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Jesus Suarez, an online graphic design degree student, walks around campus at SNHU.

Online Graphic Design Degree Bachelor of Art (BA)

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Register By: May 04 Classes Start: May 06

Pursue Your Passion for Graphic Design

  • $330/credit (120 total)
  • Transfer up to 90 credits
  • Master advanced design software, such as Adobe Creative Suite
  • No application fee or SAT/ACT scores
  • Accredited by NECHE
  • Learn from accomplished instructors with real-world experience

Online Graphic Design Program Overview

Tap into your creative side and learn how to produce designs that inspire and influence with the online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Graphic Design and Media Arts from SNHU.

Have you ever found a magazine ad that jumps off the page? A digital banner that cuts through the noise? How about a website that's intuitively easy to navigate? A degree in graphic design can help develop the skills you need to inspire your audiences into action. You'll build a portfolio that demonstrates visual storytelling through various print, digital and video media platforms.

Whether you dream of the fast pace of an agency, the rigors of a design firm or the independence of running your own shop, our newly redeveloped online graphic design degree program can teach you how to translate your ideas through concept, design and digital media.

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What You'll Learn

  • How to design, develop and present work
  • The latest design tools and technologies
  • How to work with interdisciplinary teams
  • How to apply ethical and culturally sensitive visuals
  • Analysis of media & messaging strategies

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How You'll Learn

At SNHU, you'll get support from day 1 to graduation and beyond. And with no set class times, 24/7 access to the online classroom, and helpful learning resources along the way, you'll have everything you need to reach your goals.

Concentration Options

Earn Your Online Graphic Design Degree

Pursue Your Passion at SNHU

Graphic design is where art, storytelling and commerce converge. SNHU’s online BA in Graphic Design and Media Arts offers the tools, feedback and support you need to master your craft — as well as one of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.

Graphic Design Career Outlook

Here are a few roles you can pursue as a graphic design major:

Creative Director

If your ultimate goal is to lead creative teams and develop big-picture brand strategies, this job is for you. Creative directors are the brand visionaries – the captains of the ship who manage teams of designers, copywriters, photographers and production staff to sell products and build brands. As a creative director, you'll pitch concepts for national ad campaigns, build relationships with executive leadership and help a team of creatives grow through direct feedback and support. Above all, you'll be the person people turn to when they're looking for creative solutions to their organization's biggest marketing challenges.

Multimedia Designer

As a multimedia designer, you'll integrate multiple forms of media – such as art, sound and design – in a number of creative contexts. For example, you may work in the film industry as a prop or set designer. You may have a hand in designing a 3D environment for a video game or work with an ad agency to create a compelling animated video that grabs the attention of consumers. By pairing technical expertise and boundless creativity, you'll explore interactive and immersive visual storytelling techniques that engage audiences in new ways.

Web Designer

Today's consumers live online. They're savvy enough to spot a bad website a mile away, which is why more and more organizations will devote marketing dollars to help build out their digital presence. Web designers play a major role in this, as they help develop the pages, layouts, navigational design and graphics for company websites. To succeed in web design, you'll need a solid understanding of design software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Sketch, along with coding languages like HTML, CSS and Javascript.

UX Designer

Perhaps more than any other role on this list, a UX designer (or user experience designer) dives deep into the ways a consumer interacts with a product. As a UX designer, you'll blend elements of psychology, computer science and creative storytelling to help create user-friendly experiences across various media. You'll use wireframing tools like Axure RP and Balsamiq, as well as design software like the aforementioned Photoshop and Illustrator. Additionally, you'll interpret research that can help you predict future consumer behaviors, identify pain points and develop relevant persona profiles.

Production Artist

The production artist is responsible for day-to-day, hands-on production tasks. This is a perfect starting point for someone looking to grow their career in the field, as it gives you an opportunity to apply your skills in the final stages of creative development. You'll need a strong eye for detail, as you'll help crop, retouch, scale and finalize files before they go out into the world. Not only will you develop your technical abilities, you'll also have a chance to collaborate with teams of creative directors, web developers, copywriters and videographers who can help you fine tune your craft.

Product Developer

If your game plan is to use graphic design as just one skill in your toolkit, you may consider a career as a product developer. Combining engineering and industrial design with 3D modeling and graphic design skills, product developers must demonstrate an ability to excel from both a technical and creative perspective. You'll be highly strategic – helping to ideate, lead and manage the creation of products from home appliances to sports cars. A background in industrial design, architecture or engineering is usually required for entry-level product developers, but proficiency in graphic design can help you develop some of the critical skills you need to flourish in this role.

Logo Designer

Ask some of the biggest marketers in the world, and they can attest to the power of a great logo. As a logo designer, you'll be responsible for creating smart, simple, memorable visual representations of your brand. You'll work for a design firm, publishing house or ad agency to create graphics or typographical treatments audiences remember.

