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2023 Best Online Master's Degrees in Web Design

By OnlineU Staff Writers | Updated 7/31/2023

ON THIS PAGE

Overview Courses Concentrations Careers Worth It?
2023 Best Online Master's Degrees in Web Design Badge

An online master's degree in web design can help IT professionals take their careers to new levels as front-end, web, and UX designers. Program coursework helps students develop the advanced, in-demand skills necessary to create functional and visually appealing digital products so organizations can remain competitive and attract new customers. Students can typically complete these degrees within two years or less of full-time study. While this is a comprehensive list of programs, our list of the most affordable online master's degrees in web design has options that help online master's degree-seekers keep finances in mind to minimize excessive student debt.

View our methodology for more details about our list, or learn more about OnlineU.
2023 Best Online Master's Degrees in Web Design Badge
Find an Online Degree:

Online Web Design Master's Degrees You May Be Interested In

Southern New Hampshire University Online

Annual Tuition: $11,286

1 Programs (view all)

Learn More

List Of Accredited Online Web Design Schools

School Online Enrollment Annual Tuition
Southern New Hampshire University Online 19,526 19,526 $9,600 $9,600
University of Florida 3,401 $28,659
Wilmington University 3,291 $11,480
University of Denver 2,407 $52,515
Academy of Art University 1,298 $23,412
Illinois Institute of Technology 255 $49,280
Minneapolis College of Art and Design 54 $40,396

Southern New Hampshire University Online

  • Annual Tuition: $9,600
  • Locations: Manchester (NH)
  • Accreditation: NECHE

New England's Southern New Hampshire University Online (SNHU) is a public institution known for its graduate-level online programming that caters to working professionals seeking career advancement. It offers an online Master of Science in Information Technology - Web Design focusing on website design and interactive development, web applications, and methods for driving website traffic. This 36-credit program may be completed in as few as 15 months if attending full time.

SNHU delivers its asynchronous online programming via the Brightspace learning management system so students can log in anytime to receive instruction. Some online master's degree in IT - Web Design courses may include Website Construction, Interface Design for Websites, and Website Optimization. As part of the program curriculum, students may participate in Graduate Experiential Learning through activities, such as cyber competitions, analyzing real-world data, or learning cloud computing.

University of Florida

  • Annual Tuition: $28,659
  • Locations: Gainesville (FL)
  • Accreditation: SACS COC

The University of Florida (UF) in Gainsville is a public institution offering an online Master of Arts in Mass Communication - Web Design and Online Communication through the College of Journalism and Communication. The program's unique "industry-advancing" approach incorporates visual design, communication theory, and full-stack development. This is a 34-credit program that full-time students may complete in as few as 16 months. Potential careers include brand management, graphic design, full-stack web development, and UX design and management.

UF's distance learners use Canvas to access online coursework and instruction. Graduate students in the online master's degree program in web design and online communication take classes such as Mass Communication Theory, Corporate and Brand Identity on the Web, and Digital Imagery in Web Design. Graduating requires completing a capstone project.

Wilmington University

  • Annual Tuition: $11,480
  • Locations: New Castle (DE)
  • Accreditation: MSCHE

Delaware's Wilmington University (WU) in New Castle is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Science in Information Systems Technologies - Web Design (MIS-IST Web Design) that can help online graduate students learn and apply current web design operations and tools and evaluate and apply web design quality standards. Students complete 33 credits to graduate. Courses start every eight weeks, so full-time students can finish in as little as a year. This program can help students prepare for leadership roles within the IT field.

WU provides online learners access to Canvas to complete assignments and participate in classes. The online web design curriculum courses include Server-Side Web Development, Markup Languages Advanced Authoring, and Database/Web Design Integration. Completing a capstone is also required to graduate.

