Best Online Graphic Design Programs in Kinston, NC (2026)

Kinston, North Carolina has 5 accredited schools offering graphic design programs, with tuition ranging from $2,578 to $14,929 per year for indexed programs. Kinston has a population of about 19,576. Median household income is $35,250 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 16.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In North Carolina, the top-earning graphic design-related role is Web and Digital Interface Designer at a median $97,990 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Graphic Design Schools to Kinston

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer graphic design programs near Kinston, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Kinston 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 Kinston. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Lenoir Community College

Kinston, NC 3.0 miles from Kinston BOC Score 49.9
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 33%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $33,866
Avg net price $4,127/yr
Tuition
In‑state$2,578
Out‑of‑state$8,722
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 36

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Graphic Design Wages Near Kinston

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (North Carolina, statewide)
Graphic Designer$58,450
Art Director$90,000
Web and Digital Interface Designer$97,990
Special Effects Artist and Animator$88,350

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.


Kinston at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population19,576Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$35,250Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+16.1%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Kinston-Area Cities With Graphic Design Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited graphic design schools are near Kinston, NC?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering graphic design programs near Kinston. The closest is Lenoir Community College in Kinston, NC (3.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Mount Olive (27.3 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying graphic design roles in North Carolina?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying graphic design-related roles in North Carolina are: Web and Digital Interface Designer ($97,990), Art Director ($90,000), Special Effects Artist and Animator ($88,350). Wages for Kinston workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Goldsboro instead of Kinston?

Goldsboro, NC is 22.5 miles from Kinston 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 Kinston an affordable place to study graphic design?

Kinston’s median household income of $35,250 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Kinston while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and North Carolina 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 Kinston

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

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.