Looking to study graphic design along the Blue Ridge Mountain range? North Carolina sits snuggled between Virginia and Tennessee, coastally meeting the Atlantic Ocean, speckled with cozy small towns.

Whether you’re seeking luscious grasslands, small-towns or coastal views, North Carolina offers a sweet southeastern destination to study graphic design. If you have a dual passion for state history and nature reserves, look no further as we’ve compiled a list of the top graphic design schools in North Carolina.

Ranging from 4-year programs to online offerings, discover the best program for you including a graphic design course with Shillington - where you can fast track your career with a 9-month part-time or 3-month full-time program, ensuring you have all the skills to break into the industry.

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. You’ll graduate with a professional portfolio and the confidence to speak about your work to employers and potential clients alike.

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. North Carolina State University (NC State)

Location: Raleigh, NC
Duration: 4 years
Estimated cost of attendance: $105,000–$120,000 (NC resident, before aid) / $200,000–$220,000 (non-NC resident, before aid)

North Carolina State University is a public research institution based in Raleigh, NC, home to over 36,000 students and consistently ranked among the top public universities in NC.

Its College of Design houses the Department of Graphic Design and Industrial Design, where students can pursue a Bachelor of Graphic Design (BGD). The program was formally rebranded as Graphic & Experience Design in the 2025–26 academic year, reflecting a focus on user experience, interaction design, and data visualisation alongside traditional graphic design fundamentals.

The 120-credit-hour program is stretched across 8 semesters. Students develop skills across print, digital, virtual, mobile, and embedded media, with a strong emphasis on prototyping, branding, and visualisation methods.

A distinctive feature of studying at NC State is their relationship with Duke University and UNC Chapel Hill, allowing students to take courses at either institution under NC State tuition. NC State's location in Raleigh's Research Triangle also creates strong pathways into the area's thriving tech, branding, and design industries.

Admission to NC State is competitive and based on a combination of academic performance and a portfolio review.

3. Appalachian State University (App State)

Location: Boone, NC
Duration: 4 years
Estimated cost of attendance: $95,000–$115,000 (NC resident, before aid) / $160,000–$180,000 (non-resident, before aid)

Tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, Appalachian State University (App State) offers a BFA in Graphic Design within its Department of Art.

The BFA curriculum was recently redesigned in 2025, with one distinctive feature: students take their first graphic design class in their very first semester rather than waiting through foundation years. Coursework covers typography, digital imaging, history of graphic design, branding, and visual communication.

Admission is considered to be highly selective. Students must pass a Portfolio Review to progress into upper-level courses, and a new Graphic Design minor (introduced in 2025–26) is available as a fallback.

App State's mountain setting is an attractive reason for many students to enrol. Its location in Boone offers hiking, skiing, and outdoor culture that you won't find at most urban art schools, alongside 17 NCAA Division I sports teams for a more traditional university experience.

4. East Carolina University (ECU)

Location: Greenville, NC
Duration: 4 years
Estimated cost of attendance: $90,000–$110,000 (NC resident, before aid) / $150,000–$170,000 (non-resident, before aid)

East Carolina University (ECU) offers a BFA in Art with a concentration in Graphic Design, one of 11 concentrations within its School of Art and Design.

ECU describes the school as the most comprehensive art school in North Carolina and one of the largest in the Southeast, with over 475 undergraduate students.

The graphic design concentration covers branding, typography, publication design, packaging, and interactive media in a studio-based environment. The breadth of concentrations across the school, spanning animation and interactive design to illustration and print media, means students can benefit from being part of a wider creative community.

ECU's Arts Lab partnership with the city of Greenville offers students the opportunity to be embedded in real-world community design projects.

5. University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte)

Location: Charlotte, NC
Duration: 4 years
Estimated cost of attendance: $95,000–$115,000 (NC resident, before aid) / $160,000–$180,000 (non-resident, before aid)

University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) offers a standalone BFA in Graphic Design within its Department of Art & Art History, housed in the College of Arts + Architecture.

The 78-credit-hour program is sequential, with students starting three studio art courses and one art history course in their very first semester. The department is a member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), a meaningful credential for serious applicants.

Like many of the schools on this list, admission is highly competitive and requires an Entrance Portfolio.

Charlotte's status as a major banking and financial hub creates strong corporate design, branding, and internship opportunities. For students who want a city-based university experience with real industry pipelines, UNC Charlotte is an option worth considering.

