MIAD lands #1 Graphic Design school in Wisconsin 2025

In its 2025 rankings, Animation Career Review named the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) the #1 Graphic Design School in Wisconsin and #11 in the Midwest. The college’s Animation and Illustration programs also received top rankings.

Animation Career Review evaluates the academic reputation, employment data, depth and breadth of program faculty, tuition value, and graduation and retention rates both of independent colleges like MIAD and of public universities.

MIAD also ranks among the top 50 private schools and colleges in the United States, and is in the top 8% of colleges nationwide who offer ranked Graphic Design programs.

Frankie Mallerdino, “Cultivata,” 2025.

Communication Design students at MIAD span a range of interests and skills. Olivia Nava ’26 (Communication Design) represented MIAD’s Communication Design program as a summer 2025 intern at Nike, a competitive position awarded to 200 students selected from 70,000 applicants. “It was nice to have my MIAD community there,” says Nava, who joined several MIAD alumni now working at Nike. “I spoke to three alumni while I was there and it was nice to get advice from them and have that community,” says Nava.

Recent alum Frankie Mallerdino ’25 (Communication Design) was named a Gold Foil winner in Graphic Design USA’s 2025 Digital Design Awards for his Senior Exhibition project “Cultivata.” Mallerdino is among the 10% of over 3,000 entries to earn this national distinction. “I’m leaving MIAD with a deeper understanding of how design can shape behavior, not just aesthetics,” says Mallerdino. “The CD program taught me how to turn ideas into systems that are clear, functional and grounded in real world context.”

MIAD’s Communication Design program prepares students to create compelling digital and print work that informs and educates in innovative ways. Communication Design students are part of a versatile global community, while highly successful Communication Design graduates lead their own creative businesses and fill key positions at advertising agencies, design firms and major corporations.

In addition to the rankings in Animation Career Review, MIAD has been named a previous Top Design School by Graphic Design USA.

Learn more about MIAD’s Communication Design program.