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 Penn State, Drexel, Delaware County Community College, and Bucks County Community College.
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 La Salle, Point Park University, La Roche, and Moore College of Art and Design.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Moore College of Art and Design.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Carnegie Mellon, UPenn, Eastern University, and Temple University.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Eastern University, Westmoreland County Community College, Community College of Allegheny County, and Harrisburg Area Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of UPenn, Carnegie Mellon, Lehigh, and The University of the Arts.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Susquehanna University, Westminster College, Saint Vincent College, and Philadelphia University.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at UPenn, Carnegie Mellon, Lehigh, and Drexel.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at UPenn, Lehigh, Carnegie Mellon, and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Carnegie Mellon, Lehigh, Westminster College, and Susquehanna University.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Art Institute Online • Pittsburgh, PA
Studying Web Design & Multimedia (completion in 2006)
• 5/4/2011
"The school was not that great and I would not recommend it to anyone. It doesn't teach about design projects in the real world."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I wouldn't recommend this school to anyone. The online classes are nice and convenient, but it doesn't teach you any real world experience. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The school has a good reputation for teaching design. However, the skills they teach don't really help in the working world. |
| Program Quality | 1 | I knew everything that my school tried to teach me. I learned nothing new. I learned from experience and by doing in the workforce. |
| How Difficult | 1 | The classes were very easy considering the fact that I knew a lot about designing graphics before I went to school. The hardest class was math, but you don't need quadratic equations to design graphics. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Since the classes were online, all the lessons were based out of books. We did all the lessons in the books step by step and it had no real world basis to it. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The classes were pretty flexible since they were online classes. At the time I was working two jobs and going to school and it became very difficult to study. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The school has a decent library online with many different resources to help you out. I never used the library because I had all the information I needed at home in books. |
| Social Life | 1 | The school was online and therefore we didn't have any sort of social events. The only thing we did was get together and chat as a class when everyone had the time. |
| Placement Services | 1 | They make promises that once you graduate, they will help you find a job in the field. They never helped me find a job and it took me 5 years before I found one in the design field on my own. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The school was okay in keeping touch with me. They let me know if I needed more credits or if I needed to raise my grades to keep my scholarship. |
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania • Kutztown, PA
Studying Communication Design (completion in 2007)
• 7/13/2011
"I am pretty satisfied with the schooling at Kutztown. However, I should have taken more foundational courses when I initially transferred to the school, plus I should have had more productive appointments with professors."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The Communications Design Department at KU allows one to taylor their learning in the concentrations of graphic design, web/interactive design, advertising, and illustration. The major will prepare a multi-dimensional job seeker. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Kutztown University has one of the strongest design programs in the state, which is one of the reasons why I transfered to the school. I heard about its strong reputation while I was in community college for my Associate's Degree. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Kutztown University has one of the strongest design programs in the state of Pennsylvania. The program covered a wide variety of concentrations. |
| Instruction | 8 | They have a strong foundation of instruction, although I wish, as a transfer student, that I would have had an easier adjustment to their curriculum. |
| How Difficult | 9 | It was a large workload with strict deadlines. Grades were based on just a few main projects. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A mixture of both hands-on and book learning. The books were used to teach basic foundational design aspects, while most project-oriented learning was done hands-on or with lesson sheets that were specific to the projects. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Most of the scheduling depended on the meeting schedule one makes with the professors. Usually the first who came received the best placement. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Kutztown University has a large variety of academic facilities and resources. There are many computer labs and the library has many books pertaining to areas of design and production. There is somewhat easy accessibility to professors and there are academic advisors and tutors on hand. |
| Social Life | 7 | The school had plenty of social outlets and clubs. I did not participate in much of the school life programs because of being a long distance commuter. |
| Placement Services | 8 | The Career Services is strong at KU. The offer resume checking, a large jobs database, and topical lessons each month. The Communication design house was also used for career assistance and internship programs for credits. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | The school has a College Central Network, which is an online college job search database. The administrative building has a strong career services office. |
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania • Millersville, PA
Studying Art, History (completion in 2011)
• 7/10/2011
"I'm glad I chose Millersville. If I could do it over, I'd still pick Millersville."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Though the program's not very well known, it's great. It really prepares you for many types of careers in the art field. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | It's a great program, but it's not really known. It should be advertised more. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I feel that the program helped me gain skills for employment. My internship also helped me find a job. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instructors are very knowledgeable. They care about their students. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The history part was more difficult. But I'm glad I studied it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We studied a lot. It wasn't just one type of learning, which is nice. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | Scheduling is a chore. This is mainly due to increasing state appropriation cuts. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The art building was amazing. Though the library was aging, it had a lot of useful resources. |
| Social Life | 9 | Everyone is proud to be a Marauder. Spirit is very high. |
| Placement Services | 7 | They helped me get my internship. I got my job through my internship. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I really don't know people other than the ones I went to school with. I've never really had contact with alumni. |
Art Institute Of Philadelphia • Philadelphia, PA
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2000)
• 7/17/2011
"I was very satisfied with what I learned. I was satisfied with the instruction and the resources provided by the school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I think all of my above answers explain why I would recommend the school. I think you get a very good education for your money, and they really work with you and your schedule. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I do not know the school's current reputation for my major. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I learned a lot of important, relevant things. The staff was very well qualified, and most were very good teachers. The subject matter (coursework) was well rounded. |
| Instruction | 9 | Almost every instructor I had was very successful in their fields. They were good instructors. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I found the work challenging. It was not extremely difficult, but it taught me a lot. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Graphic Design is a very hands on course of study. We were always working on the computers, drawing, painting, etc. There were academic book learning courses, but the majority were hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | They had courses all year. You could go in the daytime or evening, and choose the size of your course load. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Their libraries were excellent. They had plenty of computer labs, drawing tables, etc. |
