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What is Commercial and Advertising Art?

The commercial and advertising art degree is a field of study fusing art and business to arrive at creative art or art used for commercial purposes. The Commercial and Advertising Art vocation will typically include professionals designing a variety of advertisements, books, logos, signs, posters, album covers, stationary, billboards, magazines, television, websites, and other displays used to promote a service, product, or idea.  Commercial artists should have a variety of arrows in their quiver to effectively serve the marketplace that should comprise the following: free-hand drawing, painting, graphic design, graphic editing, basic advertising principles, visualization expertise, media knowledge, and animation basics.

Career Summary

MEDIAN SALARY

$50,380

PERCENT ABOVE NATIONAL
INCOME AVERAGE

26.42%

TOTAL SECTOR EMPLOYMENT

167,900

Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types

Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS

2024 Best Commercial and Advertising Art Degree

New York University offers an exciting, immersive and unique academic experience. Their students at their global sites have the opportunity to engage with NYU’s local creative communities. They can also benefit from the added enrichment of viewing the arts and media through a multicultural lens that they provide in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai. There are 19 studies of media that they offer. Some of those are Digital Art and Design, Film and television, Individualized Media Studies, Interactive Media Arts and Music Business. 

Acceptance Rate

16.2

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

TCNJ doesn’t offer Commercial and Advertisement programs, but it provides interdisciplinary training for students who want to pursue their career in business.  The College of New Jersey is a business School. They mold students to become the kind of leaders who can anticipate and pivot toward changing opportunity. Their students are challenged to analyze and find solutions that will create value for a company.

Acceptance Rate

49.28

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Syracuse University’s B.F.A. degree in commercial art molds their students to become future communications Designers. They will learn how to translate information and ideas through a variety of media. They will be good at traditional skills of the hand. They will also develop their ability to think strategically in marketing and design terms. 

Acceptance Rate

44.38

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

Students who want to pursue advertising and design in the digital age will benefit from the Advertising and Digital Design BFA program. This program teaches how to create work that sparks conversations. Students will learn how to use storytelling to shape culture. This institute is already a pioneer in integrating digital and advertising design.  Students at Fashion Institute of Technology who want to apply to their two-year Advertising and Digital design BFA must first complete the two-year Communication Design Foundation AAS program. 

Acceptance Rate

53.89

Student to Faculty Ratio

16:1

Advertising Design at College for Creative Studies teaches advertising strategies that are based on research and consumer insights. These strategies that they teach integrate digital and social media, and content creation and user experience. Students will then find out how innovative approaches to persuasion have redefined the playing field. Students will be partnered in teams then simulate the demands of real-world advertising environments.

Acceptance Rate

43.78

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Under the Department of Art & Design at University at Buffalo, there is a Graphic Design program. This program has an extensive internship requirement that gives their students a critical professional experience. Their graduates are able to utilize #D software for animation, illustration and visualization. They also became a good creator of virtual packaging and product visualizations.

Acceptance Rate

61.08

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Digital Media & Design program is available at Nazareth College. The coursework in this program compliments study in any subject by providing an opportunity to apply your major knowledge to media. The required courses in this minor subject will make the students plan, write, design printed publications, create websites, organize individually and in collaborative groups. The unique feature of this minor is that it combined courses from diverse disciplines.

Acceptance Rate

64.49

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

A concentration in Commercial Design at Lycoming College gives the students the opportunity to explore web design, graphic design, 2-D animation and others. They also put stress to professional internships in the field. Their recent students successfully secured internships at Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. and at Saatchi & Saatchi located in New York City. Students in commercial design are given the trust to take on real projects with real clients.

Acceptance Rate

62.3

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

Students at Drake University who studies commercial advertising, learned how to pair critical thinking with creativity to deliver strategic messages to a targeted audience on behalf of a client. They have two options on where to specialize, it’s either on the creative or account management side of the business. But whatever they choose, they’d still have foundations on both. They designed their teaching techniques to make their students think and create.

Acceptance Rate

67.64

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

University of the Pacific offers a program for Media X. This is where arts and technology intersect in the world of traditional, digital and emerging media. They designed an innovative program that encourages the students to explore the production, marketing and management of media. Graduates of this program are ready for a dynamic workplace where broad skill sets are rewarded.

