Graphic Design program ranked #1 in Kentucky

MURRAY, Ky. – The Graphic Design program housed in Murray State University’s Department of Art & Design is ranked #1 in the state of Kentucky for 2023 and in the Top 25 in the South by the Animation Career Review (ACR), a major online resource for people aspiring for careers in animation, game design, graphic design, digital art and related fields. 

ACR began publishing regional and national rankings in 2012 in response to myriad emails from aspiring animators and game designers asking what the best schools were in the United States, a given state or in a particular area of the country. The organization considers every degree-granting school of which they are aware, with the exception of two-year community colleges. ACR’s end goal is to provide students and their parents access to ample information so they can make an informed decision about the school they choose to attend and the program they pursue.

Graphic Design program rankings consider over 700 colleges and are ranked on the following criteria in no particular order: academic reputation, admission selectivity, depth and breadth of the program, value as it relates to tuition and indebtedness and employment data.

In the Spring 2023 semester, the Department of Art & Design at Murray State University will celebrate its third graduating class of students earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design. Students earning a BFA in Graphic Design learn branding, corporate identity, logo design, typography, web design, motion graphics, animation, package design, mobile interface design and illustration. 

Sarina Hamilton, a sophomore Graphic Design major from Paducah, Kentucky, says she can’t imagine herself in any other program.

“The graphic design program is incredible,” said Hamilton. “Jim Bryant (professor of art and coordinator of the program) and Scott Cook (assistant professor of graphic design) are excellent designers whose top priority is always to strengthen and foster the skills of each student they teach. I've never felt more accepted and confident than in this department. Upon graduation, I will be more than ready to enter my career. For anyone interested in this field, I couldn't recommend it here more!”

Jesús Gallegos Moreno, a senior Graphic Design major from Durango, Mexico, has found the artistic challenge and high expectations of the program to be rewarding.

“In Graphic Design, I was just enraptured by the atmosphere,” said Gallegos Moreno. “I thought I would easily finish and outdo the assignments and my classmates, but I couldn't at all, and I loved that. The program pushed my comfort zone and made me explore more 3D and 2D physical works which will give me the skills to edge in my future in the Graphic Design world. Scott and Jim provide an excellent balance of teaching styles and experiments with digital and print media.” 

Over the past 20 years, students with an emphasis in Graphic Design have had a nearly 100 percent job placement. Graduates have found employment in companies across the country working with Google, Amazon, Sony Playstation, The Pentagon, Bungie Games, All State, Big Ass Fans and in industries including corporate branding, game design, advertising, icon design, web design, illustration, designing movie posters in Hollywood and many others.  

“Jim and Scott are extremely dedicated to fostering successful student learning environments coupled with delivering skill sets that are relevant to the contemporary design workplace,” said Chris Lavery, chair of the Department of Art & Design. “Our students are prepared through a blend of coursework that involve design, studio art and art history courses. We look at our design program as an integral component of the overall department and each student benefits from the hybridization we champion our students to partake in. A student who graduates from the Department of Art & Design is truly graduating with a future career, filled with opportunities to interact in the field of art and design.” 

To view the complete list of top-ranked graphic design program schools in the state of Kentucky please visit bit.ly/42gbKlF. To view the top 25 graphic design program colleges and schools in the South please visit bit.ly/3LpQLWz.

For more information about the graphic design program at Murray State University please visit the Department of Art & Design website at murraystate.edu/art.