This snapshot is built from CollegeWhale’s own scholarship database and planning tools. It shows how many awards are available for Graphic Design majors, how much money is on the table, and what early-career pay and typical college costs can look like.
We currently have 21 Graphic Design verified and active scholarships available in our database. These awards come from professional associations, nonprofit organizations, and private sponsors. We’re actively adding scholarships tied to Graphic Design. Check back often or use our main scholarship search to uncover more awards that fit your profile.
Across these listings, the total advertised award value comes to roughly $147,250. Many scholarships for this major list flexible or renewable award amounts. As we continue to add additional Graphic Design scholarships, this section will show an estimate of the total dollars currently available in our database.
Graduates with a Graphic Design degree commonly see early-career median pay around $61,000 per year, depending on location, employer type, and experience.
Graphic Design ROI Snapshot:
We estimate a typical 4-year net cost of college at about
$108,584.
First-year median earnings are roughly 56% of that total cost. At that pace, it would take about 1.8 years of early-career earnings to “earn back” your degree investment (before taxes and living costs).
The average cost of in-of-state college in the United States is $27,146 per student per year, including books, supplies, and daily living expenses. Out-of-state students pay $45,708 per year. Private, nonprofit university students pay $58,628. According to data provided by educationdata.org as of 8/2025. Our ROI calculation is based on in-state average tuition. Median pay statistics are provided by bls.gov
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The PIM Education Foundation (PIMEF) Scholarships are offered through the Printing Industry Midwest (PIM) Education Foundation, a nonprofit initiative dedicated to strengthening the future workforce of the graphic communications and print industries. These scholarships are designed for motivated students who
Award: Varies Deadline: April Est. Application Time: Med (88 min)
The Type Directors Club (TDC) Beatrice Warde Scholarship is a prestigious award created to support students pursuing studies in typography, graphic design, visual communication, or related design fields. Named in honor of Beatrice Warde—a pioneering scholar, writer, and advocate for
Award: $3,000 Deadline: Rolling Est. Application Time: High (103 min)
The Blue Ridge AIGA Design Continuum Fund Scholarship is a need-based scholarship created to support students from underrepresented, marginalized, and economically disadvantaged backgrounds who are pursuing careers in graphic design, visual communication, or related creative disciplines. Administered by the Blue
Award: $1,000 Deadline: April Est. Application Time: Med (68 min)
The Shutterfly Graphic Design Scholarship is designed to support creative students who are passionate about visual design, digital media, and creative storytelling. Sponsored by Shutterfly, a leading company in personalized photo products and digital design, this scholarship recognizes students who
Award: $1,000 Deadline: April Est. Application Time: Med (68 min)
The Publicis Groupe Scholarship Program supports students pursuing careers in advertising, marketing, communications, media, public relations, digital strategy, creative arts, and related fields. Developed by Publicis Groupe—one of the world’s leading advertising and communications organizations—the scholarship aims to cultivate the
Award: $2,500 Deadline: Rolling Est. Application Time: High (111 min)
The Adobe Creativity Scholarship is a global initiative by Adobe to support young creatives — artists, designers, filmmakers, storytellers, social-impact advocates — who intend to pursue higher education in creative fields. The program recognizes that creativity can be a powerful
Award: $25,000 Deadline: Rolling Est. Application Time: Med (83 min)
The Young Ones Student Awards, administered by The One Club for Creativity, is a prestigious global competition for students and recent graduates in advertising, design, digital communication, typography, motion/film craft, and related creative disciplines. Rather than a traditional cash scholarship,
Award: Varies Deadline: February Est. Application Time: Med (38 min)
The Adobe Design Circle Scholarship is a global initiative by Adobe in partnership with Institute of International Education (IIE), aimed at supporting and mentoring aspiring designers from diverse backgrounds. The program seeks to increase diversity and inclusion within the design
Award: $25,000 Deadline: Rolling Est. Application Time: High (128 min)
The Lounge Lizard Scholarship Program for Web Design supports students who demonstrate passion, creativity, and potential in the areas of web design, digital art, interactive media, or user experience. This scholarship is offered by a professional digital marketing and web
Award: $1,000 Deadline: December Est. Application Time: Med (38 min)
The “Students To Watch” program by Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) recognizes emerging graphic design and visual communication students who demonstrate exceptional creativity, potential, and professional readiness. Selected students are featured in GDUSA magazine and online as part of its annual
Award: Varies Deadline: February Est. Application Time: Med (38 min)
The Creative Outlook Art Scholarship, run by Creative Outlook Magazine, gives high-school and college art students the chance to see their artwork featured in the magazine and earn a scholarship prize. Applicants may submit original artwork in a variety of
Award: $250 Deadline: September Est. Application Time: Low (13 min)
The NAACP x Society Awards Scholarship, part of the NAACP Inspire Initiatives, provides financial support to outstanding students pursuing undergraduate degrees. This scholarship advances equity in educational opportunities and celebrates students pursuing careers in the visual and performing arts. All
Award: $2,000 Deadline: April Est. Application Time: Low (13 min)This comprehensive collection of Graphic Design scholarships and grants for the 2026 - 2027 school years, curated from our regularly updated databases. To explore all available scholarship matches, visit our Scholarship Database and Grant Database, which both offer easy-to-use filters, current deadlines, and detailed eligibility information to help you discover the best Graphic Design scholarship opportunities.
