Why Choose Russell Sage’s Graphic + Media Design BFA Program

See how Russell Sage’s Graphic Design degree blends studio practice, collaboration, and real-world experience.

Work on shared projects with students from across Art + Design programs. Participate in collaborative studio experiences that reflect real-world professional teamwork, and collaborate on large-scale creative projects during legendary Art + Design department experiences like Charrette (theme-based creative challenges) and Fire Night.

In Albany and Troy, you’ll be surrounded by galleries, museums, performing arts venues, and events that connect you with local designers and other creative professionals.

From your first year, you can get published in Vernacular (one of our student art magazines), network with visiting designers, and find opportunities to show your work. It all builds toward your senior year, where you’ll work with a faculty mentor on a final capstone project and show it off to the public at the annual BFA Exhibition at the on-campus Opalka Gallery.

Russell Sage College’s Visual Arts programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), 11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21, Reston, VA 20190. 703-437-0700.

A Master of Fine Arts degree or master’s degree in graphic design is the next step for many individuals with a BFA in graphic design who want to continue their studies. Our undergraduate graphic design degree program is also excellent preparation for master’s programs in other fields that align with your goals, like a master’s degree in Art Education from Sage’s Esteves School of Education. 

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BEST Colleges U.S. News & World Report - Top College for Social Mobility 2026

Top 25

For seven consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Russell Sage among the top 25 national universities for social mobility — proof that our students see real returns. Learn more about financial aid at Sage.

BEST Colleges U.S. News & World Report - Top College for Best Value 2026

Best Value

With first-year merit scholarships of $21,000 to $26,000 and one of the lowest private college tuition rates in New York State, Russell Sage ranks #36 nationally for Best Value (U.S. News & World Report 2026).

Investing in the Arts

While Russell Sage is widely recognized for our broad catalog of healthcare programs, we believe a comprehensive education embraces the spectrum of human talent. That is why we are heavily investing in the future of the creative workforce.

“It’s really great to have a gallery related to a school and one that’s accessible. It’s a small school, which means you can go in and intern in the gallery or volunteer in the gallery, meet the artists, which is expanding your network, and work with an actual working community of creative people.”

Leah Rico, MFA
Assistant Professor of Graphic + Media Design

A Creative Hub in The Capital Region

New York’s Capital Region — home to Russell Sage’s two campuses — offers a vibrant arts and design community with galleries, museums, theaters, performance venues, and cultural events.

You’ll also network with Russell Sage College’s entire Art + Design department and members of Albany and Troy’s creative communities at department-sponsored Artist Lectures, Opalka Gallery programs, and other activities.

Explore Troy, NY
  • Pride Parade

Professional Spaces to Create and Showcase Your Design

On-Campus Galleries: Opalka & The Little Gallery

Located on Russell Sage’s Albany campus, Opalka Gallery hosts contemporary design, typography, and media exhibitions from national designers. The Little Gallery in Rathbone Hall is an intimate venue for showcasing work of students, faculty, and alumni.

Art + Design Technology Center

Located on the first floor of the Art + Design building in Albany, the A+D Tech Center has a dedicated Mac lab, professional scanners, and large-format archival printers.

You don’t need to buy thousands of dollars of equipment. You can sit down at high-end Wacom Cintiq interactive pen displays to draw directly onto the screen, or borrow HD video cameras, lighting kits, tripods, and specialized microphones for your media projects. The center also features a 3-D printer, a vacuum former, and a professional laser cutter for precision cutting and etching.

Explore the Tech Center

A Day in the Life of a Graphic Design Major at Russell Sage

Follow Bailey as she takes us through her day as a Graphic + Media Design Major at Russell Sage College.

Affordability, Admissions, and Transferring

Affording a Graphic Design BFA

We understand that cost and value are top concerns when choosing a college. That’s why we work with every student as an individual in the admission process – whether they’re a transfer student or a student coming to us straight out of high school.

What to Know:

  • Russell Sage prioritizes college access and affordability. We have been included on U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges for Social Mobility list for seven consecutive years.
  • 100% of incoming, full-time undergraduates at Russell Sage receive financial aid.
  • Transfer merit scholarships are generous compared to other colleges – starting at $20,000 to $22,000 a year.
  • In many cases, Russell Sage is more affordable than SUNY or other private schools.
  • We want to make every transfer students’ credits count, just one of the reasons we’ve been named to Phi Theta Kappa’s Transfer Honor Roll for seven straight years.

Don’t forget! You have to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid — or FAFSA — to receive a complete financial aid package from any college. 

Transfer to OUr Graphic Design BFA Program

Because graphic design courses are highly sequential, we closely review your portfolio and coursework to award maximum credit. We also maintain articulation agreements with community colleges to ensure your credits transfer smoothly and keep your graduation timeline on track.

Explore Transfer Experience

What Can I Do with a Graphic + Media Design BFA?