University of Denver

  • Annual Tuition: $52,515
  • Locations: Denver (CO)
  • Accreditation: HLC

Colorado's University of Denver (UD) is a private, nonprofit institution with an online Master of Science in Information and Communications Technology - Web Design and Development to help students prepare for jobs as systems administrators, configuration managers, technical architects, and UI/UX designers. Graduating requires completing 48 quarter credits — 12 courses — taking as few as 18 months of full-time study. Graduate students are invited to take a course before officially applying to get started as quickly as possible.

Canvas is UD's LMS, providing a secure online environment for distance learning. Online web design and development courses include Web Enabled Information Systems, Website Design and Management, Advanced Website Design and Management, and Usability Design for Websites. UD also offers online career services to help students prepare for career advancement opportunities.

Academy of Art University

  • Annual Tuition: $23,412
  • Locations: San Francisco (CA)
  • Accreditation: WSCUC

Cosmopolitan San Francisco's Academy of Art University (AAU) is a private, for-profit institution offering a rigorous online Master of Arts in Interaction and UI/UX Design for graduate candidates interested in web design and new media careers. It generally takes full-time students four years to finish this 36-credit program, culminating in submitting a final project portfolio.

AAU delivers its online programming asynchronously via its digital learning platform and synchronously via Zoom. Online graduate students in the interaction and UI/UX design master's degree program enroll in courses such as Motion Graphics and Video, Visual Design and Typography, Copywriting, and History of Graphic Design. They must complete a portfolio of work to graduate. AAU offers online academic support and several opportunities for distance learners to engage with each other virtually.

Illinois Institute of Technology

  • Annual Tuition: $49,280
  • Locations: Chicago (IL)
  • Accreditation: HLC

The Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT, also known as Illinois Tech) in Chicago is a private nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Information Technology and Management - Web Design and Application Development that guarantees hands-on experience through research projects, internships, competitions, and other activities through the Illinois Tech Elevate program. It takes full-time students about two years to complete 30 credits and graduate with their degrees. Students can also work on cutting-edge, industry-sponsored projects to gain practical experience and apply newly acquired skills.

IIT uses Blackboard to deliver its online coursework and instruction to distance learners. Online web design and application development courses include Web Microservices and APIs, Service-Oriented Architectures, and Back-End Development.

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

  • Annual Tuition: $40,396
  • Locations: Minneapolis (MN)
  • Accreditation: HLC

The Midwest's Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) in Minnesota is a private, nonprofit institution with an online Master of Arts in Graphic and Web Design designed for graduate-level students and working adults seeking career advancement. Graduating requires completing 30 credits, generally taking two years of full-time study. Courses last 16 weeks, and full-time students take two courses simultaneously during the fall and spring semesters. This online master's degree program culminates in a design portfolio.

MCAD delivers its online programming via Canvas. Graphic and web design distance learners take courses such as Experimental Interaction (UX), Design in Context (Web Development), Typography (Web Development), and Motion Design. Students receive direct feedback from industry professionals during mid-program and final reviews.

Find an Online Degree:

Can I Do a Master's in Web Design?

A master of science in web design teaches you how to build websites through both technical and non-technical skills at varying levels of complexity. You'll discover the nuances of creating mobile applications, interactive websites, and all the visual design components that make up these digital products. In order to learn web design, you'll also need to understand various methods of computer programming and web development.

Web master's degrees require between 30 and 60 course credits, which will include everything from HTML to JavaScript, as well as more creative classes covering graphic design and digital product design. Most online web design degrees at the master's level take between one and three years to complete, depending on your schedule. In order to be accepted into such a program, you'll need to have completed a bachelor's degree in areas such as computer science, web design, or information technology.

Can I Get a Web Design Degree Online?

There are a wide variety of schools for web design that offer online programs. They can be found at every level, from associate to bachelor's and even graduate degrees, as the rankings list above illustrates.

Students finish their online coursework through a learning management system (LMS), which facilitates tests, homework, discussion forums, and classroom projects. Your school's LMS may also offer forums and chat rooms for live discussions between your peers and teachers. For MS web design classes, you're required to use professional software, such as Adobe Dreamweaver, GIMP, or Google Web Designer. You'll also be asked to complete projects by developing your own websites.

