Graphic Communications associate's degree at Middlesex College
Edison, NJ · 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 close to similar programs.
$2,053 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
Debt as a share of earnings
22.3% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−171% · 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−$157,260
$2,000Current college-wide context−$161,260
$8,000Annual price−$173,260
$16,000Annual price−$189,260
$24,000Annual price−$205,260
$32,000Annual price−$221,260
$40,000Annual price−$237,260
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+72%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$20,483 → $35,271Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohortNot availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort25Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median20Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt medianNot availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot 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.
248Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment45Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers193Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count24Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
20.4%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 50 non-completers
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,082Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$38,274$2,192 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$2,288
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$8,525
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$38,274
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$90/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.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$20,483Year 1
$38,274Year 4
$35,271Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
2.8% 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$3,190
Estimated loan payment$90
20borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$38,274 vs. $36,221
$2,053 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$56,840 median wageNJ estimate · 880 jobs · 51-5111$49,390–$70,390 middle 50% of NJ wages-15.3% projected U.S. growth · 2,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Postsecondary nondegree awardPrinting Press Operators$50,430 median wageNJ estimate · 4,180 jobs · 51-5112$43,650–$63,950 middle 50% of NJ wages-8.7% projected U.S. growth · 12,100 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentDesktop Publishers$63,020 median wageNJ estimate · 100 jobs · 43-9031$58,700–$63,020 middle 50% of NJ wages-14.5% projected U.S. growth · 300 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeSpecial Effects Artists and Animators$102,030 median wageU.S. estimate · 320 jobs · 27-1014-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 4,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEtchers and Engravers$58,000 median wageNJ estimate · 60 jobs · 51-9194$53,330–$69,220 middle 50% of NJ wages-0.7% projected U.S. growth · 800 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentData Entry Keyers$42,470 median wageNJ estimate · 4,940 jobs · 43-9021$35,910–$51,180 middle 50% of NJ 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.