2024 Best Colleges with Design and Visual Communications Degrees in New York

• Syracuse, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  3,539 reviews

Alum: Syracuse University is medium sized American university located in upstate New York with much to offer. Best known for its sports teams, such as basketball, football and lacrosse, the best part about the school was it's diversity in activities, fields of study and student body. Though the winters are cold, the School of Architecture is ranked top 5 in the country, and the hard work from students and faculty shows. With it's deeply historical roots founded in the fundamentals of architecture, the program prepares students to think critically, develop important skills, solve creatively and curates a network of alumni to set students up for career success. The five-year program offers a variety of exciting classes and allows for students to explore outside of the school of architecture - namely taking business courses at Whitman, learning about colors, spaces and psychology or dip their toes clothing design at the fashion school. Overall, the (orange) juice is worth the squeeze!... Read 3,539 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 59%

• Net price $43,545

• SAT range 1220-1400

• New York, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  1,654 reviews

Sophomore: The Fashion Institute of technology is very welcoming and vibrant. The campus has a palpable creative energy. So far, my journey at FIT has been an incredibly transformative one. This institution has propelled me towards personal and professional growth. The professors at FIT are not only teaching you in classes but they bring in real-world knowledge into the class. They encourage you to think creatively and critically. Since I am an international student, I believe that the campus has a rich and diverse community of students. Interacting with the students from various cultures and backgrounds and helped me broaden my perspectives. FIT offers various opportunities to develop professionally. It has abundance of resources for students even though it’s a college covered in just one block. I believe that my experience over here is extraordinary and I cannot imagine what other opportunities the college has for me ahead!... Read 1,654 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 52%

• Net price $8,637

• SAT range —

• Farmingdale, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.84 out of 5  651 reviews

Senior: I am a senior student at Farmingdale State College, and my major is Architectural Engineering Technology. I followed a good path after getting my Associate Degree at Suffolk County Community College, and now I am excited to receive my Bachelor Degree soon. FSC has been a great experience overall. I have improved myself for my future career in many ways. The education, class times, professor were all great. I would only change the social life status at school. There might me more common gathering places for students to make friends. Other than that, a very good school!... Read 651 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 73%

• Net price $6,007

• SAT range 1010-1190

• Brooklyn, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.56 out of 5  858 reviews

Freshman: I love Pratt so far. There is so much around (ITS BROOKLYN!) and the academics are rigorous without being too overwhelming. I really enjoy how much professors care about the students here. There are amazing facilities as well. One thing I will criticize is that everything costs money! Oh boy is it expensive. If you are coming here and are majoring with a schedule that allows for even a part time job you will be fine. For every cool free opportunity here there is one that costs money for no reason. The Meal plan is ridiculous. The food has a lot of good options but it makes no sense.... Read 858 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 68%

• Net price $46,486

• SAT range 1190-1410

• Valhalla, NY•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  658 reviews

Alum: There are so many opportunities for growth, wonderful and knowledgeable professors, a great sense of community, and exceptional facilities and resources. The Science Tutorial was my best resource for improving my grades. All profs offered office hrs and ensured their students do well. WCC offers refunds on dropped classes before a certain date. Take advantage if the class or professor doesn’t align with them. Take time to read testimonials of your professors before signing up for their class. I am still in contact with many of my professors and they have given me support and encouragement through my current career. It’s a great feeling to know they still want to see you succeed even after you leave the classroom. Diversity on campus is lively! WCC is a large commuter school including HS grads, transfers, and grad students. Pool offered open swim hrs which were fun to go to in between classes. Student life is what you make of it. You can be as active or inactive as you’d like.... Read 658 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $10,536

• SAT range —

• New York, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.58 out of 5  650 reviews

Freshman: My experience at The New School has been great overall. I've learned a lot from the professors, who genuinely care about their students and invest time in ensuring that everyone understands the material. However, I've faced a significant issue with financial aid. I wish the school would provide more assistance to students who are struggling to pay and proactively communicate any potential issues beforehand. Instead, students find out about the issue much later and have to run in circles trying to figure out things, inducing more stress.... Read 650 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 66%

