Communications technology ยท bachelor's degree
Graphic Communications major: colleges and pay
116 colleges in our data award bachelor's degrees in graphic communications, 3,479 of them in 2023-24. Graduates of the typical program earned $29,217 a year after graduating and $43,058 four years after.
Colleges offering it116
Graduates in 2023-243,479
Typical median debt$24,000
Typical earnings 1 yr after$29,217
Typical earnings 4 yrs after$43,058
Earnings to debt1.2x
Colleges where graphic communications graduates earn the most
Programs with at least 10 graduates in 2023-24, ranked by median earnings four years after graduation.
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA | 81 | $52,902 | $79,432 | $17,000 |
| Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles, CA | 22 | n/a | $76,522 | n/a |
| Ringling College of Art and DesignSarasota, FL | 139 | $47,561 | $75,213 | $27,000 |
| Brigham Young UniversityProvo, UT | 28 | $36,018 | $73,941 | n/a |
| University of Minnesota-DuluthDuluth, MN | 17 | $45,291 | $61,062 | $23,250 |
| University of Wisconsin-StoutMenomonie, WI | 12 | $42,668 | $59,621 | $22,639 |
| University of Maryland Global CampusAdelphi, MD | 77 | $42,774 | $58,759 | $19,427 |
| Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ | 82 | $39,793 | $57,618 | $18,500 |
| Illinois State UniversityNormal, IL | 13 | $48,805 | $55,723 | $17,500 |
| Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NY | 34 | $33,520 | $55,122 | $26,250 |
| Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBowling Green, OH | 33 | $42,672 | $52,388 | $26,000 |
| Academy of Art UniversitySan Francisco, CA | 77 | $30,612 | $50,833 | $33,101 |
| University of Silicon ValleySan Jose, CA | 28 | $30,573 | $49,968 | $31,000 |
| University of IdahoMoscow, ID | 19 | $27,271 | $49,188 | n/a |
| George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA | 77 | $25,837 | $47,440 | $23,125 |
| DigiPen Institute of TechnologyRedmond, WA | 64 | $45,096 | $45,571 | $27,000 |
| DePaul UniversityChicago, IL | 72 | $25,435 | $45,028 | $23,167 |
| Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids, MI | 63 | $31,443 | $44,116 | $26,875 |
| Columbia College ChicagoChicago, IL | 111 | $28,397 | $43,970 | $26,025 |
| Minneapolis College of Art and DesignMinneapolis, MN | 23 | $29,895 | $43,745 | $27,000 |
| Savannah College of Art and DesignSavannah, GA | 539 | $25,130 | $43,058 | $23,833 |
| Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsville, TX | 51 | $24,737 | $42,579 | $23,875 |
| Fairmont State UniversityFairmont, WV | 11 | n/a | $41,784 | n/a |
| East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson City, TN | 41 | $22,211 | $41,074 | $24,000 |
| Webster UniversitySaint Louis, MO | 22 | $23,948 | $40,168 | $23,000 |
Largest graphic communications programs
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah College of Art and DesignSavannah, GA | 539 | $25,130 | $43,058 | $23,833 |
| Ringling College of Art and DesignSarasota, FL | 139 | $47,561 | $75,213 | $27,000 |
| Columbia College ChicagoChicago, IL | 111 | $28,397 | $43,970 | $26,025 |
| Los Angeles Film SchoolHollywood, CA | 105 | $34,277 | $34,138 | $44,125 |
| Art Center College of DesignPasadena, CA | 95 | $48,298 | n/a | $29,000 |
| School of Visual ArtsNew York, NY | 83 | $18,327 | $30,125 | $26,987 |
| Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ | 82 | $39,793 | $57,618 | $18,500 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA | 81 | $52,902 | $79,432 | $17,000 |
| College for Creative StudiesDetroit, MI | 80 | $27,977 | $34,003 | $25,000 |
| University of Maryland Global CampusAdelphi, MD | 77 | $42,774 | $58,759 | $19,427 |
| Academy of Art UniversitySan Francisco, CA | 77 | $30,612 | $50,833 | $33,101 |
| George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA | 77 | $25,837 | $47,440 | $23,125 |
| DePaul UniversityChicago, IL | 72 | $25,435 | $45,028 | $23,167 |
| Pratt Institute-MainBrooklyn, NY | 65 | $29,217 | $35,100 | $27,000 |
| DigiPen Institute of TechnologyRedmond, WA | 64 | $45,096 | $45,571 | $27,000 |
Every college with a graphic communications major
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA | 81 | $52,902 | $79,432 | $17,000 |
| Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles, CA | 22 | n/a | $76,522 | n/a |
| Ringling College of Art and DesignSarasota, FL | 139 | $47,561 | $75,213 | $27,000 |
| Brigham Young UniversityProvo, UT | 28 | $36,018 | $73,941 | n/a |
| Roger Williams UniversityBristol, RI | 0 | $41,370 | $61,887 | n/a |
| University of Minnesota-DuluthDuluth, MN | 17 | $45,291 | $61,062 | $23,250 |
| University of Wisconsin-StoutMenomonie, WI | 12 | $42,668 | $59,621 | $22,639 |
| University of Maryland Global CampusAdelphi, MD | 77 | $42,774 | $58,759 | $19,427 |
| Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ | 82 | $39,793 | $57,618 | $18,500 |
