by our College Data Analytics Team
[Graphic Communications](/majors/communications-tech-support/graphic-communications/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their graphic communications graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 76 schools on the early-career earnings of their graphic communications graduates.
What’s on this page:
The graphic communications program you select can have a big impact on your future earnings. To help, we created our Highest Paid Graphic Communications Graduates ranking. It looks at the median early-career salaries graduates earn, so you can find the schools whose graphic communications degrees pay off the most.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Highest Paid Graphic Communications Graduates list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
If you want to know which schools send graphic communications graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Art Center College Of Design earned the #1 spot for highest-paid graphic communications graduates in the United States. Art Center College Of Design is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. Early-career graphic communications graduates from Art Center College Of Design make a median of around $67,010 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Southeast Technical Institute earned it the #2 place for graphic communications. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, Southeast Technical Institute is a public institution. Early-career graphic communications graduates from Southeast Technical Institute make a median of around $40,587 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned it the #3 place for graphic communications. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Early-career graphic communications graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo make a median of around $87,135 per year.
Loyola Marymount University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in graphic communications, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the graphic communications program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,611.
Brigham Young University Provo produces some of the highest-paid graduates in graphic communications, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, graphic communications degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo typically earn about $87,288 annually.
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Northcentral Technical College placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for graphic communications. Set in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the graphic communications program here go on to a median salary of roughly $39,904.
University Of Maryland University College earned the #7 position for graphic communications graduate earnings this year. University Of Maryland University College is a public school located in the suburb of Adelphi. Students who complete the graphic communications program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,041.
Illinois State University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for graphic communications. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a public institution. Graphic Communications graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of about $56,462 a year early in their careers.
Ringling College Of Art And Design placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for graphic communications. Located in the city of Sarasota, Ringling College Of Art And Design is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career graphic communications graduates from Ringling College Of Art And Design make a median of around $74,421 per year.
University Of Wisconsin Stout placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for graphic communications. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a public institution. Early-career graphic communications graduates from University Of Wisconsin Stout make a median of around $61,093 per year.
Rochester Institute Of Technology ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying graphic communications schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the graphic communications program here go on to a median salary of roughly $77,838.
Carroll University came in at #12 for graphic communications graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Waukesha, Carroll University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, graphic communications degree recipients from Carroll University typically earn about $55,027 annually.
Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying graphic communications schools. Located in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public institution. Early-career graphic communications graduates from Western Iowa Tech Community College make a median of around $36,284 per year.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology earned the #14 position for graphic communications graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a public institution. After graduating, graphic communications degree recipients from New Jersey Institute Of Technology typically earn about $51,686 annually.
Des Moines Area Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying graphic communications schools. Des Moines Area Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. Graphic Communications graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of about $41,575 a year early in their careers.
Digipen Institute Of Technology placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for graphic communications. Located in the city of Redmond, Digipen Institute Of Technology is a private for-profit institution. Early-career graphic communications graduates from Digipen Institute Of Technology make a median of around $53,376 per year.
Cogswell Polytechnical College earned the #17 position for graphic communications graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Jose, Cogswell Polytechnical College is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, graphic communications degree recipients from Cogswell Polytechnical College typically earn about $56,685 annually.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #18 spot for graphic communications salaries this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, graphic communications degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus typically earn about $48,089 annually.
George Mason University came in at #19 for graphic communications graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a public institution. After graduating, graphic communications degree recipients from George Mason University typically earn about $61,613 annually.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying graphic communications schools. Set in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a public institution. Early-career graphic communications graduates from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College make a median of around $36,223 per year.
Columbia College Chicago came in at #21 for graphic communications graduate earnings this year. Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. After graduating, graphic communications degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago typically earn about $65,596 annually.
University Of Northern Iowa earned the #22 position for graphic communications graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a public institution. Early-career graphic communications graduates from University Of Northern Iowa make a median of around $49,336 per year.
Arizona State University placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for graphic communications. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a public institution. Students who complete the graphic communications program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,254.
York County Community College came in at #24 for graphic communications graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Wells, York County Community College is a public institution. After graduating, graphic communications degree recipients from York County Community College typically earn about $32,847 annually.
Sam Houston State University landed the #25 spot for graphic communications salaries this year. Set in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a public institution. Early-career graphic communications graduates from Sam Houston State University make a median of around $38,401 per year.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning graphic communications graduates:
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The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their graphic communications graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 76 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.