Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Graphic Designers
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Full Sail, Ringling College of Art and Design, College of Business and Technology-Flagler Campus, and University of Florida.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider University of Miami and Florida A&M.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Florida A&M, University of Miami, PBA - West Palm Beach, and University of Florida.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider College of Business and Technology-Hialeah Campus and College of Business and Technology-Flagler Campus.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Full Sail, The University of Tampa, University of Miami, and Ringling College of Art and Design.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Ringling College of Art and Design, Florida Southern College, The University of Tampa, and Flagler.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at University of Miami, University of Florida, and Florida State.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at University of Florida, University of Miami, and Flagler.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Ringling College of Art and Design, University of Miami, Florida A&M, and PBA - West Palm Beach.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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University Of Central Florida • Orlando, FL
Studying Marketing (completion in 2010)
• 5/8/2011
"Overall I am satisfied with my experience at UCF. I walked out receiving everything I expected."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | UCF offers so many different career aspects to students, even if they were not interested in graphic design. They are very involved in the community. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | We have a pretty good reputation other than some minor situations which occurred with cheating students last year. Also some instances that revolved around some of the fraternities. |
| Program Quality | 8 | UCF provided me enough foundation for me to be able to succeed once I graduated. It is a really good school with great opportunities. |
| Instruction | 7 | Depending on which teacher you got, you could be pleased or disappointed. For the most part I had fairly good teachers that were always willing to help. |
| How Difficult | 7 | It wasn't necessarily difficult as much as time consuming. It took more time than it did brains. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It is more mixed now than when I first started at the school. Mainly because a lot of students now have the chance to be more flexible with their schedules (i.e. - online courses) so the face to face interaction has now been replaced with computers. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | As years go by the school increases in flexibility. They now have more "online" courses that allow the student to view class lectures at their convenience instead of having to go on campus at certain set times. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | They have staff that is willing to help students out when necessary. They have an outstanding library with resources that are extremely helpful to all students. |
| Social Life | 3 | I personally did not want to be in school when I did not have to be. I did not attend any games or any events. |
| Placement Services | 6 | UCF has an outstanding office that helps you write up your resume and gives you tips on how to conduct an interview. They also have many job fairs on campus that allow students to go look at prospects. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | Many successful business persons came out of UCF. The alumni ranges from every field of study. |
Florida Atlantic University • Boca Raton, FL
Studying Fine Arts, Concentration Graphic Design (completion in 2008)
• 5/8/2011
"I cannot say that their was anything that bad about the program except for the internship/job placing. The program itself was good."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The overall course work was a perfect amount. The professors were very good and helpful. The program itself is worth it and you learn enough to get you started in your field. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | The students who have graduated from FAU would speak very highly of the program, which keeps the reputation clean. On the other hand this is not an art school, which means people are not going to the school for the art program. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I think the course work and classes were very relevant to graphic design, however I believe that we could have been more prepared for real life jobs. I also think they could have helped with internships and helped the students understand that an internship can help forward your career. |
| Instruction | 7 | My first two years the instructions from my professors were very good. The following two years unfortunately I received a student professor and I do not think that I was as prepared as I could have been for the real world. |
| How Difficult | 1 | The work load was just enough. There were definitely all nighters, but it was just enough work for a student. I do not think that it was that challenging. However, per student, and their level of knowledge on a computer can change their thought of the level of difficulty. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | With a program like Graphic Design, there is no choice but to be hands on. We had regular projects and regular book work. However our main focus was on our projects, that were always done on the programs that we were required to learn. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | They had night and morning classes available. They also had very good lab hours if you did not own a computer. They were fair with their schedules. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Each student in each class had their own MAC desktop loaded with all the programs. They were never damaged and always new. Even in the labs they had new MAC desktop computers that were in good shape. |
| Social Life | 4 | I cannot blame this on the school. The art program was not at the main school location. I believe that if it were then I would have been more involved in social events and school spirit. However because we were in a different building we were removed from the entire scene. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I was not helped at all for job placement at all. This is one of my biggest complains is that they did not help even for an internship. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I am not currently active in their Alumni program due to the fact that it is so poor. We do not have a lot of support and I certainly can say that I don’t receive any networking from the Alumni program. |
University Of Miami • Coral Gables, FL
Studying Art (completion in 1984)
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I don't feel it's a really strong program (though it has been quite awhile since I attended). Good school overall, especially if you want to study in South Florida. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I've never heard anyone refer to the program in one way or another. Having visited fairly recently, the facility has not changed much. |
| Program Quality | 5 | Didn't seem to be a terribly important focus of the school. Facility was lacking. |
| Instruction | More than 5 years ago | |
