Overview

Within this Graphic Design BFA program from Portland State University we prepare designers to thrive in today’s professional world. We nurture your independent development and offer endless opportunities to engage with design professionals both inside and outside the classroom.

We are proud to be consistently ranked among the top public graphic design programs in the country. We recently placed in the top 3% nationally—5th in the nation among public schools—and as the top program in Oregon by the Animation Career Review’s 2020 listings of the best graphic design programs in the United States.

The graphic design program draws strength from its location within the wider School of Art + Design and within Portland’s vibrant creative community.

We offer a studio experience with lots of one-on-one instruction and an emphasis on craft, concept, research, and design thinking. You’ll gain real-world experience through A+D Projects, our in-house design studio, working on projects for clients.

Career opportunities:

Graduates of the Graphic Design program from Portland State University go on to professional careers in design and creative industries.

Our graduates are working as design professionals at top agencies and corporations such as Nike, Wieden+Kennedy, Nordstrom, IDEO, Dropbox, Apple, Snapchat, Buzzfeed, R/GA, Adidas, Spotify, and IBM. Others have found success at design studios such as Instrument, OMFCO, Jolby & Friends, and Sandstrom. Many graduates have established successful freelance careers, some forming their own businesses and making their own products.

With a bachelor of fine arts degree in graphic design, you can work independently or collaboratively in creative industries in a number of artistic and managerial roles, including:

Graphic Designer
Art Director
Interactive Design
Product Design
Web and Mobile Design
Illustration
Design Management
Motion Graphics and Filmmaking
Environmental Design and Wayfinding
App Design
Publication Design
Branding and Identity Design
User Interface Design

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Design Thinking

Type and Communication Design

Digital Page Design

Digital Imaging and Illustration

Typography

Communication Design Systems

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-07-22 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-07-05 00:00:00
Starting 2026-09-30 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-09-01 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2026-08-01 00:00:00 , National
Starting 2027-01-06 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-05 00:00:00
Starting 2027-03-31 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-03-05 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

110

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TOEFL^® IBT

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IELTS

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Credits

180 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Portland, United States

Disciplines

Graphic Design View 607 other Bachelors in Graphic Design in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

2.5

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

110

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

You must have a cumulative (overall) grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 when converted to the U.S. 4.0 grading scale.
Meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement. You may be admitted to Portland State University and an Intensive English Language Program (IELP) pathway if you do not meet PSU's English Language Proficiency Requirement. Learn more about PSU’s English language programs.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

34599 USD / year

≈ 34599 USD / year
Out-of-State

34599 USD / year

≈ 34599 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

12999 USD / year

≈ 12999 USD / year

Living costs

Portland

United States

1271 - 2262 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Graphic Design.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Career opportunities:

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Portland

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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