Visual Communications programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 329 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best visual communications schools.
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Choosing a Great Visual Communications School
The school you choose for visual communications can shape your career. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Visual Communications rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Visual Communications Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
No school ranked higher than University Of Washington Seattle Campus this year for visual communications. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 20 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Visual Communications graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $63,449 early in their careers. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans.
See the full visual communications program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
A rank of #2 makes University Of Southern California one of the top schools for visual communications. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 63 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual communications degree from University Of Southern California earn around $64,846 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $18,262 in student loans.
See the full visual communications program report for University Of Southern California
The University Of Texas At Austin is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual communications, ranking #3. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 72 visual communications degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $44,506 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
See the full visual communications program report for The University Of Texas At Austin
North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual communications, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $48,940 in their early career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
See the full visual communications program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
A rank of #5 makes University Of Notre Dame one of the top schools for visual communications. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 visual communications degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Visual Communications graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $46,825 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete this degree.
See the full visual communications program report for University Of Notre Dame
Lehigh University landed the #6 spot for visual communications this year. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Lehigh University graduates 88% of students within six years. Lehigh University awarded about 14 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual communications degree from Lehigh University earn around $70,321 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,008.
More information about a degree in visual communications from Lehigh University
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #7 position for visual communications this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. About 83% of students finish within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 29 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $44,602. Typical student debt for the program is $20,250.
Get the full visual communications details for Purdue University Main Campus
University Of California Davis ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best visual communications schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 249 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $32,816. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual communications from University Of California Davis
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #9 position for visual communications this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 visual communications degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual communications degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $45,176 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,100 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual communications details for Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #10 position for visual communications this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 16 visual communications degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $99,682 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
Get the full visual communications details for University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Dayton landed the #11 spot for visual communications this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Dayton. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 31 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at University Of Dayton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $43,609. University Of Dayton graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual communications from University Of Dayton
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #12 spot for visual communications this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 68 visual communications degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Visual Communications graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $52,526 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,851 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual communications from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Texas Christian University came in at #13 for visual communications this year. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 11 visual communications degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from Texas Christian University generally make around $60,035. Students borrow a median of $22,960 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual communications program at Texas Christian University
San Francisco State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best visual communications schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 106 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $34,845 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,000.
Read more about the visual communications program at San Francisco State University
Loyola University Chicago earned the #15 position for visual communications this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 11 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Visual Communications graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual communications from Loyola University Chicago
Carnegie Mellon University placed #16 among the best visual communications schools. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 43 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $93,581. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual communications from Carnegie Mellon University
University Of Arkansas earned the #17 position for visual communications this year. University Of Arkansas is a very large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 27 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from University Of Arkansas generally make around $41,782. University Of Arkansas graduates carry a median of $23,881 in student loans.
Get the full visual communications details for University Of Arkansas
University Of Delaware placed #18 among the best visual communications schools. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Delaware awarded about 10 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Visual Communications graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $42,585 early in their careers. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
See the full visual communications program report for University Of Delaware
University Of Utah ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best visual communications schools. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Utah awarded about 34 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $60,527 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,344.
More information about a degree in visual communications from University Of Utah
George Washington University placed #20 among the best visual communications schools. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Visual Communications graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $54,222 early in their careers. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans.
Read more about the visual communications program at George Washington University
University Of California San Diego landed the #21 spot for visual communications this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. About 31 visual communications degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual communications degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $60,797 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $16,787 in student loans.
See the full visual communications program report for University Of California San Diego
Washington University In St Louis landed the #22 spot for visual communications this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 46 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $33,615. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $19,089 in student loans.
Read more about the visual communications program at Washington University In St Louis
Auburn University landed the #23 spot for visual communications this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Auburn. Auburn University graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 45 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual communications degree from Auburn University earn around $46,585 in the first couple years of their career. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual communications from Auburn University
Syracuse University landed the #24 spot for visual communications this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Syracuse University awarded about 27 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $46,181 in their early career. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full visual communications program report for Syracuse University
Western Washington University earned the #25 position for visual communications this year. Western Washington University is a large public school located in the city of Bellingham. Western Washington University graduates 65% of students within six years. About 19 visual communications degrees were awarded at Western Washington University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $31,078. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual communications details for Western Washington University
Rest of the Top 50 Visual Communications Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s visual communications ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 329 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