Pursuing a degree in graphic design is a powerful step toward a creative and rewarding career — but tuition, software, and equipment costs can add up quickly. Fortunately, there are many scholarships and grants for graphic design majors that recognize artistic excellence, academic achievement, and innovation in design. These awards come from universities, private organizations, corporations, and professional design associations — many offering thousands of dollars in funding each year.
This guide highlights the most reputable and competitive graphic design scholarships available today. Whether you’re a high school senior preparing to major in design, an undergraduate refining your portfolio, or a graduate student advancing your creative career, you’ll find funding opportunities designed to support your goals and elevate your design education.
Yes. Numerous scholarships are specifically available for graphic design students at both undergraduate and graduate levels. These awards are offered by colleges, private foundations, and design industry organizations to help talented students pursue careers in visual communication, digital media, and interactive design. Recipients are often chosen based on academic performance, artistic skill, creativity, and demonstrated leadership within the design community.
The Adobe Design Achievement Scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate excellence in digital design, illustration, and media arts. To qualify, applicants typically must:
Winners receive awards ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 and gain recognition within the global creative industry through Adobe’s professional design network.
The AIGA Worldstudio Scholarship is one of the most respected awards in the design field. It supports students studying graphic design, illustration, or photography who demonstrate both creative potential and financial need. Applicants must:
Scholarship awards typically range from $2,500 to $5,000, and recipients also gain access to mentorship opportunities with AIGA industry professionals.
Yes, several organizations actively promote women’s representation in the design industry by offering scholarships and fellowships. Examples include:
These programs help close gender gaps in the creative sector and empower women to thrive in leadership and entrepreneurial design roles.
The Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF) awards annual scholarships to students pursuing education in graphic design, printing technology, and graphic communications. Eligibility requirements include:
PGSF awards typically range from $1,000 to $5,000 per year and can be renewed for up to four years, offering consistent support throughout a student’s academic journey.
Yes. High school students planning to major in graphic design can apply for several early-career awards, including:
These scholarships reward creative potential and help students transition smoothly into accredited design programs.
The GDUSA Student Design Awards honor exceptional creative work by college students across the United States. Winners receive:
While not a direct monetary scholarship, this award provides significant industry recognition and can enhance a student’s professional portfolio.
Yes. Many major corporations invest in creative talent through scholarships and design competitions. Notable examples include:
Corporate awards often come with valuable internships, mentorships, or job placement opportunities within leading tech and design companies.
Many art and design schools offer institutional scholarships to attract and retain talented students. Examples include:
Always check your university’s art or design department website for the latest scholarship opportunities and portfolio submission deadlines.
Applying for design scholarships requires both creativity and preparation. To strengthen your applications:
Applying to multiple scholarships — even smaller awards — increases your chances of receiving financial support and industry recognition.
Graphic design scholarships not only ease financial strain but also open doors to mentorships, exhibitions, and professional exposure. By investing time in building a strong portfolio and researching diverse funding options, you can transform your passion for design into a fully supported academic and creative journey.
Reviewed by CollegeWhale Editorial Team on November, 2025. Content is updated regularly to reflect current scholarship deadlines and verified data from official sources.
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