Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Freelance web designer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a freelance web designer. Freelance web designers usually study graphic design, computer applications, or computer science. 66% of freelance web designers hold a bachelor's degree, and 21% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 4,565 real freelance web designer resumes to see exactly what freelance web designer education sections show.
The most common colleges for freelance web designers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online freelance web designer courses to help get the education required to be a freelance web designer.
There are certain freelance web designer certifications that you should consider. These freelance web designer certifications include Master Certified Web Professional - Designer (CWP) and Certified Web Professional - Web Developer.
What education do you need to become a freelance web designer?
What degree do you need to be a freelance web designer?
- Bachelor's, 66%
- Associate, 21%
- Master's, 7%
- High School Diploma, 3%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a freelance web designer?
- Graphic Design, 28%
- Computer Science, 9%
- Fine Arts, 8%
- Other Majors, 45%
Most common colleges for freelance web designers
| Freelance web designer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 8.82% |
| The Art Institute of Pittsburgh | 8.54% |
| DeVry University | 8.26% |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | 6.89% |
| New York University | 6.61% |
Best majors for freelance web designers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graphic Design | 28.0% |
| 2 | Computer Applications | 9.6% |
| 3 | Computer Science | 8.7% |
| 4 | Fine Arts | 8.1% |
| 5 | Business | 6.1% |
Best colleges for freelance web designers
The best colleges for freelance web designers are University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, and Northwestern University.
A freelance web designer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for freelance web designers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become freelance web designers.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
5. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
7. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
8. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
9. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,230
Enrollment
12,161
10. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
20 best online courses for freelance web designers
Advertising disclosure
1. User Experience Design Immersive (Full-time)
Launch a future-proof career designing digital experiences that power revenue, user loyalty, and product success. Distinguish yourself as a designer by compiling a portfolio to showcase solo, group, and client projects to employers based on UI design and Agile methodologies...
2. User Experience Design (Part Time)
Translate user wants and needs into intuitive digital experiences that power revenue, loyalty, and product success. Build confidence and credibility to tackle complex design problems on the job. This course is offered in person and live online, in a remote classroom setting...
3. UX Designer
Design impactful user experiences for products in today’s digital world. Build a portfolio that showcases your ability to transform user research to high-fidelity interactive designs...
4. Product Design
Learn the steps you need to turn an idea into reality. By the end of this course you’ll learn how to bring an idea from concept to hand off for development and onto creation of a prototype...
5. Responsive Design HTML CSS Web design - Dreamweaver CC
Learn HTML5 & CSS3 web design skills. Build beautiful responsive design websites in Dreamweaver CC...
6. Learn Web Design using WordPress & Start Freelancing
Build wordpress websites using elementor & find freelance web design/development clients to start web design business...
7. Visual Design (Part Time)
Gain the vocabulary and tools to tackle diverse design challenges on the job. Kickstart your portfolio and create beautiful, responsive designs for the web. This course is offered in person and live online, in a remote classroom setting...
8. Intro to UX Design
Are you interested in UX Design, but have no prior experience or an idea of where to start? You’ve come to the right place! In this two-hour livestream, we’ll explore the decision-making process that separates a good user experience from a great one, and learn some tools that you can implement in your own UX process today. All in real time, taught by an industry professional. Come learn the basics and gain the skills you need to begin your UX Design journey!...
9. Web Design Responsive Website Template from Scratch HTML CSS
Build your own website from scratch Web Design how to build a simple website template from scratch using HTML and CSS...
10. Modern Web Design HTML5 CSS3 beginners guide to Websites
Quick introdcution to HTML and CSS Core concepts, techniques and terminology of modern web design...
11. Ultimate Web Designer & Web Developer Course
Become a Full-Stack Web Designer in 2023 - Learn Everything from Web Design Fundamentals to Front-End Web Development...
12. Learn Photoshop, Web Design & Profitable Freelancing 2023
Learn Adobe Photoshop and use it to create amazing website designs and create a high, stable income. No coding needed!...
13. Complete Web Design: HTML, CSS, Javascript, jQuery, Vue, Git
6 Courses in 1! Learn Webdesign and Become a Professional Front End Web Developer! From Complete Beginner to Advanced...
14. Web Design for Beginners: Build Websites in HTML & CSS 2023
Learn the Basics of HTML and CSS and get Started with Web Design...
15. Master Web Design in Photoshop: Complete UI/UX Masterclass
Learn UI/UX and how to create stunning website Everything you need to know about web design in 2023 All in Photoshop...
16. Web Design for Beginners: Real World Coding in HTML & CSS
Launch a career as a web designer by learning HTML5, CSS3, responsive design, Sass and more!...
17. Web Designing Course: Beginner to Advanced Level (2023)
Learn to Build Websites with Photoshop, HTML5, CSS3, Java Script, Bootstrap 5, Dreamweaver CC, Word Press & Woo Commerce...
18. Total Frontend Website Creation HTML CSS JavaScript jQuery
Comprehensive Course on How to create websites Learn to create websites the complete front end web developer course...
19. Complete Web Designing Course Web-Development BootCamp
Complete Web Designing Course with HTML CSS Java Script, SEO.j Query, Web Templates, Layout Web-Development Boot Camp...
20. Freelance Mastery: For Web Developers & Designers
Create a successful freelancing business with your web development skills...
Top 10 most affordable universities for freelance web designers
The most affordable schools for freelance web designers are Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, lehman college of the city university of new york, and brigham young university.
If the best universities for freelance web designers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for freelance web designers.
1. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
2. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
3. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
4. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
5. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
6. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,338
Cost of attendance
14,281
7. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
8. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
9. Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$5,740
Cost of attendance
17,864
10. University of Houston - Victoria
Victoria, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$6,491
Cost of attendance
19,075
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for freelance web designers
The hardest universities for freelance web designers to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, and Northwestern University.
Some great schools for freelance web designers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for freelance web designers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
2. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
4. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
5. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
8. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
9. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
10. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for freelance web designers
The easiest schools for freelance web designers to get into are Cardinal Stritch University, la roche college, and linfield college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a freelance web designer without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for freelance web designers.
1. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
2. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
3. Linfield College
McMinnville, OR • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
1,117
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
5. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
6. Longwood University
Farmville, VA • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,065
7. Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, MN • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
1,086
8. Grand View University
Des Moines, IA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,060
9. Marymount University
Arlington, VA • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,065
10. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Winona, MN • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,148
Average freelance web designer salary by education level
| Freelance web designer education level | Freelance web designer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $69,628 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $65,422 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $60,568 |
Freelance web designer education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common arts, entertainment, sports, and media questions.
Search for freelance web designer jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025