10 Best Online Colleges for a Web Design Degree

Web design, at its heart, is a marriage of technology and creativity. The field is one that combines creative and artistic skills with the technical expertise needed to imagine, build, and maintain amazing websites and apps.

More than that, web design is a field expected to keep growing at a healthy pace. Whether you want to build websites for small businesses or create user experiences for innovation companies, an online degree in web design could be just the thing you’re looking for. Here are the best colleges for online web design degrees.

1. Sessions College

• Narrow focus on design means a specialized education
• Flexible and self-paced learning format
• Personalized mentorship from expert instructors
• Real-world and hands-on projects meant to build a professional portfolio

If you’re looking for one of the best online degrees in web design, Sessions College has you covered. As a fully virtual school focused on creative arts, this school specializes in design education that’s tailored for those pursuing careers in graphic design, web design, and more.

Sessions College offers a range of degree and certificate programs, including a fully online Bachelor’s Degree. Its web design program is also designed to give a well-rounded education with skills across creativity, coding, and user experience.

2. LA Film School

• More creatively focused than other technical degrees
• Includes coursework in real-world design
• Strong networking possibilities in the media, film, and music industries
• Experienced faculty with strong entertainment industry connections

For prospective students looking to focus more on the creative aspects of graphic and web design, LA Film School is a great choice. This virtual university based in the heart of the entertainment industry offers a number of design, animation, and media-related degrees, including a Bachelor’s in Graphic Design.

The coursework includes a number of specific disciplines, including motion design, experiential and user experience design, and branding design. Because of its strong connection with the entertainment industry, LA Film School is also a good choice for those looking to break into the film, music, or social media industries.

3. DeVry University

• Emphasizes practical and hands-on skills
• Both online and on-campus options available
• Offers career-services network for job placement
• Leave with your degree and a professional portfolio

DeVry University is an online school that offers a number of different degree programs, including a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Information Systems with a specialization in Web Development and Administration. This program focuses not just on the creative aspect of web design, but also the back-end development aspect of creating appealing websites.

The program includes education in the protocols and techniques needed to build and maintain website layouts, integrate graphics and apps, and code in languages like JavaScript and HTML. More than that, you’ll also leave with a good understanding of the more technical aspects of web design.

4. Full Sail University

• No traditional application deadlines
• Accelerated pace of learning
• 24/7 access to materials and online resources
• Project-based coursework

Full Sail offers both on-campus and online degree programs in web development, which includes skills across both creative and technical fields. Students can expect to learn about industry-standard tools and get the skills they need to work with modern web stacks.

The university has a couple of unique aspects, including the fact that classes start monthly. Additionally, students won’t need to sign up for classes each semester since the program has a predetermined track. Expect courses in cloud development, application security, and more.

5. Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)

• Offers both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees
• Well-known for its high-quality creative education
• Emphasizes portfolio development
• Access to career networking and internships in the arts space

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is a well-known online design college that offers a user experience design program that was created in collaboration with Google. This makes it a good choice for those looking for a curriculum based on real-world experiences.

SCAD offers both a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts and Master’s of Fine Arts in UX design, which includes coursework in computer science, design thinking, typography, prototyping, and more. The college is also known for giving designers a good base of knowledge in using design as a storytelling tool.

6. Champlain College

• Prepares students for real-world design jobs with project coursework
• Includes both career counseling and job placement support
• Smaller class sizes than other comparable colleges
• Specializations available for either technical or creative sides of web design

The Champlain College Bachelor’s Degree in Web Design and Development provides an integrated approach to the field, with a program that imparts both key technical skills and in-demand soft skills.

General courses include everything from Python programming to Usability in Website and Software Design. Students can also choose to specialize in either Web Design or Web Programming based on whether the creative or the technical side is more appealing to them.

7. Southeastern University

• Covers a broader range of topics than other degrees
• Religious-based education emphasizes ethical design
• Affordable tuition and financial aid available
• Personalized advising from faculty

For those looking for a slightly broader degree, Southeastern University offers a Bachelor’s of Science in Digital Media & Design. While it covers aspects of web design, it also includes coursework in a number of different communication and media disciplines.

Topics covered include digital media production, logo design, graphic design, digital design theory and application, marketing and marketing analytics, and illustration. This means that students can move into a number of different fields, from marketing to graphic design to web development.

8. Bellevue University

• More technically focused on web development
• Well-known student support services
• Flexible, online format is great for working students
• Minor in graphic design available

Bellevue University is an online college based in Nebraska that offers a number of different web design-related programs, including an online Web Development degree that will train users in coding, design, and digital innovation.

The degree is a bit more technically focused, with topics such as DevOps, API Development, and Container Technologies. However, those looking for a more creative flair to their skill set can choose to minor in graphic design for a well-rounded education.

9. Wilmington University

• Accelerated learning options available
• Affordable and flexible educational options
• Emphasizes the technical aspect of web design
• Students will leave with a professional portfolio of work

The Wilmington Bachelor of Science in Web Design is designed to give students both functional design skills and the technical expertise needed to keep up with today’s rapidly changing technological environment. It’s a 100% online course that’s available to those who currently have an Associate Degree or higher.

Concepts and topics in the coursework include Concept Development, User-Centered Design, Interactive Web Design, JavaScript, Adobe InDesign, and more. Additionally, the college also offers accelerated dual-credit options for those looking to turbo-charge their education.

10. Academy of Art University

• Emphasizes industry-standard tools and software
• Open to students from all across the globe
• Real-world, project-based learning includes portfolio creation
• Experienced instructors with connections to the arts

The Academy of Art University is a college focused on the creative arts, including graphic design. However, the college also has a more technically focused program in Interaction & UI/UX Design that’s perfect for those looking to get a degree in web design.

This program focuses on a range of industry-standard tools, such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma, and the latest in AI software. Students will get hands-on experience in both technical and creative skills, including visual design, web development, and motion graphics.