COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES
Graphic Communications bachelor's degree at Academy of Art University
San Francisco, CA · Private for-profit
What this page covers
Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings are notably above similar programs.
$7,550 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
- Debt as a share of earnings
- 72.2% of annual earnings
- Highest price with a positive payoff
- Not reached
- Modeled 10-year payoff
- −83% · Negative payoff
- Available price data
- College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$121,670
$12,000Annual price−$169,670
$24,000Annual price−$217,670
$36,000Annual price−$265,670
$41,000Current college-wide context−$285,670
$48,000Annual price−$313,670
$60,000Annual price−$361,670
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT
Size, aid and an earnings floor.
The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$50,833$16,025 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 99 Parent PLUS borrowers.
Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$40,613
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$36,717
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$50,833
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$389/mo
Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Published college costs provide the starting point.
Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.
Enter my price →AVERAGE NET PRICE$40,613Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$48,036Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATENot availableInstitution context
COMPLETION RATE34.3%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?
Reported earnings after completion.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
9.2% of gross monthly earnings
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$4,236
Estimated loan payment$389
108borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$50,833 vs. $43,283
$7,550 above the national median for the same field and credential.
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?
Related occupations, wages and outlook.
Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.
BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.Prepress Technicians and Workers$53,860 median wageCA estimate · 2,020 jobs · 51-5111$46,650–$61,780 middle 50% of CA wages-15.3% projected U.S. growth · 2,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Postsecondary nondegree awardPrinting Press Operators$46,110 median wageCA estimate · 12,320 jobs · 51-5112$38,530–$54,870 middle 50% of CA wages-8.7% projected U.S. growth · 12,100 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentDesktop Publishers$71,930 median wageCA estimate · 320 jobs · 43-9031$51,620–$94,710 middle 50% of CA wages-14.5% projected U.S. growth · 300 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeSpecial Effects Artists and Animators$130,540 median wageCA estimate · 7,410 jobs · 27-1014$99,280–$164,800 middle 50% of CA wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 4,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeData Entry Keyers$47,010 median wageCA estimate · 14,520 jobs · 43-9021$41,850–$54,510 middle 50% of CA wages-25.5% projected U.S. growth · 7,700 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentEtchers and Engravers$46,480 median wageCA estimate · 1,040 jobs · 51-9194$41,260–$59,140 middle 50% of CA wages-0.7% projected U.S. growth · 800 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.
Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
$28,599 higher earnings · $18,756 less debt · $23,948 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $79,432
- Debt
- $17,961
- Annual net price
- $16,665
University of California, Santa Cruz
$7,330 higher earnings · $16,003 less debt · $22,723 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $58,163
- Debt
- $20,714
- Annual net price
- $17,890
California Baptist University
$1,001 higher earnings · $14,328 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $51,834
- Debt
- Not available
- Annual net price
- $26,285
University of Silicon Valley
$5,717 less debt · $12,798 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $49,968
- Debt
- $31,000
- Annual net price
- $27,815
DATA QUALITY
Check the evidence behind the estimate.
128 observations in the earnings cohort
June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release
Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page
Your price and current earnings determine the result.
Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.
Calculate my payoff →