| Social Life | 5 | There were not many events, so I have no means of comparison. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I heard they had a 98% job placement rating. I did not utilize this service, except to find some temporary jobs |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I'm saying average because I really have nothing else to compare them to. I found them mostly helpful. |
University Of The Arts • Philadelphia, PA
Studying Multimedia (completion in 2009)
• 7/18/2011
"Biggest waste of time and money, should have gone somewhere else. I would have been more prepared for the job market had I gone to a community college."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | No, I actively tell people NOT to go there. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | School seems great from the outside. High tuition costs make it seem more prestigious - when really it's a rip off. |
| Program Quality | 1 | Terrible program. They pushed us to focus on the whole social media fad, instead of allowing us to pursue our own interests and learn a more broad spectrum. |
| Instruction | 1 | I came out of school feeling very unprepared and lost. Teachers were only there to boost their own egos after having failed at their internet startup companies. |
| How Difficult | 5 | It was about average, no real complains about the work load. Sometimes there were unrealistic expectations set, but that seems typical of most colleges. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was an art school so the majority of things were hands-on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | Absolutely awful, AWFUL. There were mandatory classes that were only offered once a semester every OTHER year -- and this could absolutely destroy people's ideas of graduating in 4 years depending on when they entered school and if they were given advance warning. The advisors weren't much help at all, and many people ended up spending 5-6 years at this school because of terrible scheduling like this. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Pretty great computer labs for the most part. The tech people were very helpful, and computer systems were always up to date. Professors, on the other hand, were impossible to get a hold of, and they wouldn't stay any longer after class then was needed. |
| Social Life | 3 | No sports teams, no sense of school spirit or camaraderie. Most people kept to themselves. |
| Placement Services | 7 | They have a pretty good online job board. Other than that, I don't know what their career services are. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | They seem to really boast their alumni network, and have it well set up. But I never see anyone making use of it. |
University Of Pittsburgh At Bradford • Pittsburgh, PA
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2005)
• 7/19/2011
"Overall, I am very pleased about attending Bradford. I received a good education and got a job right away. I love the fact that Bradford focused on Graphic Design only. I didn't have to take classes that did not pertain to Graphic Design."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I feel others would have as good of an experience as I did. And I think others would like the fact that Bradford has a great placement program. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | I know of several classmates of mine that currently have graphic design jobs. I believe their education at Bradford helped them attain those positions. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I enjoyed going to Bradford because the classes were small and I was really able to focus. I also liked it because it was a short program with great opportunities. |
| Instruction | 7 | My teacher worked as a graphic designer also. She was very helpful with technical problems or concerns. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The program wasn't too challenging nor was it too easy. I feel like it provided me with a great experience. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A lot of the work was done in Graphic Design programs such as Illustrator or Photoshop. We did use the books but for more as a reference. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Classes were scheduled during the day. I was never offered night classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Bradford had great computer labs and all new equipment. We were given new books and a variety of art supplies. |
| Social Life | 9 | Since we were with the same students during our program, we all grew very close. I formed many close friendships while attending Bradford. |
| Placement Services | 10 | My school has a placement program which found me a job before I graduated. This feature was very important to me. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I have been contacted several times over the past 6 years from Bradford - seeing how things are going for me. I feel they care about their former students. |
Art Institute Of Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, PA
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2006)
• 7/18/2011
"It was a good program that got me where I wanted to be. I have a job that I like and a sufficient paycheck. I'm glad I went there rather than a lower end school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Decently priced and the school has moderate prestige (over Devry and ITT types). Good atmosphere and challenging coursework (but not overly challenging). |
| Program Reputation | 5 | They aren't exceptionally rated like some of the New York programs. However they aren't Devry or ITT Tech, either. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I learned a good deal of information about design principles and program specifics. It was a decently priced education. |
| Instruction | 7 | Some of the professors seemed oblivious to the students' grasp of their lessons. Some professors wasted too much time on elementary concepts. |
| How Difficult | 3 | Most of the work was a breeze. However, there was one class in which the professor didn't seem happy with anyone's work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the course work was fairly book side concept learning. There were several classes that were application only. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | Most of the education was optionally distance learning (online). There were a couple of classes that were campus only, though. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Excellent resources--media and computer specifically. I can find anything I want on there. The professors, for the most part, are exceptionally approachable. |
| Social Life | 4 | There wasn't much of a sense of a community at the school. The athletic teams were not widely supported. However, there were several organizations that put on awesome parties. |
| Placement Services | 7 | As mentioned above, a few alumni members helped me land a decent job fairly easily. Otherwise I don't have experience with the career services at the school. However, I've heard that they're better than average compared to other programs. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | I don't know if it is the same for all people but I was able to land a job fairly easily. However, I guess I might have just met the right people. |
Slippery Rock University • Slippery Rock, PA
Studying Communication: Emerging Technology & Multi-Media (completion in 2008)
• 7/19/2011
"One of the biggest things I am dissatisfied with is the quantity and quality of web design classes. The professor knew less than many of the students about web design and just computers in general. It was very frustrating sitting in classes (which were night classes) learning basically nothing and wasting my time there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I feel that there are many many other schools out there where you could get a better education in graphic design. Like I mentioned earlier, the biggest thing my department was lacking was web design. It's sad that they didn't have a better program in place because that's what is more popular now. They are just a little behind the times. |
| Program Reputation | 2 | I've heard that basically no one who graduated from my department is actually working in the field. I know it's a tough job market, but I know there are jobs out there. I think it shows that we didn't get the right time and right amount of the education we needed to succeed in the job field, i.e.: web design! |
| Program Quality | 3 | The program I chose was Communication with an emphasis in Emerging Technology & Multimedia. I realize this is not graphic design but I did have a lot of programs that taught me a lot about print design. The program at Slippery Rock REALLY lacks in web and multi media design. It is offered but if you learn everything you know about web design from the classes there, you won't know much at all. That's a frustrating part about trying to find a job. I put the time in to go to school but they didn't teach me the right things for me to be able to find a job. A lot of the design jobs out there want web design and I just don't have enough knowledge of it to even be able to apply for those. |