| Arizona State University Digital ImmersionScottsdale, AZ | 5 | $39,793 | $57,618 | $18,500 |
| Illinois State UniversityNormal, IL | 13 | $48,805 | $55,723 | $17,500 |
| Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NY | 34 | $33,520 | $55,122 | $26,250 |
| Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBowling Green, OH | 33 | $42,672 | $52,388 | $26,000 |
| Academy of Art UniversitySan Francisco, CA | 77 | $30,612 | $50,833 | $33,101 |
| Western Illinois UniversityMacomb, IL | 1 | n/a | $50,751 | n/a |
| University of Silicon ValleySan Jose, CA | 28 | $30,573 | $49,968 | $31,000 |
| University of IdahoMoscow, ID | 19 | $27,271 | $49,188 | n/a |
| George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA | 77 | $25,837 | $47,440 | $23,125 |
| Carroll UniversityWaukesha, WI | 6 | $39,890 | $47,327 | n/a |
| University of CharlestonCharleston, WV | 1 | n/a | $47,037 | n/a |
| DigiPen Institute of TechnologyRedmond, WA | 64 | $45,096 | $45,571 | $27,000 |
| DePaul UniversityChicago, IL | 72 | $25,435 | $45,028 | $23,167 |
| Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids, MI | 63 | $31,443 | $44,116 | $26,875 |
| University of Northern IowaCedar Falls, IA | 7 | n/a | $44,066 | n/a |
| Columbia College ChicagoChicago, IL | 111 | $28,397 | $43,970 | $26,025 |
| Minneapolis College of Art and DesignMinneapolis, MN | 23 | $29,895 | $43,745 | $27,000 |
| Savannah College of Art and DesignSavannah, GA | 539 | $25,130 | $43,058 | $23,833 |
| Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsville, TX | 51 | $24,737 | $42,579 | $23,875 |
| Fairmont State UniversityFairmont, WV | 11 | n/a | $41,784 | n/a |
| East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson City, TN | 41 | $22,211 | $41,074 | $24,000 |
| Webster UniversitySaint Louis, MO | 22 | $23,948 | $40,168 | $23,000 |
| Pittsburg State UniversityPittsburg, KS | 34 | $40,509 | $39,946 | $18,500 |
| Laguna College of Art and DesignLaguna Beach, CA | 46 | $21,307 | $38,850 | $27,000 |
| Bradley UniversityPeoria, IL | 14 | $24,723 | $37,657 | $27,000 |
| Rocky Mountain College of Art and DesignLakewood, CO | 46 | $33,675 | $37,239 | $31,000 |
| Lynn UniversityBoca Raton, FL | 10 | $25,147 | $36,590 | n/a |
| University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI | 55 | $30,588 | $35,830 | $19,250 |
| SUNY College of Technology at AlfredAlfred, NY | 19 | $28,102 | $35,521 | $21,750 |
| Villa Maria CollegeBuffalo, NY | 10 | n/a | $35,482 | n/a |
| Pratt Institute-MainBrooklyn, NY | 65 | $29,217 | $35,100 | $27,000 |
| Huntington UniversityHuntington, IN | 19 | $35,438 | $34,787 | n/a |
| Indian River State CollegeFort Pierce, FL | 48 | $25,764 | $34,741 | n/a |
| Los Angeles Film SchoolHollywood, CA | 105 | $34,277 | $34,138 | $44,125 |
| Montserrat College of ArtBeverly, MA | 17 | $18,222 | $34,006 | $27,000 |
| College for Creative StudiesDetroit, MI | 80 | $27,977 | $34,003 | $25,000 |
| New Mexico State University-Main CampusLas Cruces, NM | 41 | $24,984 | $33,612 | $19,728 |
| Columbus College of Art & DesignColumbus, OH | 40 | $21,520 | $33,389 | $26,000 |
| California College of the ArtsSan Francisco, CA | 51 | $21,377 | $31,068 | $22,750 |
| Kansas City Art InstituteKansas City, MO | 28 | $26,537 | $30,798 | $27,000 |
| School of Visual ArtsNew York, NY | 83 | $18,327 | $30,125 | $26,987 |
| Florida State College at JacksonvilleJacksonville, FL | 30 | $34,449 | $29,783 | $11,000 |
| Regent UniversityVirginia Beach, VA | 23 | n/a | $29,565 | $24,000 |
| Atlantic UniversityGuaynabo, PR | 30 | n/a | $23,042 | $4,500 |
| Art Center College of DesignPasadena, CA | 95 | $48,298 | n/a | $29,000 |
| New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNewark, NJ | 19 | $35,260 | n/a | $20,250 |
| University of Hawaii-West OahuKapolei, HI | 59 | $33,417 | n/a | $17,330 |
| Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA | 12 | $29,943 | n/a | $27,000 |
| Morgan State UniversityBaltimore, MD | 15 | $27,931 | n/a | $28,500 |
| Clark UniversityWorcester, MA | 38 | $27,119 | n/a | $15,000 |
| Chapman UniversityOrange, CA | 30 | $26,232 | n/a | $19,500 |
| Cleveland Institute of ArtCleveland, OH | 21 | $26,181 | n/a | $27,000 |
| Maryland Institute College of ArtBaltimore, MD | 39 | $25,814 | n/a | $26,250 |
| Maine College of Art & DesignPortland, ME | 20 | $25,387 | n/a | $27,000 |
| Fashion Institute of TechnologyNew York, NY | 25 | $13,134 | n/a | $18,674 |
| University of Puerto Rico-CarolinaCarolina, PR | 32 | $11,885 | n/a | n/a |
| Appalachian State UniversityBoone, NC | 15 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Azusa Pacific UniversityAzusa, CA | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN | 27 | n/a | n/a | $26,833 |
