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By TACP Staff on November 15, 2021
Choosing the right school is an important first step for students entering the field of graphic design. With more than 90 colleges and universities in Alabama offering a wide range of program options, picking the school that matches your needs and interests can be a daunting task. Although there’s no absolute right or wrong way to make a decision about which school is right for you, you can start by reviewing school rankings and guides to help you find the right fit.
Graphic designers are artistic professionals who use their creative and technical skills to communicate messages in a visual manner. They work in a variety of industries such as technical, marketing, publishing, and non-profit. Graphic designers must be both ‘left-brained’ and ‘right-brained’, as such, post-secondary graphic design programs integrate both the art and the science of communicating through this medium.
The field continues to evolve and so graphic designers are continually challenged to use inventive thinking in order to communicate spatial and artistic messages to a variety of audiences. The colleges below offer the best art education and have rigorous academic standards.
| RANK | SCHOOL | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auburn University | Auburn, AL |
| 2 | Samford University | Birmingham, AL |
| 3 | Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL |
| 4 | The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL |
| 5 | The University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL |
| 6 | Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL |
| 7 | University of Montevallo | Montevallo, AL |
Graduating as a graphic design major shows companies that you have a specialized ability that is valuable in a variety of industries. However, there is often strong competition for available jobs due to the many talented individuals who are attracted to graphic design careers. According to employment trends released by Careerinfonet.org, the employment outlook for graphic designers is promising. In Alabama, job prospects for graphic designers are expected to increase by 60 jobs or 6% per year from now until 2020 – due to the rate of new job growth in the state.
The Art Career Project is a trusted resource for emerging and professional artists.