pennsylvania College of Technology
| Tuition | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate | Financial Aid % | Placement Services | Career Services | Accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $17,160 | No Available Data (2019-2020) | 45% | 89% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
14. Utah Valley University
| Tuition | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate | Financial Aid % | Placement Services | Career Services | Accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,820 | No Available Data (2019-2020) | 32% | 74% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
To get a more in-depth look at our school ranking methodology, please visit Study.com's ranking methodology page.
Tuition information is based on published tuition and required fees, per data by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Difference Between Web Design & Web Developer Degree Programs
Though the difference between a web designer and a web developer is subtle, knowing how to distinguish can make a big difference when going over a program's courses.
- Web designer programs typically prepare students for aesthetic tasks like designing a site's layout or deciding on the best color scheme.
- Web developer programs focus more on the software aspect of a website. Developers are expected to do tasks like testing a site's performance or creating code to communicate with a server.
There is some overlap between the professions and is reflected in institutional programs. Classes focusing on elements of web design have the potential to complement classes that focus on web development. Having skills in both categories may give a valuable boost to employment prospects. However, given that different strengths are needed for these different fields, students may still want to consider which they are better suited to and choose electives that cater to those skills.
Web Design Bachelor's Degree Concentrations
Students may find that web design is a concentration within a larger major of computer science at some schools. Other times, it's available as a minor instead of a major. As this varies from program to program, concentrations that are similar across the board are rare. Students should choose electives that fit areas of interest such as graphic design and communication to focus their studies.
Curriculum for a Bachelor's Degree in Web Design
Exact course names will vary between programs. However, there are a few courses that students can reasonably expect to take when pursuing a bachelor's degree in web design, such as:
- Computer Programming, where students can learn coding styles required to run software.
- Web Design Fundamentals, which can introduce students to aesthetic and navigational principles currently considered best practice.
- Web Services, where students have the opportunity to learn more about the internet infrastructure supporting their web pages.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Bachelor's in Web Design?
Bachelor's degrees in web design typically have 120 credits that must be completed before graduation. When divided equally among semesters, students have the opportunity to attend full time and complete the program in 4 years. Roughly half of this time will be spent on courses directly relevant to web design. Of the other 60 credits, roughly 40 will be focused on general education courses, and the remaining 20 divided amongst electives or opportunities for internships.
How to Choose a Web Design School & Bachelor's Program
When it comes to choosing a school, students will find a long list of top web design schools to choose from. Students should look for a program that has robust computer courses. They might also want to look for options to take electives that fit their interests, such as graphic design. Additionally, it might be worthwhile to investigate a program's internship and career opportunities during the research process.
Students should also closely examine the quality of the general education courses. General education is largely meant to produce well-rounded students as well as enhance the core major. As such, making sure a program of interest is strong in areas other than web design might be wise.
Another way to choose a web design school can be to investigate where recent graduates have been employed. This can give students an idea of what opportunities a degree from that school may provide them. It can also be a valuable opportunity to network with others in the field.
Accreditation for Bachelor's in Web Design Degrees
Students interested in a bachelor's degree in web design should look for an accredited institution. Accreditation means that a school has been approved by a private regional organization that has itself been recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), the Department of Education, or both. This process examines schools and verifies that their educational offerings are of acceptable quality. Students who attend accredited institutions show future employers that they hold a valuable degree. Additionally, only students attending accredited schools are eligible for governmental aid.
For web design programs, some schools may choose to obtain accreditation from the private organization National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). This organization verifies the quality of creative classes. However, this accreditation is not mandatory, and the lack of accreditation from NASAD is not necessarily an indicator of a poor program. Students are encouraged to review the courses thoroughly.
Web Design Licensure & Certification
There is no requirement for licensure to be a web designer. However, there are some voluntary options for certification that students may be interested in that can display experience and skill to potential employers.
One example is to become a Certified Web Designer Novice (CWDSA-novice) by Web Professionals.org. Students pay a fee to sit for an exam of their skills and must achieve at least 70% to pass. This exam covers the fundamentals of web design. Students can pursue higher levels of certification from this association as well, ranging from apprentice, associate, and finally, professional.
Certification is not required by any federal regulations. As such, obtaining one is not necessary to be a web designer. However, in addition to demonstrating skills to employers, certification may also help students network. Certification demonstrates an awareness of the field and its general career requirements. Additionally, students may find that working with the professional organizations giving certification helps them to become more involved with the community.
What Can I Do With a Bachelor's Degree in Web Design?
Web design degrees can prepare students for a variety of internet-based jobs. While most will relate specifically to aesthetic design, other skills such as programming may also be helpful. For example, courses in web design typically require a certain amount of logic to bring creative ideas to life on the internet. This combination of scientific and artistic thinking may suit students well for careers such as scientific writing or illustrations of technical principles.
Additionally, some web design programs also focus closely on elements of web development. Courses from some schools may give students the skills to work on the back end of websites in addition to the front end. When taking this into account, there are many jobs for students with a bachelor's degree in web design and development.
How to Become a Graphic Web Designer
A graphic web designer is an individual who creates images and art for websites. They may also be responsible for the technical application of these designs and integrating them into the website, though duties and requirements of a web design job may vary depending on the employer or position.
A bachelor's degree is typically needed for entry-level positions, but required education and career possibilities for graphic web designers vary between employers. Graphic web designers may have full-time positions or act as independent contractors. Certification isn't required but may prove useful.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), graphic designers earn $52,110 per year. There is an expected 4% decline for the 2019-2029 period owing to an anticipated growth of competition in the field. The highest paying states for graphic designers are Washington, D.C., Washington state, and Massachusetts in that order.
How to Become a Web Producer
A web producer is a professional who creates and maintains web pages, from their technical aspects to driving traffic to those sites. These individuals are often responsible for design elements as well as more technical jobs. For example, they might both write the code to set up a web page and create images for it that will enrich the visitor experience. This position is typically full time and takes place largely behind a computer. Certification is not a federal requirement for these positions, but students may find it increases their odds of employment.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), web developers earn $73,760 per year. Web producers are a subset of this profession. There is an anticipated 8% growth for the 2019-2029 period owing to an anticipated rise in the number of internet users. The highest paying states for this profession are Washington, California, and Georgia.
Financial Aid & Scholarship Information for Bachelor's in Web Design Degrees
Students who are attending an accredited school will have the opportunity to apply for governmental support through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application can help students discover their eligibility for such support as loans, work-study opportunities, and scholarships. All awards are given based on the student's financial need. Additionally, as the process can be lengthy and complex, students are encouraged to start the application at their earliest convenience.
Students may also want to look into nonfederal financial aid options, as there are many scholarships available to those interested in web design. Some award those of a particular unrepresented category, like the Wongdoody Creative Black Womxn to Watch scholarship. This is awarded to black, female-identifying individuals with an interest in creative design experiences. The chosen student will receive $5,000 towards their education. Others award those looking for a particular focus, like the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) scholarship for video game design that awards money to women and minorities pursuing a computer science or video game arts and sciences-related degree.
