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 Nossi College of Art and East Tennessee State.
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 Watkins College of Art & Design, Memphis College of Art, Freed - Hardeman, and East Tennessee State.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Belmont, Memphis College of Art, Freed - Hardeman, and Carson - Newman.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Freed - Hardeman, Carson - Newman, Memphis College of Art, and Belmont.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Belmont and Watkins College of Art & Design.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Nossi College of Art, Memphis College of Art, and Watkins College of Art & Design.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Watkins College of Art & Design, Memphis College of Art, Carson - Newman, and Freed - Hardeman.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Southern Adventist University • Collegedale, TN
Studying English/Art (completion in 2003)
• 7/7/2011
"Some of the teachers were a bit racist, but they were very good at what they did. By graduation I had an impressive portfolio of work."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The computer labs are great, with the latest in graphic design technology. The teachers that I had trouble with are no longer there. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Their art department is one of the top rated schools in the nation. They have professional teachers that set high standards. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I had one of the best teachers in the school for graphic design. The only thing I did not like was that he tended to be a little racist and grade my work accordingly. |
| Instruction | 7 | I did not find a job in my chosen field directly out of college. By the time I did, most of the software programs were at least two versions newer and I had to learn a lot of it over again. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Grading was very subjective on the teacher's part. We were also expected to produce marketable quality work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Almost all of my art courses did not have a book. The teacher would copy relative handouts, and the rest was watching the teacher do things on his computer over the projector and doing the same at our workstation. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I took several classes at night, two by directed study, and even had one semester where I had two classes at the same time. I would have to go to the first half of one, leave, and catch the second half of the other. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The computer labs were very good, with new Macs and the latest versions of all Adobe software. The library was huge and the professors were always available at office hours. |
| Social Life | 9 | I made lots of friends there, some of which I still keep in touch with today. The school sponsored an activity every Saturday night, and it was usually pretty good. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I am not sure about this, as I did not use it. In order to find a job, you have to be willing to move where the jobs are. My husband already had a job at his parents' business. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | They send me letters every so often asking for money. If I lived closer I might be able to participate in the alumni events more. |
Motlow State University • Tullahoma, TN
Studying Media Graphic Design (completion in 2013)
• 7/6/2011
"It is a very good school to go to. I was from a small town, so it was a good place to be. I was very comfortable, so that made it easy to learn."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would tell them to go to a school that is more known for their graphic design program. I am going to a four year school now that is more focused on this program, so I would tell other people do to what I did. |
| Program Reputation | 2 | They are not really known for graphic design work. They are more so known for their nursing program. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I really wasn't helped out by advisers. I think that they could have a better focus, but it was only a two year school. |
| Instruction | 7 | They were teachers who weren't in the field, however they had interests in other fields that related to graphic design. Plus I had different opinions. |
| How Difficult | 4 | I really enjoyed the work that was given to me. At the same time, I was gaining knowledge about what I wanted to do. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Really it all depended on the teacher themselves. I had teachers that were a little bit of both, then there were teachers that were very hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | You could find classes for really any time of the day. I was really surprised of when the classes were offered. The only downfall is that they filled up pretty quickly. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | They had teachers that would really try hard to help you. Also, they had very good computer labs that were there for the students to use, which were especially useful when you needed to print something you had forgotten about. |
| Social Life | 5 | I never really attended parties at my school. However, they did hold festivals and fairs that I went to. Also, around Halloween they allowed students and teachers to dress up, which was always fun. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I never really worked with this department when I was there. However, I do know some students who did have success with this program. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I don't really have much contact with the alumni network. However, as I said before, the adviser I saw was really not much help with me at all. |
Southwest Tennessee Community College • Memphis, TN
Studying Pre-Press (completion in 2007)
• 10/8/2011
"I loved my two years at STCC. Later on, I went back to the four-year university for a Bachelor's of Arts in English, and didn't enjoy my experience nearly as much."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | People have already asked me my opinions on the school, because they want to learn a craft quickly instead of in four years. Many parents also ask for their children - it's more affordable than art school or even the university. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | I've heard employers mention they'd rather hire someone from the two-year program than the local university's four-year program because the two-year students are more prepared for real life situations, while university students are more focused on the artistic side of things. I've also heard students and the general public praise the school for its affordability compared to the local university. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The program had a choice of pre-press or multimedia concentrations. They offered a great selection of classes for both majors, and students were allowed to take many electives on any topic they chose. |
| Instruction | 10 | My teachers were very invested in their students' learning. The school was determined to teach us real-life skills and prepared us for a job immediately upon graduation. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The work was not difficult because the teachers prepared us to complete the assignments. There were a LOT of projects though, which was good because they functioned like real freelance jobs. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | In my design classes, we had a book to fall back on, but the vast majority of the work was hands-on. We watched the teacher complete a task and followed along, then did it on our own. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I used to take four classes a day and was done by one in the afternoon. When I started working all day and needed night classes, those were also available. They also had weekend classes, but I never took any. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The library was being redesigned when I was a student, but I got a chance to see it and it was spacious and had a big selection of books. The classrooms were large and never overcrowded, and the student center was big and easily accessible. |
| Social Life | 7 | I enjoyed school and the classroom discussions. Because I was also working, I didn't participate in many other activities, but I heard about a lot of them. |
| Placement Services | 10 | I got my first design job through school and stayed there four years! They offered excellent resume services and an impressive job board. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I've heard the network is good because the career services are always open to former students. As far as alumni networks, I haven't been interested in that so I haven't paid attention. |
ETSU (East Tennessee State University) • Johnson City, TN
Studying Digital Media (completion in 2008)
• 3/1/2012
"Nothing really to complain about. I've got a degree and a great job right now."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It may not be known for DM, but you will will learn what you need to get a job and they will be very helpful in getting you that job. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | ETSU isn't really known for DM, it's big thing is Nursing, but it isn't seen as a bad school for DM either. |
| Program Quality | 7 | Overall it was a good experience. Much of the stuff I know now comes from the experience I've gained after graduating though. |
| Instruction | 8 | All professors were extremely knowledgeable and nice. They helped me get a job where I'm working now. |
| How Difficult | 7 | It wasn't really that hard. Some people graduated when I don't believe they were good enough to. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I didn't really have to read too much in my classes. We were always on the computer doing things and being critiqued. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | I never had Friday classes and was able to take a number of online classes. This left me with plenty of time to get my work done and also time to have fun. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | They were average while I was there, but I have some friends who go there now and they have much better computers, which would up it a few more points. |
| Social Life | 3 | I'm quiet, so I wouldn't have been social anywhere I went. There were always things going on though. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Great job placement services. I had this job lined up before I even graduated. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I haven't been contacted by anyone at all about doing things as an alum. |
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