Best institutions to study Graphic Communications
Compare 347 U.S. colleges offering Graphic Communications by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 41 states.
Graphic Communications programs report a median of $24,843 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 10.03 and the Printing Press Operators occupation (BLS SOC).
About Graphic Communications programs
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 or digital media. This program caters to aspiring graphic designers, printing managers, and those seeking to enter various specialized fields within graphic communications.
Students in the Graphic Communications program will develop essential skills in areas such as monitoring, active listening, and critical thinking. Coursework covers mechanical knowledge, production processes, and the use of computers and electronics, equipping students to handle tasks related to printing and design effectively.
Top 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Art Center College of Design Pasadena, CA 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, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,029 | 81 | 86% | — | $17,961 |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin - Stout Menomonie, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,744 | 12 | 55% | — | $25,937 |
| 4 | University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,581 | 73 | 33% | — | $26,038 |
| 5 | Ringling College of Art and Design Sarasota, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,048 | 132 | 72% | $54,693 | $27,000 |
| 6 | New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,134 | 18 | 73% | — | $25,875 |
| 7 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,725 | 25 | 81% | $13,712 | — |
| 8 | Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,489 | 32 | 64% | — | $26,981 |
| 9 | DigiPen Institute of Technology Redmond, WA Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,605 | 68 | 61% | $39,863 | $27,000 |
| 10 | University of Minnesota - Duluth Duluth, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,557 | 24 | 65% | — | $24,500 |
| 11 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,419 | 5 | 68% | — | $21,070 |
| 12 | University of Silicon Valley San Jose, CA Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,727 | 19 | 29% | $30,599 | $31,000 |
| 13 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,044 | 34 | 70% | $28,133 | $27,000 |
| 14 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $31,790 | 26 | 78% | $36,004 | — |
| 15 | Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,795 | 42 | 37% | — | — |
| 16 | Pittsburg State University Pittsburg, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,270 | 28 | 57% | — | $25,500 |
| 17 | Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,059 | 67 | 47% | — | $27,000 |
| 18 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,305 | 81 | 68% | — | $18,964 |
| 19 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,192 | 79 | 68% | — | $23,000 |
| 20 | Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,874 | 37 | 45% | — | $12,500 |
| 21 | Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,481 | 172 | 34% | $40,294 | $36,717 |
| 22 | Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Lancaster, PA Public · Associate degree | $26,870 | 17 | 71% | — | $8,625 |
| 23 | California College of the Arts San Francisco, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $26,481 | 60 | 61% | $40,041 | $27,000 |
| 24 | Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield, MO Public · Associate degree | $26,436 | 31 | 33% | — | $19,500 |
| 25 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $26,309 | 76 | 52% | $28,087 | $25,000 |
| 26 | University of Idaho Moscow, ID Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,848 | 15 | 57% | — | $26,958 |
| 27 | Front Range Community College Westminster, CO Public · Certificate degree | $25,702 | 129 | 35% | — | $11,250 |
| 28 | Pikes Peak State College Colorado Springs, CO Public · Associate degree | $25,596 | 65 | 21% | — | — |
| 29 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,358 | 140 | 75% | — | $20,714 |
| 30 | Chowan University Murfreesboro, NC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $25,301 | 2 | 30% | $17,195 | — |
| 31 | Bradley University Peoria, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $24,941 | 22 | 76% | $21,768 | $27,000 |
| 32 | Morgan State University Baltimore, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,843 | 16 | 41% | — | $31,000 |
| 33 | Minneapolis College of Art and Design Minneapolis, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $24,427 | 35 | 51% | $24,998 | $27,000 |
| 34 | New Mexico State University - Main Campus Las Cruces, NM Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,115 | 42 | 55% | — | $22,500 |
| 35 | Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake City, UT Public · Associate degree | $23,932 | 93 | 29% | — | $11,375 |
| 36 | Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $23,451 | 858 | 69% | $44,902 | $26,748 |
| 37 | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College New York, NY Public · Associate degree | $23,319 | 86 | 25% | — | — |
| 38 | Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Lakewood, CO Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $23,247 | 64 | 32% | $28,500 | $32,982 |
| 39 | School of Visual Arts New York, NY Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $22,478 | 116 | 76% | $58,518 | $27,000 |
| 40 | Orange County Community College Middletown, NY Public · Associate degree | $22,181 | 17 | 25% | — | — |
| 41 | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred Alfred, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $21,373 | 24 | 55% | — | $27,000 |
