Graphic Communications programs
CIP 1003 · Communications Technologies · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
86 institutions report graduate earnings for Graphic Communications programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $41,685 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54× and 78% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 34 of the 92 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GnomonCA · UG cert | $104,354 n=29 | 86% 1yr | $28,332 | 0.27× | Above +171% | – |
| 2 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCA · Bachelor's | $79,432 n=75 | 93% 5yr | $17,961 | 0.23× | Above +107% | Clears 2/2 |
| 3 | Loyola Marymount UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $76,522 n=16 | 88% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.35× | Above +99% | Clears 2/2 |
| 4 | Ringling College of Art and DesignFL · Bachelor's | $75,213 n=78 | 92% | $27,000 | 0.36× | Above +123% | Clears 2/2 |
| 5 | Brigham Young UniversityUT · Bachelor's | $73,941 n=24 | 85% 5yr | – | – | Above +86% | Clears 2/2 |
| 6 | Baker CollegeMI · Bachelor's | $67,583 n=19 | – | $19,658 | 0.29× | Above +93% | Clears 2/2 |
| 7 | Academy of Art UniversityCA · Master's | $64,026 n=59 | 89% 5yr | $83,224 | 1.30× | Below -15% | Below 2/2 |
| 8 | Roger Williams UniversityRI · Bachelor's | $61,887 n=21 | 93% 5yr | $26,000 | 0.42× | Above +47% | Clears 2/2 |
| 9 | University of Minnesota-DuluthMN · Bachelor's | $61,062 n=44 | 79% 1yr | $24,500 | 0.40× | Above +53% | – |
| 10 | University of Wisconsin-StoutWI · Bachelor's | $59,621 n=35 | 90% 5yr | $23,290 | 0.39× | Above +53% | Clears 2/2 |
| 11 | DePaul UniversityIL · Master's | $58,803 n=41 | 57% 1yr | $53,300 | 0.91× | Below -14% | Below 2/2 |
| 12 | University of Maryland Global CampusMD · Bachelor's | $58,759 n=38 | 64% 1yr | $22,971 | 0.39× | Above +40% | Clears 2/2 |
| 13 | University of California-Santa CruzCA · Bachelor's | $58,163 n=31 | 39% 1yr | $20,411 | 0.35× | Above +51% | – |
| 14 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionAZ · Bachelor's | $57,618 n=118 | 84% 5yr | $18,964 | 0.33× | Above +57% | Clears 2/2 |
| 15 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionAZ · Bachelor's | $57,618 n=118 | 84% 5yr | $18,964 | 0.33× | Above +57% | – |
| 16 | Illinois State UniversityIL · Bachelor's | $55,723 n=24 | 96% 5yr | $19,500 | 0.35× | Above +48% | Clears 2/2 |
| 17 | Rochester Institute of TechnologyNY · Bachelor's | $55,122 n=49 | 89% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.49× | Above +45% | Clears 2/2 |
| 18 | Columbus State Community CollegeOH · UG cert | $54,711 n=34 | – | – | – | Above +49% | – |
| 19 | Bowling Green State University-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's | $52,388 n=101 | 89% 5yr | $26,338 | 0.50× | Above +42% | Clears 2/2 |
| 20 | Savannah College of Art and DesignGA · Master's | $51,962 n=48 | 64% 1yr | $99,295 | 1.91× | Below -18% | Below 1/2 |
| 21 | California Baptist UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $51,834 n=34 | 75% 5yr | $25,750 | 0.50× | Above +35% | Clears 2/2 |
| 22 | Salt Lake Community CollegeUT · Associate | $50,857 n=23 | – | $8,000 | 0.16× | Above +28% | – |
| 23 | Academy of Art UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $50,833 n=107 | 79% | $31,125 | 0.61× | Above +32% | Clears 2/2 |
| 24 | Western Illinois UniversityIL · Bachelor's | $50,751 n=16 | 70% 5yr | $24,691 | 0.49× | Above +35% | Below 1/2 |
| 25 | University of Silicon ValleyCA · Bachelor's | $49,968 n=65 | 71% 5yr | $31,000 | 0.62× | Above +30% | Clears 2/2 |
| 26 | University of IdahoID · Bachelor's | $49,188 n=26 | 79% 5yr | $26,958 | 0.55× | Above +38% | Clears 2/2 |
| 27 | George Mason UniversityVA · Bachelor's | $47,440 n=55 | 82% 5yr | $22,985 | 0.48× | Above +25% | Clears 2/2 |
| 28 | Carroll UniversityWI · Bachelor's | $47,327 n=33 | 82% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.57× | Above +21% | Clears 2/2 |
| 29 | University of CharlestonWV · Bachelor's | $47,037 n=17 | – | $20,500 | 0.44× | Above +34% | – |
