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College of Design
Students work on 3-d project in Leazar Hall

About

Welcome to one of the nation's rising public, multidisciplinary design colleges.

The World Needs Good Design

Design touches everything from the tech in your pocket to the parks in your city. And good design can change lives.

At NC State’s College of Design, we bring the value of good design to the world. Our students prepare for rewarding careers that make a positive impact — environmentally, socially and economically.

Here, we gather creative minds from around the world and task them with bettering our world. Because to a designer, every problem is just waiting for a creative solution.

Explore the college

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Academics

Explore our breadth of undergraduate and graduate programs, which prepare students to bring design excellence to the world.
Art+Design student in studio

Admissions

Start your application to the College of Design — or find information about financial aid and portfolio requirements for studio-based majors.
Architecture class process sketch

Research

Discover how our faculty and students are expanding the frontiers of design and forging multidisciplinary connections.
Students posing together in front of critique wall

Student Enrichment

Learn how we engage with the world beyond the studio, from study abroad to the largest student-run fashion show in the Southeast.

#38 Best College of Design in America

We’re among the best design colleges in the country, according to Niche.com’s 2024 rankings.

See more rankings and honors

Designed to Serve

As part of a land-grant university, our college does more. Outreach is built into our curriculum. We design solutions for public schools, green spaces, small businesses and historic sites.

Our students work with interdisciplinary teams on real-word design problems, building a professional portfolio while still in the studio.

Most of our alumni stay local, enriching an already strong network of peers and professionals. We reach out, while striving ahead.

Support our community

Exterior of Brooks Hall

Alumni

Connect with fellow design graduates, catch up on their latest successes and come back to campus.
Design student working at her laptop

Giving

Join our campaign to Think and Do the Extraordinary — and support the next generation of design professionals.
Student works on a project in the woodworking lab

A Creative Community

Sketches. Critiques. Scale models. Galleries. Runways.

Our students, faculty and alumni are always up to something inspiring. Connect with us to learn about the latest exhibits, research and college events.

ID Project David Edison