U.S. median for this major: $43,745.
College Scorecard field of study; 32 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 62% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $26,958.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $59,972. College Scorecard.
MCAD Graphic Communications: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Minnesota colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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 MCAD's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $23,662 | $98,197 | 17.7 years |
| $30–48k | $23,905 | $99,206 | 17.8 years |
| $48–75k | $26,550 | $110,183 | 19.8 years |
| $75–110k | $33,038 | $137,108 | more than 20 years |
| $110k+ | $34,345 | $142,532 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (60% 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 ($43,745) minus $38,184 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MN (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $5,561 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 Minnesota colleges
Every Minnesota college we cover that reports Graphic Communications graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | $61,062 | $24,500 | $18,743 | 65% |
| 2 | Minneapolis College of Art and Design | $43,745 | $27,000 | $29,926 | 51% |
3 more Minnesota colleges offer Graphic Communications but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Graphic Communications graduates
Special Effects Artists and Animators
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 MCAD, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About MCAD
- Acceptance rate: 48% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 51% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $40,873
- Full cost breakdown · all 7 majors · overview
Related majors at MCAD
- Studio Art$32,667
- Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design$39,467
- Broadcasting / Digital Media—
MCAD Graphic Communications questions
How much do MCAD Graphic Communications graduates earn?
Graphic Communications graduates of Minneapolis College of Art and Design earn a median $43,745 four years after graduating and $24,427 one year after. The U.S. median for Graphic Communications graduates across 51 colleges is $43,745.
How much debt do MCAD Graphic Communications graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Graphic Communications graduates of Minneapolis College of Art and Design is $27,000, about 62% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,958.
Where does MCAD rank for Graphic Communications in Minnesota?
Of 2 Minnesota colleges reporting Graphic Communications graduate earnings, Minneapolis College of Art and Design ranks 2nd. The highest is University of Minnesota-Duluth at $61,062.
What jobs do Graphic Communications graduates get?
A common career is special effects artists and animators, with a median wage of $119,020 in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI area 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
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Minneapolis College of Art and Design Graphic Communications: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/minneapolis-college-of-art-and-design/majors/graphic-communications (College Scorecard and BLS data).