| Instruction | 3 | A lot of the classes I took in no way prepared me for a career. There were a few that I learned tons from. I completely learned how to use Photoshop and InDesign and learned design principles for graphic design and even some photojournalism and journalism principles dealing with layouts. As I wrote about earlier, the program at Slippery Rock lacks web design, at least when I was there. Web design and mobile apps and their development are what are huge right now and I feel that if I would have got more education in that area, and if the quality of education would have been better, I may have a full-time job in an area that I love. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Some classes were very challenging while others were pretty easy. I think that it just depends on your prior knowledge and interests. Some classes that upperclassmen talked about and made them sound horrible weren't so hard for me, while other classes that no one ever said were hard ended up being challenging for me. There were a lot of projects, which I enjoyed and feel like that really gets you into what you'll be doing in your career. However, the media and web design classes for some reason liked to focus on team work more than the actual content of the class. In Graphic Design classes it's nice because a lot of your grades are based on your projects and the quality of work you do, not so much on tests. You do have tests, just not as many as other majors might. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | That's one of the positive things about the department. There was a lot of hands on learning experiences. A lot of our grades came from projects, which I feel is good because that's how you learn graphic design. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | Some classes are only offered during the day, some only at night. If you can't fit the class time into your schedule you are basically screwed. It's a little easier for basic classes like College Writing, Biology, Human Development, etc., but if your major class is always offered at night, you'll be taking it at night or switching majors or schools or something. There are some classes offered online, but not many, and the same goes for summer classes. And if you're a freshman or a sophomore you can forget getting the classes you want and having any kind of choice when your classes will be. That makes it very hard when you're trying to work and go to school. The university is growing too fast and they don't have enough classes (or don't pay enough professors to teach the classes) so it is a major deal trying to get classes scheduled, let alone ones you need. The university needs to care more about the students' schedules and realize there are people who work full time, parents, and people who work different schedules that want to get degrees too. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | There was one Mac computer lab that we could use and one PC lab that actually had the programs we used on them. Those labs were also used for classes mostly all day. I don't know how they expected us to get our projects done. The labs were open mostly at night but I always had class in the day and carpooled so it was very hard to go in at night to work on projects. Luckily I had most of the programs at home, but I didn't have Final Cut Pro or our audio software, so it was very difficult to get those projects done. They need computer labs with all the software available that do not have classes in them ever. |
| Social Life | 1 | I didn't live on campus and I lived about 25 minutes away. I know this effected my campus life but most of the events and people there don't share in the same values or lifestyle that I do, so it was very hard to make friends and go to any events. Also, I feel like my academic department made it harder on commuter students in terms of ways to turn in projects and computer labs only being open at night. It was much easier for students living on or close to campus to get involved, get projects done, and participate in department activities. |
| Placement Services | 3 | As far as career services I know they have a website where employers can post jobs to try to get students interested, but most of the jobs end up being retail jobs for current students and are really not careers. I think many of the academic departments that communicate with former students handle getting job announcements out to them. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I know some departments have amazing alumni networks, and others pretty much don't exist. I didn't live on campus so I didn't have as many connections to other students as some did, so I feel that hinders me in the alumni network. However, my husband didn't live on campus either and has great connections from his department, so I think it just depends on the department and how much they care about the future of their students. |
The Art Institute Of Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, PA
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2011)
• 8/7/2011
"As previously mentioned, obtaining my degree online was a perfect fit for me. Though I enjoyed attending The Art Institute of Charlotte for the first year of my education, continuing online at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh was a relief."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Online education isn't for everyone. Some people need the classroom experience in order to stay on top of assignments and some need to feel more engaged in their learning experience. For me, online was perfect. It depends on the student. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is not a leading name in graphic design. However, the online bachelor's program in Graphic Design has been gaining in popularity and credit within the last couple of years. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I work with another Graphic Designer and only receive part time work. Aside from the part time status, I enjoy my job. |
| Instruction | 6 | I went to college online, so much of it felt like a self-guided learning experience. My professors were helpful when called upon, but without hands on instruction in graphic design, the quality can't be superb. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Prior to transferring to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, I attended the Art Institute of Charlotte, where I attended in person. I am not sure if it was the change of pace from classroom classes to online or what, but it seemed as though the Art Institute of Pittsburgh was much more tolerable when it came to difficulty of study. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The nature of my program of study, Graphic Design, made learning very hands-on. In other words, we were given assignments and needed to complete them. When it came to computer courses in which I was required to learn how to set up my website with a program I had not previously used, the instruction was a bit more book-oriented. | |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | I obtained my degree online. Online classes were perfect for me because I obtained my degree while raising my son alone and working a part time job. My professors were available to me whenever I needed them, with one exception, and the quality of instruction was high for an online program of study. |
| Social Life | 2 | There were forums and group critiques, but the online format of my education provided for very little social experience. A bit of credit should be given to the institute for effort on that behalf, but there is only so much that can be done on the social aspect of an online study program. |
| Placement Services | 6 | As noted in the alumni network section, there are job placement services available, but I did not take advantage of them or explore them to the fullest degree. A few classmates found success within these services, but as an online student, I didn't put forth the effort to explore this because I had a job lined up when I got out of school. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | The Art Institute of Pittsburgh has an alumni network that provides job listings. However, the alumni network did not help me when I got out of school, so I am personally unsure as to the degree of help and support provided in relation to other schools. |
HACC • Harrisburg, PA
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2010)
• 8/7/2011
"They gave me what I needed to start my career in graphic design, and it didn't cost much!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If you're looking to be a graphic designer, HACC is great for you. Great prices, teachers, and everything else! |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Though it doesn't get the best rep, I found it to be a very good school. State colleges never get the credit they deserve. |
| Program Quality | 10 | They give you all the keys and concepts needed to make it in this business. They are patient with letting you learn the programs used. |