| 30 | DigiPen Institute of TechnologyWA · Bachelor's | $45,571 n=64 | 61% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.59× | Above +7% | Clears 2/2 |
| 31 | Ferris State UniversityMI · Associate | $45,033 n=16 | – | $11,678 | 0.26× | Above +28% | – |
| 32 | DePaul UniversityIL · Bachelor's | $45,028 n=46 | 74% 5yr | $25,000 | 0.56× | Above +19% | Clears 2/2 |
| 33 | SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at CobleskillNY · Bachelor's | $44,661 n=23 | – | $27,000 | 0.60× | Above +17% | – |
| 34 | Austin Community College DistrictTX · Associate | $44,152 n=55 | 73% 5yr | $8,750 | 0.20× | Above +23% | Below 1/2 |
| 35 | Ferris State UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $44,116 n=92 | 38% | $27,000 | 0.61× | Above +26% | Clears 2/2 |
| 36 | University of Northern IowaIA · Bachelor's | $44,066 n=18 | 94% 5yr | $19,184 | 0.43× | Above +14% | Clears 2/2 |
| 37 | Columbia College ChicagoIL · Bachelor's | $43,970 n=59 | 89% 5yr | $20,000 | 0.46× | Above +17% | Clears 2/2 |
| 38 | Camden County CollegeNJ · Associate | $43,901 n=16 | – | – | – | Above +10% | – |
| 39 | Minneapolis College of Art and DesignMN · Bachelor's | $43,745 n=32 | 43% 1yr | $27,000 | 0.62× | Above +9% | Below 1/2 |
| 40 | Savannah College of Art and DesignGA · Bachelor's | $43,058 n=385 | 38% | $25,300 | 0.59× | Above +22% | Clears 2/2 |
| 41 | Columbus State Community CollegeOH · Associate | $42,634 n=44 | – | – | – | Above +16% | – |
| 42 | Sam Houston State UniversityTX · Bachelor's | $42,579 n=36 | – | $24,500 | 0.57× | Above +19% | – |
| 43 | Eastern Michigan UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $42,490 n=47 | 82% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.64× | Above +21% | Clears 2/2 |
| 44 | University of Central MissouriMO · Bachelor's | $41,870 n=17 | – | – | – | Above +17% | – |
| 45 | Fairmont State UniversityWV · Bachelor's | $41,784 n=18 | – | $22,755 | 0.55× | Above +19% | – |
| 46 | Hawkeye Community CollegeIA · Associate | $41,726 n=24 | – | $12,500 | 0.30× | Above +8% | Below 1/2 |
| 47 | Front Range Community CollegeCO · Associate | $41,643 n=33 | 81% 5yr | $13,275 | 0.32× | Above +0% | Below 1/2 |
| 48 | East Tennessee State UniversityTN · Bachelor's | $41,074 n=54 | 35% | $22,250 | 0.54× | Above +17% | Below 1/2 |
| 49 | South Central CollegeMN · Associate | $40,769 n=24 | – | – | – | Above +2% | – |
| 50 | Webster UniversityMO · Bachelor's | $40,168 n=24 | – | $24,250 | 0.60× | Above +12% | Below 1/2 |
| 51 | Thaddeus Stevens College of TechnologyPA · Associate | $40,117 n=29 | – | $8,000 | 0.20× | Above +6% | Below 1/2 |
| 52 | Pittsburg State UniversityKS · Bachelor's | $39,946 n=16 | 82% 5yr | $21,750 | 0.54× | Above +10% | Clears 2/2 |
| 53 | Lake Washington Institute of TechnologyWA · Associate | $39,874 n=18 | – | – | – | Below -6% | – |
| 54 | Laguna College of Art and DesignCA · Bachelor's | $38,850 n=30 | – | $27,000 | 0.69× | Above +1% | Clears 2/2 |
| 55 | Southeast Technical CollegeSD · Associate | $38,597 n=28 | 81% 5yr | $12,000 | 0.31× | Above +5% | Below 1/2 |
| 56 | Middlesex CollegeNJ · Associate | $38,274 n=40 | – | – | – | Below -4% | – |
| 57 | Bradley UniversityIL · Bachelor's | $37,657 n=42 | 74% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.72× | Below +0% | Below 1/2 |
| 58 | Manatee Technical CollegeFL · UG cert | $37,276 n=20 | – | – | – | Above +10% | – |
| 59 | Rocky Mountain College of Art and DesignCO · Bachelor's | $37,239 n=33 | 40% 1yr | $28,115 | 0.76× | Below -10% | – |
| 60 | Lynn UniversityFL · Bachelor's | $36,590 n=31 | – | $12,997 | 0.35× | Above +8% | – |
| 61 | University of Hawaii at ManoaHI · Bachelor's | $35,830 n=33 | 73% | $21,125 | 0.59× | Below -12% | Below 2/2 |
| 62 | SUNY College of Technology at AlfredNY · Bachelor's | $35,521 n=20 | 80% | $27,000 | 0.76× | Below -7% | Below 2/2 |
| 63 | Villa Maria CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $35,482 n=22 | – | $26,600 | 0.75× | Below -7% | – |
| 64 | Pratt Institute-MainNY · Bachelor's | $35,100 n=58 | 70% 5yr | $26,000 | 0.74× | Below -8% | – |
