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Graphic Communications

Graphic Communications graduates earn $43,283 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $27,166 and $64,326. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.

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About Graphic Communications

This page covers Graphic Communications as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Communications Tech and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Graphic Communications is a focused area of study within Communications Tech. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $43,283 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 417 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 7,730 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.

Median Earnings · 1yr: $25,358
Median Earnings · 4yr: $43,283
Colleges Offering: 417
Graduates / Year: 7,730
Avg Net Price / yr: $30,340

How Much Do Graphic Communications Graduates Earn?

Four years after finishing Graphic Communications, a typical graduate earns $43,283, significantly below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $27,166 and $64,326, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $25,358 at one year out to $43,283 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.

What that figure means in practice depends on what the degree cost to get, which is a matter of lifetime earnings against total outlay.

$25,358

1 Year After Graduation

Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.

$43,283

4-Year National Median

Significantly below average. Graduate credentials or high-demand roles can raise this considerably.

$43,401

4-Year Institutional Median

Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.

Earnings Range

Not every Graphic Communications graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.

$27,166 25th pct.

$43,283 Median

$64,326 75th pct.

Is the Cost Worth It?

At median 4-year earnings of $43,283 and an estimated $121,360 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 9.1 years. Compare specific programs before committing to a high-cost option.

Based on outcomes from 144 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 7,730 students who complete Graphic Communications programs each year, the majority (52%) earn a bachelor's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

27% 52%

Bachelor's 52%

Associate's 27%

Certificate 13%

What Can You Do With a Graphic Communications Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Graphic Communications graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Multimedia Artist & Animator pays the most at $102,030/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what a Multimedia Artist & Animator earns and how fast the role is growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↘ -0.3% Zone 4: Considerable preparation

Multimedia Artist & Animator

$102,030

$75K $139K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 4,200 openings/yr 20K employed nationally

Active Listening Reading Comprehension Critical Thinking Speaking Judgment and Decision Making

Day-to-day responsibilities

Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.

Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.
Create basic designs, drawings, and illustrations for product labels, cartons, direct mail, or television.
Participate in design and production of multimedia campaigns, handling budgeting and scheduling, and assisting with such responsibilities as production coordination, background design, and progress tracking.

↘ -15.3% Zone 3: Medium preparation

Prepress Technicians and Workers

$48,690

$41K $59K 25th–75th pct.

Postsecondary nondegree award 2,100 openings/yr 24K employed nationally

Monitoring Active Listening Time Management Speaking Critical Thinking

Day-to-day responsibilities

Format and proof text and images submitted by designers and clients into finished pages that can be printed. Includes digital and photo typesetting. May produce printing plates.

Generate prepress proofs in digital or other format to approximate the appearance of the final printed piece.
Proofread and perform quality control of text and images.
Enter, position, and alter text size, using computers, to make up and arrange pages so that printed materials can be produced.

Top Colleges for Graphic Communications

Not sure where to study Graphic Communications? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at Savannah College of Art and Design, and the rest follow the same measures.

#	College	Graduates	Acceptance	Net Price/yr	Earnings 10yr
1	Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GA · Nonprofit	643	83%	$49,430	$45,954
2	Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL · Nonprofit	212	89.5%	$26,598	$42,195
3	Ringling College of Art and Design Sarasota, FL · Nonprofit	124	69.7%	$57,742	$43,325
4	Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake City, UT · Public	109	Open	$9,804	$47,867
5	Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ · Public	97	89.9%	$14,967	$62,668
6	Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX · Nonprofit	97	63.4%	$40,892	$78,354
7	Pratt Institute-Main Brooklyn, NY · Nonprofit	82	73.3%	$52,659	$54,295
8	George Mason University Fairfax, VA · Public	81	87.5%	$17,915	$76,343
9	Art Center College of Design Pasadena, CA · Nonprofit	79	74.5%	$48,661	$71,958
10	DePaul University Chicago, IL · Nonprofit	78	75.9%	$30,902	$68,751
11	CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College New York, NY · Public	77	Open	$4,976	$42,306
12	School of Visual Arts New York, NY · For-Profit	76	92.6%	$57,914	$46,459
13	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA · Public	75	31.3%	$16,665	$90,768
14	Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI · Public	74	91.4%	$8,624	$54,735
15	DigiPen Institute of Technology Redmond, WA · For-Profit	69	64.4%	$44,446	$79,878
16	Middlesex College Edison, NJ · Public	58	Open	$2,288	$46,861
17	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Bowling Green, OH · Public	57	81%	$24,022	$47,896
18	University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI · Public	56	86.6%	$15,664	$57,624
19	Clark University Worcester, MA · Nonprofit	55	39.5%	$28,714	$62,381
20	California College of the Arts San Francisco, CA · Nonprofit	55	91.1%	$53,909	$49,414

View all colleges

Ranked by Graphic Communications graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Graphic Communications program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if a Graphic Communications degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Graphic Communications Degree: Pros & Cons

Graphic Communications carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 3 strengths and 4 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.

PROS

Strong salary growth Median earnings climb from $25,358 at graduation to $43,283 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Wide availability Offered at 417 colleges nationwide, with options at every price point and institution type.
Flexible credential paths Programs are available from certificate and associate levels through bachelor's and graduate degrees, giving students real options based on timeline and goals.

CONS

Below-average earnings Four-year median of $43,283 falls below the national median for bachelor's degree holders.
Declining roles in some areas 2 related careers show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
Long earnings breakeven At median salary and average net price, recovering education costs versus a baseline wage takes roughly 9.1 years.
High earnings variance Gap between 25th ($27,166) and 75th ($64,326) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.

Graphic Communications Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Graphic Communications graduates earn?

$43,283 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $27,166 and $64,326, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the starting salary for a Graphic Communications degree?

$25,358 in the first year out. That grows to $43,283 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.

What jobs can you get with a Graphic Communications degree?

Multimedia Artist & Animator is one path, and it pays a median of $102,030 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.

How long does a Graphic Communications program take?

Four years of full-time study for a Graphic Communications bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.

How many colleges offer Graphic Communications?

417 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.

Is a Graphic Communications degree worth it?

$43,283 median earnings four years out against $30,340 a year in average net price. That is a slow payback, so cost matters more than usual here: a cheaper school changes the answer. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the difference between Graphic Communications and Communications Tech?

Graphic Communications is the narrower of the two: Communications Tech covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Graphic Communications-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.

What skills do employers look for in Graphic Communications graduates?

Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Graphic Communications graduates consistently look for writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.

What is the job outlook for Graphic Communications graduates?

Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average -7.8% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Multimedia Artist & Animator is among the strongest-growth roles at -0.3%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.