| How Difficult | 5 | Projects were neither easy nor hard to accomplish. Work load was not at all comparable with real world work load. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Classes were taught by professors that were either actively in or had been in the design field, so it was mostly project-based. Not many tests per se, mostly projects. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Quite a few choices as far as scheduling of classes was concerned. I was able to accommodate work and school easily. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Facility was quite second-rate compared with the other buildings on campus. The library was quite well equipped, though. |
| Social Life | 8 | There were always quite a lot of activities to participate in. I was also working at the time, so I didn't take part in as many as I could have. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I did not use their job placement services, therefore have no idea. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | Very active alumni association. They provide good communication regarding the school's activities to their alumni. |
Manatee Technical Institute (MTI) • Bradenton, FL
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2009)
• 5/4/2011
"Very satisfied. they provided the help I needed."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes I would. I have and will continue to do so. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Better than average. Most students leave satisfied. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I'm happy with the school I went to for this. Small classes and lots of help learning |
| Instruction | 8 | I'm very pleased with what the school gave me. I learned exactly what I needed to take this as a career. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Not too hard. I have had experience before though. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | More hands on than book. We learned by trying. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | Very good. Very flexible and easy to handle. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Above average. It was good but not great. |
| Social Life | 7 | Good experience. Not a big school but good otherwise. |
| Placement Services | 9 | Very good. They are very involved with job placement. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Just average. Nothing out of the ordinary. |
University Of North Florida • Jacksonville, FL
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2014)
• 7/7/2011
"It's a good place to go to school, however, I know other schools are better. I would go again for another degree."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It has a great background in graphic design. Tuition is also lowest in the state. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Our school is known for our graphic design program. We have a good reputation. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My school had really good teachers. The program was really worth the effort, also. |
| Instruction | 9 | I had most of the same teachers each semester. This helped grow our bond as well as build my background in graphic design. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I already had an extensive background in graphic design. However, I learned a lot and grew as a designer. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Graphic design was very hands off. We were required to do work, and then turn it in for group critique. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | My school offered many online classes and night classes. This helped meet the need of all students. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | We had an amazing computer lab. It was built when I was a sophomore, and was filled with new computers and programs. |
| Social Life | 3 | It is more of transient school. However, we did have a lot of social activities. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I don't know much about this. I think our school does offer it though. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I don't go to my school much anymore. My teachers are still there for me if I need them. |
Full Sail University • Orlando, FL
Studying Computer Animation (completion in 2005)
• 7/16/2011
"Full Sail was garbage, and one of the more regrettable decisions in my life. I would advise all against it."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | In my humble opinion, the school should be burnt to ashes, with the ground salted in the wake. Those responsible for the school and curriculum should be publicly flogged and executed. Anyone interested in design should apply themselves exclusively to learning from online tutorials. |
| Program Reputation | 1 | Again, Full Sail is known for being a 'bottom-line' motivated diploma mill for all of its programs. The school has a well-deserved reputation for lack of quality. |
| Program Quality | 1 | Full Sail is a diploma mill concerned with money and bottom lines. All of their programs have similar complaints from ex-students. |
| Instruction | 1 | The instruction was rushed, hurried, and was intended simply to 'pass' students as quickly as possible. The relevance and quality of the curriculum was already obsolete by the time a curriculum had been developed. |
| How Difficult | 2 | As with all things, the effort one put's in makes something easy. I particularly find animation and design to be easy concepts. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Full Sail provided its own 'laughable' textbooks which were poorly printed, weakly bound, and lacking in relevance. The lab learning was entertaining and thorough, but never long enough. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | Classes and labs often occur at opposite times of the day and at obscene hours in a 24 hour cycle. Schedules are uncompromising. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | All resources stolen from the students are plunged into shiny new 'toys.' The school maintains an appearance of being at the top of technological trends, while course work is laughably archaic. |
| Social Life | 2 | There are many unique and fun idealistic individuals eager to learn and participate in the program. No real time for parties, but a great network of support and friends. |
| Placement Services | 1 | They tout false claims and invalid statistics. I have heard and received no assistance since graduation. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I have heard nothing from ex-students in 'the industry.' Most ex-students moved onto other fields as the quality of education and assistance from Full Sail was lacking. |
Full Sail University • Winterpark, FL
Studying Media Design (completion in 2011)
• 7/17/2011
"Full Sail University was my only choice when it came to choosing an art school. The affordability, flexibility and reputation of the school precedes it."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Full Sail University provides a quality education with hands-on training to support textbook concepts. Being affordable and flexible lets graphic designers get the degree they need to excel in the field. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Full Sail is notably one of the great media design schools in the country. It is behind only two other art schools. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Full Sail is one of the leading design schools in the country. The professionalism and support the school provides is a testimony to why they are one of the best. |