Careers with a Graphic + Media Design Degree

A degree in Graphic Design prepares you for careers in visual communication across print, digital, and interactive media. Graduates find roles in agencies, with in-house creative teams, and in emerging fields like user experience design.

Create visual communication for brands, organizations, and campaigns across print and digital platforms, including branding systems, publications, and marketing materials.

Why Russell Sage: Studio-based coursework, collaborative projects, and a year-long capstone help you build a professional portfolio that reflects both concept development and final execution.

Design intuitive, engaging digital experiences for websites, apps, and interactive platforms, combining visual design with user research and testing.

Why Russell Sage: Students develop skills across digital media, design research, and presentation, preparing them to create user-centered designs that are both functional and visually compelling.

Create motion graphics, animation, and multimedia content for digital platforms, advertising, and storytelling.

Why Russell Sage: Students gain experience across multiple media and have earned recognition in competitions like the ADDY Awards for work in animation, video, and cross-platform campaigns.

Work independently or launch your own design practice, taking on projects in branding, digital media, and content creation.

Why Russell Sage: Through courses focused on Professional Practices and portfolio development, you’ll learn how to present your work, communicate with clients, and transition from student to working designer.

“Being able to create is a joy, it’s an adventure. When you begin a project you often don’t know where it will end up. That’s the excitement —not knowing, but trusting. It’s a process. Sure you’re going to fail sometimes, but that’s part of it.”

Adam Hitchcock ’16
Graphic designer in the New York State Comptroller’s Office and an adjunct professor at Sage teaching classes in digital animation

Alumni Career Outcomes

Meet the students and graduates building success with a Graphic + Media BFA degree.

Jacqueline Hilliard ’23 is pursuing a master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction after earning national recognition through a Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship. Her work at Sage — including a capstone project, ADDY Award recognition, and AIGA conference experience — helped prepare her for a career in UX design.

Read more about Jaqueline.

Learn from Our Experienced Faculty

Personal advising, experienced faculty

Art + Design faculty members write and illustrate books, participate in juried art exhibitions and contribute to attention-getting design projects — but you will find that they are supportive teachers, first. Russell Sage College is a small school, so your professors get to know you and your goals. They’ll offer constructive critiques as you grow as a designer and help you to identify fulfilling opportunities and brainstorm creative projects — while you are a student and even after you graduate.

Sean Hovendick
Sean Hovendick
Chair, Department of Visual & Performing Arts // Professor of Graphic + Media Design
hovens@sage.edu
Matthew McElligott
Matthew McElligott
Professor of Graphic + Media Design
mcellm2@sage.edu
Leah Rico
Leah Rico, MFA
Assistant Professor of Graphic + Media Design
ricol@sage.edu

Frequently
Asked Questions – 
Graphic + Media Design BFA

Russell Sage welcomes transfers and works closely with you so you get maximum credit for your past work. However, because Graphic Design courses build progressively from foundational studio work to advanced portfolio development and capstone projects, starting at a four year college is often the most reliable way to keep your graduation timeline on track.

If you do begin at a community college, it is helpful to choose one with articulation agreements with four-year BFA programs. These agreements can make it easier to transfer credits and stay on track with the expected course sequence.

Sage has articulation agreements in place for the following pathways:

  • Fine Arts Digital Design Sequence, AA → Graphic + Media Design, BFA (Columbia-Greene Community College)
  • Computer Graphics and Design, AAS → Graphic + Media Design, BFA (North Country Community College)

Graphic Design majors take a sequence of courses that build skills in typography, image-making, motion, interactive media, and professional design practice. Classes include:

  • Graphic Design – research-driven design methods and professional presentation skills
  • Type and Design – multi-page layout, publication design, and advanced typography across media
  • Imaging – photography, vector graphics, and image-based visual communication
  • Motion Design – video, animation, storytelling, and advanced time-based design
  • Interactive Design – UI/UX design, coding, and non-linear interactive media
  • Digital Production – professional print, pre-press, and production workflows
  • Design Studio – self-directed studio work focused on developing an individual design voice

The curriculum also includes Illustration, Business Practices for Visual Artists, Professional Practices, an Internship, and a Senior Capstone sequence, which bring together research, professional development, and portfolio creation.

Yes. You can begin working right away with a BFA in Graphic Design.

The program prepares you for professional practice through a combination of studio work, technical training, and real-world experience. Courses like Business Practices for Visual Artists and Professional Practices cover contracts, finances, intellectual property, professional standards, and portfolio development.

At Russell Sage, you’ll also complete a Graphic Design Internship, gaining resume-building experience with local employers.

Graduates go on to careers in communication agencies, boutique design firms, or in-house marketing departments. Others work as freelancers or start their own creative businesses. Some students also choose to continue their education with a master’s degree in art, design, or a related field.

Ready to get started?

Got questions or need a hand? Get in touch, we are happy to help!

Contact Admission

Beth Carlin
Assistant Director of Undergraduate Enrollment Management

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