In this digital era, a large amount of content you see daily are based on graphic design. Take for instance, an advertisement on social media – in order for a product or service to get more leads it has to be visually appealing. Visual content can be in the form of videos, GIFS or simply images. An individual with skills in graphic design can make such visually appealing content which would allow to attract more customers to a certain product or service.
Individuals with skills in graphic design are being sought after not just by companies but across various other sectors such as newspapers, marketing firms and more. A career in Graphic Design can help you set up a career as a creative designer, 2D/3D animator, cinematographer, UI/UX designer and more.
Also have a look at the blog on the 10 cheapest online degrees in Graphic Design
Why is Graphic Design Important?
The job of a professional graphic designer involves creating visual content that can be based for ads, logos or product creatives to name a few.
Companies hire graphic designers to create material that they can use for their visual content marketing to attract more customers. The value of graphic design can be seen on primarily social media where an appealing ad is most likely to convince a good number of customers to purchase a product/service.
Visual content is quite influential in this digital age and a skilled graphic designer can most certainly help boost a company’s growth in the visual marketing aspect. This would then translate to a graphic designer getting more clients that are willing to invest a good amount of money into quality content to let their businesses grow.
Difference Between Graphic Design and UX Design
| Parameters of Comparison | Graphic Design | UX Design |
| Definition | Graphic Design involves using certain computer software to create creative content that can be used for several purposes such as visual ads for instance. | UX Design, individuals are involved in designing digital products/services to allow it to be usable, visually appealing and functional for a good user experience. |
| Purpose | The purpose of Graphic Design is to be able to create content for marketing, newspapers or awareness that also allows companies and agencies to grow. | The purpose of UX Design is to create relevant digital services or products such as software/applications that can help people according to their needs. |
Why Graphic Design is a Good Career
A degree in Graphic Design can help launch individuals across various fields and industries that make use of visual content to communicate.
Individuals with a graphic design degree have the liberty to work in fields such as:
Types of Available Online Degrees in Graphic Design
There are multiple types of degrees available to prepare individuals for a career in graphic designing. Have a look at some of the degrees below with the requirements:
| Degree | Credits (may vary) | Typical Program Length | General Admission Requirements (vary by college) |
| Associates | 90 credits | 2 years | High School Transcripts |
| Bachelors | 120 credits | 3.5-4 years | High school GPA of 3.25 or higher OR ACT composite score of 21 or higher |
| Masters | 30-60 credits | 1-2 years | Bachelor’s Degree in related field |
2 Online Graphic Design Associate’s Degrees in Florida
1. Rasmussen University – Ocala
Program: Graphic Design – Associate’s Degree
Tuition: $260/credit hour
Credits: 91 Credit Hours
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the HLC
Financial Aid: Available, with 97% of students receiving financial aid.
The associates degree in Graphic Design at Rasmussen can help individuals to acquire necessary skills that clients and employers are looking for. The program consists of learning how to use computer software like Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop and also gaining key skills such as user experience and user interface designing along with the fundamentals to communication portfolio designing and presentation skills,
2. Miami International University of Art & Design – Global Campus
Program: Online Associate of Arts in Graphic Design Degree
Tuition: $575/credit hour
Credits: 90 credit hours.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC.
Financial Aid: Available, with 78% of students receiving financial aid.
At Miami International University, students are given the opportunity to acquire skills that are fundamental to starting a career in graphic design. This Associates degree program offers key insights into art direction, print, classic design and even product packaging. This online program allows students to get a degree according to their convenience of time at the comfort of their homes.
4 Online Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree in Florida
1. University of Florida – Online
Program: Digital Arts and Sciences – Bachelor of Arts
Tuition: $129.18/credit hour (resident); $552.62/credit hour (non-resident)
Credits: 120 credit hours
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC.
Financial Aid: Available, with 91% of students receiving financial aid.
The bachelor’s degree in digital arts and science at the University of Florida – Online can help sharpen a student’s creative and intellectual skills in design. This program offers graduates with graphic designing skills that are highly prized by recruiters, clients and employers across multiple industries. The program also allows students to gain experience working in project-based classes in in an environment that is team-oriented which reflects the dynamic of multiple industry settings.
