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Career and School Info for Graphic Designers in Georgia



  School and Career Overview

Graphic Designers photo

 

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 Savannah College of Art and Design.

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 Savannah College of Art and Design.
  • Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Brenau.
  • Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Sandersville Technical College, Central Georgia Technical College, Augusta Technical, and Gwinnett.
  • Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Brenau, Central Georgia Technical College, Sandersville Technical College, and Gwinnett.

School Setting

  • Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Savannah College of Art and Design and Brenau.
  • Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Reinhardt College, Savannah College of Art and Design, and Brenau.

Excellence

  • % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Reinhardt College and Brenau.
  • Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Reinhardt College, Savannah College of Art and Design, Sandersville Technical College, and Brenau.

 

Read Reviews of Schools for This Career and State

Spotlight Schools Search

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4. Where do you want to attend class? Online Campus Either

Spotlight Georgia Schools Related to This Career

The Art Institutes

  • Locations: Atlanta, Decatur
  • Programs: 19 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
  • Degrees: Associate, Bachelor, Certificate, Diploma, Master

University of Phoenix

  • Locations: Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Duluth, Macon, Marietta, Sandy Springs, Savannah, Snellville
  • Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
  • Degrees: Bachelor

ITT Technical Institute

  • Locations: Atlanta, Duluth, Kennesaw
  • Programs: 8 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
  • Degrees: Associate, Bachelor

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Study from Anywhere at Online Schools Related to This Career

University of Phoenix Online

  • Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
  • Degrees: Bachelor

AIU Online

  • Programs: 2 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
  • Degrees: Associate, Bachelor

International Academy of Design & Technology Online

  • Programs: 2 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
  • Degrees: Associate, Bachelor

Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State

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Art Institute Of Atlanta • Atlanta, GA
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2011)

• 7/7/2011

"The school doesn't benefit me, except for the fact that I'll get a degree. They have taught me but a few things, and emptied my pockets along the way."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?noI would recommend someone go to a school where I didn't feel like I was being treated fairly or justly.
Program Reputation1Again, see my previous answer.
Program Quality5The teachers that are employed do not care about your education or the truth. They tend to belittle you regardless of the work you do.
Instruction5See my previous answer.
How Difficult10Projects are given on a bi-weekly basis. With the short class time, there isn't enough time to learn the information and apply it. This is forced education. The projects should take 3-4 weeks to complete.
Hands-On vs. BookishThere is both hands on and book learning. There is a lecture at the beginning of class then lab after.
Schedule Flexibility10You can work before, between, or after school. There are no specific days during which must you work.
Academic Facilities8They are fairly good. They have books and periodicals that pertain to every major offered.
Social Life1There aren't many events associated with the school.
Placement Services1A lot of alumni who went to school there and in other locations have reported they do nothing to aid in the search of finding a reasonable job. Nor is it easy to get one because of the quality of work the teachers wanted them to create instead of being able to use their own creativity.
Alumni Network1I've heard that it does nothing for your budding career to have a diploma from AIA. They are "preparing" us for a career that some of them struggle with on a daily basis.

Savannah College Of Art And Design • Savannah, GA
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2007)

• 7/8/2011

"Very professional and very satisfied. I would go there if I had to choose again."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesThis is a a career with lots of opportunities and one that requires great skill. There is always the need for more graphic designers in the world.
Program Reputation10It has improved. They have even better teachers nowadays and the faculty and amount of students has increased, thus demanding more from the school
Program Quality9My school was amazing: it taught everything to get me ready for the real world. I had amazing teachers and it's probably a leading school in graphic design.
Instruction10I have been exposed to tough challenges and experiences as a chief editor. However, this has been excellent because my curriculum was vast and I feel I have authority over other graphic designers.
How Difficult7It was a program that demanded my best. Teachers always left last minute homework and taught the most difficult and important techniques, which made the homework very demanding.
Hands-On vs. BookishWe rarely bought books. It was all about doing projects and presenting and being critiqued.
Schedule Flexibility9You always had work, but also time for side projects. Plus we had flexibility with summer school and a lot of interning options.
Academic Facilities9It's the most professional campus. It has technology to the maximum with a lot of opportunity for students to face the real deal.
Social Life4The school didn't organize much activities by itself. It needed students to create their own activities.
Placement Services9I got a job as soon as I graduated. The career fair was essential to create an amazing portfolio.
Alumni Network5I have contact with my school. However, I have almost no contact with fellow colleges and I would love to collaborate with them nowadays.

