10 Best Graphic Design Schools in Georgia.

Looking to expand your creative horizons? Want to study design surrounded by the beauty of nature? Look no further than Georgia.

This U.S. state in the southeast has everything from coastal beaches, mountains and farmland on offer. Not to mention turn-of-the-century architecture, leafy public squares and if you fancy a little sport, the annual Masters Golf Tournament.

We’ve compiled a list of the top graphic design schools in Georgia to help you decide on the best place to learn graphic design. But do you really need to endure a 4-year degree to become a graphic designer? Shillington’s graphic design course offers a compelling alternative for those wanting to become industry-ready in months, not years. Read on and find out your options.

1. Shillington Education

Location: Online
Duration: 3 months full-time, 9 months part-time
Cost: $10,000

Shillington’s graphic design course covers everything you need to become an industry-ready designer with a stand-out portfolio, ready to apply your skills in the real world from the moment you graduate.

From design theory to design programs, learn through live online classes run by experienced, practicing designers before immediately applying your skills in a studio environment.

And, this all happens in just three months full-time or nine months part-time.

If you’re wondering whether you need a college degree to be a graphic designer, the truth is, you don’t. There’s no denying a degree can help, but there are alternatives, and Shillington’s Graphic Design Course has 30 years of student case studies proving it’s possible.

2. Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)

Location: Savannah and Atlanta, GA
Duration: 4 years
Estimated cost of attendance: $250,000–$280,000 (before aid)

Spanning two Georgia campuses, SCAD offers a BFA in Graphic Design built around 180 quarter credit hours of coursework. The programme covers visual identity, typography, branding, UX/UI, and modern storytelling.

The graphic design journey begins with foundation studies and general education courses that build critical thinking and creative communication skills before students dive into the major itself. One-on-one critiques, mentoring, and direct exposure to industry are baked into the experience.

SCAD's network of industry connections is one of its strongest selling points. Students learn from and collaborate with practitioners at companies like Airbnb, Google, and Hasbro, and benefit from signature events like SCADstyle that bring global art, fashion, and design luminaries to campus. For students who want a heavily resourced, industry-connected experience, SCAD is one of the most established options on this list.

3. University of Georgia

Location: Athens, GA
Duration: 4 years
Estimated cost of attendance: $115,000–$130,000 (GA resident, before aid) / $200,000–$225,000 (non-resident, before aid)

Established in 1801, the University of Georgia is the state's oldest and most comprehensive public research university. Its BFA in Art with a concentration in Graphic Design sits within the nationally ranked Lamar Dodd School of Art, located in Athens, about 70 miles east of Atlanta. Graphic Design is a "high-demand" major, meaning students must complete prerequisite coursework and pass a portfolio review before being formally accepted.

The programme grounds students in design fundamentals like typography, information hierarchy, concept development, and visual exploration, with an interdisciplinary approach that benefits from the wider School of Art and the resources of a tier-one research university.

A standout addition is their Layton Design Studio, a client-focused studio modelled after a small design firm. Students work as a team with real clients, cycling through project development, pricing, and deliverables.

UGA also offers strong study-abroad pathways, including the long-running Cortona, Italy programme and the NYC Maymester in Design, where graphic, interior, and fabric design students get behind the scenes at top firms during New York City Design Week.

4. Georgia Southern University

Location: Statesboro, GA
Duration: 4 years
Estimated cost of attendance: $110,000–$130,000 (GA resident, before aid) / $160,000–$180,000 (non-resident, before aid)

Located in the college town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern's BFA in Graphic Design is a four-year course housed within the Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art (BFSDoArt), covering the fundamentals of graphic design alongside animation, photography, and graphic communications minors that students can layer onto their major.

Although the student's experience of study depends on their academic outcomes, they must pass a portfolio review after completion of base subjects in order to enrol in further graphic design courses.

Georgia Southern is one of the most affordable options on this list, with in-state tuition kept flat under the University System of Georgia's 2025–26 freeze and Georgia residents on the HOPE Scholarship seeing further reductions in net cost.

Campus perks include well-maintained grounds where students can enjoy historic brick streets and oak trees, offering a picturesque backdrop to academic life. Plus, students have access to two additional Georgia Southern campuses in Savannah and Hinesville.

5. Kennesaw State University (KSU)

Location: Kennesaw, GA
Duration: 4 years
Estimated cost of attendance: $90,000–$110,000 (GA resident, before aid) / $135,000–$155,000 (non-resident, before aid)

Kennesaw State University's School of Art and Design (SOAAD) is a vibrant school of over 1,200 students dedicated to the development of creative individuals. Its BFA in Art with a concentration in Graphic Communications offers an interesting mix of subjects, with a supporting selection of general studies (including economics, political science, and cultural perspectives) alongside the design units.

Like similar design schools in Atlanta, admission is portfolio-based, with a required submission of four artworks and a 200-word artist statement. Students enter via a one-semester "Art Interest" classification before declaring their concentration. KSU also benefits from being part of the University System of Georgia's affordability framework, with the HOPE Scholarship significantly lowering net cost for Georgia residents.