| 42 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TN Public · Bachelor's degree | $20,802 | 54 | 53% | — | $24,217 |
| 43 | College for Creative Studies Detroit, MI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $20,720 | 72 | 71% | $32,153 | $27,000 |
| 44 | Middlesex College Edison, NJ Public · Associate degree | $20,483 | 67 | 33% | — | $8,525 |
| 45 | Columbus College of Art & Design Columbus, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $20,110 | 55 | 56% | $30,330 | $27,000 |
| 46 | Pratt Institute - Main Brooklyn, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $20,048 | 117 | 74% | $49,088 | $26,724 |
| 47 | Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $19,409 | 20 | 58% | $31,870 | $27,000 |
| 48 | DePaul University Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $19,178 | 132 | 68% | $28,141 | $25,864 |
| 49 | Laguna College of Art and Design Laguna Beach, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $17,941 | 42 | 52% | $41,341 | $27,000 |
| 50 | Kansas City Art Institute Kansas City, MO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $17,852 | 40 | 58% | $29,039 | $27,000 |
Offered across 41 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 51-5112, Printing Press Operators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Graphic Communications program can pursue careers in various sectors, including graphic design and printing management. Although the job outlook indicates a decline of 8.1%, there are still approximately 13,700 annual openings, with a median wage of $45,160. A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Graphic Communications
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 10.03.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 10.03 (Graphic Communications) maps to 6 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 27-1014 | Special Effects Artists and Animators |
| 43-9021 | Data Entry Keyers |
| 43-9031 | Desktop Publishers |
| 51-5111 | Prepress Technicians and Workers |
| 51-5112 | Printing Press Operatorsprimary |
| 51-9194 | Etchers and Engravers |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Graphic Communications programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Start presses and pull proofs to check for ink coverage and density, alignment, and registration.
- Examine job orders to determine quantities to be printed, stock specifications, colors, or special printing instructions.
- Adjust ink fountain flow rates.
- Verify that paper and ink meet the specifications for a given job.
- Collect and inspect random samples during print runs to identify any necessary adjustments.
- Feed paper through press cylinders and adjust feed and tension controls.
Concentrations within Graphic Communications
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Graphic Communications, GeneralCIP 10.0301
A program that generally prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills in the manufacture and distribution or transmission of graphic communications products
- Printing ManagementCIP 10.0302
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical and managerial knowledge and skills to the processes and procedures of managing printing operations from initial design through finished product
- Prepress/Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging DesignCIP 10.0303
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to the layout, design and typographic arrangement of printed and/or electronic graphic and textual products
- Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special EffectsCIP 10.0304
A program that prepares individuals to use computer applications and related visual and sound imaging techniques to manipulate images and information originating as film, video, still photographs, dig
- Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator, General ProductionCIP 10.0305
A program that generally prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to plan, prepare, and execute a variety of commercial and industrial graphic communications jobs
- Platemaker/ImagerCIP 10.0306
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to prepare film, digital data, and surfaces to reproduce printed or graphic images
- Printing Press OperatorCIP 10.0307
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to set up, operate, and maintain printing presses.
- Computer Typography and Composition Equipment OperatorCIP 10.0308
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to design and execute page formats, layouts and text composition, and to make typographical selections using computer graphi
- Graphic Communications, OtherCIP 10.0399
Any instructional program in graphic communications not listed above.
Common questions
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in monitoring, active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What specializations are available?+
Specializations include Printing Management, Prepress/Desktop Publishing, Animation, and more.
What is the job outlook for graphic communications?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 8.1%, but there are still about 13,700 annual openings.
What education is needed for careers in this field?+
Typically, a high school diploma or equivalent is required for entry-level positions.
How much do Graphic Communications graduates earn?+
Graphic Communications graduates report median earnings of $24,843 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Printing Press Operators occupation pays about $47,360 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Graphic Communications?+
Graphic Communications maps to CIP 10.03 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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