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Best Online Web Design Degree Programs (2026)
Updated September 7, 2026BLS dataCollege ScorecardOn this page
Key takeaway: Web design is the visual-and-interface degree: layout, typography, accessibility, and the front of a site or product. SNHU sells a master’s; Esy lists bachelor’s and master’s specialties separately from web development. Both CIPs include 11.0801. This silo is the designer. Web development is the person who ships the code. User experience is the research-and-testing sibling. In IPEDS 2024, 60 institutions reported bachelor’s-or-higher completions in the CIP codes used for this guide, and 54 of those institutions reported offering distance-education programs (IPEDS 2024). Compare accredited programs below.
Employers hire from a portfolio. A degree without shipped work is a weak credential in this field. The BLS occupation ‘web and digital interface designers’ (SOC 15-1255) is the closest title; ‘web developers’ (15-1254) is the coding neighbor.
These accredited schools offer online programs. Request information to compare programs, costs, and formats.
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:
BOCSCORE
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.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
BOC
Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.
Median annual wages come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. Individual outcomes vary.
Median annual wage for the highest-paying web design careers. Source: BLS OEWS. Chart: Best Online College.View the data behind this chart
Highest-paying web design careers. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025 release)
Occupation
Median annual wage
Software Developers
$135,980
Art Directors
$114,850
Web and Digital Interface Designers
$104,000
Special Effects Artists and Animators
$102,030
Web Developers
$92,650
Commercial and Industrial Designers
$83,910
Graphic Designers
$62,960
Desktop Publishers
$55,290
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Projected job growth (2024-2034) for web design careers. Source: BLS Employment Projections. Chart: Best Online College.View the data behind this chart
Fastest-growing web design careers. Source: BLS Employment Projections (2024-2034)
Occupation
Projected job growth (2024-2034)
Software Developers
15.8%
Web Developers
7.5%
Web and Digital Interface Designers
7.0%
Art Directors
4.2%
Commercial and Industrial Designers
3.2%
Graphic Designers
2.1%
Special Effects Artists and Animators
1.6%
Desktop Publishers
-12.4%
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A web design degree covers visual design, HTML/CSS, interaction design, accessibility, content structure, and a portfolio capstone. Employers hire from a portfolio. A degree without shipped work is a weak credential in this field. The BLS occupation ‘web and digital interface designers’ (SOC 15-1255) is the closest title; ‘web developers’ (15-1254) is the coding neighbor.
Can I earn a web design degree online?
Yes. In IPEDS 2024, 60 institutions reported bachelor’s-or-higher completions in the CIP codes used for this guide, and 54 of those institutions reported offering distance-education programs (IPEDS 2024).
Is web design accredited?
There is no required programmatic accreditor. Institutional accreditation is the academic check. Portfolio quality hires this field, not the CIP code.
What do web design graduates earn?
Web and Digital Interface Designers The national median annual wage was $104,000, with the 10th percentile at $53,750 and the 90th at $201,550 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 128,900 in 2024, projected to grow 7.0 percent through 2034, with 9,100 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Individual outcomes vary by employer, geography, and experience.