6. Chattahoochee Technical College

Location: Marietta, GA
Duration: 2 years (Associate's degree)
Estimated cost of attendance: $20,000–$25,000 (GA resident, before aid) / $22,000–$28,000 (non-resident, before aid)

Unlike most schools on this list, Chattahoochee Technical College is a 2-year public technical college offering an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Design and Media Production Technology, alongside shorter technical certificates in graphic design.

This makes it an attractive entry point for students who want to start working in design quickly, build foundational skills, or test the waters before committing to a four-year degree.

The program covers core graphic design fundamentals like typography, layout, Adobe Creative Suite, web design, and print production. Tuition is among the lowest in the state at around $3,500/year for Georgia residents, and credits can often be transferred toward a bachelor's degree at a USG school like Kennesaw State or Georgia Southern.

Chattahoochee Tech has eight campuses across north Georgia, with the design program based at the Marietta campus. For students prioritising affordability, speed-to-career, or a stepping stone toward further study, it's a strong option to consider.

7. University of North Georgia (UNG)

Location: Dahlonega, GA (with a campus in Gainesville)
Duration: 4 years
Estimated cost of attendance: $95,000–$110,000 (GA resident, before aid) / $140,000–$160,000 (non-resident, before aid)

With a combination of studio classes and design theory, the BA in Art with a concentration in Graphic Design at UNG is a well-rounded course that prepares graduates for a career in a variety of creative industries.

The 48-credit-hour studio sequence includes an 18-credit elective block, allowing students to explore mediums beyond design and tailor their degree to their interests.

Campus facilities and course perks include an on-campus gallery, a semester-long internship, and opportunities to expand your global perspective and study abroad.

If that all sounds good to you, and you're looking at other design schools in Georgia, it might be worth your while setting down creative roots in Dahlonega's mountain setting.

8. Georgia State University

Location: Atlanta, GA
Duration: 4 years
Estimated cost of attendance: $115,000–$130,000 (GA resident, before aid) / $200,000–$220,000 (non-resident, before aid)

Situated in the heart of downtown Atlanta, you can study graphic design at GSU's Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design, where the BFA in Graphic Design sits alongside concentrations in drawing, painting, photography, and more.

The school features an internationally active faculty and a rigorous curriculum that sets students up for a wide variety of creative careers. A rotating staff of guest instructors, each a prominent member of the professional design field, gives the program ongoing exposure to working industry practice.

Like other design schools on this list, foundational coursework must be passed before students can continue into the graphic design concentration.

Students enter as BA in Studio and apply into the BFA via a portfolio review. If successful, the program encourages practical design skills with personal exploration, social responsibility, and career development goals, supported by internships at local, regional, national, and international firms.

9. University of West Georgia (UWG)

Location: Carrollton, GA
Duration: 4 years
Estimated cost of attendance: $95,000–$115,000 (GA resident, before aid) / $145,000–$165,000 (non-resident, before aid)

With an emphasis on immersive programs, the University of West Georgia boasts a 19:1 student-to-teacher ratio and a plethora of clubs and activities to get involved with for an active campus life.

Located at the Carrollton campus, 45 miles west of Atlanta, students can pursue a BFA in Art with a concentration in Graphic Design, which is one of seven concentrations within the School of the Arts, chosen after completing foundation classes. The course offers an emphasis on the mix of analog and digital creative processes.

Like some of the other schools on this list, the School of the Arts also offers other BFA concentrations with a fine arts focus, which allows for a large amount of cross-disciplinary and hands-on coursework for the graphic design major to dip into. The program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), a meaningful credential for serious applicants, and HOPE Scholarship eligibility keeps net cost low for Georgia residents.

10. Mercer University

Location: Macon, GA
Duration: 4 years
Estimated cost of attendance: $200,000–$220,000 (before aid)

Situated in central Georgia, you can develop well-rounded graphic design skills at Mercer University with their BA in Graphic Design, a 45-credit major housed within the Art and Design Department in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The multidisciplinary course is nestled under a liberal arts curriculum, ensuring a holistic creative education, and classes have a collaborative, studio-style emphasis modelled after real-world work environments.

The curriculum covers fundamentals through to industry-standard tools like Figma, After Effects, Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator, with hands-on internships and exhibition opportunities at Mercer's two galleries (including the McEachern Art Center in downtown Macon) baked into the experience. The course culminates in a final-year major project, where students submit work to a graduation exhibition.

Mercer's strong aid programme is worth highlighting: 94% of students receive scholarships or grants, and Georgia residents on the HOPE or Zell Miller scholarships see further reductions.

Shillington’s Graphic Design Course, a university alternative with over 12,000+ global graduates

So, there you have it, our round up of the top 10 graphic design programs in Georgia. But before you decide on a school, have you considered your alternatives?

We might be biased, but we think there’s a better way of becoming an industry-ready graphic designer. A way that’s more affordable, faster than a four year degree and boasts over 30 years of graduate success stories.

Shillington’s graphic design course covers everything you need—from design theory to design programs. You'll learn from experienced, practicing designers before immediately applying your skills in a live studio environment. And, this all happens in just three months full-time or nine months part-time in time zones that work for you.

Learn more about Shillington’s graphic design course and whether it’s right for you by joining a free info session, where you can meet the teachers and get your questions answered.