Best colleges for Graphic Communications in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
Art Center College of Design, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo and Academy of Art University are the top bachelor's Graphic Communications programs in California by graduate earnings. Art Center College of Design leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $67,010, College Scorecard. Academy of Art University, Santa Monica College and University of California-Santa Cruz award the most Graphic Communications degrees in California: 172, 151 and 140 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 84 California colleges offer Graphic Communications and award 2,432 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Graphic Communications program focuses on the principles and practices of graphic design and visual communication. It is designed for individuals interested in transforming ideas and messages into visual formats, whether through print…
Top 8 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Art Center College of Design Pasadena Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,010 | 116 | 79% | $48,578 | $35,593 |
| 2 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,029 | 81 | 86% | — | $17,961 |
| 3 | Academy of Art University San Francisco Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,481 | 172 | 34% | $40,294 | $36,717 |
| 4 | California College of the Arts San Francisco Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $26,481 | 60 | 61% | $40,041 | $27,000 |
| 5 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,358 | 140 | 75% | — | $20,714 |
| 6 | Laguna College of Art and Design Laguna Beach Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $17,941 | 42 | 52% | $41,341 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Los Angeles Film School Hollywood Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $15,529 | 97 | 41% | $32,792 | $33,250 |
| 8 | University of Silicon Valley San Jose Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,727 | 19 | 29% | $30,599 | $31,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Graphic Communications degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Academy of Art University San Francisco Private for-profit | 172 | $27,481 |
| 2 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica Public | 151 | Not reported |
| 3 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | 140 | $25,358 |
| 4 | Art Center College of Design Pasadena Private not-for-profit | 116 | $67,010 |
| 5 | Riverside City College Riverside Public | 98 | Not reported |
| 6 | Los Angeles Film School Hollywood Private for-profit | 97 | $15,529 |
| 7 | Pasadena City College Pasadena Public | 96 | Not reported |
| 8 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 81 | $49,029 |
| 9 | California Institute of the Arts Valencia Private not-for-profit | 67 | Not reported |
| 10 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut Public | 65 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 74 California colleges offering Graphic Communications
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Data Entry Keyers (SOC 43-9021).
Top skills
What Data Entry Keyers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Graphic Communications programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Graphic Communications degrees?+
Academy of Art University (172 graduates a year), Santa Monica College (151 graduates a year) and University of California-Santa Cruz (140 graduates a year) award the most Graphic Communications degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 84 California colleges offer Graphic Communications.
What is the best college for Graphic Communications in California?+
By graduate earnings, Art Center College of Design leads among bachelor's Graphic Communications programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $67,010, College Scorecard. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo and Academy of Art University follow. By degrees awarded, Academy of Art University is the largest, with 172 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Graphic Communications program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Art Center College of Design tops the list at $67,010. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Data Entry Keyers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Data Entry Keyers in California is $48,820 (median $47,010), across about 14,520 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Graphic Communications program?+
The Graphic Communications program focuses on the principles and practices of graphic design and visual communication. It is designed for individuals interested in transforming ideas and messages into visual formats, whether through print…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop monitoring, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Data Entry Keyers?+
The national job outlook is about -8.1% growth with around 13,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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