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If you’d like to learn more about the Graphic Design program, we’d love to talk with you.
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Financial Aid Available-
Program Overview
Graphic design is one of the creative fields where AI is changing daily work in real time. Routine production, first-draft concepts, and basic asset generation can now happen in seconds. That hasn't made design skills less valuable; it's made creative thinking and problem-solving the most valuable part of the job. Coming up with the idea, deciding what works, and shaping it into something real is still human work.
That's what the Graphic Design associate degree at Madison College is built to teach. You'll develop a strong foundation in the fundamentals that define every working designer, including typography, illustration, color theory, brand identity, and print and digital production, with hands-on work in industry-standard software and tools. Whether you lean into new tools or lean on traditional craft, you'll graduate with the fundamentals to back up either approach.
Studio courses are built around critique from day one, so you'll graduate knowing how to present your work, defend your decisions, and take feedback the way working professionals do.
Your instructors bring hands-on agency and freelance experience into the classroom, translating what's actually happening in the field into coursework. And you'll leave with a portfolio built for the college's biannual portfolio show, presenting your work to a real audience of Madison-area employers, not just a classroom critique.
Program Details
Students in the Graphic Design program can attend full or part time.
Graphic Design classes are offered at the Madison College Truax campus.
Your Advantages at Madison College
- Learn from faculty with real industry experience in graphic design and brand strategy.
- Build both timeless craft skills (typography, color theory, illustration, production) and current ones (AI-assisted workflows, digital brand systems).
- Join American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and start building your professional network before you graduate.
- Show your work to Madison-area employers at Madison College's portfolio show: a real professional debut, not a class critique.
- Already ahead: Crossover coursework in UX/IxD means interested Graphic Design students get a head start on the UX/UI Technical Diploma, which can be completed in about a year on top of your associate degree.
Careers in Graphic Design
Prospective employers throughout Madison consider Madison College Graphic Design graduates top candidates. Associate degree graduates are ready for a range of professional positions in the field of graphic design, including:
- Graphic Designer
- Brand / Visual Identity Designer
- Art Director
- Production Artist
- Illustrator
- Web/Interactive Designer
Coursework also builds the business skills — pricing, contracts, client management — to freelance independently.
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Curriculum and Experience
Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2026-2027 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.
Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:
- Progress toward your specific requirements
- Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements
If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.
First SemesterSecond SemesterThird SemesterFourth SemesterElectives3 creditsRecommended Elective Course OptionsPrint MediaIllustrationWeb DesignDigital DesignUX DesignBusiness of Design -
Admission
To Apply
Earning a degree is a great way to advance your career development opportunities, so apply today!
If you are an international student and want to apply to Madison College or transfer your F-1 student visa here, check program availability and complete the International Admission Process.Application Dates
Summer 2026
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is June 15, 2026
Fall 2026
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is August 31, 2026
Spring 2027
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is January 15, 2027
Admission Requirements
All materials must be submitted by the application deadline.
1. Admission Application
The online application allows you to save your work as you complete it and ensures fast, secure delivery to our office.
2. Education Completion
Submit official transcripts from the institutions you attended that indicate one of the following:
- High school completion (current high school seniors may submit an in-progress transcript)
- GED/HSED completion
- College transcript or Madison College experience showing:
- Completion of an associate degree or higher, or
- At least 30 credits completed with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4-point scale
- The credits must be completed at a single college and cannot be combined with other transcripts
- Any transfer credit listed on a transcript does not count toward the 30-credit minimum
- Credits completed at Madison College are evaluated and do not require a transcript
All high school and/or college transcripts are recommended to be submitted for Credit for Prior Learning evaluation.
Additional Notes
Individual courses may have prerequisites to enroll. Admission into a certificate or waiting list does not guarantee eligibility to enroll in courses. See the Curriculum section for the list of courses for the certificate.
After Acceptance
Once you are admitted into your program, review the Start of Semester Checklist to prepare for your first day of classes at Madison College.
Questions?
Contact the Enrollment Center at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
Get Started!
Apply to Madison College and take the first step towards your Graphic Design career.
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Transfer Opportunities
Wisconsin Private Schools
Outlines guaranteed admissions and efficient transfer for Madison College students who complete AAA in Graphic Design transferring to Edgewood University Graphic Design major.Out-of-State Schools
Franklin University will guarantee acceptance of Madison College graduates with an AA, AS, or AAS. Madison College graduates will have junior standing at Franklin University and may transfer up to 94 additional credits toward their baccalaureate degree. -
Career Outcomes
After completing the Graphic Design program at Madison Area Technical College, you will be able to:
- Implement creative solutions from concept through completion.