Savannah College Of Art And Design • Savannah, GA
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2010)

• 7/20/2011

"I'm satisfied, but it's tough to find work in this economy."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesYes, I would. It is expensive, but scholarships are offered.
Program Reputation9People know about SCAD. It is respected in the field.
Program Quality8Our school had a well rounded program. I was able to create a great portfolio.
Instruction8I had teachers from a variety of design disciplines. I had in depth instruction on graphic design.
How Difficult7It was not hard to get good grades in the classes. A big part of the instruction is in being self motivated.
Hands-On vs. BookishOur school had a good mix of hands on and book learning. There was also a good mix of applied and fine arts.
Schedule Flexibility8It was easy to find the classes I needed. There were plenty of classes offered.
Academic Facilities8Our program had great computers and software. They also had great resources, like the library and the archive.
Social Life8I had lots of fun at school. Good experiences with friends.
Placement Services8We were counseled on gaining employment prior to graduating. The online job board is good.
Alumni Network7Our school has a good alumni organization. They have a good internet job board.

North Georgia College & State University • Dahlonega, GA
Studying Art Marketing (completion in 2004)

• 7/24/2011

"I feel satisfied with the training I received at this school. I feel that I could have been more prepared for the industry if I had gone to a more technical school, but I feel that I was still adequately prepared for the job field."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?maybeI would recommend the school for the atmosphere and the quality of education. I would likely suggest to someone pursuing this career to weigh the benefits and negatives of going to a more technical college also.
Program Reputation5This is a very small school and it is not well known for it's technical programs. This school is more known for its Education and Nursing programs.
Program Quality7I felt my training and classes prepared me for this field. I feel that the classes were appropriate in preparing me for my current career.
Instruction6The quality of instruction at this school was above average. It is not a highly technical school, but I felt prepared when applying for jobs.
How Difficult6I feel the program difficulty was slightly higher than average. I don't feel that the course load and projects were overly complicated, but I do feel that they challenged my knowledge base.
Hands-On vs. BookishI feel that I received more of a hands-on training. Because this isn't a very technical school, there was still a reliance on book training as well.
Schedule Flexibility5I was able to take summer classes to complete my degree. There was a good offering of evening classes, but I am not aware of any weekend classes. I believe the flexibility was on par with other colleges.
Academic Facilities3The availability of staff and tutors was average. However, the computer resources and library were small and outdated. Again, this school is not very focused on it's technology programs, and therefore the technology was not as cutting-edge as that of other campuses.
Social Life6I believe the social setting on this campus was slightly above average. This school did not have a football team and was not well known in other sports, so I feel that this lowered the school spirit. This college is a military campus so it had it's own culture and experiences that you do not get at other schools.
Placement Services5My current job was obtained soon after graduation, so I did not have the need to use these services.
Alumni Network5I don't participate in any of the alumni programs at NGCSU. I was fortunate to obtain a job soon after graduation and have not had to use any alumni programs for support.

Savannah College Of Art And Design • Savannah, GA
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2003)

• 9/14/2011

"The skills and lessons I took away from the school have helped me to this day. The professors were amazing and engaging."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesIt is expensive but well worth it. It is amongst the best schools and programs in the country.
Program Reputation10The Savannah College of Art and Design has a reputation for being one of the best art schools in America. Every time I mention the school there is always someone who has heard of it or knows someone attending.
Program Quality8The Savannah College of Art and Design has a very strong graphic design department but I found that, what you put into it is what you get out of it. I enjoyed the program but found that I could complete most assignments and class curriculum by researching online and investing time refining my skills from home.
Instruction9Most of the professors came from real world experience. They typically had a very grounded perspective of being a designer.
How Difficult8The program was fairly strenuous. A lot of assignments, tight deadlines and expensive printing fees.
Hands-On vs. BookishBooks were extremely helpful in learning design principles and learning software but most of the classes were hands-on tutorials. After every class you walked away knowing how to actually utilize the software rather than simply reading about it.
Schedule Flexibility10The Savannah College of Art and Design offers a four day class week. It is really wonderful to have Fridays off and be able to focus on your work instead of class.
Academic Facilities8The Savannah College of Art and Design has high-end facilities. Computers, printers and software are always being updated.
Social Life3Unfortunately I buried my head in the books throughout college. I didn't experience the social life as much as I could have.
Placement Services5I have heard they do a very good job. Though fortunately, I have never had a need to use them.
Alumni Network5I do not utilize the school's alumni services. I have heard that their career planning and placement services are very helpful though.

