| School | City |
|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin | Eau Claire |
| Viterbo University | La Crosse |
| University of Wisconsin | Madison |
| University of Wisconsin | Stout |
| University of Wisconsin | Milwaukee |
| University of Wisconsin | Oshkosh |
| University of Wisconsin | Stevens Point |
| University of Wisconsin | Whitewater |
Wisconsin is home to one of the nation’s largest populations. With nearly 5.8 million residents, the Badger State is the nation’s 20th largest state. It is home to nearly 34,000 salaried artists and designers and one of the largest collections of art venues in the region. In the state’s largest city, Milwaukee, you will find top art museums such as Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM), Charles Allis Art Museum, Haggerty Museum of Art at Marquette University, and Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum. Madison—the state’s second largest city, is home to the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA) and Chazen Museum of Art at University of Wisconsin.
Head to Green Bay—the state’s third largest city, where you’ll find the Neville Public Museum and the ARTgarage, which houses exhibits, classes, performances, and a variety of special events. Visitors to Kenosha, a popular tourist destination and Wisconsin’s fourth largest city, can explore the Kenosha Public Museum or Anderson Arts Center, which is housed in a 9,000 square foot mansion. Finally, in Racine, the state’s fifth largest city, you will find more than 10,000 square feet of space at the Racine Art Museum (RAM) and Artists Gallery—an artist cooperative of 40 regional artists that has been run and managed by artists since 1998.
Wisconsin is also home to a wide variety of creative agencies and studios, as well as a large collection of top-rated art and design schools. Many are located in Milwaukee. Just a few top agencies and studios include Hanson Dodge Creative, Media Dynamics, Lakeland Creative (Milwaukee, Chicago, Green Bay), Taylor Studios, Boelter & Lincoln, Jigsaw Creative, Laughlin Constable (Milwaukee, Chicago, New York), Cramer and Krasselt, Fullhouse, Scott Advertising, Zizzo Group, and Platypus Advertising & Design (Pewaukee—around 20 miles from Milwaukee).
Some of the state’s best art and design schools include Peck School of the Arts at the University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), Viterbo University, and Carroll University.
Wisconsin Graphic Design Schools
Wisconsin is home 84 Title IV degree-granting colleges and universities. Many offer programs for aspiring artists and designers—including graphic designers. Scroll through the list below to review Wisconsin’s best schools for aspiring graphic designers and what they have to offer.
Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin Eau Claire – BFA Graphic Design
Fon du Lac
Marian University – BA Graphic Arts (Graphic Design), BA Studio Art with a Concentration in Graphic Arts
Green Bay
University of Wisconsin Green Bay – BA Design Arts
Kenosha
Carthage College - Degrees Offered: BA with a Graphic Design Major
University of Wisconsin Parkside - Degrees Offered: BA Graphic Design
La Crosse
Viterbo University - Degrees Offered: BFA with a Concentration in Graphic Arts and New Media
Madison
University of Wisconsin Madison - Degrees Offered: BS, BFA Art with a Concentration in Graphic Design, MA, MFA Art with Graphics Specialization
Menomonie
University of Wisconsin Stout - Degrees Offered: BFA Graphic Design and Interactive Media
Milwaukee
Mount Mary University - Degrees Offered: BA Graphic Design; Minor Graphic Design, Certificate in Graphic Design
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee - Degrees Offered: BFA Design & Visual Communication (Graphic Design)
Oshkosh
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh - Degrees Offered: BFA Art with Graphic Design Emphasis
Platteville
University of Wisconsin Platteville - Degrees Offered: BA Graphic Design
Sheboygan
Lakeland College – BA Art with an Emphasis in Graphic Arts/Graphic Design, Minor in Graphic Arts/Graphic Design
Stevens Point
University of Wisconsin Stevens Point - Degrees Offered: BFA with an Emphasis in Graphic Design
Waukesha
Carroll University - Degrees Offered: BA Graphic Communication, MS Graphic Communications, Minor Graphic Design
Whitewater
University of Wisconsin Whitewater - Degrees Offered: BA, BFA Graphic Design
More Wisconsin Graphic Design related programs to consider:
- San Francisco & Online
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#14) - 2021
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#37) - 2021
- Top 50 Nationally for Illustration (#24) - 2021
- Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#38) - 2021
- Winter Park, FL & Online
- Computer Animation - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
- Game Programs - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
- Graphic Design & Digital Arts - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
- Film & Digital Cinematography - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
- Mobile Development - Bachelor's - Online
- Simulation & Visualization - Bachelor's - Campus
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#11) - 2021
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#10) - 2021
- Top 25 in the South for Graphic Design (#10) - 2021
- Online
Employment and Salary Trends for Wisconsin Graphic Designers
Wisconsin is home to 33,740 professionals working in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media (ADESM) occupations. An impressive 4,750 of these artists are graphic designers. They average $45,810 per year, up from $42,460 in 2013 when the state was home to 4,530 graphic designers. The state is home to two of the top ten metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients. They are 'Madison, WI' and 'Racine, WI'.
Nationwide, graphic designers average $50,670 (mean) per year, up from $48,730 in 2013. In addition, employment is expected to increase by seven percent for the 2012-2022 decade. The industries with the highest levels of employment for graphic designers are:
- Specialized Design Services
- Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services
- Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers
- Printing and Related Support Activities
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services
The top paying industries for graphic designers are:
- Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) (average $76,040 per year)
- Facilities Support Services ($66,050)
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing ($65,300)
- Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage ($63,260)
- Scientific Research and Development Services ($61,110)
While graphic designers may find employment opportunities in a number of Wisconsin cities and towns, a greater number of prospects can be found in major cities such Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, and Racine.
Awesome Animation Fact: Bruce the vegetarian shark from Finding Nemo (2003) was named after the animatronic shark used while filming Jaws (1975). -E! Loves