• Net price $43,547

• SAT range 1150-1380

• Johnstown, NY•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  147 reviews

Freshman: The professors really care about their students. They go above and beyond to ensure the students are getting the most of their college experience and the best possible education. The professors are all very knowledgeable and passionate about there fields of education. I truly enjoy FMCC and would highly recommend for anyone to attend college here!... Read 147 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $8,741

• SAT range —

• New York, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.44 out of 5  314 reviews

Senior: I visited New York one day & fell in love. I quickly began getting fueled for the idea to go back to school. Transfering my credits from community college to LIM College was extremely easy because the school counselors & administrators were very helpful. Taking online classes while living in California due to the pandemic making it costly to live in New York, was actually a breeze! I enjoyed meeting my classmates online & learning in the field I have always wanted to be in. I am close to finishing my Bachelor's degree & I am so happy I chose LIM COLLEGE.... Read 314 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 84%

• Net price $38,301

• SAT range 940-1130

• Canandaigua, NY•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  368 reviews

Freshman: At Finger Lakes Community College, there is a great sense of community. There are many activities to do on Campus that will get you to interact with everyone around you and make new friends. The classes are very discussion based and are small groups of students which makes it more personal, the professors actually know your names. There are many support groups like the writing help center, and math tutors. If you are struggling with any class, struggling with situations at home, or just need someone to talk to, FLCC is able to provide it. The college is very verbal about all the weekly events they have going on, there are signs everywhere and it is all posted on the college website. One of my favorite things that we do is bingo, nothings better than sitting with your friends and winning things like gift cards or groceries when you get a bingo. My favorite place to be productive is the bottom floor of the library, it is dead silent and peaceful down there. Overall, great school!... Read 368 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $11,086

• SAT range —

• Albany, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  958 reviews

Graduate Student: Saint rose is a pretty good school depending on your program! If you're business (finance/accounting/marketing), you'll definitely have so much flexibility in scheduling and courses! The professors are super helpful when it comes to course work and other personal matters. Some professors however are strict and pretty mean, but you'll fine that anywhere! There's always events on campus and people around, so the campus is super lively. The diversity isn't the best (it's semi better than other colleges), but in recent years has definitely gotten better! Overall I would recommend saint rose, there's always something to do on campus, people to meet and there's a whole array of clubs and committees to join. The dining is decent, but the food places on campus are definitely great! Highly recommend Camelot Room and Midnight Eats! There's Starbucks which is nice and your student ID gives you free/unlimited use for the CDTA bus! It's great if you're a commuter or a student who likes to go out!... Read 958 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 76%

• Net price $23,474

• SAT range —

• Binghamton, NY•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  512 reviews

Senior: Suny Broome was an exciting college to attend with many benefits. Such as an excellent diverse student body, helpful professors, and smaller class sizes that would help anyone who needs a little bit more attention in certain classes like biology. While some say community colleges aren't that great sunyBroome shows that not to be accurate at all and could compete with any 4-year university in competence and academics in the new york state. I Recommend anyone who isn't sure what they need to do and may need some guidance for their dreams and inspirations for college!... Read 512 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $7,362

• SAT range —

• Sparkill, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.44 out of 5  157 reviews

Freshman: Many students describe their experience at St. Thomas Aquinas College as welcoming and supportive. They praise the faculty for their dedication to teaching and the small student-to-faculty ratio that allows for more personalized attention. The campus is also reported to be beautiful and well-maintained, with modern facilities and technology. Students mention that the workload can be challenging, but they appreciate the valuable skills they are gaining and the opportunities to pursue research, internships, and study abroad programs. The college also offers a range of extracurricular activities, including sports, clubs, and volunteer opportunities. Overall, students at St. Thomas Aquinas College seem to be satisfied with their experience and the education they are receiving. Some reviewers suggest that the cost of tuition and fees can be high, but they believe it is worth the investment in their future.... Read 157 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 89%

