Graphic Communications: earnings, debt, and careers
CIP 10.03. Official graduate outcomes from the U.S. Department of Education across 656 programs, and the careers this field is linked to.
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate certificate | 260 | 2,252 | $24,502 | $32,130 | $11,250 3 programs |
| Associate's degree | 206 | 1,950 | $27,878 | $36,221 | $11,565 11 programs |
| Bachelor's degree | 156 | 3,539 | $29,510 | $43,283 | $26,000 58 programs |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1 | 0 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Master's degree | 29 | 519 | $48,478 | $57,810 | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 4 | 38 | $72,575 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Undergraduate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus State Community College OH · Public · 25 graduates measured | $37,621 | $54,711 | $11,250 |
| Front Range Community College CO · Public · 30 graduates measured | $27,666 | $34,184 | $14,833 |
| West Kentucky Community and Technical College KY · Public · 20 graduates measured | $22,026 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Associate's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College WI · Public · 22 graduates measured | $41,649 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology PA · Public · 28 graduates measured | $38,071 | $40,117 | $11,565 |
| Southeast Technical College SD · Public · 28 graduates measured | $36,470 | $38,597 | $12,000 |
| Columbus State Community College OH · Public · 31 graduates measured | $34,332 | $42,634 | $11,500 |
| South Central College MN · Public · 16 graduates measured | $33,606 | $40,769 | Data unavailable |
| Ozarks Technical Community College MO · Public · 21 graduates measured | $31,780 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Front Range Community College CO · Public · 23 graduates measured | $29,692 | $41,643 | $16,375 |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology WA · Public · 20 graduates measured | $28,516 | $39,874 | Data unavailable |
| Middlesex College NJ · Public · 28 graduates measured | $27,462 | $38,274 | $8,959 |
| Salt Lake Community College UT · Public · 18 graduates measured | $27,432 | $50,857 | $9,270 |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College WI · Public · 19 graduates measured | $25,310 | Data unavailable | $20,625 |
| Miami Dade College FL · Public · 27 graduates measured | $22,187 | $24,972 | Data unavailable |
| West Kentucky Community and Technical College KY · Public · 19 graduates measured | $20,299 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Houston City College TX · Public · 21 graduates measured | $19,437 | $34,557 | $19,938 |
| Forsyth Technical Community College NC · Public · 18 graduates measured | $18,741 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo CA · Public · 71 graduates measured | $52,902 | $79,432 | $17,000 |
| Illinois State University IL · Public · 19 graduates measured | $48,805 | $55,723 | $17,500 |
| Art Center College of Design CA · Private, nonprofit · 34 graduates measured | $48,298 | Data unavailable | $29,875 |
| Ringling College of Art and Design FL · Private, nonprofit · 86 graduates measured | $47,561 | $75,213 | $27,000 |
| University of Minnesota-Duluth MN · Public · 22 graduates measured | $45,291 | $61,062 | $23,250 |
| DigiPen Institute of Technology WA · Private, for-profit · 67 graduates measured | $45,096 | $45,571 | $27,000 |
| University of Maryland Global Campus MD · Public · 62 graduates measured | $42,774 | $58,759 | $26,250 |
| Bowling Green State University-Main Campus OH · Public · 91 graduates measured | $42,672 | $52,388 | $27,000 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout WI · Public · 26 graduates measured | $42,668 | $59,621 | $23,375 |
| Roger Williams University RI · Private, nonprofit · 17 graduates measured | $41,370 | $61,887 | Data unavailable |
| Pittsburg State University KS · Public · 56 graduates measured | $40,509 | $39,946 | $18,500 |
| Carroll University WI · Private, nonprofit · 17 graduates measured | $39,890 | $47,327 | Data unavailable |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ · Public · 94 graduates measured | $39,793 | $57,618 | $19,500 |
| Arizona State University Digital Immersion AZ · Public · 94 graduates measured | $39,793 | $57,618 | $19,500 |
| Brigham Young University UT · Private, nonprofit · 23 graduates measured | $36,018 | $73,941 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Methodist University TX · Private, nonprofit · 29 graduates measured | $72,642 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| DePaul University IL · Private, nonprofit · 46 graduates measured | $52,720 | $58,803 | Data unavailable |
| Academy of Art University CA · Private, for-profit · 48 graduates measured | $51,760 | $64,026 | Data unavailable |
| Savannah College of Art and Design GA · Private, nonprofit · 58 graduates measured | $40,209 | $51,962 | Data unavailable |
| Atlantic University PR · Private, nonprofit · 19 graduates measured | $20,529 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Graduate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Methodist University TX · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $72,096 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Graphic Communications
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special effects artists and animators | $102,030 | -0.3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Data entry keyers | $41,340 | -25.5% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Desktop publishers | $55,290 | -14.5% | Associate's degree |
| Prepress technicians and workers | $48,690 | -15.3% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Printing press operators | $45,780 | -8.7% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Etchers and engravers | $43,310 | -0.7% | High school diploma or equivalent |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (9)
- 10.0301 Graphic Communications, General
- 10.0302 Printing Management
- 10.0303 Prepress/Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design
- 10.0304 Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
- 10.0305 Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator, General Production
- 10.0306 Platemaker/Imager
- 10.0307 Printing Press Operator
- 10.0308 Computer Typography and Composition Equipment Operator
- 10.0399 Graphic Communications, Other