College for Creative Studies Graphic Communications: earnings, debt & careers

Graphic Communications graduates of College for Creative Studies earn a median $34,003 four years after graduating ($20,720 after one year), with median federal loan debt of $27,000. That is $9,742 below the U.S. median for Graphic Communications graduates ($43,745 across 51 colleges), and ranks 4th of 4 Michigan colleges.

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Earnings, 4 years after graduating
$34,003

U.S. median for this major: $43,745.

College Scorecard field of study; 79 graduates with earnings reported

Earnings, 1 year after
$20,720

Median for graduates who received federal aid.

College Scorecard field of study

Median debt at graduation
$27,000

About 79% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $26,958.

College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)

What your family pays
$34,617 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $66,014. College Scorecard.

CCS Graphic Communications: pay against the field, and payback

Same major, other colleges

CCS graduates$34,003
Michigan median (4 colleges)$43,303 (−$9,300)
U.S. median (51 colleges)$43,745 (−$9,742)

Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.

Graphic Communications nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →

Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income

Uses CCS's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.

Family incomeNet price / yrCost to finishYears to pay back
$0–30k$30,267$133,477more than 20 years
$30–48k$33,152$146,200more than 20 years
$48–75k$33,647$148,383more than 20 years
$75–110k$33,667$148,471more than 20 years
$110k+$38,580$170,138more than 20 years

Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (45% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Graphic Communications graduates 4 years after graduating ($34,003) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $592 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method

College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.

Graphic Communications at Michigan colleges

Every Michigan college we cover that reports Graphic Communications graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.

RankCollegeEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debtAvg. net priceGraduation
1Baker College$67,583$32,714$13,15736%
2Ferris State University$44,116$27,000$8,62447%
3Eastern Michigan University$42,490$27,047$15,40746%
4College for Creative Studies$34,003$27,000$34,61771%

3 more Michigan colleges offer Graphic Communications but have too few graduates to report earnings.

Careers for Graphic Communications graduates

Special Effects Artists and Animators

Michigan$86,630
U.S.$102,030

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.3% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.

What families pay at CCS, by income

School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.

College Scorecard

About CCS

Related majors at CCS

CCS Graphic Communications questions

How much do CCS Graphic Communications graduates earn?

Graphic Communications graduates of College for Creative Studies earn a median $34,003 four years after graduating and $20,720 one year after. The U.S. median for Graphic Communications graduates across 51 colleges is $43,745.

How much debt do CCS Graphic Communications graduates have?

The median federal loan debt for Graphic Communications graduates of College for Creative Studies is $27,000, about 79% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,958.

Is CCS a good school for Graphic Communications in Michigan?

On pay, Graphic Communications graduates of College for Creative Studies earn $34,003 four years out, $9,300 below the median for the same major across 4 Michigan colleges ($43,303) and $9,742 below the U.S. median ($43,745). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.

Where does CCS rank for Graphic Communications in Michigan?

Of 4 Michigan colleges reporting Graphic Communications graduate earnings, College for Creative Studies ranks 4th. The highest is Baker College at $67,583.

What jobs do Graphic Communications graduates get?

A common career is special effects artists and animators, with a median wage of $86,630 in Michigan and $102,030 nationally.

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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
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Cite this: “College for Creative Studies Graphic Communications: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/college-for-creative-studies/majors/graphic-communications (College Scorecard and BLS data).