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CIP 50.0401 Visual and Performing Arts

Design and Visual Communications, General

IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education · 2025

中文

Total graduates

4,871

2025 · 211 schools

International share

4.5%

218 international students

Bachelor's degrees

3,167

3.9% international

Master's degrees

378

19.0% international

Overview

Design and Visual Communications, General is an interdisciplinary field that merges art, design, and technology to convey ideas and messages through visual means. This major emphasizes the importance of visual literacy in today’s media-saturated environment, where effective communication is crucial for success in various industries.

Students in this program typically learn about graphic design, typography, color theory, and composition. They also explore digital media tools and techniques, including software like Adobe Creative Suite, to create visually compelling content for print and digital platforms. The curriculum often includes courses on branding, advertising, and marketing strategies, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of how visual elements can influence consumer behavior and public perception.

Moreover, this major encourages creativity and innovation, allowing students to develop their unique style while also understanding the foundational principles of design. Projects and hands-on experiences are an integral part of the learning process, enabling students to build a robust portfolio that showcases their skills and versatility.

Career opportunities for graduates in Design and Visual Communications are diverse and can include roles such as graphic designer, art director, marketing coordinator, and user experience (UX) designer. With the growing demand for skilled visual communicators in various sectors, including advertising, entertainment, and technology, this major equips students with the necessary skills to thrive in a competitive job market. Ultimately, Design and Visual Communications, General prepares students to become effective communicators and creative problem solvers in the visual landscape of contemporary society.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2002 to 2025, graduates grew 9% and the international share went from 3.7% to 4.5%.

International share (%)
Graduates by group, 2025
White
53.3%
Asian
10.2%
Hispanic
16.2%
Black
7.4%
Other
8.5%
Intl.
4.5%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 211 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

