The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that positions in graphic design will grow 5% between 2016 and 2026. Graphic designers earn an average salary of $47,640 across the U.S. Because of this industry’s competitive nature, it’s important to build your resume during your education. While earning your graphic design associate degree, focus on creating a strong work portfolio that can help you stand out to future employers.
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that you should earn a bachelor’s degree after completing your online graphic design associate’s degree to maximize your employability. A bachelor’s degree signifies that your training has prepared you for many different roles your future employer may require you to perform on the job. Also, a bachelor’s program gives you the opportunity to specialize in a particular graphic design field, as shown by the degree paths below.
Bachelor’s in Computer Animation: From Hollywood studios to the high school classroom, computer animators have many possible career paths after graduation. Their skill set gives them significant flexibility when choosing potential employers.
Bachelor’s in Architecture: Graphic designers often turn their passion and skills to designing homes, offices, and skyscrapers. During your program, you’ll learn how to unite beautiful design with maximum utility.
Bachelor’s in Digital Art: Digital artists create the graphic designs you encounter every day. A bachelor’s in digital art can open the door to a variety of employers throughout the United States.
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Online Associate in Graphic Design Degree Program Ranking Guidelines
We selected the degree programs based on the quality of program and range of courses provided, as well as school awards, rankings, and reputation.
RANKING METHODOLOGY
Methodology for College Rankings
The motto of TheBestSchools.org is Finding the best school for you. Here is how we do it:
The value of any ranking list of schools and/or degree programs depends on having a methodologically sound assessment of each school’s/program’s characteristics, especially insofar as these can be objectively measured. A college or university is a complex entity, with numerous factors to consider, and distilling these down to the place where meaningful comparisons can be made to form a defensible ranking list becomes part science and part art.
To meet this challenge—and thereby provide you with the most useful and insightful educational rankings on the Internet—TheBestSchools.org formulates our rankings based on five informational categories (six, when considering online schools). The major metrics and qualities for which we rank are these (with expanded, detailed considerations and weights listed):
1. Academic excellence based on a school’s curriculum generally or within the selected discipline [weight = 25%]
Weighs school against known leading schools in that discipline
Weighs number of core curricula listed as advanced courses within that discipline and compares against introductory courses
Weighs school’s curriculum against known knowledge needs of major employers in that discipline
Considers number and types of specializations offered within that discipline
Considers faculty expertise in that discipline
Considers range of electives within that discipline
Considers quality of online environment offered to students (if applicable), particularly within that discipline
2. Strength of faculty scholarship [weight = 25%]
Considers education background of the faculty
Considers years of faculty experience both inside and outside of academia.
Considers faculty membership and leadership within relevant, prominent associations
Considers academic papers published by faculty in relevant, prominent periodicals
Considers awards and recognitions given to faculty members from prominent organizations and from other sources
3. Reputation [weight = 20%]
Considers a school’s reputation among academic peers and employers regarding the following:
Faculty
Curriculum
“Freshness” of academic knowledge
Adaptability to changes in employment sectors
Suitability of graduates for the workplace
4. Financial aid [weight = 10%]
Mandatory: Requires full accreditation from an agency endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and listed on the federal register to accept student federal financial aid
Considers range of school-sponsored financial aid such as scholarships and grants
5. Range of degree programs [weight = 20%]
Considers range of degree levels: associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral and professional
Considers range of degree subjects offered, such as art & design, computers & technology, education & teaching, criminal justice, and business
6. Strength of online instruction methodology (if applicable) [weight = 25%; subtract 5% from each of the above for online schools/programs]
Considers the following of the online classes:
Types of online technology used to deliver content
Pedagogy style: asynchronous, synchronous, or both (depending on the degree)
Extent and quality of the online, community learning environment, including options for communication, interactivity, and collaboration between students and also between students and instructors
Variety, breadth, and depth of coursework, and its support, including project options and online tutoring
Considers the following of instructors:
Extent of training for teaching within an online learning environment
Amount of timely, consistent feedback to students
Extent of collaboration with prospective employers to ensure suitability of instructional materials for achieving desired skills
Ratio to number of students in a class
Number and quality of internships in a student’s geographical area for applicable degrees
Because students tend to review a variety of information when choosing a school, the weight a student gives any one criterion will vary. For instance, it’s not enough to offer a carefully constructed ranking of great schools if many are too expensive or too difficult to get into.
