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Graphic designer/coordinator education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a graphic designer/coordinator. Graphic designer/coordinators usually study graphic design, fine arts, or design and visual communication. 73% of graphic designer/coordinators hold a bachelor's degree, and 18% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,378 real graphic designer/coordinator resumes to see exactly what graphic designer/coordinator education sections show.

The most common colleges for graphic designer/coordinators are the Savannah College of Art and Design and the Savannah College of Art and Design.

There are also many online graphic designer/coordinator courses to help get the education required to be a graphic designer/coordinator.

What education do you need to become a graphic designer/coordinator?

What degree do you need to be a graphic designer/coordinator?

The most common degree for graphic designer/coordinators is bachelor's degree, with 73% of graphic designer/coordinators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 18% and associate degree degree at 4%.
  • Bachelor's, 73%
  • Associate, 18%
  • Master's, 4%
  • High School Diploma, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become a graphic designer/coordinator?

You should major in graphic design to become a graphic designer/coordinator. 51% of graphic designer/coordinators major in graphic design. Other common majors for a graphic designer/coordinator include fine arts and design and visual communication.

Most common colleges for graphic designer/coordinators

Graphic designer/coordinators often get their degrees at Savannah College of Art and Design, California State University - San Bernardino, and The Art Institute of Houston. Here are the most common colleges for graphic designer/coordinators in the US based on their resumes.
Graphic designer/coordinator common collegePercentages
Savannah College of Art and Design8.73%
California State University - San Bernardino6.35%
The Art Institute of Houston6.35%
The Art Institute of Philadelphia5.56%
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh5.56%

Best majors for graphic designer/coordinators

Best colleges for graphic designer/coordinators

The best colleges for graphic designer/coordinators are Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pennsylvania, and Northeastern University.

A graphic designer/coordinator with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for graphic designer/coordinators. 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 graphic designer/coordinators.

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. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,522

Enrollment

13,760

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

7. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

8. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

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 graphic designer/coordinators

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Top 10 most affordable universities for graphic designer/coordinators

The most affordable schools for graphic designer/coordinators are Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and brigham young university.

If the best universities for graphic designer/coordinators 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 graphic designer/coordinators.

1. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

4. Fashion Institute of Technology

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$5,740

Cost of attendance

17,864

5. Lehman College of the City University of New York

Bronx, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,210

Cost of attendance

14,359

6. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

7. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

8. University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$9,222

Cost of attendance

20,422

9. San Jose State University

San Jose, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,796

Cost of attendance

24,514

10. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Cost of attendance

25,275

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for graphic designer/coordinators

The hardest universities for graphic designer/coordinators to get into are Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pennsylvania, and Northeastern University.

Some great schools for graphic designer/coordinators 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 graphic designer/coordinators 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. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

3. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

4. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

8. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

9. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

10. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for graphic designer/coordinators

The easiest schools for graphic designer/coordinators to get into are Notre Dame College, notre dame de namur university, and cardinal stritch university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a graphic designer/coordinator 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 graphic designer/coordinators.

1. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

3. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,035

4. Marymount University

Arlington, VA • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,065

5. Grand View University

Des Moines, IA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,060

6. Centenary University

Hackettstown, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

67%

SAT average

987

7. Linfield College

McMinnville, OR • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

1,117

8. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

9. Longwood University

Farmville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,065

10. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

Average graphic designer/coordinator salary by education level

Graphic designer/coordinators with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $69,046 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, graphic designer/coordinators earn a median annual income of $62,333 compared to $54,923 for graphic designer/coordinators with an Associate degree.
Graphic designer/coordinator education levelGraphic designer/coordinator salary
Master's Degree$69,046
Bachelor's Degree$62,333
Some College/ Associate Degree$54,923

Graphic designer/coordinator education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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