Major Universities With Good Graphic Design/ Art Programs?

<p>This is my first post here so I'm not sure if this is in the right place, correct me if I'm wrong.</p>

<p>I am a Junior at a Magnet Charter School in Atlanta GA. I'm in the Art Magnet program and I attended the Governor's Honors Program for art (GHP, a very prestigious program in Georgia it's rumored to be a "free ticket into college" but I'm not sure what it means to an out of state college). I am VERY interested in graphic design, and I've done several designs for my school and local companies.
I wish to major in graphic design, and when i graduate I (of course) want to get a good job in the field. but I do not think that Art Schools are for me.
I attended a summer program at SCAD last year and the environment and people didn't seem to match me. I am more conservative leaning politically, and somewhat critical of the stereotypical "artsy" types. Basically, I am very into art but I'm not the stereotypical "art kid" who talks of "spilling my feelings out on the page" (yes that is a very blunt stereotype but some kids at my high school talk that way, and at least 90 percent of the kids at the SCAD program were like that as well). Also, the prices of art schools are completely out of my reach.</p>

<p>So do you know of any good Universities with equally good Graphic Design programs? I have looked at The University of Georgia (I am eligible for the HOPE scholarship), and University of Illinois at Champaign and it seems like they have good graphic design programs, but I'm not sure.
Do you have any suggestions?</p>

<p>Check out:
1. Carnegie Mellon for Communication Desigin
2. Wash U St Louis
3. Univeristy of Cincinnati Graphic Design and Digital Design
4. Skidmore college
5. Cooper Union
6. RISD/Brown duel option</p>

<p>If you go to the website for NASAD, you can navigate your way to a list of accredited schools of art and design. The list includes many major univerisites as well as some smaller public and private schools. Not sure how to rate/rank them, but it's a start.</p>