Graphic design is an incredibly versatile field — graphic design students may go on to find careers in publishing, marketing, corporate positions, freelance work for artists or venues, or even video game design. Graphic design scholarships exist in many forms, including awards for undergraduate, graduate, and vocational schools. These scholarships are a great way for aspiring graphic design professionals to pay for their degree!
Jump ahead to:
- How to win scholarships for graphic design
- Resources for students studying graphic design
- Frequently asked questions
- Additional scholarship categories to explore
Keep on reading to learn more about the top graphic design scholarships for students looking to break into this rewarding field!
How to win scholarships for graphic design
If you’re applying for graphic design scholarships, you may be required to submit examples of your work that showcase your skills. If this is the case, try to be selective with the pieces that you include in your application. It’s important to showcase only your very best work so that you can put your best foot forward with scholarship committees. Check out our guide on creating a portfolio to learn how to put together a compelling collection of work.
You may also be required to submit an essay as part of your application. As with any scholarship essay, it’s important to demonstrate your passion and goals when applying for graphic design scholarships. Scholarship committees often read thousands of applications, so you’ll want to write an essay that stands out from the crowd.
Fortunately, we have many resources to help you write a top-notch essay. These include guides on writing 250 or 500 word essays, writing an essay about yourself, and writing a winning scholarship essay. You can also take a look at our overview of the most common scholarship essay prompts.
Resources for students studying graphic design
The great thing about studying graphic design is that there are so many resources you can leverage to learn new skills and network with industry professionals. Here are a few professional organizations dedicated to graphic design that you should check out:
American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA)
AIGA is the world’s largest and most well-known professional design association. This organization offers a host of great resources for graphic design students, including job boards, training tutorials, design competitions, and annual conferences. AIGA offers memberships for students and designers of all types and experience levels.
The Society of Illustrators
Illustration is a branch of graphic design focused on drawing. If drawing is your specialty, you should consider joining the Society of Illustrators! This professional association offers art competitions, educational programs, as well as local meet-ups and annual conferences.
Graphic Artists Guild
This organization is dedicated to helping graphic artists and designers build and maintain successful careers. Members benefit from educational and business resources, virtual and in-person social / educational events, and advocacy for fair working conditions.
The following organizations are also dedicated to supporting graphic designers:
- Society for News Design
- International Council of Design
- D&AD
- Art Directors Club
- Society for Experimental Graphic Design
Frequently asked questions about graphic design scholarships
What college should I go to if I want to be a graphic designer?
The Rhode Island School of Design, Yale University, and Art Center College of Design are known for having strong graphic design programs. That being said, every school has its own specialties. It’s always a good idea to research the department of each school to see if it is in line with your interests and graphic design strengths.
Is graphic design a good major?
Graphic design is a highly versatile major that opens the door to many creative careers. It allows for intersections between the corporate world and visual arts, and can be a perfect field of study to both fuel your passion project and pay the bills.
Do graphic designers get paid well?
Payscale.com found the median salary of graphic designers to be $45,939. Salaries vary widely among graphic designers, as some may work for a small startup, while others could work for a huge corporation. Additionally, many graphic designers are freelance, while others are full-time employees. These factors can all change graphic designers’ pay dramatically.
Explore these other scholarship categories
- Top art scholarships
- Top animation scholarships
- Top scholarships for women
- Top scholarships for college students
- Top scholarships for high school seniors
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