Common Courses for a Web Design Major

Before you apply for college, you may want to know what coursework lies ahead of you. The curriculum for a master's in design online combines several subjects to help students understand the creative and technical processes of website design and development. This involves teaching a combination of software and design programs alongside courses in product development and graphic design. Information technology and data communication courses are also included in the curriculum.

Let's take a look at some core courses you'll encounter in a web design master's program:

User Experience (UX) Theory and Research

In this course, you'll learn how User Experience Design (UED) is driven by Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) by taking practical tools and using them to build web properties. You'll learn processes, such as user flows, information architecture, usability testing, and optimization techniques.

Business Data Communication and Networks

This course teaches data communication through the lens of network security, management concepts, wireless networks, signal processing, and IoT areas. Through these aspects of data communication, you'll be skilled at creating more user-friendly websites.

UX/UI Design Principles

UX and User Interface (UI) make websites more appealing to specific audiences. UX and UI design principles look at the visual, creative, and conceptual components of website building, alongside the accessibility of page layouts, which make for an appealing browsing experience.

Social Media Advertising for Conversions

Social media is often directly tied to web design by click-through-rates and customer acquisition. Courses in social media advertising for conversions teach you how to develop social media campaigns by utilizing design and marketing techniques.

Interactive Design for Mobile

To start the interactive design class for mobile, you'll get a crash course in interactive concepts for mobile devices, such as how dialogue plays a part in the people and product relationship. Then you'll get hands-on experience designing actual mobile applications for iOS and Android.

Web Design Concentrations

If you want to expand on the required coursework that many web design colleges offer, you may be able to choose a concentration to go along with your degree.

Much of web design falls on the creative side; therefore, taking on a concentration in graphic design or multimedia production may help you better understand the aesthetics of digital products and give you more skills for developing creative assets.

Or you may want to further explore mobile applications through a mobile development concentration, which looks at the software and application development for tablets, smartphones, and smartwatches.

What Can You Do With a Web Design Degree?

By earning a degree from a web design graduate school, you'll be eligible for careers in development, design, management, and even marketing.

Your job path ultimately depends on what aspect of web design you identify with most. If you prefer the technical side of HTML or JavaScript, you may pursue a career in web development, which relies heavily on coding languages. Or, perhaps your affinities lie with website aesthetics. In this case, graphic design may be a preferable path.

In general, web design careers offer average to slightly above-average salaries and job growth projections. No need to worry about whether your online degree is respected by employers, as most hiring managers consider them as equal to traditional degree programs.

As we take a closer look at the available job roles for graduates of a master's in web design, it's important to keep in mind that educational requirements in this field vary from employer to employer. Some career paths may only require a high school diploma or bachelor's degree at the entry-level. However, a master's can potentially position you among the highest earners in that role, or it can give you a leg up into a management position.

Digital Designers

Annual Median Salary:  $77,200
Job Growth Rate: 13%

Digital designers are all about visual communication with a well-rounded approach. They create the text, images, and videos that appear on a website while adding sound and other audio elements. They work on interface layouts and functionality as well to ensure a properly functioning website. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the highest 10% of earners in this role earn more than $146,000 each year.

Graphic Designers

Annual Median Salary:  $50,710
Job Growth Rate: 3%

Graphic designers are artists that create compelling visual works on digital platforms. Their projects can be used in advertising campaigns, websites, social media posts, or product marketing materials. Some graphic designers create works by hand, while others use computer software programs. Although the role's salary and job outlook fall slightly below national averages, the highest 10% of earners make an annual wage of $98,260.

Web Administrators

Annual Median Salary:  $95,270
Job Growth Rate: 5-10%

The job of web administrators is to oversee the design, deployment, and maintenance of website projects. They may fix page errors, update important links, and add firewall security measures. In general, they're meant to ensure an effective and efficient browsing experience for users. They often earn salaries near six figures and have a comfortable job growth projection.