| Instruction | 10 | The professors are always around when needed. They also use leading edge technology to assist in instructing. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The program leans toward new technology. Because of this, most of the material to be learned is new. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Graphic design requires working knowledge of language, practices and procedures that are found within traditional textbooks. Creating a visual product takes a hands-on approach. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Full Sail University started as a brick and mortar school. It has since expanded to include multiple online programs to allow students more of a flexible option. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Full Sail's campus is one of the top rated in the state of Florida. With technology around every corner, it's hard not to just play with toys all day. |
| Social Life | 3 | Because Full Sail is an art school and not a major university, social life is more subdued. Athletics and school spirit are almost non-existent. |
| Placement Services | 7 | Full Sail has access to many different career services. Unfortunately in today's market, designers are a dime a dozen. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | The design community is tight knit. The Full Sail Alumni is no different. |
University Of Florida • Gainesville, FL
Studying Advertising And Telecommunications (completion in 1996)
• 8/3/2011
"UF provided me the tools and training I needed to get the job I wanted. They also provided relevant jobs while I was attending classes."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | UF's Advertising and Telecommunications programs are nationally recognized. Most of my fellow graduates have great jobs. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | From the alumni magazine I see that many of the graduates of this program are now working at great jobs. Also, the school is always in the top ten for its programs. |
| Program Quality | 10 | UF provided me with many opportunities to receive training in my area of study. This experience is what got me my current position. |
| Instruction | 10 | Most of my instructors had real world experience. This translated very well to my current job. |
| How Difficult | 8 | There were no excuses for poor grammar, spelling errors, etc. Some of the software was not user friendly. (Blender for example.) |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | With local business owners coming to our classes, I received the knowledge that would help me in my current career. Once again, most of the professors had real world experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I was able to accelerate my time in school by taking classes over the summer. This helped me save money. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | From academic advisement and learning labs to hands on tutoring, the school was there for me. Some instructors would allow me to come in early to get extra training. |
| Social Life | 5 | I did not attend a lot of social activities. I concentrated on getting work related jobs on campus. |
| Placement Services | 7 | UF's Career Resource Center supplied me with job leads, resume help, and more. I can still contact them for assistance even though I am no longer a student. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | Networking with a fellow graduate got me a paid freelance job with my current employer. This resulted in an entry level position with my current employer. |
Kaplan University • Tallahassee, FL
Studying Business Management (completion in 2011)
• 8/11/2011
"They cheat, lie, and steal your money. They don't return calls ever and there's no way to get proof of what they do in court because they are tied to so many wealthy organizations."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Like I said before they cheat and lie and steal, so I would tell everyone in the world to stay away form Kaplan University. Learning is one thing, but lying and stealing can be depressing when you have a family to support. |
| Program Reputation | 1 | The school turned out to be a Wall Street Scam even though they offer educational courses. |
| Program Quality | 5 | They don't really teach you much - they just pay you for going and its annoying at some points because you might not get paid until the end of the season or year. |
| Instruction | 7 | I learned a lot but it was due to my own studying and self preservation. The school just provides tests and homework. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Not really difficult because all the answers are in books or in the seminar. The difficult part is the communication and trust. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I would rather do hands on work instead of taking online classes. The online classes are very iffy when it comes to getting a good lesson taught to you. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Annoying, but flexible at times. |
| Academic Facilities | 1 | They have people that fall asleep in seminars and forget to email homework or upcoming tests. |
| Social Life | 10 | I enjoy conversing and getting to know the different students despite the long distance relationships. |
| Placement Services | 4 | People have told me that they just avoid you after you graduate. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Pretty decent, but it could be better. |
The International Academy Of Design & Technology • Tampa, FL
Studying Computer Animation (completion in 2003)
• 8/14/2011
"I personally had a good experience at IADT. If it were possible I would return and continue my education and get my bachelor's degree."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Anyone who thinks graphic design or computer animation is the right career for them, IADT would be a good school to make that dream a reality. As with most things in life, you will get out of it what you put in it. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | I think they have a decent reputation. I have been out of touch since 2004, but when I talk to people about where I went to school I rarely hear bad things about it. |
| Program Quality | 6 | I kinda felt like they just wanted my money. There was one student there while I attended that did nothing... he paid other people to do his work because his daddy said if he was in school he could live at home. How is it fair that he got the same degree as I did? |
| Instruction | 6 | There were good teachers and there were bad teachers. I can remember asking questions about Maya and the teacher could not answer them. But on the other hand, I remember my Photoshop teacher and he was the bomb. He knew Photoshop. |
| How Difficult | 6 | It was one of those things... you get what you put into it. I busted my butt, was it was hard, not just time consuming. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Although each class had books, the core classes were very hands on. The general ed courses - math, english, etc. - were book learning, but the core classes, such as Photoshop, Maya and Mojoworld, were all very much hands on. This is the way it should be, I feel anyway. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | They had a decent selection of classes to choose from, including evening and weekend classes. So for those people who worked during the day night, classes were available, and vice versa. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | They had an excellent array of things to choose from, from the library to the computer labs. Study support groups were available, although I myself didn't use them. |
| Social Life | 3 | The only reason I gave this a 3 is because I didn't participate in anything. I was unhappily married and it was a fight to get to school, let alone be able to do any school functions. But I know they are available. But this question says to rate my social experience. In the classroom I had fun. |