• Net price $18,502

• SAT range 970-1190

• Sanborn, NY•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  298 reviews

Freshman: As someone who attends the Niagara Falls Culinary Insititute campus, I have absolutely fallen in love with the school and become obsessed with all my classes. I always feared that there wasn't an education available to me quite like the Culinary Institute of America, but I feel as though NFCI achieves all that and more. For one, all the equipment and classrooms are brand new, always tidy and organized- making it the perfect area to learn. All the chefs are very knowledgeable, no matter their specialization- and I have never learned so much from such a small group of people before. The small class sizes make it extremely easy for one on one conversation with teachers and classmates, as well as problem solving when necessary. The opportunities that are presented here as well absolutely make all the tuition worth it, from galas to buffets and the on-campus restaurant, and I am so eternally grateful that all of this is offered near me.... Read 298 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $6,151

• SAT range —

• Queensbury, NY•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  389 reviews

Sophomore: I enjoy going to Suny Adirondack, as a current student I can say that the classes they offer are very interesting and fulfilling, though I've had a few run ins with faculty and staff and most of my issues were quickly resolved! The fellow students are all nice and pretty easy to get along with. While I do not live on campus, I have been in the dorms a couple times, they're pretty nice! I'm a huge fan of the room set up! As per college food, there's only 2 places to eat, and it's what you would expect from a community college. If you're really looking for something good to eat their Roast Beef sandwich is pretty good, and so are their chicken nuggets. The only downfall of this college is how unaccommodating they are towards their working students, I've butted heads with plenty of the staff in regard to scheduling meeting times after class hours to just get help on a homework assignment, or just to ask for more clarification on a paper we talked about in class. But all in all, I like it... Read 389 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $7,619

• SAT range —

• Buffalo, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.48 out of 5  1,514 reviews

Senior: As a freshman coming into Buffalo State during the time of COVID, I will definitely say that my experience with Buffalo State has been interesting. I have definitely built a community with students that look like me and have similar ways of doing things. Being an education major I have learned that my professors support me to become the best student/teacher that I can possibly be. If you want to become a teacher, Buffalo State University has a great teaching program and gives you amazing hands-on experiences.... Read 1,514 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 85%

• Net price $9,998

• SAT range 930-1160

• Brooklyn, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.36 out of 5  1,011 reviews

Junior: I love the classes are based on the time you are able too! The professors are great at teaching and making sure students are understanding the topic during class. Staff and faculty assisting students where they are suppose to be at wether at registrar, FAFSA office, or cafeteria. The community is full of ambition and great integrity.... Read 1,011 reviews

• grade C

• Acceptance rate 82%

• Net price $5,457

• SAT range 843-1030

• Houghton, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.66 out of 5  405 reviews

Junior: Houghton University is a very nice place to be. It has great professor and great support for its students. However, it has very little to do off of the campus, as the campus is at least 30 minutes away from the nearest town. But if you like nature, this school is big on that! Especially in the fall, it has very beautiful colors. So I'd recommend Houghton if you're looking for a smaller and quieter school, where the people know each other and the professor's care about the people.... Read 405 reviews

• grade C

• Acceptance rate 79%

• Net price $24,502

• SAT range 1080-1290

• New York, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.33 out of 5  774 reviews

Junior: Marymount is a great college to go to if you're looking for a city school experience and want to major in anything in the theatre field. Marymount is such a great place to learn how to be independent and network with all these amazing artists around you. The student body is pretty diverse and most professors are pretty progressive. I would say that sometimes communication is a little slow with certain departments but as long as your persistent and stay on their radar, your questions and concerns will be answered.... Read 774 reviews

• grade C minus

• Acceptance rate 77%

• Net price $31,750

• SAT range 1050-1270

• Binghamton, NY•

• 2 Year (Online)

• grade unavailable

• Acceptance rate —

• Net price —

• SAT range —