Best Online Graphic Design Programs in Columbus, NE (2026)

Columbus, Nebraska has 5 accredited schools offering graphic design programs. Columbus has a population of about 24,188. Median household income is $67,212 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 23.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Nebraska, the top-earning graphic design-related role is Art Director at a median $73,270 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Graphic Design Schools to Columbus

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer graphic design programs near Columbus, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Columbus city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Columbus. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Concordia University-Nebraska

Seward, NE 38.7 miles from Columbus BOC Score 54.1
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,415
Avg net price $23,965/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 79%
  • Programs offered: 29

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE 54.7 miles from Columbus BOC Score 69.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 67%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,887
Avg net price $17,747/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 85%
  • Programs offered: 55

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Wayne State College

Wayne, NE 58.4 miles from Columbus BOC Score 49.1
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 54%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $47,075
Avg net price $15,360/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 36

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Union Adventist University

Lincoln, NE 58.5 miles from Columbus BOC Score 43.8
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 56%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,045
Avg net price $23,716/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 82%
  • Programs offered: 23

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Doane University

Crete, NE 60.2 miles from Columbus BOC Score 50.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $53,316
Avg net price $26,364/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 24

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Creighton University

Omaha, NE 74.0 miles from Columbus BOC Score 73.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 78%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $73,911
Avg net price $31,568/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 93%
  • Programs offered: 36

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Bellevue University

Bellevue, NE 77.0 miles from Columbus BOC Score 50.9
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 39%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $61,289
Avg net price $17,550/yr
Tuition
In‑state$9,903
Out‑of‑state$9,903
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 55%
  • Programs offered: 49

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

University of Nebraska at Kearney

Kearney, NE 103.9 miles from Columbus BOC Score 54.4
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 55%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $50,105
Avg net price $16,242/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 22

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Nebraska schools on the Nebraska graphic design page.


Graphic Design Wages Near Columbus

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Nebraska, statewide)
Graphic Designer$56,700
Art Director$73,270
Web and Digital Interface Designer$65,520
Special Effects Artist and Animator$50,830

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Columbus at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population24,188Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$67,212Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+23.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Columbus-Area Cities With Graphic Design Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited graphic design schools are near Columbus, NE?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering graphic design programs near Columbus. The closest is Concordia University-Nebraska in Seward, NE (38.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Southeast Community College Area (57.4 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying graphic design roles in Nebraska?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying graphic design-related roles in Nebraska are: Art Director ($73,270), Web and Digital Interface Designer ($65,520), Graphic Designer ($56,700). Wages for Columbus workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Norfolk instead of Columbus?

Norfolk, NE is 41.5 miles from Columbus and has its own set of local graphic design programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Columbus an affordable place to study graphic design?

Columbus’s median household income of $67,212 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Columbus while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Nebraska public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.


Learn More About Graphic Design Programs

Other Programs Available in Columbus

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Columbus:

Data verified: July 30, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.