| Placement Services | 5 | They helped me get my first job right out of school. But I have asked for help since I graduated and they have not been much help. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I cant really give an accurate answer to this as I do not participate in any alumni functions. I need to so I can network myself, though. |
Miami Dade College • Miami, FL
Studying Graphic Design Technology (completion in 2006)
• 8/29/2011
"In general, very satisfied. I made suggestions on the weak points of the program and I believe they were well taken."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Miami Dade College has a great reputation. Students will receive the knowledge needed and will more to be able to pursue their careers. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The school's reputation was not as good as the program's. However, several students were taking important classes at the college because the instructors at their school were not as good. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I believe the program should teach more about how to create artwork instead of dedicating a large amount of credits on how to use software. |
| Instruction | 8 | In general it was good. I had amazing instructors that went beyond the curriculum. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I had a lot of difficulty with classes such as Algebra. That was a challenge that I had to get through. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A real mix! | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I had classes early in the morning, late at night, on Saturdays and Sundays... very well organized! |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Academic facilities were updated and at the time one of the best in the country. All libraries, media, and computer labs had the latest technology. |
| Social Life | 10 | The reputation of the school is very good when it comes to social activities. I participated in many cultural events during my years as a student and I continue to do so. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I never received any support and when I requested help, the result was to sit in front of a computer and look at a lists of jobs. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The alumni network is excellent. I still receive updates of activities that I can participate in. The support is great. |
The University Of Miami • Coral Gables, FL
Studying Communications Advertising (completion in 2011)
• 9/12/2011
"I love the school and would never want to go anywhere else. There's something truly special that happens in Coral Gables."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, absolutely yes. Everyone is struggling to find work right now and whether they want to admit it or not it has nothing to do with the quality of the school. Once this economic storm is settled I know that a degree from Miami will be priceless. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | I don't know specifically about the Advertising major but I know that the University's clout has risen considerably over the past decade as it's now a top 50 university nationwide. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I loved UM's advertising program. Some of the best staff in the school of communications were members of the advertising program and they really ran the gamut as far as experience and talent. That said, the Communications school has almost always neglected the Advertising major in favor of journalism and broadcasting. |
| Instruction | 10 | Professors really brought a lot of real world experience to the table, and truly helped in the job search and getting their students ready as legit candidates for agency jobs. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The program varied from extremely manageable to deadline difficulty. Classes like portfolio and campaigns really pushed the boundaries as to what can be done in the course of 7 weeks. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The first three or four semesters are very book-oriented, but I wouldn't even suggest buying the books for the last two years, as most of your learning will take place through hands-on experiences. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The University pretty much had it all. One could take classes whenever and wherever, with a pretty healthy range of online courses as well. However, some of the classes are spread between all three of the campuses so you may not be able to take all desired courses in one location. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Every other year the creative labs would get new iMacs which were always top of the line. The only problem is sharing them with Film majors. |
| Social Life | 10 | UM has a very unique scene. Everyone loves and appreciates their alma mater to death but the support isn't always there at football and basketball games. The city of Miami is just an overwhelming factor in the school. |
| Placement Services | 4 | For jobs in the creative field it was damn near non-existent. The Toppel Center is focused on Business, Medicine and Law majors, whereas Creatives get the short end of the stick. They couldn't even tell you what a Creative resume looks like. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The school has an excellent alumni network but they don't make it a very big point of granting their students access to it. If you want to come in contact with alumni you're going to have to go out of your way to get it. |
South Florida Community College • Avon Park, FL
Studying Business Management (completion in 2004)
• 10/20/2011
"I wish I could have utilized my time and money more effectively at SFCC. The staff there were unhelpful in helping me budget either."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | SFCC is a good value school depending on what you want to do. I would recommend a more practical study and follow up education at a full University as well. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Locally, SFCC enjoys a very good reputation. It is not well known on a state or national level. |
| Program Quality | 6 | SFCC provides ample training given our community's needs. It was, when I attended, somewhat lacking in technology programs. |
| Instruction | 6 | I learned a great deal to help prepare me for business management in general. However, I learned more specific business skills and graphic design skills by working in the field then I ever did in college. |
| How Difficult | 4 | SFCC's program difficulty is on par with any local or community college. It is not up to the standards of Universities. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the business management courses were theory courses with extensive book orientation. There were lab and technical skill courses though, with accompanying lab time associated with each course. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | Distance learning and night classes were available when I attended. However, they were only for a small handful of electives that I didn't need. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | The library and computer lab were fairly adequate. However the graphic design lab was underfunded and utilized antiquated equipment and software. |
| Social Life | 3 | The only social activities I recall from SFCC were sports activities. I did not take part. |
| Placement Services | 3 | At the time I was attending, the Career Center had difficulty placing students in technology based jobs. This is often still the case with the rural community and economic downturn. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | SFCC does not provide an Alumni network that I'm aware of. It is either not utilized or not well advertised. |
