Graphic Design Degree Options in Ontario: Top Colleges and Programs

Ontario offers a dense cluster of respected graphic design programs at public colleges and one specialized university. All are credentialed by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities and align with industry standards (RGD, Adobe Certified).

Degree Programs (4-Year Bachelor of Design)

OCAD University (Toronto)

BDes in Graphic Design – Flagship program; studio-intensive, critical theory, co-op option. Admission: portfolio + academics. ocadu.ca

Advanced Diploma Programs (3-Year, College-Level)

Sheridan College (Oakville)

Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design – Industry gold standard; 14-week co-op; high employment rate. sheridancollege.ca

Humber College (Toronto)

Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design – Strong technical focus (Adobe, Figma, motion); work-integrated learning. humber.ca

Centennial College (Toronto)

Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design – Project-based, portfolio emphasis, agency partnerships. centennialcollege.ca

George Brown College (Toronto)

Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design – Downtown campus; industry mentors; design entrepreneurship stream. georgebrown.ca

Other Notable Options

• Conestoga College (Kitchener) – 3-yr Advanced Diploma; co-op.
• Fanshawe College (London) – 3-yr Advanced Diploma; strong print/packaging.
• Algonquin College (Ottawa) – 3-yr Advanced Diploma; bilingual option.
• Mohawk College (Hamilton) – 3-yr Advanced Diploma; UX/UI focus.

How to Choose

1. Portfolio requirements: OCAD (rigorous), colleges (variable).
2. Co-op / work term: Sheridan, Humber, Conestoga mandate it.
3. Specialization: Motion (Humber), UX (Mohawk), Branding (OCAD), Interactive (Centennial).
4. Location & cost: Toronto colleges = higher rent; suburban = cheaper commute.
5. Accreditation: All are RGD-recognized; OCAD is degree-granting university.

Next Steps

Visit program pages → attend virtual info sessions → request portfolio guidelines → apply via ontariocolleges.ca (colleges) or OUAC (OCAD) by Feb 1 equal consideration deadline.