6. Queens University of Charlotte

Location: Charlotte, NC
Duration: 4 years
Estimated cost of attendance: $280,000–$310,000 (before aid)

Founded in 1857, Queens University of Charlotte is a small private school nestled near downtown Charlotte that aims to mold creatives who can deliver across static and interactive media. The BA in Graphic Design sits within the Department of Art, Design and Music at the Gambrell Center.

A standout feature of studying at Queens is the John Belk International Program (JBIP), which fully funds a study abroad trip for all full-time students. Combined with the school's emphasis on mentorship and real-world projects, this makes their graphic design program good for those wanting a broader perspective beyond the US.

It’s worth noting that Queens has one of the highest aid rates of any school on this list, meaning net cost ends up far closer to a public university than a typical private one.

7. North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University (NC A&T)

Location: Greensboro, NC
Duration: 4 years
Estimated cost of attendance: $85,000–$105,000 (NC resident, before aid) / $140,000–$160,000 (non-resident, before aid)

North Carolina A&T State University is the largest historically Black college or university (HBCU) in the United States and one of the most affordable options on this list.

Its BA in Visual Arts, Visual Media Design sits within the Department of Visual and Performing Arts and runs across roughly 127–128 credit hours, with concentrations spanning motion arts, design drawing, and advertising design.

The program emphasises creative problem-solving alongside technical craft, preparing students for careers in graphic design, advertising, and visual media. NC A&T's affordability is further bolstered by the state's Fixed Tuition Program, which locks tuition rates for eight consecutive semesters for resident undergraduates.

Notable alumni of NC A&T include MacArthur "Genius Grant" winner Walter Hood, Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr., U.S. Congresswoman Alma Adams, NASA astronaut Ronald McNair, and Oscar-winning actor Terrence J.

8. Gardner Webb University

Location: Boiling Springs, NC
Duration: 4 years
Estimated cost of attendance: $190,000–$210,000 (before aid)

Set in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Gardner-Webb University is a private Christian-affiliated university offering a BA in Graphic Design. The curriculum bridges typography, design theory, and software, with off-campus internships built into the program.

One distinctive feature is the program's service-oriented project work. Coursework is also flexible enough that individual students can tailor their path, balancing aesthetic studies with the legal and ethical dimensions of communication design. The small school size at just over 3,000 students means close access to faculty and a tight design cohort.

Boiling Springs is a close-knit, quaint college town located about an hour west of Charlotte, offering access to the great outdoors, and a small-town atmosphere that contrasts with the bigger university options on this list. For students who value a strong sense of community and a faith-grounded campus environment, Gardner-Webb is worth a closer look.

9. University of Mount Olive

Location: Mt. Olive, NC
Duration: 4 years
Estimated cost of attendance: $160,000–$180,000 (before aid)

University of Mount Olive offers a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design designed to prepare students for careers across graphic design, illustration, and digital imaging. Housed in the Department of Visual Arts, the curriculum spans 120 credits of coursework in design history, photography, and digital applications, with a strong emphasis on technical and conceptual understanding.

The Department of Visual Arts is small by design, which means close faculty-student relationships and a tight-knit cohort. Mount Olive is a private, Christian-affiliated liberal arts institution, and its values around interdisciplinary and experiential learning shape the program's character. The university also offers an adult undergraduate program and a free online application, which makes it more accessible than many private alternatives on this list.

The quaint town of Mt. Olive, best known as the Pickle Capital of the world, offers a small-town atmosphere and access to local industry partnerships that occasionally feed into design and communications career opportunities.

10. Campbell University

Location: Buies Creek, NC
Duration: 4 years
Estimated cost of attendance: $250,000–$280,000 (before aid)

Campbell University offers a BA in Graphic Design, housed in the College of Arts and Sciences. The program is studio-based with a strong focus on typography and the design process, grounded in critical thinking about how people perceive, interpret, and understand visual information.

Campbell is a private Christian-affiliated university, founded in 1887, with a longstanding motto of "Lighting the World." Its rural Buies Creek location offers a small-town campus feel with access to the Research Triangle's design and tech community for internships and post-graduation opportunities. Campbell boasts an active campus life, with a tight-knit student community of around 6,500.

Despite the high tuition, 90% of main campus students receive some form of scholarship or financial aid, making Campbell more financially competitive than it may appear at first.

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

Graphic design can take you into a number of exciting directions, this list offers a range of programs meant to inspire your decision taking into account ideal campus atmosphere, extracurriculars and results.

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.