University of California-Santa Cruz Graphic Communications: earnings, debt & careers

Graphic Communications graduates of University of California-Santa Cruz earn a median $58,163 four years after graduating ($25,358 after one year), with median federal loan debt of $20,714. That is $14,418 above the U.S. median for Graphic Communications graduates ($43,745 across 51 colleges), and ranks 3rd of 6 California colleges.

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Earnings, 4 years after graduating
$58,163

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

College Scorecard field of study

Earnings, 1 year after
$25,358

Median for graduates who received federal aid.

College Scorecard field of study

Median debt at graduation
$20,714

About 36% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $26,958.

College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)

What your family pays
$17,890 /yr

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

Sticker price $41,179. College Scorecard.

Graphic Communications at California colleges

Every California 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
1California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$79,432$17,961$16,66586%
2Loyola Marymount University$76,522—$48,38179%
3University of California-Santa Cruz$58,163$20,714$17,89075%
4California Baptist University$51,834—$26,28562%
5Laguna College of Art and Design$38,850$27,000$42,50552%
6California College of the Arts$31,068$27,000$53,90961%

6 more California colleges offer Graphic Communications but have too few graduates to report earnings.

Careers for Graphic Communications graduates

Special Effects Artists and Animators

Santa Cruz area$126,410
California$130,540
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 University of California-Santa Cruz, by income

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

College Scorecard

About University of California-Santa Cruz

Related majors at University of California-Santa Cruz

  • Studio Art$40,156
  • Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design$66,333

University of California-Santa Cruz Graphic Communications questions

How much do University of California-Santa Cruz Graphic Communications graduates earn?

Graphic Communications graduates of University of California-Santa Cruz earn a median $58,163 four years after graduating and $25,358 one year after. The U.S. median for Graphic Communications graduates across 51 colleges is $43,745.

How much debt do University of California-Santa Cruz Graphic Communications graduates have?

The median federal loan debt for Graphic Communications graduates of University of California-Santa Cruz is $20,714, about 36% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,958.

Where does University of California-Santa Cruz rank for Graphic Communications in California?

Of 6 California colleges reporting Graphic Communications graduate earnings, University of California-Santa Cruz ranks 3rd. The highest is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo at $79,432.

What jobs do Graphic Communications graduates get?

A common career is special effects artists and animators, with a median wage of $126,410 in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA 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
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Cite this: “University of California-Santa Cruz Graphic Communications: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-california-santa-cruz/majors/graphic-communications (College Scorecard and BLS data).