| Bennington CollegeBennington, VT | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Bluefield UniversityBluefield, VA | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Buena Vista UniversityStorm Lake, IA | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| California Institute of the ArtsValencia, CA | 58 | n/a | n/a | $23,875 |
| California State University-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA | 14 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Chatham UniversityPittsburgh, PA | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Chowan UniversityMurfreesboro, NC | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Clarkson UniversityPotsdam, NY | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Drury UniversitySpringfield, MO | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Elmhurst UniversityElmhurst, IL | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham CampusMadison, NJ | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Hampshire CollegeAmherst, MA | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Holy Family UniversityPhiladelphia, PA | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Houston Christian UniversityHouston, TX | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| John Brown UniversitySiloam Springs, AR | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Laurus CollegeSan Luis Obispo, CA | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Lawrence Technological UniversitySouthfield, MI | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Lesley UniversityCambridge, MA | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Lewis-Clark State CollegeLewiston, ID | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Lycoming CollegeWilliamsport, PA | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Middle Tennessee State UniversityMurfreesboro, TN | 33 | n/a | n/a | $21,000 |
| Milwaukee Institute of Art & DesignMilwaukee, WI | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Minnesota State University MoorheadMoorhead, MN | 16 | n/a | n/a | $22,375 |
| Missouri Western State UniversitySaint Joseph, MO | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Montclair State UniversityMontclair, NJ | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| New York Film AcademyBurbank, CA | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| New York UniversityNew York, NY | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Newschool of Architecture and DesignSan Diego, CA | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| North Central CollegeNaperville, IL | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Point Park UniversityPittsburgh, PA | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Saint Edward's UniversityAustin, TX | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Shawnee State UniversityPortsmouth, OH | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Southern Nazarene UniversityBethany, OK | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| State University of New York at OswegoOswego, NY | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Stephens CollegeColumbia, MO | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| The University of FindlayFindlay, OH | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| The University of TampaTampa, FL | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Universidad del Sagrado CorazonSanturce, PR | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Advancing TechnologyTempe, AZ | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of BaltimoreBaltimore, MD | 33 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Northwestern-St PaulSaint Paul, MN | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA | 14 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of the Incarnate WordSan Antonio, TX | 21 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Wilmington UniversityNew Castle, DE | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Woodbury UniversityBurbank, CA | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Frequently asked questions
How much do graphic communications majors make?
Graduates of the typical graphic communications program earned a median of $29,217 one year after graduation and $43,058 four years after, in 2024 dollars.
Which college has the highest-paid graphic communications graduates?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, where graduates earned a median of $79,432 four years after graduation (programs with at least 10 graduates).
How many colleges offer a graphic communications major?
116 colleges on the College Scorecard awarded bachelor's degrees in graphic communications in 2022-23 or 2023-24.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field of study file, data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. One-year figures: graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Four-year figures: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. More on the data.