If there’s one job in demand these days, it’s web design. People working in this field are the brains behind the websites and apps people worldwide use every day.
The skills and duties of web developers and digital designers have lots of crossover, with both involved in crafting and making certain websites and apps work the way they’re supposed to and are easy to use.
In 2020, 199,400 worked in the field of web development and digital design in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That number is expected to grow by 13% between 2020 and 2030, adding 25,500 jobs, which the bureau notes is faster than the national average.
These also are well-paying jobs. Web developers and digital designers earned a median annual salary of $77,200 and a median hourly pay of $37.12 in 2020, according to the bureau.
Below, we’ll look at the 10 best web design schools in the United States, including the different degrees they offer and what courses students can expect to take.
All programs on this list offer either a bachelor’s degree in the major of web design or a certificate program.
Here are 10 of the best web design schools in the US.
Brigham Young University Idaho (Rexburg, ID)
Brigham Young University Idaho offers both associate and bachelor’s degrees in web design and development, which prepare students for careers as web designers and developers, IT consultants, and related jobs.
In the associate program, students pick an area of emphasis, either business and communications, website development, or website design.
Courses in the department include web fundamentals and introduction to programming. Students can also get to know their peers better outside of class by joining the Student Web Design & Development Society.
Students can also gain valuable industry experience through a capstone internship. They spend at least 300 hours working in web development, design, or a related web-based field for a company under the mentorship of a professional employed in those fields.
Clark State College (Springfield, OH)
The bachelor of applied science degree in web design and development at Clark State College aims to give students a well-rounded background to prepare them for a wide range of careers.
Students develop both front- and back-end web abilities, making it possible for them to one day pursue jobs as full stack web developers, a job that is becoming more in-demand.
Classes focus on the basics, such as HTML and CSS, as well as more advanced concepts, such as user experience design and web server interaction.
Students learn how to work with Linux, Mac, and Windows platforms, with the college also stressing the importance of experiential learning along the way.
And they will take two senior project courses and complete a web design and development capstone during their final year of study.
University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Little Rock, AR)
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has geared its bachelor’s degree program toward not only traditional college students but also people who have already begun their careers.
The web design and development program is interdisciplinary, and students start with foundational courses not only focused on computers but also areas like art and rhetoric.
These different subjects frequently cross over in the web design and development program, with classes like non-linear editing and typography mixing elements of the web with mass communications and art.
Students also must complete a cooperative experience, a six-credit-hour capstone that involves developing a project and ultimately defending a portfolio.
When they graduate, they’ll leave not only with valuable skills for working on apps, websites, and more computer programs but also with solid research and critical-thinking abilities.
Devry University (Naperville, IL)
Undergraduates can specialize in web design and development when pursuing a bachelor’s degree in multimedia design and development at Devry University. The coursework prepares graduates to take certification exams, such as to become an Adobe® Certified Associate, available in topics such as interactive media and web authoring.
To get to that point, students will take classes that give them a foundation in computer languages such as CSS3 and PHP plus software.
The curriculum then shows students how to create functional, user-friendly sites and incorporate videos, animations, and other multimedia. Lessons also focus on business basics and the future of technology to prepare students for life after college.
In addition to jobs as web designers, graduates could use their degrees to pursue careers as creative directors, multimedia designers, and even photo editing artists.
Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI)
Michigan State University takes an approach to educating future web developers, offering what it calls MSU Coding Boot Camp.
The online program takes just 24 weeks to complete, with live classes and other online content focusing on various computer languages and database theory subjects. The schedule is flexible, too, with students able to practice at their own pace, and they build a portfolio through various projects along the way.
Teaching assistants are available to help the students both in the live classes and outside of the lessons, and the university has numerous tutors ready to offer additional assistance, too. And although the program runs for less than a year, students still get access to a full range of career guidance, including resume reviews and interview training.
University of California, San Diego (San Diego, CA)
In just one year, aspiring web and graphic designers can earn a professional certificate in the field at the University of California, San Diego.
It doesn’t skimp on the lessons, though. The accelerated program covers coding, Adobe software, and other computer-focused subjects as well as more artistic concepts, such as crafting advertising campaigns and branding identity.
Students also learn about how business fits into the world of web and graphic design. They’ll finish up the program with the portfolio development course, in which they’ll not only build a collection of work to help them in their careers but also learn about the types of jobs available to graduates.
Students don’t need to be in California, either. The courses take place live online three nights per week, with students using Zoom to get hands-on practice.
Purdue University Polytechnic Institute (West Lafayette, IN)
The computer graphics technology program at Purdue University Polytechnic Institute includes offers a bachelor’s degree in web programming and design. The degree program covers all aspects of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) to give students the variety of skills they’ll need to succeed in today’s industry, including lessons in business and management.
Core courses cover topics ranging from computer graphics and imaging technology to internet foundations and user experience design.
Beyond web programming, students take classes in subjects such as open-source MySQL and geometric modeling, using what Purdue notes is constantly updated educational facilities featuring new software and other up-to-date technologies.
It all helps students learn in what the university touts is a program that prepares them to build secure, user-friendly websites and mobile apps that function well.
Simmons University (Boston, MA)
Undergraduate students can decide whether they graduate with a bachelor of science or bachelor of arts when they study web design development at Simmons University. The program, also offered as a minor, lets students pick their type of degree based on the focus of their coursework.
Classes focus on using programming language to craft websites but also provide students with the technical knowledge they need to tackle any problems that may arise. They have numerous electives to choose from, with internships and independent study options, before finishing their studies with a storytelling-focused senior seminar.
University of Connecticut (Storrs, CT)
The undergraduate web and interactive media design program at the University of Connecticut is unique in that students earn a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. The program is part of the School of Fine Arts’ Digital Media & Design major. Admission is “highly competitive,” according to the university, which requires applicants to submit a portfolio.
Once they get into the program, students take classes in a mix of disciplines, including computer and social sciences and art.
In addition to learning all about coding and user interface design, students work for real-life clients as part of a team in the agency course. Outside the classroom, they can get hands-on experience in the Digital Experience (DX) Lab or Physical Computing Space and hone their skills in the Cintiq Lab, all of which have state-of-the-art equipment.
And as they prepare to graduate, students present the results of their year-long senior project in an annual exhibit.
Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, CA)
Santa Clara University’s bachelor of science in web design and engineering focuses on interdisciplinary courses with a heavy emphasis on computer programming and the arts. They round out their studies with natural science and math classes as well as several electives.
The university also is home to a dedicated Engineering Computer Center, which has six computer labs focusing on Apple, Linux, and Microsoft systems armed with up-to-date software. Labs are open for 16 hours each day, more during finals week, and have trained staff members available to help.
The university also makes it easy for students to earn a master’s degree in computer science and engineering through its combined B.S./M.S. program. Full-time students can start taking courses for their master’s while they’re undergraduates, making it possible for them to earn the advanced degree within a year of getting their B.S.