Marketing Specialist

A marketing specialist is a Jack (or Jill) of all trades – someone who can collect and analyze consumer data, initiate marketing campaigns and create branded digital or print pieces for an organization. You may have a hand in building a brand's social media presence or managing a company website. In essence, you'll be a brand ambassador – combining storytelling with tech expertise to "sell" audiences on your company or product. Beyond design, marketing specialists usually require skills in data analytics, coding and written and verbal communication.

Job Growth and Salary

With many employers continuing to grow their digital presence and the increasingly global marketplace for design talent, having a degree in design is now more important than ever.

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Job Growth

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in web development and digital design are projected to grow 16% through 2032, while art director jobs are projected to grow 6% during this same time period.1

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Potential Salary

In 2022, web developers and digital designers earned a median annual salary of $80,730 and art directors earned a median annual salary of $105,180.1

Understanding the Numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors — like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

An online degree in graphic design is not only helpful for potential salary growth, but it's also a useful opportunity to build your portfolio, which is an essential component to professional success in the field.

Jesús Suárez, a 2021 graduate of SNHU's Graphic Design program, standing in graduation regalia"[My graphic design degree from Southern New Hampshire University] has only been beneficial for me in my career growth," said Jesús Suárez '21. "Once I put that I had gotten my degree and put SNHU on my resume and LinkedIn, I got so many other eyes looking at me. They're seeing what I can accomplish – not only that I'm committed but that I have a different skill."

2022 online graphic design graduate John ReckGraphic design graduate John Reck '22 agrees that his education has changed the way people see him.

"People can sense my confidence – I'm infectious," he said. "My strategic goal is to do one thing: WOW the client. It takes incredible dedication and builds on repeat clients who recommend me for their services, but having a degree, I feel the sky is unlimited."

Start Your Journey Toward an Online Graphic Design Degree

2021 online graphic design degree graduate Kirsten Haakonsen

What SNHU Students Are Saying

Kirsten Haakonsen ’21

"This degree gave me a boost in my knowledge about art and helped me work as a graphic designer a lot faster than if I were to try and learn on my own. The coursework had such a comprehensive overview of the industry that I felt very prepared when I graduated."

Courses & Curriculum

120 Credits

8-Week Terms

100% Online

No Set Class Times

2019 online graphic design degree alum Ben Van BeusekomThe online graphic design degree curriculum is taught by award-winning creative faculty using the most advanced technology available.

"[With the online graphic design program at Southern New Hampshire University,] you can be flying across the world and carry your computer with you,” said SNHU graduate and Disney imagineer Ben Van Beusekom '19. “SNHU gives you this ability to carve out the best education, pull in all of your experiences, apply it to your homework and do it on your own time. For me, that was a big deal.”

Graduate John Reck echoes that sentiment.

"The program touches upon real-life scenarios in the graphic design work field," he said. "I was a sponge and took everything in. It gives you credibility, confidence and a sense of pride."

Jesús Suárez, a 2021 online graphic design graduate, working on his laptop

SNHU's bachelor's in graphic design can help you build a number of key skills, including:

  • Design thinking
  • Digital media
  • Brand identity
  • Professional practice

SNHU Graphic Design students have the optional opportunity to earn certificates through AIGA, the professional association for design, in areas like Project Management, Client Relations and Digital Marketing.

As you work through selected courses in the new Graphic Design program, you can elect to obtain, at an additional cost, up to 6 of the AIGA’s Certificates for Creatives. This can be a great way to showcase the skills you’re learning as you proceed toward your BA in Graphic Design.

"There is always something to take away no matter what class I took," said Mikki Mihalovic '21. "I do have a lot of industry experience and brought a lot to the table, but at SNHU, I was just as much of a student learning as all my other classmates were."

Jesús Suárez '21 also gained key skills and confidence through his degree.

"I felt that the coursework was relevant to the real world," he said. "I found a lot of value in what I was doing because it was making me better at my skill – my trade. It gave me assurance that, hey, you're on the right path, from enrollment all the way to graduation."

Curriculum Requirements & Resources

General Education

All undergraduate students are required to take general education courses, which are part of SNHU's newly redesigned program, The Commons. The goal of The Commons' curriculum is to empower you with some of the most in-demand skills, so you can succeed not only in your academic career, but in your personal and professional life too.

Technology Resources

We provide cloud-based virtual environments in some courses to give you access to the technology you need for your degree – and your career. Learn more about our virtual environments.

Earn Math Credits

Save time and tuition with our Pathways to Math Success assessments. Depending on your scores, you could earn up to 12 math credits – the equivalent of 4 courses – toward your degree for less than $50 per assessment. For additional information, or to register for a Pathways to Math Success assessment, contact your admission counselor or academic advisor today.

University Accreditation

New England Commission of Higher Education Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.

Tuition & Fees

As a private, nonprofit university, we’re committed to making college more accessible by making it more affordable. That’s why we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.

We also offer financial aid packages to those who qualify, plus a 30% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Online Undergraduate Programs Per Course Per Credit Hour Annual Cost for 30 credits 
Degree/Certificates $990 $330 $9,900
Degree/Certificates (U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)* $693 $231 $6,930

Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually. *Note: students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional Costs No Application Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)

Frequently Asked Questions

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