Best Online Graphic Design Degrees of 2024 – Forbes Advisor

Professional advice

Contents

Consider your future goals Understand your expenses and financing options JOBs Apply News

You can fund your education through scholarships, loans, grants, and work-study programs. Start by completing the FAFSA® and then look for opportunities at prospective schools and nonprofit groups.

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The best online graphic design program depends on your long-term goals and your budget. When narrowing down your options, keep these factors in mind.

Consider your future goals

Before enrolling in an online graphic design program, it’s important to articulate your career goals and make sure the program aligns with your aspirations.

The first consideration is whether or not you need to earn a four-year college degree. Graphic design employers are generally more concerned with your skills than your education. You may be able to learn the required skills through a certificate or associate’s degree in graphic design. These options could save you a significant amount of money.

That said, graphic design bachelor’s degrees are more well-rounded. A well-rounded program can help you develop all the skills you need to become a graphic designer, including personal branding, good business practices, and technical certifications. If an immersive, well-rounded education appeals to you, a graphic design bachelor’s degree may be the right choice.

Understand your expenses and financing options

Excluding the one major outlier, per-credit tuition rates for the programs in our guide ranged from $330 to $563. Over the course of a 120-credit bachelor’s degree, this translates to roughly $40,000 to $67,500 in total tuition.

To have a point of comparison, the National Center for Education Statistics In the 2022-23 academic year, tuition and fees for the average four-year public school were found to cost $9,750. Private, nonprofit colleges cost an average of $38,421 per year. For a typical bachelor’s degree, this translates to $39,000 and $153,684, respectively.

To reduce the overall cost, the first step should be to complete the FAFSA. This helps you access scholarships, loans, grants, and work-study opportunities. You can look for similar financial aid options through schools and nonprofit organizations.