ECPI University

Graphic Design Programs Offered at ECPI University

ECPI University appears in our ranking of the Top 8 Online Bachelor’s in Web Design and Development.

ECPI University offers three degree programs that might appeal to students who want to major in graphic design. One is a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Web Design and Development. Students learn how to create and improve the presence of a website on the internet and how to draw traffic to the site. It is available online and on six ECPI campuses in Virginia and South Carolina. Students take 28 credits of core business classes that include Introduction to Business, Applied Project Management, Introduction to Databases and Principles of Cybersecurity. They can also take electives such as Web Interface Design, Mobile App Development, and Logic and Design. The university offers externship opportunities for these majors too.

Through both the North Carolina and Virginia campuses, students can earn an Associate of Science (AS) in Software Development. The South Carolina campuses offer an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in the same subject. Both programs look at the basics of software development, including how to identify the needs of consumers and how to program software that meets their needs. The university requires that students take a class called Career Orientation Seminar, which goes over some of the career paths they can follow and how they can qualify for those jobs.

Also available is a BS in Computer and Information Science with a major in software development. Though some students spend up to four years to earn their degrees, with transfer credits and summer classes, they can graduate in less than three years. Though it includes classes similar to those in the associate’s degree and web design and development programs, it features more classes on computer languages and programs. Students learn how to use those languages with their art skills to create software and programs for others. Design Patterns, Interface Design, and Website Management and Security are some of the available electives.

The university offers a BS in Computer and Information Science with a major in mobile development too. This track focuses on preparing students for using graphic design fundamentals as they learn about computer programs and languages to create apps that people use on their phones and other devices. Students can learn the basics of creating mobile games also. Students can create projects and compete in programs such as the Wicked Cyber Games during their time at the university. This program features a business core and classes such as Software Engineering, Mobile App Development I and II and System Analysis and Design. It is available on the university’s campuses in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and online.

About ECPI University

East Coast Polytechnic is a private college in Virginia that uses the nickname ECPI University. Established in 1966 to train students on working with computers and creating new programs, it had just one campus in Norfolk, Virginia. It changed its name from the ECPI College of Technology to ECPI University in 2011 after the university began offering graduate degree programs. Classes are now available from six colleges, including the College of Culinary Arts and the College of Technology. Students can choose from hybrid programs that require some campus visits, traditional on-campus programs, and fully online programs. ECPI University added new campuses over the years and now allows students to study at 16 locations in Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. The for-profit university has an enrollment of 13,487 students across all those campuses.

ECPI University Accreditation Details

Thanks to accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), ECPI University can award financial aid packages. It only requires that those students file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before the beginning of the next semester. This is the regional accreditation that lets ECPI students take their credits to other schools and transfer their credits back to the university. The university also holds accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET) and the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).

ECPI University Application Requirements

Students interested in ECPI should make an appointment to speak to an academic advisor. The advisor will go over all the graphic design programs and majors in other fields to help the student pick the best one. Advisors can also help students complete the university’s application on the spot. Students can make an appointment online when they fill out an information request form. Appointments are available on all the ECPI campuses.

The university encourages students to meet with an advisor to talk about the requirements of a program and to see if they are ready for college. They may need to take prerequisites over the summer before they enroll in a full program. Students can also click the Apply Now button found on each page of the ECPI University website to apply. The application features just one page that consists of different sections. It asks students about where they went to high school, if they have any college credits, whether they are or were in the military and where they currently live. The university will process the application and notify students of the admissions board decision within a few days.

Tuition and Financial Aid

ECPI University offers affordable tuition rates to help students save on the total cost of attendance. All graphic design majors at the university pay $8,292 per semester and can take a full course load. They also pay a $55 registration fee and a $450 technology fee each semester. Students who work for certain employers in Virginia and neighboring states may qualify for tuition reimbursement. The university lets students enroll and take classes and will not require that they pay their tuition until they get checks from their employers.

Assistance is also available in the form of benefits for veterans through the Veterans Administration and similar benefits for those enlisted in the military. Work-study allows students to hold part-time jobs on the university’s campus and in other locations. To qualify for work-study, the university must have a completed FAFSA from the student. Graphic design majors can also qualify for grants from the Virginia Employment Commission, which helps students go back to school and get training in a job field. ECPI University also offers financial aid for students who need to relocate for school and those who need loans to pay for the costs of a graphic design degree program.