To better serve the needs of prospective students, we are therefore increasingly offering filters that help you better use our rankings to find the schools that match your specific needs. These supplement our ranking criteria and include:
Accreditation
Public or private status
Acceptance rate
Retention rate
Graduation rate
ACT/SAT requirements
Cost in-state / out of state
Undergrad, grad, or both offered
Region
State
City
Get the best rankings here AND get them to suit your personal needs. That’s TheBestSchools.org advantage!
If you have any questions about our ranking methodology, please contact us.
Citations: For a broader account of our ranking methodology, especially as it relates to TheBestSchools.org’s underlying educational philosophy and, in other ranking articles, looks beyond academic excellence (as here) to such factors as return on investment or incidental benefit, see our article “Ranking Methodology: How We Rank Schools at TBS.” Reputation of schools and degree programs can at least in part be gauged through the rankings of other well-known educational ranking companies. At TheBestSchools.org, we keep track of such social and peer validation: “Making Sense of College Rankings.” For nuts-and-bolts information about colleges and universities, we look to the National Center for Education Statistics and especially its College Navigator. Insofar as salary and inflation data are relevant to a ranking, we look to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Finally, nothing beats contacting schools and degree programs directly, which our researchers often do, with the result that all the entries in this article should be considered as belonging to this citation!
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The Best Online Associate in Graphic Design Programs
1The New School
New York, New York
The New School - New York, New York
The New School ranks #1 on The 5 Best Online Associate in Graphic Design Programs!
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The New School in New York City opened nearly a century ago as a center for social research. Today, the university includes five colleges, including the prestigious Parsons School of Design. At Parsons, based in NYC’s Greenwich Village, students master the fields of art and design in both their traditional and emerging forms. The school’s AAS in graphic design, for example, cultivates visual literacy through an immersive 65-credit curriculum that allows students to realize their creative potential.
Part of the School of Art, Media, and Technology, this graphic design associate degree takes an average of two years to complete. There are two tracks, including a fast track that takes only a year to complete by combining previously earned credits. Courses cover the history of the field, traditional processes, and new approaches such as web design. Students learn about digital layouts, color theory, and illustration. This online graphic design associate degree is a hybrid program that requires in-person attendance for some classes.
Toward the end of the program, Parsons encourages students to round out their experience with immersive study at one of New York’s design-driven companies. Students admitted to the AAS program can transfer up to 31 credits. Typically, students who enroll in Parsons associate programs have already earned a degree. Applications are sent online and must include transcripts, a statement of intent, and a creative assignment. There are two terms each year in the fall and spring.
Both Parsons and The New School are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
2Foothill College
Los Altos Hills, California
Foothill College
Foothill College ranks among The 5 Best Online Associate in Graphic Design Programs!
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Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, California, has served the region’s students for over 60 years. Expanding over time to offer distance education, Foothill College’s enrollment today tops 13,000, and its programs include over 70 associate degrees and more than 90 specialty certificates. The AA in graphic and interactive design is one of the college’s newer offerings, taking on the craft of visual storytelling.
The associate degree in graphic design at Foothill College is a 90-credit program, 58 of which consist of core and support courses. Students learn about traditional processes of layout and sketching, along with the use of digital graphics and online tools. Support courses explore artistic subjects such as print arts and relief printing. While courses are asynchronous, the graphic arts program is not self-paced. Learners earning Foothill College’s online graphic design associate degree learn with a cohort and advance through courses as a team. The average class size is 27 students.