| Instruction | 10 | My instructor was very talented. He had an amazing graphic and web design background. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Though graphic design comes easily to me, I had my difficulties. They are very strict with deadlines. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We used computers for the most part. All the Adobe programs were used. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I was able to work anytime I wanted. They let me schedule school around my work hours. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Very good professors. Highly trained and happy to teach. |
| Social Life | 10 | I loved HACC. I plan to attend it again in the future. |
| Placement Services | 10 | They helped me land and internship with JPL Productions. From there I started my own business. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | It is very easy to navigate. They have people on the site and are ready to help whenever needed. |
Drexel University • Philadelphia, PA
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2013)
• 8/10/2011
"Great instructors, great education. Too expensive, though."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If they are pursuing a career in graphic design, I would definitely recommend this program. For other majors, I'm not so sure, except maybe for engineering. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | I'd say it's definitely gaining some more recognition across the country recently. It's one of the best in the country, for sure. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The curriculum is very well set up. The professors are excellent. |
| Instruction | 10 | As I said, the professors are very well qualified. I feel very prepared for a career after graduation. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Because of the quarter system, the courses are very intensive. They require a lot of time, and without genuine effort, you might as well just drop out or change your major. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The nature of the courses I take as part of the graphic design program have no choice but to be hands-on. How do you learn design from just reading a textbook? | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Many evening classes are available. Scheduling is usually pretty breezy. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Great library, great graphic design lab. 24/7 access. |
| Social Life | 5 | As a commuter, I didn't have many opportunities to be involved in school activities. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The co-op program is great. To my knowledge, more than 80% of students who go on co-op are hired back by the company after graduation. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Drexel's graphic design program is known for its networking. They take care of their own. |
Luzerne County Community College • Nanticoke, PA
Studying Computer Graphics (completion in 2008)
• 10/4/2011
"I did not learn anything. I could have got the same information online and saved myself lots of money in school loans."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | See my previous answer. |
| Program Reputation | 3 | This program was highly recommended to me by my teachers and guidance counselor. |
| Program Quality | 1 | I learned absolutely nothing there. Everything I learned was from an internship after college. |
| Instruction | 1 | I literally knew everything they taught me. I learned nothing new which was very frustrating. |
| How Difficult | 1 | Again, everything I already knew from classes taken in high school was repeated. Nothing was enhanced. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Some professors taught right from the text while others were more hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I was able to easily schedule classes around my personal schedule because there are several campuses and online classes are available. |
| Academic Facilities | 2 | Even though LCCC has many campuses, their library and lab/computer center is very inadequate. |
| Social Life | 1 | I did not participate in anything. |
| Placement Services | 1 | LCCC had no role in getting me a job in graphic design. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I have no participation in this. |
Drexel University • Philadelphia, PA
Studying Digital Media (completion in 2007)
• 10/20/2011
"It's a good school, but expensive and not all the programs are equal. I think I got as good of an education as could be expected in this field."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The co-op gives you opportunities that other graduates won't have. The teachers work and know what they're doing. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Not many people have heard of my program. It's extremely small and new. |
| Program Quality | 8 | It's a very good program for what it offers. The co-op helped prepare me for the real world. |
| Instruction | 6 | I think some areas were over-emphasized and others could have been focused on more. Recent technologies weren't always taught. |
| How Difficult | 8 | A lot of work is expected and the schedule is very tight. There's also required work experience. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of my classes were project/software based. We were able to use the skills to enhance our portfolios. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | If you vary from the 4 year schedule you will likely have to add a year. We had no online classes and many classes were only offered during certain semesters. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | They mostly provided computers and software. There's not much more you need, but they definitely don't go out of their way to supply anything. |
| Social Life | 3 | There's not much of a social life. There is no football team, people leave on the weekends, and a lot of people don't drink often. |
| Placement Services | 1 | They weren't helpful in any way. They never got in contact with me and didn't know who I was when I tried. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I haven't found the alumni group to be useful at all. They organize events and collect money but nothing seems very interesting or informative. |
University Of The Arts • Philadelphia, PA
Studying MFA In Studio Art (completion in 2011)
• 10/22/2011
"I am very satisfied with my experiences at the University of the Arts. I really feel like I graduated knowing what to expect from myself and my future, and that I had the education to back it up. I left without any regrets and would do it again if I could!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I really feel like the University of the Arts provided me with the skills I needed to do what I loved in life. As I stated before, creativity is very important, but you have to be able to use and master it in order to succeed in art. The University of the Arts was instrumental in helping me and my other classmates, do this. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Not many schools provide an MFA in Studio Arts, mostly because it is a really specialized degree that not many people study for. Being an established and credible arts university, University of the Arts has a great reputation for this and its other degrees like this. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I really enjoyed the setting of the school and its campus. Since it is an arts university, everyone is focused on creativity, and it is championed rather than smothered like it is at some other colleges. When I started my job, I felt genuinely prepared for it, thanks to University of the Arts. |
| Instruction | 8 | The professors were all very knowledgeable about art, and they were so passionate about what they taught. There was a lot of hands-on experience, which is so crucial to an art degree. Both subjective and objective feedback was provided, which is crucial for real-world work. The curriculum was always very current, thanks to the professors' understanding of the field of art. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The professors were always quick to challenge us. Creativity has to come naturally to do a job like this, but creativity is like a person - it gets lazy if left alone for too long. By presenting us with assignments that took us out of our comfort zone, we were appropriately challenged. However, as can happen in college, assignments had a tendency to pile up and be due all at once. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Everything at University of the Arts was always very hands-on. In the beginning, it did veer towards being book learning, but only because one has to master the basics before one can really learn how to make art. The basics were explained in books, but we always did hands-on assignments to show our mastery. Grades were given based on creativity and effort, not multiple-choice exams. I do not believe it could have been any more hands-on than it was. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | I would not say that the University of the Arts was particularly flexible in its class schedule. There were great options all day, which allowed me to construct a schedule without too much difficulty, but I would not be able to say the same of weekend or evening classes. However, I have to say that Studio Arts is not the kind of degree program that can be completed online, and so I understand their lack of online classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The studios were always clean and well-stocked. Considering that digital art is such a huge part of art today, their computer and media resources were also excellent - very fast computers, which were modern and ran well. The classrooms were occasionally eclectic - you would have one class in a giant studio and another in a very small room - but all of the rooms were somehow inspiring, never suppressive like some traditional academic classrooms. My adviser and professors were always available and were extremely helpful. There were not many tutors, but you cannot really be tutored in the non-technical aspects of art. You have to feel it to create it, and that cannot be taught. |
