Visual Communications is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 143 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for visual communications students pursuing a degree.
Where you study visual communications matters for your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Visual Communications rankings. For our Best Overall Visual Communications School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Visual Communications Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Our analysis ranked University Of Washington Seattle Campus the best school in the country for a degree in visual communications. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 23 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Visual Communications graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $63,449 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,250.
Read more about the visual communications program at University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Lehigh University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best visual communications schools. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Lehigh University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 27 visual communications degrees were awarded at Lehigh University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual communications degree from Lehigh University earn around $70,321 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual communications details for Lehigh University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual communications, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 35 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Visual Communications graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $48,940 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
More information about a degree in visual communications from North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of Southern California is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual communications, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 43 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $64,846 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,262 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual communications details for University Of Southern California
The University Of Texas At Austin is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual communications, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 71 visual communications degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Visual Communications graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $44,506 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual communications from The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of Notre Dame landed the #6 spot for visual communications this year. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 visual communications degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Visual Communications graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $46,825 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,250.
Get the full visual communications details for University Of Notre Dame
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #7 for visual communications this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 28 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $44,602 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual communications program at Purdue University Main Campus
Washington University In St Louis placed #8 among the best visual communications schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of St. Louis. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. About 54 visual communications degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $33,615. Students borrow a median of $19,089 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual communications from Washington University In St Louis
University Of California Davis earned the #9 position for visual communications this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 277 visual communications degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $32,816 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual communications from University Of California Davis
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #10 for visual communications this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 15 visual communications degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $45,176. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,100 in student loans.
Read more about the visual communications program at Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #11 position for visual communications this year. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 10 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual communications degree from University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn around $53,666 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,195 to complete this degree.
See the full visual communications program report for University Of Massachusetts Amherst
University Of Dayton landed the #12 spot for visual communications this year. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 29 visual communications degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $43,609. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual communications details for University Of Dayton
University Of Pennsylvania ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best visual communications schools. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 22 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual communications degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $99,682 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual communications from University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #14 spot for visual communications this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 72 visual communications degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Visual Communications graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $52,526 early in their careers. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,851 in student loans.
Get the full visual communications details for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
University Of Delaware landed the #15 spot for visual communications this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Newark. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at University Of Delaware in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $42,585. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
Read more about the visual communications program at University Of Delaware
Tulane University Of Louisiana earned the #16 position for visual communications this year. Located in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 41 visual communications degrees were awarded at Tulane University Of Louisiana in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $53,507 in their early career. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates carry a median of $22,077 in student loans.
Get the full visual communications details for Tulane University Of Louisiana
San Francisco State University came in at #17 for visual communications this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. About 79 visual communications degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $34,845 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,000.
More information about a degree in visual communications from San Francisco State University
Auburn University landed the #18 spot for visual communications this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 48 visual communications degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $46,585 in their early career. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
Get the full visual communications details for Auburn University
University Of Utah ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best visual communications schools. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at University Of Utah in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $60,527. University Of Utah graduates carry a median of $16,344 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual communications from University Of Utah
Syracuse University earned the #20 position for visual communications this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Syracuse. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 visual communications degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $46,181. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the visual communications program at Syracuse University
University Of California San Diego ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best visual communications schools. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California San Diego awarded about 34 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Visual Communications graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $60,797 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,787 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual communications program at University Of California San Diego
Texas Christian University landed the #22 spot for visual communications this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 18 visual communications degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $60,035 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,960 to complete this degree.
See the full visual communications program report for Texas Christian University
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #23 spot for visual communications this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 38 visual communications degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual communications degree from Carnegie Mellon University earn around $93,581 in the first couple years of their career. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual communications from Carnegie Mellon University
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #24 for visual communications this year. This large public university is located in the city of Mankato. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 17 visual communications degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $53,088 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,260.
Get the full visual communications details for Minnesota State University Mankato
University Of Arkansas ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best visual communications schools. University Of Arkansas is a very large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 33 visual communications degrees were awarded at University Of Arkansas in the most recent year. Visual Communications graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $41,782 early in their careers. University Of Arkansas graduates carry a median of $23,881 in student loans.
See the full visual communications program report for University Of Arkansas
Rest of the Top 50 Visual Communications Schools
These schools also placed among the best for visual communications this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 143 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
