U.S. median for this major: $43,745.
College Scorecard field of study; 49 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 49% 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 $74,626. College Scorecard.
RIT Graphic Communications: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
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 RIT'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 | $24,680 | $116,243 | 5.7 years |
| $30–48k | $24,820 | $116,902 | 5.7 years |
| $48–75k | $28,874 | $135,997 | 6.6 years |
| $75–110k | $34,510 | $162,542 | 7.9 years |
| $110k+ | $44,970 | $211,809 | 10.3 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.7 years, the average time graduates took (28% 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 ($55,122) minus $34,633 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NY (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $20,489 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 New York colleges
Every New York college we cover that reports Graphic Communications graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants. Colleges marked "mostly 2-year" or "bachelor's & associate" award more associate degrees than bachelor's; their bachelor's programs often serve working adults finishing a degree (for example, nurses completing a BSN), so their graduates' earnings can run higher than those of students starting college at 18.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester Institute of Technology | $55,122 | $27,000 | $34,906 | 70% |
| 2 | SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill | $44,661 | — | $18,701 | 42% |
| 3 | SUNY College of Technology at Alfredbachelor's & associate | $35,521 | $27,000 | $15,016 | 55% |
| 4 | Villa Maria College | $35,482 | — | $13,494 | 31% |
| 5 | Pratt Institute-Main | $35,100 | $26,724 | $52,659 | 74% |
7 more New York 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 RIT, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About RIT
- Acceptance rate: 67% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 70% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $76,571
- Full cost breakdown · all 74 majors · overview
Related majors at RIT
- Studio Art—
- Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design$52,043
- Communications—
- Public Relations and Advertising$57,748
- Journalism—
- Broadcasting / Digital Media$91,222
RIT Graphic Communications questions
How much do RIT Graphic Communications graduates earn?
Graphic Communications graduates of Rochester Institute of Technology earn a median $55,122 four years after graduating and $32,044 one year after. The U.S. median for Graphic Communications graduates across 51 colleges is $43,745.
How much debt do RIT Graphic Communications graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Graphic Communications graduates of Rochester Institute of Technology is $27,000, about 49% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,958.
Is RIT a good school for Graphic Communications in New York?
On pay, Graphic Communications graduates of Rochester Institute of Technology earn $55,122 four years out, $19,601 above the median for the same major across 5 New York colleges ($35,521) and $11,377 above the U.S. median ($43,745). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does RIT rank for Graphic Communications in New York?
Of 5 New York colleges reporting Graphic Communications graduate earnings, Rochester Institute of Technology ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Graphic Communications graduates get?
A common career is special effects artists and animators, with a median wage of $102,070 in the Rochester, NY 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: “Rochester Institute of Technology Graphic Communications: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/rochester-institute-of-technology/majors/graphic-communications (College Scorecard and BLS data).