Graphic Communications: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 69 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$299,404 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
—Modeled economic break-even
−107%Modeled 10-year ROI
$43,058Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$43,058Median reported earnings · year 4
$49,911Average reported earnings · year 5
$27,000Median federal debt
8thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
69Reporting programs
63With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $34,184
- Federal debt
- $11,250
- Reporting programs
- 8
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $38,274
- Federal debt
- $11,626
- Reporting programs
- 24
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $43,058
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 69
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $58,803
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $23,653
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$35,100National median$43,05875th percentile$50,833
63 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$79,4322Loyola Marymount University$76,5223Ringling College of Art and Design$75,2134Brigham Young University$73,9415Baker College$67,5836Roger Williams University$61,8877University of Minnesota-Duluth$61,0628University of Wisconsin-Stout$59,6219University of Maryland Global Campus$58,75910University of California, Santa Cruz$58,163Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Prepress Technicians and WorkersSOC 51-5111 · 8 crosswalk linksPrinting Press OperatorsSOC 51-5112 · 4 crosswalk linksDesktop PublishersSOC 43-9031 · 2 crosswalk linksData Entry KeyersSOC 43-9021 · 1 crosswalk linksEtchers and EngraversSOC 51-9194 · 1 crosswalk linksSpecial Effects Artists and AnimatorsSOC 27-1014 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | $79,432 | $17,961 | +40% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Loyola Marymount UniversityBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $76,522 | Not available | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Ringling College of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | Sarasota, FL | $75,213 | $27,000 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Brigham Young UniversityBachelor's Degree | Provo, UT | $73,941 | Not available | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Baker CollegeBachelor's Degree | Owosso, MI | $67,583 | $32,714 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Roger Williams UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bristol, RI | $61,887 | Not available | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | University of Minnesota-DuluthBachelor's Degree | Duluth, MN | $61,062 | $24,500 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-StoutBachelor's Degree | Menomonie, WI | $59,621 | $25,937 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | University of Maryland Global CampusBachelor's Degree | Adelphi, MD | $58,759 | $26,038 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | University of California, Santa CruzBachelor's Degree | Santa Cruz, CA | $58,163 | $20,714 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $57,618 | $18,964 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $57,618 | $18,964 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 13 | Illinois State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Normal, IL | $55,723 | Not available | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Rochester Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $55,122 | $27,000 | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Bowling Green, OH | $52,388 | $26,981 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | California Baptist UniversityBachelor's Degree | Riverside, CA | $51,834 | Not available | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Academy of Art UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $50,833 | $36,717 | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Western Illinois UniversityBachelor's Degree | Macomb, IL | $50,751 | Not available | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | University of Silicon ValleyBachelor's Degree | San Jose, CA | $49,968 | $31,000 | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | University of IdahoBachelor's Degree | Moscow, ID | $49,188 | $26,958 | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | George Mason UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairfax, VA | $47,440 | $23,000 | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Carroll UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waukesha, WI | $47,327 | $27,000 | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | University of CharlestonBachelor's Degree | Charleston, WV | $47,037 | Not available | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | DigiPen Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Redmond, WA | $45,571 | $27,000 | -98% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | DePaul UniversityBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $45,028 | $25,864 | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at CobleskillBachelor's Degree | Cobleskill, NY | $44,661 | Not available | -101% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Ferris State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Big Rapids, MI | $44,116 | $27,000 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | University of Northern IowaBachelor's Degree | Cedar Falls, IA | $44,066 | $21,070 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Columbia College ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $43,970 | $25,000 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Minneapolis College of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $43,745 | $27,000 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Savannah College of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | Savannah, GA | $43,058 | $26,748 | -105% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Sam Houston State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Huntsville, TX | $42,579 | $28,342 | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Eastern Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ypsilanti, MI | $42,490 | $27,047 | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | University of Central MissouriBachelor's Degree | Warrensburg, MO | $41,870 | Not available | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Fairmont State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairmont, WV | $41,784 | Not available | -115% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | East Tennessee State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Johnson City, TN | $41,074 | $24,217 | -116% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Webster UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $40,168 | Not available | -117% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Pittsburg State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburg, KS | $39,946 | $25,500 | -121% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Laguna College of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | Laguna Beach, CA | $38,850 | $27,000 | -118% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Bradley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Peoria, IL | $37,657 | $27,000 | -127% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Rocky Mountain College of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | Lakewood, CO | $37,239 | $32,982 | -125% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Lynn UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boca Raton, FL | $36,590 | $35,503 | -124% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | University of Hawaii at ManoaBachelor's Degree | Honolulu, HI | $35,830 | $23,250 | -138% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | SUNY College of Technology at AlfredBachelor's Degree | Alfred, NY | $35,521 | $27,000 | -139% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Villa Maria CollegeBachelor's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $35,482 | Not available | -141% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Pratt Institute-MainBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $35,100 | $26,724 | -125% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Full Sail UniversityBachelor's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $34,818 | Not available | -130% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Huntington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Huntington, IN | $34,787 | $27,000 | -140% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Indian River State CollegeBachelor's Degree | Fort Pierce, FL | $34,741 | $12,500 | -153% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Los Angeles Film SchoolBachelor's Degree | Hollywood, CA | $34,138 | $33,250 | -136% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Montserrat College of ArtBachelor's Degree | Beverly, MA | $34,006 | Not available | -135% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | College for Creative StudiesBachelor's Degree | Detroit, MI | $34,003 | $27,000 | -135% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | New Mexico State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Las Cruces, NM | $33,612 | $22,500 | -153% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Columbus College of Art & DesignBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $33,389 | $27,000 | -139% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | California College of the ArtsBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $31,068 | $27,000 | -135% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Kansas City Art InstituteBachelor's Degree | Kansas City, MO | $30,798 | $27,000 | -149% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | School of Visual ArtsBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $30,125 | $27,000 | -136% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Florida State College at JacksonvilleBachelor's Degree | Jacksonville, FL | $29,783 | Not available | -177% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Regent UniversityBachelor's Degree | Virginia Beach, VA | $29,565 | $26,000 | -159% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Atlantic UniversityBachelor's Degree | Guaynabo, PR | $23,042 | $5,440 | -207% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Art Center College of DesignBachelor's Degree | Pasadena, CA | Not available | $35,593 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $48,661 |
| 62 | Morgan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | Not available | $31,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $14,985 |
| 63 | New Jersey Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Newark, NJ | Not available | $25,875 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $16,504 |
| 64 | Fashion Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | Not available | $19,875 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $19,095 |
| 65 | Cleveland Institute of ArtBachelor's Degree | Cleveland, OH | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $29,208 |
| 66 | Middle Tennessee State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Murfreesboro, TN | Not available | $22,077 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $13,359 |
| 67 | SAE Expression CollegeBachelor's Degree | , | $47,131 | $37,364 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 68 | AI Miami International University of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | , | $37,542 | $33,557 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 69 | Living Arts CollegeBachelor's Degree | , | $33,079 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.