Graphic Communications: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Graphic Communications graduates earn a median $43,283 four years after finishing — at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on national medians the degree does not clear a typical bill on earnings alone. Where you study and the specific role matter more here than the field average. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Graphic Communications ranks #195 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 4% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | CA | $79,432 |
| 2 | Loyola Marymount University | CA | $76,522 |
| 3 | Ringling College of Art and Design | FL | $75,213 |
| 4 | Brigham Young University | UT | $73,941 |
| 5 | Baker College | MI | $67,583 |
| 6 | Roger Williams University | RI | $61,887 |
| 7 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | MN | $61,062 |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-Stout | WI | $59,621 |
| 9 | University of Maryland Global Campus | MD | $58,759 |
| 10 | University of California-Santa Cruz | CA | $58,163 |
| 11 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | AZ | $57,618 |
| 12 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion | AZ | $57,618 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.
How fast does Graphic Communications pay grow after graduation?
From $29,305 one year out to $43,283 four years out — a $13,978 climb, or 48% over three years. Both are federal medians of the same graduating cohorts, so the gap reflects real wage progression rather than a change in who is measured.
How many students graduate in Graphic Communications each year?
About 3,029 bachelor's graduates a year across 117 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.