Keiser University • Melbourne, FL
Studying Computer Graphics And Design (completion in 2000)
• 10/22/2011
"I enjoyed my time as a student at the school. I learned a lot of career oriented information and have some great friends still in my life."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The reason I like the school is that there was a lot of real world knowledge given from the students and instructors alike. When I graduated I felt like I wasn't just thrown into something that I couldn't do based on my education. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | As far as I am aware the program still has a good reputation. I am no longer in the area and they do not send out any newsletters to Alumni. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The school's program was diverse with respect to different aspects of the design field. I studied print, web, and multimedia design instead of one focus. |
| Instruction | 9 | The instructor were all career designers and had work place experience they were able to share with the students. This was helpful because it was just text book courses. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The base work load was very simple for me since I had time in high school where I took a lot of the courses. The instructor noticed this and designed projects that were more complex and real world related for me to complete. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The projects were very hands on. The professor would give you a project and let you change them how you wanted as long as certain things were in the final project. We also helped each other out if someone couldn't figure something out and someone else was able to master it. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | Being a career school they offered both full time day classes and part time evening classes. I started out as a full time day student and when I was offered my job I had no problems with making the switch to evening classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Each student had their own computer station for use and was able to use it when a class was not in session. You could work on projects if you did not have access to a system with all the programs. |
| Social Life | 5 | The school did not really have a lot of school functions being a career college. The few events they did have had a nice turn out and were well organized. |
| Placement Services | 5 | When I went to student services looking for a job, they did not have anything for graphic designers. They did have another data entry job available that I was offered. The job turned out to be a great opportunity for me even though it was not in my field. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Being a career school, the alumni network was limited because there was not a lot of interest by the students. Most of the students were working full time adults supporting families. |
Full Sale University • Winter Park, FL
Studying Web Design And Development (completion in 2007)
• 10/27/2011
"A very comfortable environment. I learned many skills other than web development and graphic design that I consider to be life skills. There is so much to learn there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Very thorough experience. Tutors are understanding and go the extra mile to ensure that everyone is receiving the inspiration and skills needed. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | My university has a very good reputation. Just surf the internet for educational material and you are bound to come across an advertisement promoting my university. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The hands on work at my university was amazing - a very thorough experience indeed. |
| Instruction | 10 | I learned an excellent amount of information and skills at my university that prepared me and was relevant to my career preparation. As I wait for an opportunity to use said web development skills, I also learned graphic design and have acquired enough skill to be more than an asset to any organization. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Some people found the work easier than others, while some found the work extremely difficult. Some even dropped out after the first semester. I, on the other hand, found it to be neither really easy nor really difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My university believes more in good experiences as opposed to good theory. There was theory, though most of the work we did involved being in front of the computer programming and designing. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | My university has degree programs for on campus and online. If you choose to go to the campus for a hands on degree program in a traditional light, you can also consider doing some courses online to increase class flexibility. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Straight off the bat my university provides a Mac Book for use so everyone is on the same level. The library and other computer resources are vast and always available. |
| Social Life | 5 | The university presents many opportunities for socializing, which I find leads to low grades if taken too far. So I socialized moderately and concentrated on excelling at my school work. |
| Placement Services | 10 | There are many success stories coming straight out of my university. The university provides many career placement opportunities and internships. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I believe that there is a very good alumni network, however I am not interested in such things. Needless to say I did not pay much attention to what is offered in said area. |
Florida International University • Miami, FL
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2008)
• 11/23/2011
"I am pretty satisfied. For the money I am paying I'm getting a pretty good education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It's cheap, in a great location, and has a great atmosphere and awesome resources. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | They have a pretty good reputation, but the issue is that we have so many great schools in Florida that this one might fall short. |
| Program Quality | 6 | They are known for being a good business school, but the programs could be a bit better - perhaps a bit more hands on. |
| Instruction | 7 | The teachers are good, though I do feel like they are a bit bored with what they are teaching. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Just like anything else, if you apply yourself and study you will do good. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The school does not have much hands on work for business. At the end of the day business is all about how you apply it. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Scheduling is pretty good. There are enough times to pick classes to fit my schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | They have great resources. The school is full of computer stations and a few libraries with coffee shops in them. |
| Social Life | 9 | Great! The social atmosphere at the school is very appealing, especially when everyone is studying and helping each other. |
| Placement Services | I have not tried any of their career placement programs, and therefore I can't say. | |
| Alumni Network | 8 | They do have a great atmosphere and everyone is willing to help one another. |
State College Of Florida • Bradenton, FL
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2014)
• 12/7/2011