| 65 | Full Sail UniversityFL · Bachelor's | $34,818 n=106 | 100% | $42,000 | 1.21× | Above +3% | Below 1/2 |
| 66 | Huntington UniversityIN · Bachelor's | $34,787 n=29 | – | $27,000 | 0.78× | Below -7% | – |
| 67 | Indian River State CollegeFL · Bachelor's | $34,741 n=44 | 46% | $11,000 | 0.32× | Above +3% | Below 1/2 |
| 68 | Houston Community CollegeTX · Associate | $34,557 n=24 | – | $11,540 | 0.33× | Below -3% | Below 2/2 |
| 69 | Front Range Community CollegeCO · UG cert | $34,184 n=46 | – | $9,500 | 0.28× | Below -18% | – |
| 70 | Pikes Peak State CollegeCO · Associate | $34,178 n=33 | – | – | – | Below -18% | – |
| 71 | Los Angeles Film SchoolCA · Bachelor's | $34,138 n=42 | – | $33,250 | 0.97× | Below -11% | – |
| 72 | Montserrat College of ArtMA · Bachelor's | $34,006 n=16 | – | $27,000 | 0.79× | Below -22% | – |
| 73 | College for Creative StudiesMI · Bachelor's | $34,003 n=79 | 56% | $27,000 | 0.79× | Below -3% | Below 1/2 |
| 74 | New Mexico State University-Main CampusNM · Bachelor's | $33,612 n=36 | 53% | $22,500 | 0.67× | Above +3% | Below 1/2 |
| 75 | Dallas CollegeTX · Associate | $33,606 n=20 | – | – | – | Below -6% | – |
| 76 | CUNY Hostos Community CollegeNY · Associate | $33,591 n=34 | – | – | – | Below -12% | Below 2/2 |
| 77 | Columbus College of Art & DesignOH · Bachelor's | $33,389 n=55 | 26% 1yr | $27,000 | 0.81× | Below -9% | Below 2/2 |
| 78 | Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeIA · Associate | $32,620 n=31 | 77% 5yr | $11,000 | 0.34× | Below -15% | Below 2/2 |
| 79 | Lewis and Clark Community CollegeIL · UG cert | $31,763 n=22 | – | – | – | Below -16% | – |
| 80 | Niagara County Community CollegeNY · Associate | $31,355 n=16 | – | – | – | Below -18% | – |
| 81 | California College of the ArtsCA · Bachelor's | $31,068 n=45 | 40% 1yr | $26,899 | 0.87× | Below -19% | Below 1/2 |
| 82 | Kansas City Art InstituteMO · Bachelor's | $30,798 n=24 | 66% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.88× | Below -14% | – |
| 83 | School of Visual ArtsNY · Bachelor's | $30,125 n=105 | 20% | $27,000 | 0.90× | Below -21% | Below 2/2 |
| 84 | Orange County Community CollegeNY · Associate | $29,860 n=16 | – | – | – | Below -21% | Below 2/2 |
| 85 | Florida State College at JacksonvilleFL · Bachelor's | $29,783 n=18 | – | – | – | Below -12% | – |
| 86 | Regent UniversityVA · Bachelor's | $29,565 n=27 | – | $25,750 | 0.87× | Below -22% | Below 2/2 |
| 87 | Michigan Career and Technical InstituteMI · UG cert | $28,360 n=24 | – | – | – | Below -19% | – |
| 88 | Miami Dade CollegeFL · Associate | $24,972 n=23 | – | – | – | Below -26% | – |
| 89 | Kalamazoo Valley Community CollegeMI · Associate | $24,335 n=24 | – | – | – | Below -31% | – |
| 90 | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community CollegeNY · Associate | $23,713 n=37 | – | – | – | Below -38% | – |
| 91 | Atlantic UniversityPR · Bachelor's | $23,042 n=61 | – | $5,440 | 0.24× | Above +40% | Clears 2/2 |
| 92 | Colegio de Cinematografia Artes y TelevisionPR · UG cert | $21,631 n=29 | – | – | – | Above +32% | Clears 2/2 |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| California | $51,834 | 11 |
| Ohio | $47,511 | 4 |
| Illinois | $45,028 | 7 |
| Minnesota | $43,745 | 3 |
| Michigan | $42,490 | 7 |
| Iowa | $41,726 | 3 |
| Missouri | $40,168 | 3 |
| Texas | $38,568 | 4 |
| Colorado | $35,712 | 4 |
| Florida | $34,818 | 7 |
| New York | $34,346 | 10 |
States with at least 3 reporting Graphic Communications programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Graphic Communications programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Graphic Communications programs in this dataset are Gnomon ($104,354), California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($79,432), Loyola Marymount University ($76,522). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Graphic Communications programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 34 of the 92 Graphic Communications programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.