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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Graphic Communications associate's degree at Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI · Public

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.

$8,812 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
25.9% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−100% · 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.

What stays fixed$45,033 observed annual earnings · 2 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

Not availableEarnings growth, year 1 → 5Not available → Not available
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Not availableYear-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
26Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential
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.

104Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
88Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
50Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,989Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$45,033$12,044 above the preliminary benchmark

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$8,624

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$11,678

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$45,033

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$124/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

ADDITIONAL WORKFORCE PROGRAM REPORTS

1 related offering reported to the Department of Labor

These provider-reported records add named prices, completion and employment context where available. They describe a separate workforce-program cohort and may include non-degree training, so they are not blended into the College Scorecard earnings or DegreeVerdict ROI.

Bachelor of Applied Science · CIP 10.0304

Digital Animation & Game Design

Reported price
$62,860
Completion
34.0%
Employed in Q2
60.0%
Q2 quarterly earnings
$6,045
This program is provided in multiple formats: in-person instruction, online/e-learning/distance learning and a hybrid/blended program of in-person and online instruction.
Program year 2022. Quarterly earnings are not annual salary. Suppressed values appear as “Not reported.” Source: U.S. Department of Labor TrainingProviderResults.gov. Showing 1 of 1 related records.
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.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$8,624Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$27,048Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE91.4%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE46.9%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.

Not availableYear 1
$45,033Year 4
Not availableYear 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.3% 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$3,753
Estimated loan payment$124
26borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$45,033 vs. $36,221

$8,812 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
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$46,960 median wageMI estimate · 540 jobs · 51-5111$44,250–$57,230 middle 50% of MI wages-15.3% projected U.S. growth · 2,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Postsecondary nondegree awardPrinting Press Operators$45,280 median wageMI estimate · 5,110 jobs · 51-5112$37,860–$50,370 middle 50% of MI wages-8.7% projected U.S. growth · 12,100 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentDesktop Publishers$45,300 median wageMI estimate · 40 jobs · 43-9031$42,890–$53,740 middle 50% of MI wages-14.5% projected U.S. growth · 300 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeSpecial Effects Artists and Animators$86,630 median wageMI estimate · 230 jobs · 27-1014$68,590–$121,830 middle 50% of MI wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 4,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEtchers and Engravers$43,180 median wageMI estimate · 390 jobs · 51-9194$38,870–$47,840 middle 50% of MI wages-0.7% projected U.S. growth · 800 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentData Entry Keyers$38,080 median wageMI estimate · 3,290 jobs · 43-9021$37,320–$45,990 middle 50% of MI wages-25.5% projected U.S. growth · 7,700 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
Possible alternatives

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.

Kalamazoo, MI

Kalamazoo Valley Community College

$5,645 lower annual net price

Earnings
$24,335
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$2,979
View outcomes →
Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake Community College

$5,824 higher earnings · $303 less debt

Earnings
$50,857
Debt
$11,375
Annual net price
$9,804
View outcomes →
Austin, TX

Austin Community College District

$52 less debt · $2,234 lower annual net price

Earnings
$44,152
Debt
$11,626
Annual net price
$6,390
View outcomes →
Edison, NJ

Middlesex College

$3,153 less debt · $6,336 lower annual net price

Earnings
$38,274
Debt
$8,525
Annual net price
$2,288
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

Not reported observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

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 →