| Social Life | 7 | There were many different art clubs and groups at University of the Arts, which had free participation; there was always a group for everyone. There were a few social events a year, mostly centering around art, but not very many. I do not recall there ever being University of the Arts-sponsored athletic programs or teams, but again, this is probably to be expected from an arts university. |
| Placement Services | 9 | The University of the Arts offered assistance in finding jobs for confirmed graduates, which was invaluable to me. It helped me go on interviews, perfect my portfolio, and receive the position that I have currently. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | Their alumni program is second-to-none, in my opinion. I receive a newsletter from University of the Arts alerting me of major goings-on, and also of the accomplishments and achievements of my graduating class. They also help you with job placement and with difficulties that may arise after graduation. They are so supportive that I feel like I never left. |
The Art Institute Of Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, PA
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2013)
• 10/31/2011
"Overall, the Art Institute of Pittsburgh does a terrific job of teaching their students how to use the current software and to use their brains in a functional manner for the industry."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend the Art Institute to anyone wishing to learn graphic design. The only thing I did not care for were their core classes, such as logic, and some instructors who were vague or unreachable. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Their reputation seemed to be good. The students had a lot of good ideas and the staff was able to help students. |
| Program Quality | 7 | Some classes were well done. Certain classes involved more common sense, i.e. learning to observe things we see everyday. |
| Instruction | 8 | My instructors were well versed in the materials. The response time was not always great, though. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The academics were fairly simple. The challenges, where applicable, were not bad at all. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | ||
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Class schedules were easy to change. The classes that were most sought after were harder to get into. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The student support, library access, and overall materials available were plentiful. I had little trouble accessing information. |
| Social Life | 1 | I took online classes and networking with other students was not great due to time zone differences. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I never got anywhere with the job placement service. Graphic Design is not a highly sought after career field in today's economy. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | The tech support staff was always available. Software issues were quickly fixed. |
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania • Kutztown, PA
Studying Communication Design (completion in 2004)
• 11/19/2011
"I got exactly what I expected from my education. It not only shaped my skills for a career, but I greatly appreciate the social experiences that took place while in college."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | State art programs leave much to be desired. Kutztown has a great art program, and they take their "Communication Design" program very seriously. They are technologically current (which is very important in this day/age) and have good connections with New York City design industry professionals. I felt like my professors went out of their way to educate me, personally. It was a small enough program that everyone did receive personal attention, for sure. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | It is still the only state school that has a reputable art program. I actually know nothing about the current program. The same professors are still there, which makes me think it is still great. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Our school is the best state institution for the arts. All of my professors were intelligent, creative, and knowledgeable in the field. The internship program was exceptional. |
| Instruction | 9 | When I left school, there was nothing I wasn't prepared for. I learned about everything that would be immediately important. I had more knowledge of the actual print production process than others in my field from different schools. My interactive design professor was a complete failure, however. I had to take classes after graduation to understand web and digital design. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The amount of work that was assigned was consuming. We were really pushed to create a broad range of spectacular work for our portfolio. Our portfolios were very harshly graded. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I was an art major. You don't learn by reading. You learn by doing. I did at least 4 hands-on projects per class, per semester! | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | I had to stay an extra semester because one of my core classes was only offered in a particular semester during which I took a leave of absence. This actually set me back one whole year. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Our computer labs were out of date. We had computer problems all of the time. We were using zip drives at the time and they were always corrupt. I know that they renovated the whole art building after I graduated because it was old and inefficient. |
| Social Life | 4 | The school didn't really offer a tremendous amount of social activities that were attractive to me. I left after my first year because I didn't feel at home there. After returning, I didn't have anything to do with the school or campus except for taking classes there. I would say there was not a lot offered. I wanted nothing to do with the athletics department. |
| Placement Services | 8 | One of my professors helped me find a job before even graduating. I wouldn't have found this job if it weren't for her recommendation. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | No one has ever reached out to me since graduation. I don't know anything about alumni support networks. |
Bradley Academy For The Visual Arts (Now Art Institute Of York) • York, PA
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 1997)
• 11/22/2011
"I was quite satisfied with my school. I think there were a few classes that were outdated by the time I entered the workforce, but otherwise there was nothing to really complain about."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I am unsure of how the school rates now that it has changed hands. If it followed the same ideals as it once did, I would heartily recommend it. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Bradley has a good reputation for creating designers in this region. In fact, for every job that you interview for around here, 90% of people applying are Bradley graduates. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Bradley focused only on making students ready for their chosen profession, not extra classes that would not be used. In two years, I gained a very good foundation that I've built until today. |
| Instruction | 10 | The teachers were professionals in the field and very knowledgeable. Also, since I attended just at the change to computer aided design, many of the teachers were well ahead of the tech curve in design at the time. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I never found any of the classes extremely challenging. The teachers were good at explaining exactly what they wanted and giving us the opportunity to make corrections. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a little book learning, but it was mostly hands on. With design, it helps to be more hands on, I think. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | At the time I attended, there wasn't much flexibility. The school chose classes for you and there were no online classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | At the time I attended, the school was in the process of upgrading to a new building. There was only one computer lab at this time, though that was probably all we needed. |
