by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Visual Communications explores Design And Visual Communications, General. A Program In The Applied Visual Arts That Focuses On The General Principles And Techniques For Effectively Communicating Ideas And Information, And Packaging Products, In Digital And Other Formats To Business And Consumer Audiences, And That May Prepare Individuals In Any Of The Applied Art Media. Continue reading for the essential details every visual communications student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering visual communications programs.
Across the country, visual communications is a widely-pursued major, with 6,186 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Visual Communications Schools ranking analyzes these 257 schools to determine the best overall colleges for visual communications students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of visual communications programs later in this article.
Studies in Visual Communications emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations visual communications graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a visual communications program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a visual communications major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several visual communications degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 469 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,265 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,102 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,253 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 7 |
People currently working in careers related to visual communications tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.9% |
| Master’s degree | 29.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.8% |
| Some college courses | 5.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.0% |
| First professional degree | 0.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in visual communications careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying visual communications prepares you for many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to visual communications.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to visual communications.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | 509,308 | 13.0% |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | 387,029 | 12.4% |
| Graphic Designers | 267,813 | 4.6% |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | 253,386 | -2.7% |
| Video Game Designers | 207,860 | 2.6% |
| Designers, All Other | 45,592 | 3.0% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of visual communications graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,054 |
| 4 years | $41,389 |
| 5 years | $46,982 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for visual communications graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers visual communications grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $109,049 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $88,198 |
| Designers, All Other | $73,407 |
| Graphic Designers | $66,386 |
| Video Game Designers | $62,617 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $56,384 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 257 different visual communications programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased visual communications school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in visual communications, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Graphic Design | 10,676 |
| Interior Design | 5,651 |
| Illustration | 3,192 |
| Fashion/Apparel Design | 3,186 |
| Commercial and Advertising Art | 2,987 |
| Game and Interactive Media Design | 2,986 |
| Design and Applied Arts, Other | 1,640 |
| Industrial and Product Design | 1,395 |
| Commercial Photography | 899 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
