Bachelor in Graphic Design (Bachelor's)

Tuition is Tuition for the 2024-2025 academic year is $29,500 per year for full-time undergraduate students..

This programme is designed for undergraduate students interested in visual communication and creative problem-solving. You will study design principles, typography, digital media, and visual storytelling using Adobe Creative Cloud. Coursework emphasizes hands-on projects for real campus clients and includes a required internship. Students also gain experience through contributions to ID Magazine and The Simpsonian, and by presenting work at the Research and Creativity Symposium.

Focus areas include Typography, Digital Media, Visual Communication, Creative Problem-Solving, Graphic Design for Real-World Clients, Publication Design.

The programme requires a total of 120 credits, including core courses in design fundamentals, digital media, and portfolio development. Students complete a required internship and participate in practical projects through campus publications and events.

Graduates pursue careers in graphic design, branding, advertising, digital media, and publishing, working for agencies, in-house design teams, or as freelancers.

Applicants must submit a high school transcript and a portfolio of creative work. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required for admission. International students must also provide English proficiency test scores.

The programme totals about 120 credit hours. On-campus, full-time, four-year programme. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 89% of applicants.

Simpson College’s liberal arts tradition provides the foundation for a broad academic offering across on-campus, online and graduate study. Undergraduate students can choose from more than 80 majors, minors, concentrations and pre-professional programs. Academic areas include business and economics, chemistry and physics, life sciences, mathematics and computer science, media and communication, music, theatre arts, teacher education, and political science, sociology and criminal justice. Honors students add interdisciplinary courses and research fellowships, while the Center for Exploratory Studies helps undecided students find an academic direction.

Learning combines theory with practical application through research, study abroad, internships and other immersive experiences. A 13:1 student-teacher ratio supports personalized attention, while faculty and staff assist students with classroom work and career planning. The 85-acre campus sits in the heart of Indianola, a central Iowa city with housing, dining, clubs, performing and creative arts, 22 varsity sports, intramural activities, parks and trails. Des Moines is about 20 minutes away, giving students access to Iowa’s capital city while retaining a residential campus setting.

International students can engage with Simpson’s Office of International Education and Study Abroad through May Term travel courses and semester programs. Simpson offers access to more than 60 ISEP programs in dozens of countries, plus faculty-led courses in locations including Brazil, Italy, Japan, Spain and New Zealand. Study-abroad scholarships include more than 40 Walt Scholarships annually. Horizons supports program applications, passport and health information, and scholarship submissions. Provider deadlines vary, so early planning matters.