| Social Life | 10 | I made a good many friends at this school. In fact, one of my best friends to this day was a classmate. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Job placement was awesome. Even though I took the summer following school off, they still went to great lengths to hunt down job offers for me. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I have received a few emails from the school regarding alumni things. Since the school has changed hands, I don't believe they worry so much about alumni. |
Arcadia University • Glenside, PA
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2010)
• 11/29/2011
"I would have liked to have more variety in professors and more web classes. But overall, it was a good school, and I got a great job right after graduating, so I guess it served its purpose."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If they like small schools and don't mind doing A LOT of learning on their own outside of class, I would recommend the school to others. People who didn't do that really suffered and did not leave the school with a good grasp of graphic design, and they are not yet employed (nearly 2 years later). |
| Program Reputation | 7 | They are accredited, so they have a good standing in the community. The study abroad program is really a big seller and also a big help when it comes to learning about art. |
| Program Quality | 4 | They did not teach us anything about web design or web programming. In this day and age, these are skills anyone going into this industry needs to get anywhere. |
| Instruction | 5 | They have very few professors and this limits the growth of students. It became more of a task to design something you know the professor would like for a good grade, rather than what you wanted to create. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Everyone was coddled for the most part in the classes. There were people who should have been told year one that they either needed to step it up or change their study path, but they let them go all the way to graduation. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It depends on your major, I suppose. My program was mostly hands on, because I was in the art field. I can only assume that other majors were very book heavy, though. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | I think they were pretty flexible. I know they had online courses, and professors would often let you leave a little early or come in a little late if classes overlapped. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | They were doing/planning a lot of renovations before/during the time I was graduating. I think these amenities will be a lot nicer, once they finish; it's just a shame I never got to take advantage of them. |
| Social Life | 6 | It is what you make it. I had a lot of fun with my friends, but there isn't a lot of school spirit on campus, because of the lack of sports teams. They try to get people together for events, but they were usually pretty low key, and often a little lame. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I'm not aware of anyone who used their job placement service. I don't know if they have any career assistance, actually. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | I don't really know anything about the alumni network. They put out a magazine every once in a while, but I don't really know what it's for. |
Art Institute Of Philadelphia • Philadelphia, PA
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2005)
• 12/20/2011
"Very satisfied with the knowledge that I came out of the Art Institute with. Was not thrilled with the job placement resources or the overall amount for the school, but what I learned was worthwhile."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Overall, it was a good experience with great instructors and a good atmosphere for the creative. Being an entire school with people of the same creative ilk as yourself and not just a department or class is quite the experience. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The Art Institute is majorly known for its design program. There aren't many folks who haven't at least heard of the Art Institute. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Good school with plenty of resources for the design field. The programs were related to our majors and specific enough that many students started freelance work before graduating. Also, class size was small enough for better teacher/student interaction. |
| Instruction | 8 | Most of my teachers were currently working within the industry as well as teaching, which provided great avenues for input on real-world experience. Some of the teachers were lacking, which caused a need to go get needed info from other students, but on the same note, that made the need to push oneself that much more prevalent. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The work wasn't horrific. It was manageable. Project presentation time became a little hectic, but as long as you used the given time for prep, it worked out fine. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | More hands on than book. The fundamentals were taught and reinforced with book material, but most learning was hands on. In my opinion, when it comes to designing, learning is better ingrained when the hands-on method is used. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | It's pretty good. Morning, afternoon, evening, and online classes were offered. Nothing for the weekend. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The library wasn't huge, but the material was relevant and up to date. The AI continually updated the design programs to stay up to date with industry standards. Also, there were 4 computer labs of considerable size available at any given time; 2 PC and 2 Mac. |
| Social Life | 5 | The interaction with other students was normal. I had all night classes, so extracurricular activities and events were out, due to my work and day schedule. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I would say it was kind of poor and that it didn't live up to expectations. You graduated expecting a job waiting for you, when in reality, it was a reference or two and a list of agencies and design firms that were placing people. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Can't say I used the alumni network to my fullest. At most, there was a weekly newsletter that I paid attention to, but there were other resources that I could have utilized. |
Arcadia University • Glenside, PA
Studying Fine Arts (completion in 2001)
• 2/23/2012
"I wanted to be in a smaller school. I had experienced an all art all the time school in New York and wanted a more realistic and more personal environment. That is exactly what I got."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | This largely depends on what they are looking for. If they are looking to get the skills and are willing to push themselves to make it in the business, then yes. But in general, I recommend people stay away from the arts as a career. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The school has a very small art department compared to an all art school. This limits the exposure to and immersion in the art world, but provides a much closer relationship with the instructors. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I had a very good professor for my thesis work. However, I had attended a top ten art school before transferring there and in comparison, the art department at Arcadia was lacking. |
| Instruction | 5 | If you wanted to learn, you had every opportunity to do so. If you wanted to be mediocre, you could still get by and graduate. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The last year is pretty much all about your thesis and it is as difficult as you make it. Mine was very difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Art is hands on. You can't learn it from a book. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | You can't really take studio classes online. The class schedule was relatively flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The facilities were pretty decent. Some of the equipment was pretty out of date and in some cases not safe to use, but that is common in art programs. |
| Social Life | Even in a liberal arts university, the art department is a social outcast. We are aloof and full of disdain for such inane rituals as school spirit and sporting events. We stand on the sidelines and criticize. | |
| Placement Services | I never used it. Though I have to say that the art program did little to prepare us for the job market. It was more about being an artist than selling your art. | |
| Alumni Network | Do not stay in touch with anyone from school. Never participated in any alumni programs, though they keep sending me donation envelopes. |
Widener University • Chester, PA
Studying Communication Studies - Graphic Design (completion in 2010)
• 2/23/2012
"It's an excellent school with top honors. The staff and faculty are super helpful and easy to relate to."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend Widener to any student who is interested in pursuing any type of degree from this school. It's an excellent place to learn and figure out who you are. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The communication studies department is very well known throughout the school for providing great civil service. The department also has excellent senior projects at the end of the year. |