"I enjoyed my school, however there are always a few things that will bother a student. My registration and financial aid always seemed messed up."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would definitely tell someone else to pursue the same path as I have. I am very happy with the choices I have made and the way my school prepared me. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | My school is mainly based around being a nursing school. Because we are a newly two-year school, many people wouldn't even know we offered graphic design. |
| Program Quality | 4 | My school did not focus on my major, however it had a few really great professors who would try to make it the main focus. It wasn't until recently that we actually got a major for my specific choice. |
| Instruction | 6 | The instruction would be great, if I hadn't already known most of what I was being taught. I found myself bored of the lessons and not learning much new material. |
| How Difficult | 2 | My program was very simple, this could be because I had been doing graphic design for 5 years prior to taking any courses. But I think it is more of an art form than a career. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We were a very mixed school, even our math classes were hands-on vs. only book-oriented. We would switch it up every now and then to make sure students who learned better one way or the other benefitted equally. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | My schools schedule was extremely flexible. If you wanted to spend half your summer taking classes you could. We had three different schedules during summer and were also offered day and night classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | We had a very large library - two stories - and many computers. We also had a student resource lab which has private rooms with computers and tutors for anyone who needed them. |
| Social Life | 5 | I did not participate in any school events, as I was very busy working and taking a full load of classes. I know we had many organized groups though. |
| Placement Services | 4 | I am unaware if my school had a job placement program. I had found my job interning and was lucky enough for them to keep me. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | I have no idea if my school had an alumni network. Once I graduated I left and never turned back. |
Valencia Community College • Orlando, FL
Studying (completion in 2004)
• 12/8/2011
"It was affordable and sufficient to get you in the job market."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Valencia is best because it is in Florida. Never pass up a chance to attend college in Florida. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Valencia was one of the top community colleges in the US. They were known for several programs including Graphic Design. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The degree program was very thorough when teaching the required programs. It even included a solid introduction to web design. |
| Instruction | 5 | Like any other college class you had to learn nearly everything on your own. Professors were available to assist when asked. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Learning new programs is a big task. Also, the number of programs that you must learn in extensive. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It's all hands-on for this program. It is the only real way to learn. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | Key classes were impossible to attend while working. I had to quit one job and take a night job to finish school. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Good computers were available to us. We also had the up-to-date programs. |
| Social Life | 5 | I met some friends but this is mostly a commuter school. |
| Placement Services | 1 | Virtually non-existent. I had to do my own networking to get an internship. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | The alumni network is virtually non-existent. Generally this is reserved for four-year colleges. |
FIT • Melbourne, FL
Studying Engineering Management (completion in 1993)
• 12/10/2011
"I did enjoy the school overall. I like creating new projects."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Depending on who I am recommending a school for graphic design to, I may recommend FIT as a possible fit for them, as long as they have an interest in soccer and are motivated to self-learn what they need to succeed. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | FIT is a small school without much notoriety. The FIT reputation has not spread much beyond Central Florida as an average institution with respect to engineering design graphics. |
| Program Quality | 6 | The engineering program for management included graphic design as it relates to project planning. It gave me the basic knowledge for the application of the graphics I use in consulting for renewable energy projects. |
| Instruction | 4 | I needed to expand my abilities much further than the FIT program provided. Much of what I use now is self-learned and continued learning in the field of graphic design. |
| How Difficult | 3 | The graphic design work at FIT was straightforward. The more complex pieces of graphic design must be learned as you complete more detailed projects. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The graphics aspects of the program must be a mix of hands on with book lessons. There must be production of graphics in order to succeed in graphic design. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | There are online and video options for classes at FIT. I used the FEEDS program, which allows you to view video of class whenever you want. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The resources at FIT are average, compared to other schools. The computer labs are basic, since it is a private school with limited funding. |
| Social Life | 7 | FIT has a great soccer program. I still play soccer with some of the current team members in pickup games for fun. |
| Placement Services | 7 | FIT does have some connection with industry. The local engineering firms have placement programs with FIT. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I do like the alumni association's emails and events. The network size is fairly small, however. |
Indian River State College • Ft. Pierce, FL
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2007)
• 12/19/2011
"The time flew by and my classes were so fun to attend that it didn't even feel like work. I even looked forward to the exams. The diversity of so many people from different backgrounds was so interesting."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend that they investigate the job field first that they are looking to get into, just so they are not disappointed if they have to go into business for themselves as I have, due to the economy and businesses not hiring as many people. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I rate the college average, just for the fact that I'm not sure about the graphic design programs at other colleges. The classes were always full and there were always a handful of students already in the field. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The college experience was very positive. Everyone I met was so nice and I made a bunch of new friends. The professors were caring and felt like longtime family friends. I'd really like to go back again. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instructors were extremely patient with those of us who weren't as fast with the Photoshop and Illustrator software. I was able to learn at my own pace for the most part, and they were always available for questions. |
