by our College Data Analytics Team
[Graphic Communications](/majors/communications-tech-support/graphic-communications/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong graphic communications education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 413 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value graphic communications schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the graphic communications degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked College Of San Mateo the best value for a degree in graphic communications in the United States. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $11,428. Typical student debt for graphic communications graduates is $12,831. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,172. That is a strong return on a $12,831 median debt.
College Of The Canyons came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic communications schools. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Graphic Communications graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Soon after graduation, graphic communications degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mt San Antonio College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic communications schools. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Graphic Communications graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Early-career graphic communications graduates make about $44,391. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes San Diego Mesa College one of the best values for graphic communications. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete the graphic communications program here. Graphic Communications graduates of San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $29,852 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,999 median debt.
Cerritos College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic communications schools. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete the graphic communications program here. Early-career graphic communications graduates make about $29,495. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
1
2
3
4
5
Lake Land College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic communications schools. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,415, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. Typical student debt for graphic communications graduates is $7,769. Soon after graduation, graphic communications degree recipients from Lake Land College generally make around $30,294. Set against $7,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Monica College earned the #7 position for value in graphic communications this year. Set in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,708. Median earnings reach $42,193 ten years out.
El Centro College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic communications schools. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Students borrow a median of $14,557 to complete the graphic communications program here. Early-career graphic communications graduates make about $41,295. That is a strong return on a $14,557 median debt.
Pasadena City College placed #9 among the best values for graphic communications. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Typical student debt for graphic communications graduates is $9,191. Soon after graduation, graphic communications degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washtenaw Community College came in at #10 for value in graphic communications this year. Located in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,736 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for graphic communications graduates is $17,616. Early-career graphic communications graduates make about $45,332. That is a strong return on a $17,616 median debt.
Norco College came in at #11 for value in graphic communications this year. Set in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Typical student debt for graphic communications graduates is $8,203. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,206. That is a strong return on a $8,203 median debt.
Sacramento City College landed the #12 spot for graphic communications value this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Graphic Communications graduates carry a median of $13,180 in student loans. Early-career graphic communications graduates make about $46,522. Set against $13,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Riverside City College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic communications schools. Located in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,428, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. Students borrow a median of $8,767 to complete the graphic communications program here. Soon after graduation, graphic communications degree recipients from Riverside City College generally make around $37,102. That is a strong return on a $8,767 median debt.
Orange Coast College came in at #14 for value in graphic communications this year. Orange Coast College is a very large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. In-state tuition and fees average $1,392, with out-of-state students paying around $11,640. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete the graphic communications program here. Graphic Communications graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,978 median debt.
Hartnell College came in at #15 for value in graphic communications this year. Hartnell College is a large public school located in the city of Salinas. Students from in state pay about $1,404 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,398. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the graphic communications program here. Graphic Communications graduates of Hartnell College earn a median of $35,080 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Chabot College landed the #16 spot for graphic communications value this year. Chabot College is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. In-state tuition and fees average $1,150, compared with $8,686 for out-of-state students. Graphic Communications graduates carry a median of $14,122 in student loans. Early-career graphic communications graduates make about $85,175. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College landed the #17 spot for graphic communications value this year. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,170, with out-of-state students paying around $8,050. Graphic Communications graduates carry a median of $8,794 in student loans. Soon after graduation, graphic communications degree recipients from Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College generally make around $23,319. Set against $8,794 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College earned the #18 position for value in graphic communications this year. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kalamazoo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,144, compared with $9,094 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for graphic communications graduates is $15,525. Early-career graphic communications graduates make about $44,198. That is a strong return on a $15,525 median debt.
Santa Rosa Junior College placed #19 among the best values for graphic communications. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,318, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Graphic Communications graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans. Soon after graduation, graphic communications degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Set against $14,692 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College came in at #20 for value in graphic communications this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Students borrow a median of $11,533 to complete the graphic communications program here. Soon after graduation, graphic communications degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College generally make around $33,960. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sierra College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic communications schools. Sierra College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rocklin. In-state tuition and fees average $1,446. Graphic Communications graduates carry a median of $12,733 in student loans. Soon after graduation, graphic communications degree recipients from Sierra College generally make around $29,214. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology came in at #22 for value in graphic communications this year. Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirkland. In-state tuition and fees average $5,997, with out-of-state students paying around $12,062. Typical student debt for graphic communications graduates is $19,695. Graphic Communications graduates of Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earn a median of $60,000 early in their careers. Set against $19,695 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kapiolani Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic communications schools. Located in the city of Honolulu, Kapiolani Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,284, while out-of-state students pay about $8,420. Typical student debt for graphic communications graduates is $14,738. Soon after graduation, graphic communications degree recipients from Kapiolani Community College generally make around $48,210. Set against $14,738 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest Vista College placed #24 among the best values for graphic communications. Located in the city of San Antonio, Northwest Vista College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Typical student debt for graphic communications graduates is $9,189. Soon after graduation, graphic communications degree recipients from Northwest Vista College generally make around $29,349. That is a strong return on a $9,189 median debt.
American River College earned the #25 position for value in graphic communications this year. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for graphic communications graduates is $14,105. Graphic Communications graduates of American River College earn a median of $76,077 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s graphic communications value ranking:
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
Explore the best-value graphic communications schools at other degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 413 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.