| Program Quality | 10 | My school provided me with tools that are essential towards a design environment. Combining art and communication creates a wonderful medium for business. |
| Instruction | 10 | The quality of instruction at the school was great because it was a hands on experience with real-world type deadlines for projects. The knowledge of each professor was also very important to me. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The classes were very easy to pass, but hard to pass with honors. It is hard to determine a grade based on technical and creative emotion. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Just a little more hands on than book learning, which was necessary towards completing my degree. A hands-on experience is vital towards the success of a graphic designer. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Widener offers several classes all year around. You can major in almost everything. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The facilities are well kept and clean. They are always looking at new avenues to increase the awareness of the beauty of the campus as well. |
| Social Life | 10 | There is a great social experience. There are plenty of clubs, fraternities, sororities, and much more. |
| Placement Services | 9 | There are plenty of opportunities for all majors at Widener. Internships usually end up turning into full time positions for a lot of students. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The alumni base is very strong as much funding is given to the school each year. They also have activities for alumni to do from time to time. |
Art Institute Of Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, PA
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2009)
• 2/26/2012
"I should have realized at the beginning that programs weren't up to standards, but I was young and didn't know what to do. Things could have been so much better. The degree I have is really pretty useless."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Find a school that isn't for-profit and will actually assist with career placement. If you can get into the school without a portfolio, then it probably isn't the place to go. |
| Program Reputation | 3 | I think they pretend to be modern and up to date, but they really aren't. Hopefully, they have gotten a new crop of teachers, as many who were there when I was there were very old. I hope they aren't taking advantage of students like they seemed to when I was there. |
| Program Quality | 3 | The teachers were not very knowledgeable. Many were out of touch with the programs and knowledge needed for today's market. Projects were out of touch and real-life situations were barely covered. |
| Instruction | 3 | Career preparation was pretty much nonexistent, but I did learn things, though they weren't necessarily very relevant or useful. The curriculum was not structured towards today's graphic design business; it was dated. |
| How Difficult | 3 | There was little academic challenge and I had no problem getting my work done. Had the curriculum been up to standards, I think that there would have been more of a challenge. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Depended on the teacher and the class. I think some teachers were uncomfortable with hands-on projects and leaned towards the books, which gave the students a serious lack of experience and real-world working knowledge. The art-based classes were very hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | They were pretty flexible, but once you enrolled in online classes, the quality of the courses went down considerably; even more than the out-of-touch, on-campus classes. Summer classes are mandatory, as the school works on quarters instead of semesters, and there were some evening options. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | Could never find a place to print! Libraries and computers were always full. There were never places to go and work on your projects, and there were not enough computers. Advisers were hard to get in to see and were unconcerned with anything you brought to them. Professors didn't have real office hours where you could actually find them at those times. There weren't many tutors or any study groups. |
| Social Life | 1 | There were no school teams and there was no school spirit. There were no parties or dances. There was nothing organized, except one study night at the school per quarter. There weren't even school colors! |
| Placement Services | 1 | They considered a job in a retail store a job in graphic design, because someone had to make the logo for the store. I do not understand that, as it's not as if I made the logo for the store. They told me to apply at the Best Buy Copy Center, but Best Buy doesn't have a copy center. They were very out of touch and did not care if anyone actually found a real job in their field. As long as you did anything, they ticked you off the list and counted it towards their quota. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I get an email letting me know what's going on every now and again, but that's about it. No invitation to events or anything like that. They promised to help us find jobs after graduation, but I saw none of that at all. No one seemed to care if we were working or not, nor did they seem to care if the job we had was even remotely related to our field of study. |
Art Institute Of Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, PA
Studying Design/Visual Communications (completion in 2010)
• 2/27/2012
"I got a great education at AIP that will carry me through different opportunities throughout my life. I couldn't think of a better school to attend."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If you want to be a graphic designer, AIP is the place to go, or any Art Institute for that matter. They provide a great education for the creative mind. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is the first Art Institute to exist, so it's reputation will always try to be maintained by hiring excellent staff and having top of the line equipment for each major. Each classroom made sure to have macs with all required programs, light tables to draw on, etc. |
| Program Quality | 10 | AIP has one of the best graphic design programs in the country and was the very first Art Institute, so it only has the best of the best instructors. I also enjoyed when the class sizes were small and I could get more one-on-one instruction. |
| Instruction | 8 | Most of the instructors at the school were very skilled and informative. There were some, however, that seemed like they didn't take what they did as seriously as some of the other faculty members. |
| How Difficult | 4 | My background in graphic design made the course rather easy for me when it came to my major, but some of the core classes were difficult. The most difficult thing for me was the constant sketching and drawing when I thrived on the computer side of things. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A lot of the assignments were designs we had to make for certain clients or specific ideas. Most of the instructors were always there to help you along on your assignment when it was needed and the library had any book you didn't already have to purchase. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | We only had a few week breaks in-between quarters and you could only miss 4-6 hours total before you failed a class. If you set up your schedule right in the beginning of the quarter, then you shouldn't have any problems. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Everything they provided at AIP was top of the line and there was never any problem finding the right equipment for your assigned task. The classrooms, cafeteria, and library were clean and livable. |
| Social Life | 10 | I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at AIP. I still talk to many of the people I met while I was there and visit Pittsburgh from time to time to catch up with old friends. |
| Placement Services | 8 | It's estimated that about 70-80% of AIP graduates find a job in their field, if I remember correctly. Most of my friends that graduated didn't have too much trouble finding a decent job. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The alumni support is descent, but I don't use it anymore since I found my position. There are plenty of events always happening that I used to attend. |
Art Institute Of Philadelphia • Philadelphia, PA
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2002)
• 2/28/2012
"I wasn't satisfied with the education I received. I was also quite annoyed that the admissions staff told me they were accredited when they were not."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Based on my experience, I would not recommend AI to peers. I feel it was not a good program for the price. |
| Program Reputation | 4 | From the individuals that I know and have spoken to, they have all had a rather negative experience with the AI. There are very few that are happy with the education they have received there. |
| Program Quality | 5 | The program wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great either. I honestly learned more on my own then in the actual school. For the price, I wish I hadn't gone there. |