Search Marketing Strategists

Annual Median Salary:  $63,920
Job Growth Rate: 15%+

Search marketing strategists research and analyze browsing data from consumers in order to increase engagement for websites. They look closely at search algorithms from engines like Google to create better marketing strategies. Search marketing strategists may also be called SEO strategists or internet marketers.

Is Web Designer a Good Career Choice?

According to CareerExplorer's survey of professionals in the field, web designers have a medium job satisfaction rating of 3.3 out of 5 stars. However, web design remains a good career choice for those with an interest in how consumers interact with the internet. In all the jobs listed above, you'll look at how to create better experiences for users on web products — whether that's through creative design, user interfaces, or marketing techniques.

Is a Master's in Web Design Worth It?

Entering into a web design graduate program may be worth the investment of time and money for several reasons. Below you'll find some pros and cons for earning a master's in web design:

Potential Benefits

Mobile application design is growing in demand. According to 2022 survey data from Top Design Firms, 48% of small businesses have their own app, as compared to 32% in 2021. In fact, graduates will see a positive job outlook in many roles within this field thanks to the growing demand for web products as a whole.

Web design is a massive industry. Recent statistics from IBISWorld show that web design services are an $11 billion industry in the United States alone.

You can easily enter into consulting or freelance work. Many companies want a simple website built without the hassle of a full-service creative agency. As a freelancer, you'll be able to use your skills to create your own small business without relying on outside employment.

Potential Drawbacks

Your education continues long after earning a degree. With constant software updates, new technologies, and changing design trends, you'll always be required to re-learn the latest and most effective strategies for web design.

Some related careers, such as graphic design, do not have a positive job outlook. Graphic designers are expected to see an underwhelming 3% job growth from 2020 to 2030.

Not every project will peak your interest. Website designers work for clients in every industry, from finance to health care. In many cases, projects you encounter will be fairly simple without the added benefit of challenging your skills or peaking your interest.

Can I Do a Master's in Web Design?

A master of science in web design teaches you how to build websites through both technical and non-technical skills at varying levels of complexity. You'll discover the nuances of creating mobile applications, interactive websites, and all the visual design components that make up these digital products. In order to learn web design, you'll also need to understand various methods of computer programming and web development.

Web master's degrees require between 30 and 60 course credits, which will include everything from HTML to JavaScript, as well as more creative classes covering graphic design and digital product design. Most online web design degrees at the master's level take between one and three years to complete, depending on your schedule. In order to be accepted into such a program, you'll need to have completed a bachelor's degree in areas such as computer science, web design, or information technology.

Can I Get a Web Design Degree Online?

There are a wide variety of schools for web design that offer online programs. They can be found at every level, from associate to bachelor's and even graduate degrees, as the rankings list above illustrates.

Students finish their online coursework through a learning management system (LMS), which facilitates tests, homework, discussion forums, and classroom projects. Your school's LMS may also offer forums and chat rooms for live discussions between your peers and teachers. For MS web design classes, you're required to use professional software, such as Adobe Dreamweaver, GIMP, or Google Web Designer. You'll also be asked to complete projects by developing your own websites.

Common Courses for a Web Design Major

Before you apply for college, you may want to know what coursework lies ahead of you. The curriculum for a master's in design online combines several subjects to help students understand the creative and technical processes of website design and development. This involves teaching a combination of software and design programs alongside courses in product development and graphic design. Information technology and data communication courses are also included in the curriculum.

Let's take a look at some core courses you'll encounter in a web design master's program:

User Experience (UX) Theory and Research

In this course, you'll learn how User Experience Design (UED) is driven by Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) by taking practical tools and using them to build web properties. You'll learn processes, such as user flows, information architecture, usability testing, and optimization techniques.