| How Difficult | 5 | For the most part, my classes were easy to keep up with, due to my already being an artist. But the computer-aided design classes were slightly difficult at first, due to my not being comfortable with a computer. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | For my degree, 90% of my classes were hands on, due to being an artist. I did drawing, painting, block printing, screen printing, and drafting. Without doing these things hands on, my degree would have been extremely difficult. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Class selection was always great. No matter what kind of crazy schedule I had, I was able to find a timeslot that was appropriate. One time, I even had to take a class that didn't let out until 11pm. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Classrooms were always spacious, neat and clean. The library was phenomenal in terms of the selection of design and art books for reference. The instructors I had were available through email anytime I needed them. |
| Social Life | 9 | They always had get-togethers and social events. I went to luncheons and art and design showcase events that awarded ribbons. I wasn't into the sports, but they always showed their spirit on campus. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I would say that job placement was not so great. Had I known that by the time I graduated with my associate's degree that businesses were starting to require a higher degree, I would have chosen another career path. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | All the instructors were extremely understanding and professional. When they couldn't help me, they found someone who could. |
Full Sail University • Winter Park, FL
Studying Media Design (completion in 2011)
• 2/27/2012
"From the enrollment process down to the excellent curriculum, I had absolutely no regrets with Full Sail. It prepared me for success and I am going back for a certificate in media-rich education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | This school, though very challenging, will provide excellent training using the industry standards in software. Any graduate will be more than prepared to tackle their area in the design field. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Full Sail has several prestigious artists from Media Design that go on to work for companies like Sony, Disney, and Marvel. The school has an excellent reputation. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Full Sail offered the programs, curriculum, and instruction needed for me to come into the field of Art Direction. When it comes to the field of art in the media and entertainment arena, Full Sail really cannot be beaten. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instruction was very thorough and really prepared me for entering my field. The curriculum consisted of an in-depth, hands-on walkthrough of the processes of Art direction from consultation to execution and deliverables. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Full Sail was very challenging. Being a Masters' program, the work load was very intense, yet comprehensive. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program basically consists of a 12-month long project with goals, objectives, and deadlines to complete over the course of 12 classes. It was very hands-on oriented | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I took online classes which afforded me the maximum in flexibility. The trade-off, of course, is that you must provide your own accountability for completing your work. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | To excel in the online environment, the school provided a laptop computer with the latest software and a headset for video meetings. The resources available at the online library are invaluable and the professors are always willing to be on call. |
| Social Life | Being an online student, I did not participate in many on-campus gatherings. | |
| Placement Services | 10 | Many high profile jobs have an intake that consists primarily of Full Sail graduates. The job placement there is excellent. |
| Alumni Network | I have not had much interaction with the alumni network, so I am not sure how to rate them. |
Full Sail University • Winter Park, FL
Studying Film Production (completion in 2003)
• 2/29/2012
"While not providing a good reality of indie filmmaking given the budgets we had in school, it did prove that independent filmmaking was more accessible than we previously thought. It also helped each of us fine-tune which of the various crew positions we were most interested in."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If someone truly believes they need school, well then go for it, by all means. However, it's just as easy to teach yourself and use that extra money moving to a city conducive to creative thinking and more capable of producing the art you're interested in. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Several of us from my graduating class have went on to do great things. Others you'll find on message boards ranting about the missed opportunities. Reputation is a silly thing given that it primarily lies upon the student to succeed or fail. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Very hands-on approach and a diverse range of classes. The only negative is that, while we were given amazing equipment in school, having that equipment for indie shoots is simply impossible even for most established directors. |
| Instruction | 8 | Each instructor had worked within the industry although they were not trained instructors. Their form of education was more akin to life experience and technical manuals with little in between. Ultimately very effective, however. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I can see how some people would find it very difficult given the 24/7 schedule, 16hr shoots, and having to memorize hundreds of camera settings and lighting equipment. It was a great opportunity to submerge one's self in all the information. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Building sets, shooting actual short films, and writing scripts were typical classes. Anything we learned from a book was later augmented in labs. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | This was a 24/7 school quite literally. There was no time for flexibility, sick days, makeup tests, or anything of the sort. Doesn't so much matter if you're dedicated, however. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Soundstages, editing bays, warehouses of equipment - what else could you ask for? The library was a bit sparse, but we all had computers and most of the knowledge we needed can't be found in books. |
| Social Life | 3 | Being that it's a 24/7 accelerated program, there's really no time for social events and the school didn't offer any. I do, however, give it a couple points because fellow classmates were always happy to contribute to independent projects. |
| Placement Services | 1 | Before graduating I met with a job placement counselor twice and never received a single opportunity despite having a thorough portfolio. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | Haven't heard a thing from them since graduating except the occasional email about new programs they offer. |
Full Sail • Winter Park, FL
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2010)
• 3/13/2012
"I loved every minute of digital arts at Full Sail. I met a lot of decent people who I will know and love forever."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes. It was without a doubt the best arts and design training I could have received. I would recommend this specific institution to anyone perusing a graphic design career. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | It is known as the best. As far as I can guess, it will always be the best. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The best experience of my life. I enjoyed my time at Full Sail. |
