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 Doane College-Lincoln Grand Island and Master.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Doane College-Lincoln Grand Island and Master.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Union College, Creighton, Concordia, and Dana.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Dana, Union College, Concordia, and Hastings.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Creighton, Union College, and Hastings.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Union College.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Hastings, Creighton, Union College, and Dana.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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University Of Nebraska • Lincoln, NE
Studying English (completion in 2010)
• 9/6/2011
"I got a decent education, but the university is very focused on the "college experience" and not so much on creating scholars. In addition, the counselors and post graduation support was severely lacking."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It's not very career orientated. It seems like it could just be any other university. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | We have well recognized professors who have been published in several media. However, the school seems to be focused on monetary issues rather than education. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I was satisfied because I learned a lot about writing and English throughout the ages. Furthermore, I have become a confident writer and speaker, and can more accurately convey my thoughts in a meaningful way. |
| Instruction | 5 | I received my current job through my own studies in graphic design, not my education in English. The English program allowed me to do well in the interview and with the application, but wasn't relevant otherwise. |
| How Difficult | 4 | I had to take courses outside of my curriculum to feel challenged, such as Japanese or Electrical Engineering. The actual coursework was never a problem for me, and I never felt too worried about grades. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Pretty much everything I learned in class, I could learn from just reading the book. The material was engaging, but on its own, was nothing really special. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | They offer plenty of online courses and night courses, however, I never really needed to take advantage of these. There were no weekend classes available. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The professors are very nice and approachable. The library system was excellent and well stocked. |
| Social Life | 3 | My university was very focused on the sports aspects, which I never found engaging. In addition, I know that dorms have organized events, but again, I never really found these too alluring. |
| Placement Services | 1 | Simply put, the job placement program is lacking in every regard. They are lacking in resume guidance, as well as job placement, and seem to lose interest in students post-graduation. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | When I went in for career counseling and resume preparation, I never received a call back. The fees involved with being a member in my school's alumni network are not worth the few benefits. |
University Of Nebraska-Kearney • Kearney, NE
Studying Multimedia/Visual Communication And Design (completion in 2005)
• 11/30/2011
"I can't imagine what my career or my life would be like, had I not attended UNK and graduated from their multimedia/visual communication and design program. I learned so much about the various software programs I use today. Graphic design is an amazing career choice, but I wouldn't have been able to do it without my education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If you have a passion for graphic design, then definitely take the time to get an education. It's hard work and it can be frustrating, but the end result is an extremely rewarding career. The best feeling in the world is waking up every day and going to a job that you love. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | UNK continues to be one of the leading schools for graphic design and multimedia. When I talk to current students, they are impressed by the program. Graduates coming out of these programs have been extremely successful. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The multimedia program at UNK was amazing. At the time I attended, it was the only program like it in the state of Nebraska. The professors there really care about their students' education and they stay up to date on the latest technology. |
| Instruction | 9 | What I loved most about my courses at UNK was the diversity. I learned a lot about animation and web design, which set me apart from other graphic designers in the field and helped me get a job quickly. I was also required to take art history classes and a print production class, which provided a broader understanding of my industry. |
| How Difficult | 8 | If you have a natural talent for graphic design, that is only half the battle. Graphic design classes require a lot of late nights in the computer lab, and because it's not an exact science, there is always a chance your instructor will not like your work, even if you believe it is perfect. Balancing coursework with a job and a social life can also make things more complicated. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I would say the graphic design and multimedia program at UNK is 75% hands-on oriented and 25% book learning oriented. We spent the majority of our time on the computer, designing and coding. Most of our homework required hands-on activities as well. What I liked best about my graphic design courses was that we sat right at a computer for the duration of the semester. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | UNK offered a very flexible schedule. They offered online courses, summer courses, and evening/night classes. The summer classes were a great way to earn extra credits each year and helped me to graduate in 4 years. I was also able to take a drawing class in the summer, which meant we could go to the park to draw the scenic plant life that wouldn't have been there during the winter months. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The University of Nebraska-Kearney has a wide variety of academic facilities and resources available. There were computer labs in both the art hall and the communication hall. I was given access to the journalism and communication computer lab 24 hours a day. I also personally worked as an English tutor at the Writing Center in the university library. Tutors were available for nearly every subject. My professors operated an open-door policy, so I often stopped by between classes to ask questions. My instructors were also very good about responding to emails, and I had a great group of peers to bounce ideas off of. The computer labs were stocked with a large quantity of the latest Apple computers, and they always kept the software up to date. There was a special section of computers for video software. |
| Social Life | 10 | UNK provided a perfect college experience. We went to a lot of parties, but we also had a lot of school spirit. I lived between the football field and the baseball field, so we attended a lot of games. The school also offered a lot of on-campus events, which were especially fun when I lived in the dorms as a freshman. They offered movie nights, live music and even had vendors once a year. I met most of my best friends at UNK and socialize with them today. |
| Placement Services | 6 | The one area I think UNK should work on is job placement. I did not feel that I got a lot of assistance finding a job after graduation. Some of my professors emailed job openings to me, but there was no actual job placement program. I would have appreciated more guidance from the school. The transition into the real world wasn't simple, so a little help would have gone a long way. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I get occasional letters from our alumni association, and recently, I got emails notifying me that UNK's football and volleyball teams were both rated in the top 4 in the country and working towards national titles. But for me, the most important thing has been keeping in contact with my former professors who helped me become the designer I am today. I have returned to the school to do guest evaluations, and I am proud to have been a part of this program. |
Vatterott College • Omaha, NE
Studying Graphic Art And Design (completion in 2005)
• 3/7/2012
"Could have used more in-depth web training. They taught a 3D program that I will probably NEVER use!!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Overall...I'm pleased with my degree. The instructors connected me with my first job in the printing industry. It's not design, but it is in the right direction! |
| Program Quality | 10 | Very thorough training. Covered design as well as web. |
| Instruction | 10 | I was well prepared to enter the workforce upon completion of my Associates degree. All training pertained to graphic design. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I could have had more Photoshop training. HTML could have been more in-depth. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Mainly hands-on. We had some book learning that went hand in hand with the lab work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | Day and evening classes are available. I switched from days to night classes mid-term. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Nothing spectacular. Average resources, classrooms, etc. |
| Social Life | 5 | In-class socialization only. I am connected to two former classmates through Facebook and LinkedIn. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I received very little assistance with career placement. I did get resume assistance though! |
| Alumni Network | Not really connected to alumni. |
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