- Apply the principles of design to develop strategic marketing and communication products and services.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the use of design software, tools and technology.
- Apply effective legal and ethical business practices and project management skills.
- Communicate artwork rationale in formal and informal settings.
- Create innovative visual solutions for a variety of design, advertising, media and artistic applications.
Graduates are fully prepared for the graphic design process including the assessment of client needs, solutions development and analysis, collaboration, concept design, client consultation, pre-press and production. These are some of the aspects of creating graphic designs and illustrations to effectively communicate clients’ messages to their target audiences.
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Graduate Summary
Graduate Report Summary Overview
2023 2024 2025 Number of Program Graduates 34 50 26 Number of Surveys Sent 34 50 26 Number of Surveys Returned 27 36 14 Percent of Surveys Returned Available for Employment 25 34 11 Percent Available for Employment 92.6% 94.4% 78.6% Not in Labor Market Percent Not in Labor Market 7.4% 5.6% 14.3% Available for Employment
2023 2024 2025 Graduates Employed 17 24 8 Percent of Graduates Employed 68.0% 70.6% 72.7% Employed in Related Occupation 13 15 3 Percent Employed in Related Occupation 76.5% 62.5% 37.5% Employed in Unrelated Occupation 4 9 5 Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 23.5% 37.5% 62.5% Employed - No Response 0 0 0 Percent Employed - No Response 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Seeking Employment 8 10 3 Percent Seeking Employment 32.0% 29.4% 27.3% Reaction To Training at Madison College
2023 2024 2025 Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.5 3.5 3.6 Number of Satisfaction Responses 27 35 14 Very Satisfied (4) 14 19 10 Percent Very Satisfied 51.9% 54.3% 71.4% Satisfied (3) 13 16 3 Percent Satisfied 48.1% 45.7% 21.4% Unsatisfied (2) 0 0 0 Percent Unsatisfied 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Very Unsatisfied (1) Percent Very Unsatisfied 0.0% 0.0% 7.1% Primary Reason for Attending Madison College
2023 2024 2025 Number of Primary Reason Responses 27 36 14 Preparation for Getting a Job Percent Preparation for Getting a Job Career Change Percent Career Change Improvement of Existing Skills Percent Improvement of Existing Skills Preparation for Further Education Percent Preparation for Further Education Personal Interest Percent Personal Interest Other Percent Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% When Employment was Obtained
2023 2024 2025 Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 17 24 8 Before Enrollment 4 2 2 Percent Before Enrollment 23.5% 8.3% 25.0% While Attending the College 3 7 3 Percent While Attending the College 17.6% 29.2% 37.5% After Training at the College 10 15 3 Percent After Training at the College 58.8% 62.5% 37.5% Location of Employment (related and unrelated)
2023 2024 2025 Number of Employment Location Responses 17 24 9 In College District 14 19 5 Percent In College District 82.4% 79.2% 55.6% In Wisconsin, Not in District 0 3 2 Percent of In Wisconsin 0.0% 12.5% 22.2% Outside of Wisconsin 3 2 1 Percent Outside Wisconsin 17.6% 8.3% 11.1% Employer Location Unknown 0 0 1 Percent Location Unknown 0.0% 0.0% 11.1% Salary Trend 2023 2024 2025 Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 8 7 2 Average Monthly Wage $5,127 $3,712 $4,049 Average Hourly Wage $29.81 $21.58 $23.54 Average Work Hours per Week 39.8 39.4 40.0 Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count 3 5 1 Average Hourly Wage $24.00 $16.50 $43.59 Average Work Hours per Week 25.0 13.5 15.0 -
Graduate Employers
Graduate Employers for academic year: 2025 Employer(s) Job Title City* State** Positions Delicious Digital Designs Business Owner/Graphic Artist Globe AZ Dominican Sisters Of Sinsinawa Communication & Graphic Design Specialist Sinsinawa Signalfire Graphic Design & Media Creator Delavan * - Only cities outside of Madison will display.
** - Only states outside of Wisconsin will display.
*** - If you have a position to post, please contact Career and Employment Services at jobpostings@madisoncollege.edu