Acceptance Rate

65.61

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Lewis University provides the technical training required in order to have a successful career as a commercial illustrator. BA program in Illustration develops the wide range of techniques needed for the competitive fields of traditional and digital illustration. The Department of Art & design provides a fine arts approach to visual literacy. Core Fine Arts curriculum allows the students to explore theory and techniques from a wide range of styles.

Acceptance Rate

63.9

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

You will learn how to combine typography and images to communicate ideas in Ohio Northern University’s Graphic Design major. They blended artistic concepts with the technical know-how needed for production. Students will be trained how to research and think creatively and critically. Each student will also enjoy working on a team.

Acceptance Rate

70.15

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

Springfield College is devoted in fostering an inclusive, diverse and respectful campus community. They show it not only in vision but more importantly in practice. Their ways are proven effective since their students at computer graphics and digital arts major have found success in a variety of careers. Their recent graduates are now working as developers, information technology professionals and video editors. 

Acceptance Rate

68.06

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

If you choose to study Visual Arts at Marian University, you will receive the opportunity to study with credentialed PhD and MFA full-time studio faculty. You can have the chance to intern with local and regional arts organizations and advertising firms. Work at the state-of-the-art digital art and design studio. They also maintain small class sizes to ensure individualized faculty attention.

Acceptance Rate

61.54

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

BA in Studio Art program at Arcadia University is for students who want a background in art but prefer to take more courses outside the Department than what a BFA degree allows. This degree program is designed to prepare students for graduate study in either studio art or for a number of career areas in art-related fields. The Art and Design Department recognizes the vital role of international study in understanding art and art history in diverse cultural environments. To that end, they strongly encourage Studio Art majors to take advantage of the study abroad opportunities if possible.

Acceptance Rate

65.67

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Studio Art is available at Dominican University. This program provides a breadth of experience and knowledge in the visual arts. This program is accredited by the National Association for Schools of Art and Design. That verifies that this program can provide a solid background in art, design, and visual studies.

Acceptance Rate

64.34

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Experience and practice that the Studio Art Degree program at Buena Vista University provides is an interdisciplinary pursuit. Students are privileged to be trained by hands-on faculty members who are professional artists. They guarantee that each student will receive solid preparation in technical skill and concept-based decision making. Upon completion of this program, they’ll be ready for professional portfolios.

Acceptance Rate

57.35

Student to Faculty Ratio

8:1

If you want to turn your design visions into reality, then Dordt College can help you turn your dreams into reality. They offer an interactive program in Graphic Design that teaches how to solve design problems. They allow the students to be engaged with clients in helping them achieve their desired outcome. So graphic students will design projects for clients, including designing logos and signage, event posters and brochures and others.

Acceptance Rate

75.46

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

Art Center College of Design offers a program for Commercial Art and Advertising. The Advertising curriculum that they established is designed to provide an immersive experience in cutting-edge creativity within a team environment. They make students collaborate, bridging majors while they are being trained for careers in the fast-changing media environment. Their goal is to produce multimedia communicator that is capable of tailoring messages both for analog and digital platforms alike.

Acceptance Rate

70.84

Student to Faculty Ratio

8:1

School of Visual Arts offers a BFA in Commercial Advertising. This undergraduate program will ground you in the basics including but not limited to digital production, graphic design, and 3D design motion graphics. They aim to broaden the students’ visual literacy and sharpen their voice. School of Visual Arts possess strong ties with the professional world which students can benefit from.

Acceptance Rate

72

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

BA in Advertising and Marketing Communications is available at Webster University. Graduates of this program are able to analyze an organization’s situation using a marketing communication’s perspective. They have acquired the ability to develop strategic multiplatform marketing communication programs. They were taught how to utilize essential industry terminology and principles in presenting and supporting their work.

Acceptance Rate

56.88

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

Anderson University offers Bachelor of Arts in Art with a concentration in Graphic Design. This concentration is designed to teach the students both critical and creative thinking that will prepare them for careers in print and web design. Students will be immersed in the creative process giving attention with everything from basics. Students will be asked to create their own personal branding and develop print as well as digital portfolios.

Acceptance Rate

62.74

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Rochester Institute Technology’s creative hub is the College of Art and Design. It is where design, art and technology intersect. They are proudly offering a wide selection of majors in disciplines that is related to imaging, science and visual communication. They claim that their students await a world of possibilities in this department.

Acceptance Rate

70.73

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Communication Design degree program at Miami University-Oxford has two interrelated goals. First is to teach their students about the practice of design in the professional context and second to give them the basis for their continued personal and creative growth. Students who major at Communication Design are able to generate engaging and inventive outcomes. They also acquired the ability to effectively collaborate and engage with others. 

