Graphic Communications degree: salary, jobs & colleges
Bachelor's graduates in graphic communications earn a median $43,745 four years after finishing, across 51 U.S. colleges. At ages 25-34, people whose degree is in communication technologies earn $50,375, $11,674 less than all bachelor's holders. The most common job is artists and related workers (7%).
Median across 51 colleges; middle half $35,521–$55,122.
College Scorecard field of study (graduates who received federal aid)
Middle half $30,458–$78,710. 1,744 survey respondents.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; field "Communication Technologies"; EducationGuide calculation
- All bachelor's, 25-34$62,049
- High school, 25-34$35,638
- This degree vs high school+$14,737/yr
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school
Median across colleges reporting.
College Scorecard field of study
Jobs graphic communications graduates hold
What employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in communication technologies actually do, with U.S. wages and the outlook for each job. The first column comes from the Census survey; wages and growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Job | Share of graduates | U.S. median wage | Jobs growth 2025-35 | Typical entry | Interests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artists And Related Workers | 7% | $99,760 | +2.2% | — | — |
| Graphic Designers | 6% | $62,960 | -1.7% | Bachelor's degree | AC |
| Software Developers | 4% | $135,980 | +10.2% | Bachelor's degree | IC |
| Other Media And Communication Equipment Workers | 4% | — | — | — | — |
| Other Managers | 4% | — | — | — | — |
| Television, Video, And Film Camera Operators And Editors | 3% | $75,100 | +2.6% | — | — |
| Customer Service Representatives | 3% | $44,770 | -5.3% | High school diploma or equivalent | CES |
| Other Designers | 2% | — | — | — | — |
These 8 jobs account for 32% of employed graduates: people with this degree spread across many kinds of work.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, bachelor's as highest degree, employed); BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35; O*NET 31.0 interest codes (R realistic, I investigative, A artistic, S social, E enterprising, C conventional).
Graphic Communications earnings by state
Two views of pay: recent graduates of the state's colleges four years out (College Scorecard), and everyone ages 25-34 living in the state with this field of degree (Census). States show a figure only with at least 3 colleges or 100 survey respondents.
| State | Graduates, 4 yrs (colleges) | Ages 25-34 (respondents) |
|---|---|---|
| California | $54,998 (6) | $68,425 (348) |
| Florida | $35,666 (4) | $50,762 (116) |
| Illinois | $45,028 (5) | — |
| Michigan | $43,303 (4) | — |
| Missouri | $40,168 (3) | — |
| New York | $35,521 (5) | $57,276 (124) |
| Texas | — | $55,839 (117) |
College Scorecard field of study (median of each college's graduates); Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; EducationGuide calculations.
Colleges where graphic communications graduates earn the most
In the states we cover so far (Florida, Virginia, California): 6 in Florida, 3 in Virginia, 12 in California offer this major. Open a college to see cost to finish and payback for your income.
| # | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCA | $79,432 | $17,961 |
| 2 | Loyola Marymount UniversityCA | $76,522 | — |
| 3 | Ringling College of Art and DesignFL | $75,213 | $27,000 |
| 4 | University of California-Santa CruzCA | $58,163 | $20,714 |
| 5 | California Baptist UniversityCA | $51,834 | — |
| 6 | George Mason UniversityVA | $47,440 | $23,000 |
| 7 | Laguna College of Art and DesignCA | $38,850 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Lynn UniversityFL | $36,590 | $35,503 |
| 9 | Indian River State CollegeFL | $34,741 | $12,500 |
| 10 | California College of the ArtsCA | $31,068 | $27,000 |
| 11 | Florida State College at JacksonvilleFL | $29,783 | — |
| 12 | Regent UniversityVA | $29,565 | $26,000 |
College Scorecard field of study. Colleges meeting our core-data standard; online campuses left out.
Related degrees
Graphic Communications degree questions
How much do Graphic Communications graduates make?
Graphic Communications graduates earn a median $43,745 four years after finishing, across 51 U.S. colleges that report it (the middle half of colleges: $35,521 to $55,122; College Scorecard, graduates who received federal aid). Among all workers ages 25-34 whose bachelor's degree is in communication technologies, the median is $50,375 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is a Graphic Communications degree worth it?
At ages 25-34, people with a bachelor's in communication technologies earn a median $50,375: $11,674 less than all bachelor's degree holders ($62,049) and $14,737 more than high school graduates ($35,638). EducationGuide calculation from Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school.
What jobs do Graphic Communications graduates get?
Among employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in communication technologies, the most common jobs are artists and related workers (7%), graphic designers (6%), software developers (4%). Artists And Related Workers earn a U.S. median $99,760.
How much do Graphic Communications graduates earn in Florida?
Across 4 Florida colleges reporting, Graphic Communications graduates earn a median $35,666 four years after graduating; at ages 25-34, Floridians with this field of degree earn $50,762.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey microdata; Bureau of Labor Statistics; O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Method
Data: JSON · Markdown · all degrees
Cite this: “Graphic Communications degree: salary, jobs and colleges,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/degrees/graphic-communications.