
A graphic designer, or graphic artist, creates layouts, designs, promotional displays and other visual solutions to help their clients communicate information. Employment can vary for graphic designers as they can work regular hours at a large company or on a job basis as consultants or freelancers. Designers can work for corporate businesses, advertising and design agencies or publishing companies.
Graphic Design Schools in Texas
To become a graphic artist, formal education is required to enter the profession--you'll need to earn a bachelor's degree in graphic design from a college or university. Many schools require students to complete a year of basic art and design courses before enrolling in a bachelor's degree program. As a graphic design student, you'll take courses in studio art, principles of design, website design, computerized design, printing techniques and commercial graphics production. Many graphic artists may find it helpful to take additional courses in writing, psychology, marketing, foreign languages and business. Creativity, openness to new ideas, communication and problem solving skills are also crucial for the job. There are many graphic design schools in Texas--both online and campus-based--that can teach you everything you need to know to become a graphic designer.
Graphic Designer Salaries in Texas
As the demand for graphic designers continues to increase, employment should grow 13 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Those with animation and website design experience will be the most in demand. There are more than 10,800 graphic designers in the state of Texas. If you're interested in joining them, there are a number of graphic design schools in Texas that can help you achieve this goal. BLS data from May 2009, shows that graphic designers earned a median wage of $19.33 an hour, which equates to $40,200 annually, in Texas. The metropolitan areas of Dallas, Houston and Austin-Round Rock have the most graphic designers, while those in the Austin-Round Rock area, Dallas area and San Antonio earned the highest annual median salary.
Whether you want to work for a big advertising company, start your own design firm or do part-time freelance work, earning a degree from one of the following Texas graphic design schools will help you achieve your goals.
Schools for Graphic Designers in Texas are listed below.
These schools offer particularly quick info upon request, and we have written detailed profiles for each (click school names to see the profiles).
Request info from multiple schools, by clicking the Get Info links.

DeVry University
Austin, Houston, Irving, San Antonio
Started in 1931, DeVry has grown into one of the largest private universities in the U.S., with locations in many major metro areas.

The Art Institutes
Austin, Dallas, Houston
The Art Institutes (AI) provides programs that stimulate the minds of its students with programs in design, the arts, game programming, culinary cuisine, and fashion.

International Academy of Design and Technology
San Antonio
Career-oriented design, visual arts and communications curricula in about ten major U.S. metro areas. Flexible class schedules and online study are available for working students.

American InterContinental University
Houston
Offers Graduate and Undergraduate degree programs in business, criminal justice, design and media arts, education, engineering and information technology. Located in five U.S. and two foreign sites

ITT Technical Institute
Arlington, Austin, Houston, Richardson, San Antonio, Webster
With over 100 campuses in 34 states nationwide and online programs offered as well, the ITT Technical Institutes may have a program that is convenient for you. ITT Tech is dedicated to teaching technology.
| School | Locations | Degrees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeVry University Online | Online | Bachelor | |
| AIU Online | Online | Associate, Bachelor | |
| The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online Division | Online | Associate, Bachelor, Diploma | |
| Ashworth College | Online | Diploma | |
| Herzing College | Online | Associate, Bachelor |
| School Name | Campus | Highest Award | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo College | Amarillo | Associate | 10,387 |
| Angelina College | Lufkin | Associate | 4,677 |
| Brookhaven College | Farmers Branch | Associate | 11,059 |
| Cedar Valley College | Lancaster | Associate | 4,834 |
| Colin College | Plano | Associate | 20,143 |
| Hardin-Simmons University | Abilene | Doctorate | 2,435 |
| Houston Community College | Houston | Associate | 43,518 |
| Kilgore College | Kilgore | Associate | 5,150 |
| Lamar University | Beaumont | Doctorate | 10,213 |
| Lubbock Christian University | Lubbock | Masters | 1,960 |
| North Lake College | Irving | Associate | 9,835 |
| Saint Edward's University | Austin | Masters | 5,317 |
| Sam Houston State University | Huntsville | Doctorate | 16,496 |
| San Antonio College | San Antonio | Associate | 19,819 |
| Southern Methodist University | Dallas | Doctorate & First Professional | 10,829 |
| St Philips College | San Antonio | Associate | 9,256 |
| Texas A & M University-Commerce | Commerce | Doctorate | 8,813 |
| Texas Christian University | Fort Worth | Masters | 8,668 |
| Texas State Technical College Waco | Waco | Associate | 4,210 |
| Texas State Technical College-West Texas | Sweetwater | Associate | 1,639 |
| Texas State University-San Marcos | San Marcos | Doctorate | 28,121 |
| Texas Tech University | Lubbock | Doctorate & First Professional | 28,260 |
| The University of Texas at Austin | Austin | Doctorate | 50,170 |
| The University of Texas at El Paso | El Paso | Doctorate | 20,154 |
| Tyler Junior College | Tyler | Associate | 8,217 |
| University of Houston | Houston | Doctorate & First Professional | 34,663 |
| University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | Belton | Doctorate | 2,651 |
| University of North Texas | Denton | Doctorate | 34,710 |
| Wade College | Dallas | Associate | 252 |
| West Texas A & M University | Canyon | Doctorate | 7,502 |
The map below shows job statistics for the career type by metro area, for Texas. A table below the map shows job popularity and salaries across the state.
Listed below are metro areas ranked by the popularity of jobs for Graphic Designers relative to the population of the city, as of 2008. Salary data was obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A Relative Popularity of 1.0 means that the city has an average number of the particular job, for its population, compared to the rest of the US. Higher numbers mean proportionally more jobs of that type.| Metro Area | Jobs | Salary (2008) | Relative Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
TEXAS | |||
| Austin | 1,350 | $46,040 | 1.1 |
| Dallas | 3,140 | $48,830 | 0.9 |
| Fort Worth | 1,210 | $43,050 | 0.8 |
| Midland | 80 | $33,830 | 0.8 |
| Waco | 120 | $32,560 | 0.8 |
| San Antonio | 1,060 | $46,960 | 0.8 |
| Amarillo | 110 | $28,920 | 0.7 |
| College Station | 80 | $31,100 | 0.7 |
| Houston | 2,640 | $44,940 | 0.6 |
| El Paso | 240 | $35,590 | 0.6 |
| Abilene | 50 | $36,750 | 0.5 |
| San Angelo | 30 | $33,710 | 0.5 |
| Brownsville | 100 | $32,320 | 0.5 |
| Longview | 70 | $30,310 | 0.5 |
| Lubbock | 80 | $30,280 | 0.4 |
| Killeen | 70 | $34,400 | 0.4 |
| Tyler | 50 | $33,160 | 0.4 |
| Beaumont | 80 | $38,400 | 0.3 |
| McAllen | 100 | $29,360 | 0.3 |
| Corpus Christi | 40 | $34,300 | 0.1 |
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