Art Institute Of Atlanta • Atlanta, GA
Studying Multimedia (completion in 1998)

• 10/12/2011

"I do not regret my decision to attend AIA. It provided a great foundation for me. I wish that it were more affordable."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesI would recommend it but make it clear that it costs a lot to attend. I would also remind prospective students that this school and any school can not guarantee success in your chosen field. It is up to the student to take what they learn and apply it.
Program Reputation5I think the Art Institute gets an average rating. People graduating from my specific program may have a challenging time finding jobs that directly revolve around multimedia but can usually find related opportunities. I did not study web design directly (it was not an option at the time but is now) but found that the design skills I learned at AIA were the foundation I needed to be a successful web designer.
Program Quality5I think my school gave me a foundation for success. However true success is a matter of personal dedication and commitment to continuous learning.
Instruction6I would say some classes were presented better than others. Some classes were full of detailed instruction while others seemed to offer less guidance and rely more on the student's personal drive to actually learn the material. But, for the most part, it was a good experience.
How Difficult6I had a small child at the time so balancing school demands and parenting could be a challenge. However, I think the average student could balance the demands pretty easily if they chose to do so.
Hands-On vs. BookishThis is a very hands-on school. You need the books and will learn a lot from them, but hands-on is hands down the best way to learn.
Schedule Flexibility7My classes were somewhat flexible at the time. However, I think they are even much more so now. They offer day, night, and online courses.
Academic Facilities8I think AIA has a great facility and they offer classes using all the right software. The availability of the most current software should be a huge consideration when selecting a school that revolves around ever changing technology.
Social Life7I made a lot of friends in school. However, as this is an art school do not expect things like sports or a huge amount of organized activities.
Placement Services5I have never used it but did work in the job placement center while in school. I know that the job placement center works hard to gather and offer students viable job opportunities.
Alumni Network6I have not participated much in my school's alumni network but they seem to offer a lot of options. They have a website, are active in social networking, and sponsor many alumni gatherings.

The Creative Circus • Atlanta, GA
Studying Art Direction (completion in 2011)

• 11/8/2011

"I loved the Circus. It was the best decision I have ever made."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesOur school is the best and I would tell anyone who is interested to go. It will show you if you are really cut out for the industry.
Program Reputation10The Circus is very well known in the industry. Our grads are highly sought after.
Program Quality10The Creative Circus prepared me for all I needed to know in order to be successful in my field. There was great attention paid to the Big Idea and how to creatively and efficiently execute that idea across all media.
Instruction10The teachers were amazing. They all currently or previously have worked at an agency or design firm.
How Difficult8It was very tough in the beginning getting used to the amount of work and hours required for the art direction and design major. But I have really come to love working all-nighters.
Hands-On vs. BookishThere are no textbooks. It is 100% hands on, including team projects.
Schedule Flexibility1The class schedule is designed around the instructor's work schedule. Students are asked not to work, so that they are available for whatever class time they are assigned.
Academic Facilities104 large computer labs using brand-new Mac equipment. Extensive library with lots of award annuals and industry publications.
Social Life8We have a lot of fun when we have time. There is not a lot of time for parties, but if we make time, they are student planned and usually thrown at someone's apartment. We do have a quarterly party called "The Baddies."
Placement Services10Our career services department (Kim) is very knowledgeable and eager to help us find our jobs. She will continue to help us for the first three years in the industry.
Alumni Network10Our career services department continues to help us for the first three years in the industry.
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