| Instruction | 4 | I honestly didn't really care for a lot of the instructors. One in particular really sticks out in my mind as being a horrible teacher. |
| How Difficult | 5 | As I stated previously, the challenge wasn't great because of the quality of the instructors. The work was load wasn't terrible because I had previous experience with design and am good with time management. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was an adequate mix of hands on vs book learning. I don't believe that there was too much of a sway in either direction. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Classes weren't really online at that point. I would say that for regular classes times though the classes were pretty flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | I lived off campus and did not use the facilities outside of class time. Classroom space was adequate, I guess. | |
| Social Life | 8 | I met some really good people there. I think that was the only perk to going to school there. |
| Placement Services | I found my own job while at the school. Shortly after graduation I moved to freelance because I felt the rewards were greater. | |
| Alumni Network | I have no further contact with the school nor with the alumni network. |
Art Institute Of Philadelphia • Philadelphia, PA
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2005)
• 2/28/2012
"I was very satisfied with the academics. I gained so much knowledge in the field that I chose to work in and felt great about what I could do and couldn't do. I would have like more help in the area of job placement, but I am still pleased with my choice of schools."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I have few complaints about the school. For creative and artistic people, the school and the staff and students make for a perfect atmosphere to bring out your imagination's best. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Not too many people I know are not familiar with the Art Institute and it's courses. All of the students that I know speak highly of the school. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Good school and resources and the creativity level there is awesome. Some of the teachers could be a bit more knowledgeable and the school is a bit pricey, but on a whole, a very good choice for graphic designers. |
| Instruction | 10 | After the Gen Ed classes are completed, you jump head first into classes that are taught with working in the real world in mind. The majority of the teachers work or have worked in the fields that they teach, which makes for a richer learning experience. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I found the majority of the programs to be well taught and the concepts easy to grasp and with me applying myself, I was able to do very with my GPA. I was, however, ignorant of the amount of computer knowledge needed for certain aspects of my degree and that took some studying and tutoring from other students to get me up to speed. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Books are given as back up guides but the mainstay of the school is hands-on learning, whether on the computer or physically creating something in class. I found the hands on approach great for my learning experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | There is more flexibility with the gen ed classes, and even the online classes that can be taken. But when it comes to certain majors, classes are mostly held during the day or even during the night, which can cause scheduling conflicts with working students. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Great labs and a sizable and up-to-date library. All needed programs are updated yearly since new versions of programs that we work with evolve so rapidly. classroom are kept small (usually 30 people and under), so that helps with actually getting heard or getting feedback during a class. |
| Social Life | 5 | My social interaction was not that extensive as I was a night student and did not have time to be involved in most of the student activities held on and off campus. I can say they do have plenty of groups and organizations for student involvement and social interactions. |
| Placement Services | 4 | We are given a list of contacts and agencies to help us get into the job searching process. As far actual jobs ready and waiting up on completion, they were few and far between. Most connected to whatever internship you may have been apart of. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I would say average because there is an alumni network where you can exchange info and resources, but I have never used it and connected with anyone. The most I use it for is to get email updates about upcoming events. |
Harrisburg Area Community College • Harrisburg, PA
Studying Fine Art (completion in 2004)
• 3/14/2012
"The education I got, compared to what I paid for it, was an excellent value. I only wish HACC offered a four year degree program. The advisers weren't as helpful, however."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | While HACC worked for me, and I was able to obtain a job, I would hesitate to recommend it to others pursuing a job in graphic design. The fact that they only offer a two year degree, combined with the number of currently unemployed graphic designers with four year degrees, doesn't make it a favorable program when attempting to find a job. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | HACC will never be recognized for the art program - there are too many bigger schools with better programs. This isn't to say that it is bad, but it is a two year program from a community college, so any four year school will offer a more highly regarded program. |
| Program Quality | 6 | The program at HACC was very generic. I would have liked the program if we were allowed a greater degree of specialization. |
| Instruction | 8 | We were very well prepared for the realities of commercial graphic design. Too many of my colleagues with four year degrees have unrealistic expectations upon entering the workforce. Both the faculty and curriculum at HACC were workforce oriented. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Academically, the program was easy. The workload was higher than most other majors, however, but was not especially challenging. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program emphasized hands on practical learning rather than book learning. Book learning was only utilized at the beginning of a course, mostly to teach us theory behind a program or basic theoretical knowledge. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | Far too many of the art courses are only offered once a semester. A few of the courses are only offered once every other semester. Many of these are requirements for later courses, and so if you aren't on "the path," you can spend extra semesters at the school. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | For a community college, HACC has extensive resources - computer labs, library resources, and a plethora of equipment. The photography courses especially had a large amount of expensive equipment. |
| Social Life | I worked full-time while attending school, so I came on campus only during class time, and had to leave immediately following. The school doesn't offer on campus living, so there are very few parties or other organized events. | |
| Placement Services | I have heard good and bad things about the job placement services at HACC. I was able to secure employment independently, so I am unable to comment. | |
| Alumni Network | 3 | The school attempts to have alumni involvement, but as a community college this is rather hit or miss. Most people spend two years there and then transfer to a four year school where they feel a larger connection, or go straight into the workforce. |
Allentown Business School • Allentown, PA
Studying Graphic Design/Visual Communications (completion in 2001)
• 3/29/2012
"I liked it, but I never got anything out of it, besides knowing my way around a computer."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | It is horrible. It is difficult to find a job. |
| Program Reputation | I am not sure. They changed their name to "Lehigh Valley College." I haven't heard much since. | |
| Program Quality | 5 | It was a great program. I learned a lot. |
| Instruction | 10 | All of my teachers were amazing. They were very skilled at what they did. |
| How Difficult | 7 | A lot of English courses and Psychology. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There weren't many people in the classes, so there was a lot of hands-on work involved. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Not very flexible. Really couldn't pick up classes if you missed one. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | We had really good computers and art supplies. |
| Social Life | 10 | I loved everyone there. I made some close friends. |
| Placement Services | 1 | They never found me a job after school. They promised us at the beginning. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I have no idea where anyone is that I went to school with. |
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