Most Selective Highest Earnings Best Value Free Tuition UK Universities

Best Schools for Graphic Communications

Graphic Communications graduates earn a median of $29,847 within two years of graduation, ranking #221 out of 283 tracked majors — 17% below the median across all fields. There are 52 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 2,706 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Brigham Young University graduates earn $54,713 while School of Visual Arts graduates earn $13,132 — a $41,581 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is moderate: Graphic Communications graduates see an average 9% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

52
Schools
$29,847
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#221
of 283 Majors
2,706
Graduates

Public vs Private: Graphic Communications

Public (24 schools)
$29,265
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (25 schools)
$31,274
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $2,009 more in early earnings on average for Graphic Communications graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Graphic Communications by State

New York
8 schools
$24,389
California
7 schools
$34,034
Illinois
5 schools
$30,007
Michigan
4 schools
$31,447
Wisconsin
2 schools
$41,446
Minnesota
2 schools
$29,834
Virginia
2 schools
$31,477
Ohio
2 schools
$25,184

Top Graphic Communications Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
B

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT · Private

$54,713
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,362
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 69.2%
#2
R

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, NY · Private

$54,252
2yr Earnings
1yr: $51,726
Grads: 49
Acceptance: 71.4%
#3
C

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$52,385
2yr Earnings
1yr: $49,435
Grads: 74
Acceptance: 29.8%
#4
R

Ringling College of Art and Design

Sarasota, FL · Private

$48,725
2yr Earnings
1yr: $44,528
Grads: 69
Acceptance: 67.4%
#5
U

University of Wisconsin-Stout

Menomonie, WI · Public

$42,123
2yr Earnings
1yr: $42,536
Grads: 46
Acceptance: 84.7%
#6
B

Baker College

Owosso, MI · Private

$41,565
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,944
Grads: 31
Acceptance: 87.5%
#7
U

University of Minnesota-Duluth

Duluth, MN · Public

$40,896
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,048
Grads: 43
Acceptance: 81.8%
#8
C

Carroll University

Waukesha, WI · Private

$40,768
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,463
Grads: 31
Acceptance: 58.4%
#9
I

Illinois State University

Normal, IL · Public

$39,369
2yr Earnings
1yr: $47,259
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 89.0%
#10
N

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Newark, NJ · Public

$39,369
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,565
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 66.9%
#11
R

Roger Williams University

Bristol, RI · Private

$39,369
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,588
Grads: 21
Acceptance: 87.8%
#12
A

Art Center College of Design

Pasadena, CA · Private

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr: $63,126
Grads: 17
Acceptance: 75.0%
#13
A

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, AZ · Public

$36,368
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,798
Grads: 128
Acceptance: 90.2%
#14
F

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI · Public

$35,823
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,428
Grads: 51
Acceptance: 80.6%
#15
C

Chowan University

Murfreesboro, NC · Private

$35,060
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 72.4%
#16
C

California Baptist University

Riverside, CA · Private

$34,526
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,784
Grads: 49
Acceptance: 73.6%
#17
C

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,857
Grads: 38
Acceptance: 91.2%
#18
G

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,474
Grads: 44
Acceptance: 88.8%
#19
B

Bradley University

Peoria, IL · Private

$33,382
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 76.7%
#20
P

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, KS · Public

$31,907
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,029
Grads: 36
Acceptance: 88.2%
#21
U

University of Silicon Valley

San Jose, CA · For-Profit

$30,984
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,541
Grads: 61
Acceptance: 51.3%
#22
U

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA · Public

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,933
Grads: 21
Acceptance: 94.4%
#23
C

California College of the Arts

San Francisco, CA · Private

$30,409
2yr Earnings
1yr: $16,698
Grads: 36
Acceptance: 73.4%
#24
L

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$30,409
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 40.3%
#25
B

Bowling Green State University-Main Campus

Bowling Green, OH · Public

$30,228
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,166
Grads: 96
Acceptance: 80.6%
#26
U