Business Data Communication and Networks

This course teaches data communication through the lens of network security, management concepts, wireless networks, signal processing, and IoT areas. Through these aspects of data communication, you'll be skilled at creating more user-friendly websites.

UX/UI Design Principles

UX and User Interface (UI) make websites more appealing to specific audiences. UX and UI design principles look at the visual, creative, and conceptual components of website building, alongside the accessibility of page layouts, which make for an appealing browsing experience.

Social Media Advertising for Conversions

Social media is often directly tied to web design by click-through-rates and customer acquisition. Courses in social media advertising for conversions teach you how to develop social media campaigns by utilizing design and marketing techniques.

Interactive Design for Mobile

To start the interactive design class for mobile, you'll get a crash course in interactive concepts for mobile devices, such as how dialogue plays a part in the people and product relationship. Then you'll get hands-on experience designing actual mobile applications for iOS and Android.

Web Design Concentrations

If you want to expand on the required coursework that many web design colleges offer, you may be able to choose a concentration to go along with your degree.

Much of web design falls on the creative side; therefore, taking on a concentration in graphic design or multimedia production may help you better understand the aesthetics of digital products and give you more skills for developing creative assets.

Or you may want to further explore mobile applications through a mobile development concentration, which looks at the software and application development for tablets, smartphones, and smartwatches.

What Can You Do With a Web Design Degree?

By earning a degree from a web design graduate school, you'll be eligible for careers in development, design, management, and even marketing.

Your job path ultimately depends on what aspect of web design you identify with most. If you prefer the technical side of HTML or JavaScript, you may pursue a career in web development, which relies heavily on coding languages. Or, perhaps your affinities lie with website aesthetics. In this case, graphic design may be a preferable path.

In general, web design careers offer average to slightly above-average salaries and job growth projections. No need to worry about whether your online degree is respected by employers, as most hiring managers consider them as equal to traditional degree programs.

As we take a closer look at the available job roles for graduates of a master's in web design, it's important to keep in mind that educational requirements in this field vary from employer to employer. Some career paths may only require a high school diploma or bachelor's degree at the entry-level. However, a master's can potentially position you among the highest earners in that role, or it can give you a leg up into a management position.

Digital Designers

Annual Median Salary:  $77,200
Job Growth Rate: 13%

Digital designers are all about visual communication with a well-rounded approach. They create the text, images, and videos that appear on a website while adding sound and other audio elements. They work on interface layouts and functionality as well to ensure a properly functioning website. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the highest 10% of earners in this role earn more than $146,000 each year.

Graphic Designers

Annual Median Salary:  $50,710
Job Growth Rate: 3%

Graphic designers are artists that create compelling visual works on digital platforms. Their projects can be used in advertising campaigns, websites, social media posts, or product marketing materials. Some graphic designers create works by hand, while others use computer software programs. Although the role's salary and job outlook fall slightly below national averages, the highest 10% of earners make an annual wage of $98,260.

Web Administrators

Annual Median Salary:  $95,270
Job Growth Rate: 5-10%

The job of web administrators is to oversee the design, deployment, and maintenance of website projects. They may fix page errors, update important links, and add firewall security measures. In general, they're meant to ensure an effective and efficient browsing experience for users. They often earn salaries near six figures and have a comfortable job growth projection.

Search Marketing Strategists

Annual Median Salary:  $63,920
Job Growth Rate: 15%+

Search marketing strategists research and analyze browsing data from consumers in order to increase engagement for websites. They look closely at search algorithms from engines like Google to create better marketing strategies. Search marketing strategists may also be called SEO strategists or internet marketers.

Is Web Designer a Good Career Choice?

According to CareerExplorer's survey of professionals in the field, web designers have a medium job satisfaction rating of 3.3 out of 5 stars. However, web design remains a good career choice for those with an interest in how consumers interact with the internet. In all the jobs listed above, you'll look at how to create better experiences for users on web products — whether that's through creative design, user interfaces, or marketing techniques.

Is a Master's in Web Design Worth It?