Acceptance Rate

80.39

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

School of Art Programs at the University of Cincinnati offers a certificate program in Critical Visions. This program is jointly administered by the College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning, and the College of Arts and Sciences. This program is known to have two primary goals. The first is to increase the understanding of students on what is at stake in how we see and second, to develop new artistic and unique media or design forms and practices which intervene in dominant ways of seeing and explaining the world.

Acceptance Rate

76.67

Student to Faculty Ratio

16:1

Top Commercial and Advertising Art Degrees

Prospective students looking to enter the field of commercial art and advertising art have several options to consider. From undergraduate certificate programs to degree programs, a range of programs exist. In fact, students will have more choices than ever as more colleges continue to expand their course offerings to include online learning programs to the art degrees awarded.

Online learning has become the fastest growing segment in higher education as the digital learning modality allows for unique benefits to students and universities. Examples of benefits include greater scheduling flexibility for asynchronous programs and potential cost savings versus the traditional classroom model. To help students better understand program options and quickly connect with accredited colleges and universities, we have created a summary of each below.

Online Certificate in Commercial & Advertising Art

Working professionals and college students can earn a certificate in commercial art and advertising either in class or online from a number of institutions. Either learning modality will provide students with the fundamentals of the trade and prepare for entry-level positions in the field. Certificate programs will vary in length depending on the curricular design and program emphasis. Classroom-based and online certificate programs can take students a few months up to two-years to complete depending on course load and course design. Certificates can be used to enter a new field, expand your skill set, remain competitive in your current field, or help prepare for a job change.

Associate Major in Commercial & Advertising Art

Associate degrees in advertising art and commercial art can be conferred as an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Applied Science (AAS). An associate advertising art majors is a 2-year program for full-time students while part-time students will take longer. AAS and AA programs will meld general education courses with core classes to help provide students with a well-balanced education. Liberal arts courses will vary from program to program but will generally include classes such as communications, English composition, history, philosophy, psychology, and creative writing.

Core classes in commercial and advertising art will often include similar core concepts from school to school. Classes you may find in a course catalog will typically include the following: drawing fundamentals, graphic design, computer design basics, photographic imaging, computer design technology, advertising copywriting, design applications, web development tools, technical illustration, social media, web design, digital print production, illustrative imaging, and multimedia design.

Online Bachelor Degrees in Commercial & Advertising Art

On-site or online bachelor advertising art degrees and commercial art degrees will be conferred as a Bachelor of Science (BS) at most advertising art schools. Bachelor degrees are 4-year programs for full-time students combining liberal arts classes with core curriculum. A bachelors degree is similar in construction to an associates degree with an emphasis on a well-rounded, holistic education. Combining general education with core classes help build integrative thinking skills and a worldly curiosity. The BS degree will often be the highest degree type found from most colleges. Core classes found in an advertising art and commercial art program will typically include the following:

Design Fundamentals Digital Image Manipulation
Observational Drawing Basic Web Animation
Packaging Design Concept Development
Web Scripting Graphic Symbolism
Editorial Illustration Electronic Design
Advertising Design Contemporary Design Issues
Perspective Drawing Design Principles
Image Manipulation Dimensional Design
Digital Color Theory Design and Technology
Life Drawing Graphic Illustration
Digital Illustration Contemporary Typography
Corporate Identity Communication Design

 

Requirements for Advertising Art Majors

In terms of educational requirements, Commercial Art and Advertising degree holders will have typically studied the following courses while in college:

Schools Other Students Requested Information From:

Employment Outlook & Careers in Commercial Art

For advertising art students that earn a college degree in Commercial Art, there are several fields of specialization that one can pursue. The options range from managers, marketing, advertising, promotions specialist, leaders, directors, project specialists, human resources, teachers, editors, public relations, graphic designers, and business administration in the public or private domain to name a few possible career tracks.

Job Growth in Commercial Art Design

The job growth in the greater Commercial and Advertising Art domain are well above average. For example, the rate of job growth for advertising managers is expected to rise 9% through 2024 and for market research analysts a 19% growth rate is expected in advertising art commercial during the same period. Given the broad nature of the Commercial and Advertising Art degree, compensation after graduation can vary greatly from career field to career field given prior experience and geographic location. Related fields include teaching, marketing, artist, managing, leading, public relations, and editing.

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