Design Schools and Programs in The United States

Design Studies in The United States

Design is the practice of shaping products, images, spaces and digital experiences so that they work well and communicate clearly. In the United States it is not one degree but a family of specialisms: graphic or communication design, industrial or product design, interior design, fashion design and interaction design are the most common. They are taught in art schools, in colleges of design or architecture inside large universities, and in community colleges.

SpainExchange lists 66 schools in the United States with design programmes. They are spread across the country: New York has three, Baltimore two, and the others are in cities such as Seattle, Los Angeles, Austin, Ann Arbor, Pittsburgh and Cambridge.

How design degrees are organised

The standard qualification is the bachelor's degree, which EducationUSA says is usually completed in four years of full-time study. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that graphic, industrial, interior and fashion designers typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation. Degree titles vary: the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), the Bachelor of Design (BDes), the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and the Bachelor of Science all appear.

Three examples show the range. The University of Washington in Seattle offers a Bachelor of Design in three majors (industrial design, interaction design and visual communication design) and a Master of Design. The University of North Texas has B.F.A. programmes in communication design, fashion design and interior design, an M.A. in interaction design and M.F.A. programmes in fashion design and interior design. At the University of California, Los Angeles, the Department of Design Media Arts offers a Design B.A. and a Media Arts M.F.A.

Other universities organise design in a separate college. The University of Kentucky College of Design combines a School of Architecture, a School of Interiors and a Department of Product Design. Ferris State University's Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids teaches product design among other fields and has a Master of Arts in Design. The Harvard Graduate School of Design is a graduate school: its programmes include a Master in Design Studies, a Master in Design Engineering and a Doctor of Design, alongside architecture, landscape architecture and urban planning.

Community colleges offer two-year associate degrees in design fields and technical training. EducationUSA notes that credits earned there can count towards a bachelor's degree. The master's degree, described by EducationUSA as a two-year degree, is the usual graduate qualification; the M.F.A. is common in studio-based fields.

Admission: grades, English and a portfolio

Design programmes often select students twice: once for the university and again for the major. The BLS notes that many schools require basic art and design courses before granting entry into a bachelor's programme, and that applicants may need to submit sketches and other examples of their artistic ability. At the University of Washington, admission to the Bachelor of Design involves an application process held once a year; the university states that completing the degree requires three years. At the University of North Texas, students start as pre-majors and must meet minimum academic requirements.

International applicants also need to show their level of English. EducationUSA states that US universities require an English language proficiency test before admission and advises starting the search 12 to 18 months before the academic year of entry. Degree students normally hold an F student visa, which requires admission to an institution certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

Accreditation and licences

Recognition of a US degree rests on the accreditation of the institution. In addition, according to the BLS, more than 360 postsecondary colleges, universities and independent institutes are accredited with programmes in art and design. Ask the school which accreditation its programme holds.

Most design work needs no licence. Interior design is the exception: the BLS states that licensure requirements vary by state, and that in some states only licensed designers may do interior design work or use the title "interior designer". Students who want to practise in the United States should check the rules of the state concerned.

Where to study design in the United States

Besides the schools described above, the list includes Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Michigan, Drexel University in Philadelphia, the University of Minnesota, the University of California, Davis and Oregon State University. Community and technical colleges in the list include College of Lake County, Lansing Community College and Bellevue College. Each school's profile on this site links to its website for current programmes.

Careers

Employers judge designers largely on their portfolio: the BLS says candidates for graphic design positions should have a portfolio that demonstrates their creativity and originality. Pay and prospects differ by specialism. The BLS reports these median annual wages for May 2025, with projected employment change from 2025 to 2035:

• Industrial designers: $83,910; growth of 2 percent
• Fashion designers: $80,960; little or no change
• Interior designers: $67,190; growth of 3 percent
• Graphic designers: $62,960; decline of 2 percent

The BLS also notes that most fashion designers work in New York and California.

Frequently asked questions

Which degree do designers need in the United States?

According to the BLS, graphic, industrial, interior and fashion designers typically need a bachelor's degree. Depending on the school it may be a B.F.A., a Bachelor of Design, a B.A. or a Bachelor of Science.

Do I need a portfolio to apply?

Often, yes. The BLS notes that applicants to design programmes may need to submit sketches and other examples of their artistic ability, and many schools admit students to the major through a separate review.

Do designers need a licence?

Only interior designers, and only in some states. The BLS states that licensure requirements for interior designers vary by state.

Can I study design at a community college?

Yes. Community colleges offer two-year associate degrees and technical programmes, and credits can count towards a bachelor's degree at a university.