Graphic Design Schools
There are 701 accredited graphic design schools in the country. As a professor or instructor of graphic design classes at one of these schools, you play a central role in shaping the future of this growing field. The trends in the graphic design academic community can be evaluated by looking at the statistics and graphs below, which includes graphic design training at the following levels:
- Graphic Design Certificate
- Associates degree in Graphic Design
- Bachelors degree in Graphic Design
- Masters degree in Graphic Design
- PhD degree in Graphic Design
Statistics
Professional Trends
National Employment growth for Graphic design professionals
| 190,880 | 201,080 | 209,290 | 200,870 | 192,240 |
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
- Dark Yellow: Actual Values
There were 192,240 graphic design professionals working in the US in 2010. Over the course of the past 4 years, this number has grown by 1%.
And the growth for all careers between the years 2006 and 2010 was 1%. Over the next 7 years, this trend is expected to contine.
National Salary percentiles for Graphic design professionals
10th percentile |
$26,200 |
25th percentile |
$33,200 |
50th percentile |
$43,500 |
75th percentile |
$58,600 |
90th percentile |
$76,910 |
In 2010, the median salary earned by graphic design professionals around the nation, was $43,500 per year. The national median salary for all professions, was $68,155 in the same year. Thus, the median yearly salary for graphic design professionals in the US was 29% less than the national median salary for all professions.
National Median Salary Growth For Graphic Design
| $39,900 | $41,280 | $42,400 | $43,180 | $43,500 |
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
- Light Blue: Salaries
Graphic design professionals' salaries have seen a 9% growth from the year 2006 to the year 2010.
Educational Trends
National Graphic Design Student enrollment growth by degree
| 3,095 | 3,162 | 3,250 | 3,908 | 4,173 |
| 4,121 | 4,741 | 5,938 | 6,704 | 7,438 |
| 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 206 | 179 | 301 | 410 | 471 |
| 1,173 | 1,029 | 1,095 | 1,557 | 1,408 |
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
- Yellow: Associate's Degree in Graphic Design
- Blue: Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design
- Red: Doctorates Degree in Graphic Design
- Light blue: Master's Degree in Graphic Design
- Grey: Certificate in Graphic Design
The career outlook for graphic design professionals is showing a rapid change. However, on the educational front, the story is quite different. In the year 2006 there were 8,595 students who graduated from graphic design degree programs across the country, while in the year 2010, there were 13,490 students graduating from graphic design schools.
Thus, in 4 years, there was a 57% growth in the number of graphic design graduates. This growth in the number of students graduating from graphic design courses is greater than the 12% growth nationally for students graduating from institutions of higher learning in general.
Graphic Design Programs offered Nationwide
associate |
332 |
bachelor |
330 |
master |
31 |
doctor |
0 |
Certificate |
200 |
| Total | 893 |
While student graduation numbers are up, the number of schools offering graphic design programs has also increased. There were 241 graphic design schools across the country in 2006. And there were 701 schools in 2010.