University of Idaho

Moscow, ID · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 79.1%
#27
R

Regent University

Virginia Beach, VA · Private

$28,960
2yr Earnings
1yr: $15,565
Grads: 27
Acceptance: 41.2%
#28
D

DigiPen Institute of Technology

Redmond, WA · For-Profit

$25,774
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,819
Grads: 65
Acceptance: 68.0%
#29
E

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, MI · Public

$25,194
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,302
Grads: 47
Acceptance: 81.3%
#30
U

University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

Fort Smith, AR · Public

$24,421
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 81.5%
#31
P

Pratt Institute-Main

Brooklyn, NY · Private

$24,035
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,391
Grads: 38
Acceptance: 53.2%
#32
S

SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Alfred, NY · Public

$23,456
2yr Earnings
1yr: $14,463
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 81.8%
#33
U

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, HI · Public

$23,262
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,915
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 69.7%
#34
N

New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Las Cruces, NM · Public

$23,262
2yr Earnings
1yr: $15,913
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 75.7%
#35
C

College for Creative Studies

Detroit, MI · Private

$23,207
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,602
Grads: 81
Acceptance: 92.8%
#36
W

Webster University

Saint Louis, MO · Private

$22,806
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 58.0%
#37
S

SUNY College of Technology at Canton

Canton, NY · Public

$22,806
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 96.3%
#38
S

Savannah College of Art and Design

Savannah, GA · Private

$22,778
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,127
Grads: 330
Acceptance: 83.7%
#39
V

Villa Maria College

Buffalo, NY · Private

$22,667
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 86.7%
#40
W

Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL · Public

$21,781
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,608
Grads: 27
Acceptance: 75.0%
#41
D

DePaul University

Chicago, IL · Private

$21,508
2yr Earnings
1yr: $19,606
Grads: 56
Acceptance: 73.5%
#42
L

Laguna College of Art and Design

Laguna Beach, CA · Private

$21,234
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,279
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 77.6%
#43
E

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, TN · Public

$21,135
2yr Earnings
1yr: $19,656
Grads: 56
Acceptance: 87.1%
#44
H

Huntington University

Huntington, IN · Private

$20,140
2yr Earnings
1yr: $20,899
Grads: 28
Acceptance: 71.2%
#45
K

Kansas City Art Institute

Kansas City, MO · Private

$20,140
2yr Earnings
1yr: $15,235
Grads: 25
Acceptance: 60.4%
#46
S

SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill

Cobleskill, NY · Public

$20,140
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,207
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 83.3%
#47
C

Columbus College of Art & Design

Columbus, OH · Private

$20,140
2yr Earnings
1yr: $19,608
Grads: 44
Acceptance: 71.7%
#48
F

Fairmont State University

Fairmont, WV · Public

$20,140
2yr Earnings
1yr: $20,857
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 99.2%
#49
S

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, TX · Public

$19,227
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,330
Grads: 29
Acceptance: 85.4%
#50
M

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Minneapolis, MN · Private

$18,771
2yr Earnings
1yr: $20,090
Grads: 34
Acceptance: 48.4%

Showing top 50 of 52 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication $30,433 History $30,303 Theological and Ministerial Studies $30,246 Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies $30,213 Research and Experimental Psychology $30,148 Culinary Arts and Related Services $29,819

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Graphic Communications?
Brigham Young University ranks #1 for Graphic Communications with median graduate earnings of $54,713 within two years. There are 52 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Graphic Communications graduates earn?
Graphic Communications graduates earn an average of $29,847 within two years of graduation. This is 17% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $13,132 to $54,713 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Graphic Communications program?
The average acceptance rate across Graphic Communications programs is 75.0%. The most selective program is at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo with a 29.8% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Graphic Communications?
Private Graphic Communications programs average $31,274 in early earnings vs $29,265 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

Get Graphic Communications Career Insights

We're building major-specific salary reports with ROI by school. Be the first to get yours.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.