Entering into a web design graduate program may be worth the investment of time and money for several reasons. Below you'll find some pros and cons for earning a master's in web design:

Potential Benefits

Mobile application design is growing in demand. According to 2022 survey data from Top Design Firms, 48% of small businesses have their own app, as compared to 32% in 2021. In fact, graduates will see a positive job outlook in many roles within this field thanks to the growing demand for web products as a whole.

Web design is a massive industry. Recent statistics from IBISWorld show that web design services are an $11 billion industry in the United States alone.

You can easily enter into consulting or freelance work. Many companies want a simple website built without the hassle of a full-service creative agency. As a freelancer, you'll be able to use your skills to create your own small business without relying on outside employment.

Potential Drawbacks

Your education continues long after earning a degree. With constant software updates, new technologies, and changing design trends, you'll always be required to re-learn the latest and most effective strategies for web design.

Some related careers, such as graphic design, do not have a positive job outlook. Graphic designers are expected to see an underwhelming 3% job growth from 2020 to 2030.

Not every project will peak your interest. Website designers work for clients in every industry, from finance to health care. In many cases, projects you encounter will be fairly simple without the added benefit of challenging your skills or peaking your interest.

FAQs About an Online Web Design Degree

Which Master's Degree Is Best for Web Development?

Software engineering is the best master's degree program for aspiring web developers. The coursework requires you to learn computer languages that are used to create websites. Software engineering degrees include web development courses because of the similar languages used in coding, but it will also cover systems engineering and software development, which make it more complex than web development as a standalone practice.

What Degree Is Best for Web Design?

Information technology degrees are great for web designers because they look at the various systems along with the hardware and software components that make up modern-day computers. This will give you a technical edge when it comes to website design because you'll have an understanding of how different system components interact with one another.

An information technology degree at the master's level will be ideal if you can include a creative concentration, such as graphic design or multimedia production.

Is Web Design the Same as Web Developer?

Web designers tend to focus on the visual components and efficacy of a website, such as the graphics, layout, and overall user experience. Web developers are primarily responsible for writing the code that dictates how a website operates at its core. They build interfaces, manage databases, and ensure property functionality. Designers work in tandem with web developers by integrating the creative and functional components from their designs.

How Difficult Is Web Designing?

Web design isn't as complex as software engineering, for example, but it can be difficult for some students to pick up on. There are coding languages that need to be learned on top of developing a good sense of creative direction and usability. If you have a strictly technical mindset, it may be hard to pick up on the creative nuances of the role. Conversely, highly creative students may find it hard to understand complex coding tasks.

FAQs About an Online Web Design Degree

Which Master's Degree Is Best for Web Development?

Software engineering is the best master's degree program for aspiring web developers. The coursework requires you to learn computer languages that are used to create websites. Software engineering degrees include web development courses because of the similar languages used in coding, but it will also cover systems engineering and software development, which make it more complex than web development as a standalone practice.

What Degree Is Best for Web Design?

Information technology degrees are great for web designers because they look at the various systems along with the hardware and software components that make up modern-day computers. This will give you a technical edge when it comes to website design because you'll have an understanding of how different system components interact with one another.

An information technology degree at the master's level will be ideal if you can include a creative concentration, such as graphic design or multimedia production.

Is Web Design the Same as Web Developer?

Web designers tend to focus on the visual components and efficacy of a website, such as the graphics, layout, and overall user experience. Web developers are primarily responsible for writing the code that dictates how a website operates at its core. They build interfaces, manage databases, and ensure property functionality. Designers work in tandem with web developers by integrating the creative and functional components from their designs.

How Difficult Is Web Designing?

Web design isn't as complex as software engineering, for example, but it can be difficult for some students to pick up on. There are coding languages that need to be learned on top of developing a good sense of creative direction and usability. If you have a strictly technical mindset, it may be hard to pick up on the creative nuances of the role. Conversely, highly creative students may find it hard to understand complex coding tasks.

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