| Instruction | 10 | It was a lot harder than I had expected. I did appreciate the challenge the instructors presented. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The class curriculum was extremely tedious. Everything had to be accurate to pass. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A lot of the tests were of the textbook type, basically regarding the programs we were using. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I attended both morning and evening classes. They allowed me to adjust my class schedule around my job. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Everything you could possibly need is at your disposal at Full Sail. |
| Social Life | 10 | It was the opportunity of a lifetime. I can recall almost everything I learned there. |
| Placement Services | 10 | They were very helpful. The best in the business. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | It is the best graphic design school in the United States. Everyone was very helpful and encouraging. |
Saint Petersburg College • Clearwater, FL
Studying Video Game Design/Graphic Design/Computer Programming Analysis (completion in 2014)
• 3/27/2012
"Overall, my satisfaction with my school was average. It could have been a lot better and more fulfilling."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It depends on what their intentions are for their career. If it's anything like mine, I would say try DeVry or ITT Tech. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I would say their reputation for my program is average. They make sure you have the right tools to take the next step in your career; however, that's about all they make sure you have. |
| Program Quality | 4 | Didn't seem very hands on. A lot of classes had nothing to do with my profession. |
| Instruction | 6 | I have learned a lot. However, I would say it was more from my own self-teaching than from college. |
| How Difficult | 7 | It was difficult figuring my way around programs like Maya, 3D Max, etc. After I figured out what everything meant and did, it got a lot easier. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My school program seemed more catered to books. Not a lot of hands-on experience involved. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The class flexibility was OK. I attended full-time and maintained a full-time job with no problems. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The facilities and resources of my school were extremely good. The main complaint I have would be a few of my teachers. |
| Social Life | 8 | I mainly went to school to learn; not to mingle and make friends. However, in regard to the few friends I did make, I have no complaints. |
| Placement Services | 3 | Horrible. I believe I should have been placed in a job as preferred to a waiting list. |
University Of Central Florida • Orlando, FL
Studying Environmental Engineering (completion in 1997)
• 3/21/2012
"UCF did a wonderful job in cementing my technical and even my creative background. I am a big proponent of students learning that technical fields also require creativity; and vice-versa. Hence, my UCF degree made me into a much more well-rounded person than some of my peers who attended Universities that focused on only creativity or technology."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would have to sit-in on some current Graphics/Website Design and Computer Technology courses to decide; or at the very least to review their new syllabi in order to make a truly informed decision. Some schools tend not to focus solely on graphics design, and shuffle those students into strictly Art/Design programs, or into just Information Technology programs - when in reality, Graphics design requires a mix of both of those backgrounds. Overall though, I would rate UCF as a wonderful university with exceptional facilities and even better professors! |
| Program Reputation | 10 | UCF's entire Engineering School is rated very highly by the education standards board every year. They have made excellent strides in the 2000s to provide better technology to students, more modern facilities, and a plethora of guest and associate Professors. |
| Program Quality | 9 | UCF is consistently rated as one of the top Engineering schools in the country. Even though I no longer use my Engineering degree directly in my work, most of my college coursework still comes in handy on a daily basis, including computer coding, English (for marketing, proposals, etc), budgeting and math. |
| Instruction | 8 | The career preparation at UCF could have been a bit more thorough and well-rounded during the late nineties when I attended. However, from talking with current UCF students, the school seems to have made large strides in this facet. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The Differential Equations courses and Calculus courses were difficult. In particular, Differential Equations was quite intimidating; but the professors were always available after/before class and during office hours to provide extra help. I love being able to whip out my Calculus and math skills while coding a new website or figuring dimensions on a new layout design. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Engineering itself is typically very book-oriented in most Colleges and Universities. As an outsider, one might think that Engineering would be hands on, but these days (and in the past two decades), almost all Engineering programs focus on theory; while hands-on experience is relegated to what you should learn during on-the-job or intern work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | General education was difficult to complete at UCF due to the sheer volume of students trying to fit into those classes. They were typically offered only during certain semesters and only one or two timeslots. During the late nineties, few online course work was available. Most students did not have the option of telecommuting at that time. Online and summer course options have greatly expanded in the past decade. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The buildings were a bit old, but were being upgraded to a more modern and accessible layout while I attended. Computer/printing labs were very well-stocked; and professors were always willing to meet with you before or after class; or arrange appointments during office hours. In addition, Graduate Teaching Assistants were happy to help with mentoring, tutoring, class explanations/discussions and even referrals to other TA's or tutors that could help. |
| Social Life | 5 | I preferred attending college at UCF for the academic knowledge and experience instead of the social reasons. College time was usually spent in class, or at home studying, or on campus at the library doing research. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I believe in the mid-nineties, UCF could have been a bit better about their post-graduate career counseling and mindset. Certain professors discussed it during lectures, but students were mostly left to their own motivation and resources. |
| Alumni Network | I honestly do not participate in the UCF Alumni network very much at all. I know they host events, reunions, and offer talks/speeches, but in reality while working as your own boss in the Graphic Design industry, I have more meaningful, and purposeful, ways to spend my time. |
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