RankSchoolStateGraduatesInternational
#7 University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 22 1
#9 University of Chicago Illinois 7 3
#9 Northwestern University Illinois 4 0
#14 Carnegie Mellon University Pennsylvania 38 7
#16 Washington University in St Louis Missouri 54 6
#20 University of Notre Dame Indiana 20 1
#27 University of Southern California California 43 20
#29 University of California-San Diego California 34 4
#34 University of California-Davis California 277 22
#34 University of Florida Florida 2 2
#34 The University of Texas at Austin Texas 71 7
#44 Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Jersey 42 2
#44 Ohio State University-Main Campus Ohio 15 0
#44 Lehigh University Pennsylvania 27 0
#49 University of Washington-Seattle Campus Washington 23 1
#55 Purdue University-Main Campus Indiana 28 1
#59 George Washington University D.C. 4 1
#59 Tulane University of Louisiana Louisiana 41 0
#72 Syracuse University New York 29 2
#73 Indiana University-Bloomington Indiana 31 0
#73 North Carolina State University at Raleigh North Carolina 35 2
#85 University of Delaware Delaware 19 1
#85 University at Buffalo New York 2 0
#90 Texas Christian University Texas 18 4
#95 University of Illinois at Chicago Illinois 5 0
#100 Auburn University Alabama 48 1
#109 Temple University Pennsylvania 1 1
#116 University of San Francisco California 37 1
#116 Iowa State University Iowa 27 0
#116 University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Oklahoma 56 0
#116 Brigham Young University-Provo Utah 19 1
#121 Arizona State University-Tempe Arizona 1 0
#121 University of Arizona Arizona 17 0
#121 Loyola University Chicago Illinois 17 0
#121 University of Dayton Ohio 29 4
#133 Thomas Jefferson University Pennsylvania 16 1
#137 University of Maryland-Baltimore County Maryland 22 2
#148 University of Kansas Kansas 83 5
#156 The University of Alabama Alabama 13 0
#156 Seton Hall University New Jersey 15 0
#156 Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia 9 5
#169 Monmouth University New Jersey 17 0
#179 University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Ohio 72 1
#179 University of Utah Utah 37 0
#191 University of Arkansas Arkansas 33 0
#208 Ohio Northern University Ohio 9 1
#208 Belmont University Tennessee 14 0
#208 University of North Texas Texas 74 5
#219 Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis Indiana 4 1
#219 University of Nevada-Reno Nevada 12 0
#219 Robert Morris University Pennsylvania 1 0
#227 San Francisco State University California 79 3
#227 Ball State University Indiana 28 0
#227 West Virginia University West Virginia 47 0
#236 Kent State University at Kent Ohio 93 1
#250 University of Missouri--Kansas City Missouri 17 0
#250 University of Wyoming Wyoming 6 1
#262 Seattle Pacific University Washington 8 0
#276 Northern Arizona University Arizona 35 0
#276 Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Ohio 28 4
#276 Marymount University Virginia 15 1
#288 Biola University California 11 1
#288 Texas State University Texas 98 1
#288 University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee Wisconsin 31 0
#299 Azusa Pacific University California 10 0
#299 Boise State University Idaho 40 0
#299 Concordia University Wisconsin Wisconsin 1 0
#308 Maryville University of Saint Louis Missouri 12 0
#317 Ferris State University Michigan 3 0
#317 Kean University New Jersey 33 0
#332 Jacksonville University Florida 14 1
#342 Missouri State University Missouri 42 0
#353 Jacksonville State University Alabama 3 1
#353 University of Michigan--Flint Michigan 6 0
#365 Northern Kentucky University Kentucky 12 1
#365 Liberty University Virginia 128 3
#382 Wilmington University Delaware 10 1
#382 Southeastern University Florida 4 1
#382 Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus Puerto Rico 2 0
LAC #49 DePauw University Indiana 1 0
LAC #57 Furman University South Carolina 12 1
LAC #81 Wheaton College (MA) Massachusetts 16 2
LAC #91 Juniata College Pennsylvania 12 3
LAC #91 Ursinus College Pennsylvania 1 0
LAC #111 Luther College Iowa 15 3
LAC #142 Houghton University New York 4 0
LAC #170 Western Oregon University Oregon 2 2
LAC #172 University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Wisconsin 27 0
LAC #184 Southern Virginia University Virginia 5 0
— Utah Valley University Utah 453 1
— Full Sail University Florida 118 0
— Ivy Tech Community College Indiana 111 0
— CUNY New York City College of Technology New York 70 2
— Dallas College Texas 52 0
— Farmingdale State College New York 50 1
— Austin Community College District Texas 41 5
— Texas State Technical College Texas 40 0
— Central Connecticut State University Connecticut 38 1
— Keiser University Florida 38 0
— Tidewater Community College Virginia 37 1
— Harford Community College Maryland 35 0
— Western Washington University Washington 35 0
— Northern Virginia Community College Virginia 34 1
— Horry-Georgetown Technical College South Carolina 32 0
— California College of the Arts California 31 20
— SUNY Adirondack New York 31 0
— Community College of Vermont Vermont 31 0
— Bowie State University Maryland 30 0
— Chattahoochee Technical College Georgia 28 0
— College of DuPage Illinois 27 1
— California State University-Monterey Bay California 27 0
— John C Calhoun State Community College Alabama 26 0
— The University of Tampa Florida 26 2
— Bunker Hill Community College Massachusetts 26 4
— Northwest College of Art & Design Washington 26 0
— Salt Lake Community College Utah 24 1
— Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minnesota 23 0
— Millersville University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 23 0
— California State University-Chico California 22 1

Purple: international students are 25% or more of the school's graduates.

Related jobs and pay

OccupationUS employmentMean hourly wageMean annual wage
Graphic Designers 197,830 $33.92 $70,560
Web and Digital Interface Designers 113,330 $56.49 $117,490
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 93,560 — $94,700
Commercial and Industrial Designers 33,490 $44.84 $93,260
Set and Exhibit Designers 10,630 $39.98 $83,160
Designers, All Other 9,480 $38.02 $79,090

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Graduate counts: IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education, 2002–2025. Rankings: 2027 U.S. News.