2. Rasmussen University – Ocala
Program: Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design
Tuition: $229/credit hour
Credit: 90 credit hours
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the HLC.
Financial Aid: Available, with 97% of students receiving financial aid.
Rasmussen University’s bachelor degree in graphic designs helps students to expand their horizons on creative expression and communication. The program is instructed by experts who have a good amount of experience in their portfolio. Graduates get to master graphic design software such as Adobe Creative Cloud and even learn how to create designs for UX and UI.
3. Full Sail University
Program: Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design
Tuition: $533/credit hour
Credits: 120 credit hours
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
Financial Aid: Available, with 71% of students receiving financial aid.
A bachelor’s degree in graphic design helps provide graduates with a comprehensive understanding on the fundamentals of design. The program helps individuals to sharpen their skills when it comes to aesthetics and popular cultural trends.
The program is designed to also help students develop real-world skills that they can use when searching for a career in Graphic Design.
4. Miami International University of Art & Design – Global Campus
Program: Online Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic & Web Design
Tuition: $575/credit hour
Credits: 180 credit hours
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC.
Financial Aid: Available, with 78% of students receiving financial acid.
Acquiring the skills in graphic design is a great way to communicate and tell a story with minimal or no words. The modern era is comprised of largely visual content across social media and other forms of mass communication mediums.
Creating appealing visual content can help businesses grow, spread awareness, or even make the user experience of a digital product or service for an end-user even better. A degree in graphic design will help graduates learn and acquire the skills that are in demand across the marketplace for making better and more attractive visual content.
2 Online Graphic Design Master’s Degree in Florida
1. Full Sail University
Program: Master of Fine Arts – Media Design
Tuition: $690/credit hour
Credits: 58 credit hours
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
Financial Aid: Available, with 71% of students receiving financial aid.
A master’s degree in graphic design at Full Sail provides graduates with an in-depth perspective at design and the role it plays across various fields. In this program, individuals get to study on how certain successful campaigns are created which involves factors like research, communication, client and team dynamics.
In addition, the program also offers coursework on psychological and motivational theories that drive other consumers to use or purchase a specific product or service. This allows a deeper understanding in the student on how consumer trends work and how these trends can be applied.
2. Miami International University of Art & Design – Global Campus
Program: Online Master of Arts in Design & Media Management Degree
Tuition: $655/credit hour
Credits: 48 credit hours
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC.
Financial Aid: Available, with 78% of students receiving financial aid.
A master’s degree in Design & Media Management helps to build the skill of communication and connecting with client/consumers. The program is aimed at developing skills in the student that they can use to deliver solutions by factoring in data analytics, design, and business skills.
During the course of the program both student and professional faculty will have the liberty to share ideas and feedbacks that could help graduates to transition their concepts to creations.
Is Graphic Design a good career?
If you have a talent for creating art and are passionate about creating designs that tell stories or capture people’s attention, then pursuing a career in graphic design is worth it. New companies are constantly emerging in the market which provides the opportunity for professional graphic designers to work and boost the growth of these companies which would most likely require visual content for their marketing.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 2021-2031, the growth of graphic design occupations is projected to grow at 3 percent.
Where are Graphic Designers in Demand?
To start a career in graphic designing, the minimum required degree can vary across industries. Generally, an associates degree is the minimum required degree to start a career in graphic designing. However, having a bachelor’s or master’s degree may help you get better leverage in negotiating your wage or fees.
Here are some of the top occupations that graduates with a graphic design degree can opt for:
| Occupation | Median Wage |
| Product Designer | $77,033/year |
| Graphic Designer | $59,314/year |
| Multimedia Designer | $56,759/year |
| Drafter | $69,430/year |
| Multimedia Specialist | $51.346/year |
| Illustrator | $44,223/year |
Source: indeed.com
Conclusion
A degree in graphic design can help individuals find a career not only as an employee for a company but also as freelancers. They also have the liberty to work a full-time job while also having other clients they can work with.
If your talents are aligned with art, design and you feel you have what it takes to make visually appealing content then a graphic design degree is definitely worth it.