All courses pertaining to the graphic design major must be taken for a letter grade, and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in all core and support courses must be earned to graduate. Foothill College maintains an open-door admission policy, meaning a high school diploma or equivalent is the only requirement. There are four terms a year in the fall, winter, spring, and summer. Transfer credits are accepted if earned from a regionally accredited institution.
Foothill College is accredited by the ACCJC of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
3Gateway Technical College
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Gateway Technical College
Gateway Technical College ranks among The 5 Best Online Associate in Graphic Design Programs!
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Based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, GTC offers 65 programs of study in areas such as health, business, education, and IT, and serves more than 21,000 students. Within the arts, students can choose from two associate degrees and 11 certificates in publishing, digital photography, and editing. The AAS in graphic communications is a 60-credit degree that prepares future graphic designers for careers in advertising, marketing, or web design.
The online graphic design associate degree is offered in both blended and fully online formats. Courses are taught asynchronously, and classes may be taken out of sequence for added flexibility. The online associate degree in graphic design at GTC takes the traditional tools of creativity and bridges them with the technical tools of today.
The curriculum blends major courses with general education requirements, with typical semester loads including three or four courses in design and one in a foundational subject. Students can complete the AAS in two years. There are no special admissions requirements. In addition to transcripts, placement testing helps determine the best plan of study for every student. For online learners, tuition is the same as for in-state students; the out-of-state tuition charge is waived.
For more than 100 years, Gateway Technical College has supported lifelong learning and professional development. Founded in 1911, GTC was the first publicly funded continuation school in the Badger State.
GTC is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
4Community College of Vermont
Winooski, Vermont
Community College of Vermont
Community College of Vermont ranks among The 5 Best Online Associate in Graphic Design Programs!
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Located in Winooski, Vermont, CCV is the Green Mountain State’s second-largest college, serving over 7,000 students each semester. Founded in 1970, CCV offered its first distance learning course in 1996, and by 2010, 27% of its students were studying online. Today, CCV offers 200 online/hybrid courses each semester, including 12 associate degrees and seven certificates that are available fully online.
The AA in design and media studies is a 60-credit degree that prepares students for careers in the commercial arts and media. This blended online graphic design associate degree combines creativity, communication, design, and technology. There are three areas of focus: graphic design, media communications, and visual arts. The graphic design concentration focuses on the technical side of design, taking a closer look at printed art, software, and other artistic tools used in the digital space. Required courses include typography, Adobe Creative Cloud, two-dimensional design, and storytelling through media. Depending on the instructor, students earning their graphic design associate degree online can take courses asynchronously, synchronously, or both. Part- and full-time options are available
There are three semesters per year in the fall, spring, and summer. All applications require transcripts of prior coursework and proof of a diploma or GED certificate. Residents of other New England states may be eligible for special enrollment and a tuition discount.
CCV is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
5Independence University
West Haven, Utah
Independence University
Independence University ranks among The 5 Best Online Associate in Graphic Design Programs!
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Independence University is an online school that has offered distance learning for working professionals since 1978. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, it offers career-focused associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees in diverse fields through four schools: the School of Healthcare, School of Business, School of Technology, and School of Graphic Arts. Following a merger in 2010, IU became a branch of Stevens-Henager College. IU promotes accelerated degree options, offers a generous credit transfer policy, and has eliminated all electives.
The AAS in graphic arts from IU is a 99.5-credit program that can be completed in as few as 20 months. Through the program, students learn tools of the trade, such as Adobe Creative Cloud, as well as how to tell a story through visuals for print or web applications. Courses cover topics such as computer fundamentals, working within a digital environment, psychology of motivation, logo/identity design, and internet commerce. In addition to major-specific requirements, students of this graphic design associate degree also need to take six general education courses for 24 credits. Courses may be taken synchronously or asynchronously.
Admissions to the graphic design associate degree at IU begins with a phone interview with an admissions consultant. Interested students discuss their school background, professional goals, and financial planning. Tuition is the same for all online students, regardless of state residency. Currently, IU’s programs are not available to residents of Arkansas, Massachusetts, Iowa, Minnesota, and Montana.
IU is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges