Updated March 2026 · College Scorecard data
Is Graphic Communications Worth It?
Graphic Communications holds a solid national average ROI Score of 66/100 across 21 reporting schools — Grade B territory, where repayment math works for most graduates at most institutions. Across the field, median debt is $26K against $48K in first-year earnings — a healthy debt load — repayment falls comfortably under the 8% rule on a standard 10-year plan.
Graphic Communications ROI at a Glance
holds a solid national average ROI Score of 66/100 across 21 reporting schools — Grade B territory, where repayment math works for most graduates at most institutions. The graduation-weighted average across reporting institutions is the cleanest single number for the field, but it hides the spread — top programs like Atlantic University run far ahead of the bottom of the table. School choice within Graphic Communications matters because the major-level number is a starting point, not a prediction.
Earnings rise sharply from $48K in year 1 to $65K by year 5 — 36% growth in four years. That is a strong promotion curve, common in technology, engineering, and finance tracks where early-career skill compounding pays off fast. The five-year earnings trajectory is one of the strongest signals of long-run career fit; a flat curve suggests the major leads to roles where seniority does not pay off without graduate credentials, while a steep curve indicates fast skill compounding inside the field.
Best in field: Atlantic University leads the field with a 70/100 ROI Score (Grade B). Median debt at completion is $16K against $48K in first-year earnings — a debt-to-income ratio of 0.33x. Worst in field: Chowan University sits at the bottom of the field with a 63/100 ROI Score (Grade C). Median debt at completion is $36K against $48K in first-year earnings — a debt-to-income ratio of 0.75x.
Debt-to-Income at the Field Level
At a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54x, Graphic Communications shows a healthy debt load — repayment falls comfortably under the 8% rule on a standard 10-year plan. Federal financial-aid research uses the “8% rule” — monthly student loan payments under 8% of gross monthly income — which translates to debt below roughly 0.75x annual earnings on a standard 10-year plan. Programs running above 1.0x typically need income-driven repayment to stay current; above 1.5x, the math rarely works without forgiveness mechanics or an unusually steep career ramp. For borrower-rights and repayment guidance, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is the most accessible federal source.
Debt vs Earnings by School
Graphic Communications by School
| School | State | Median Debt | Year 1 Earnings | Year 5 Earnings | ROI Grade | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic University | Pr | $16K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| California College of ASU | Ca | $17K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| Chatham University | Pa | $22K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| Bennington College | Vt | $25K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | Ca | $24K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| Colorado Mesa University | Co | $24K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| American Academy of Art College | Il | $27K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| Art Center College of Design | Ca | $27K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| Bluefield University | Va | $27K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| California Institute of the Arts | Ca | $27K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| Carroll University | Wi | $26K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| Chapman University | Ca | $27K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| Clark University | Ma | $26K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| Cleveland Institute of Art | Oh | $26K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| College for Creative Studies | Mi | $26K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| Columbia College Chicago | Il | $26K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| Columbus College of Art & Design | Oh | $26K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| Academy of Art University | Ca | $30K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| Azusa Pacific University | Ca | $29K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| California College of the Arts | Ca | $29K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| Chowan University | Nc | $36K | $48K | $65K | C | BUY |
How Graphic Communications’s ROI Score Is Calculated
The Graphic Communications ROI Score is a weighted composite of five financial-aid signals: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium over a high-school diploma (25%), 10-year BLS job-growth outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. the national average (10%). Each school + major combination is scored individually, then aggregated up to the field level. The grade thresholds (A ≥ 80, B ≥ 65, C ≥ 50, D ≥ 35, F < 35) are calibrated so a typical break-even degree lands in the C range. Read the full methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Graphic Communications degree worth it?
Graphic Communications holds a solid national average ROI Score of 66/100 across 21 reporting schools — Grade B territory, where repayment math works for most graduates at most institutions. The dominant signal is debt-to-income: at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54x on average, the field shows a healthy debt load — repayment falls comfortably under the 8% rule on a standard 10-year plan. Outcomes vary sharply by institution, so the school you choose within Graphic Communications usually matters more than the major label itself.
What is the average debt for a Graphic Communications degree?
Median debt at completion across the 21 U.S. schools reporting Graphic Communications data to the College Scorecard is $26K, against a national all-major average of $26K. The range across schools is wide — $16K at the top of the table to $36K at the bottom.
How much do Graphic Communications graduates earn?
Earnings rise sharply from $48K in year 1 to $65K by year 5 — 36% growth in four years. That is a strong promotion curve, common in technology, engineering, and finance tracks where early-career skill compounding pays off fast. National average first-year earnings across all 30,224 school + major combinations on the site is $58K — for context, Graphic Communications sits below that benchmark.
Which school has the best Graphic Communications program by ROI?
Atlantic University leads the field with a 70/100 ROI Score (Grade B). Median debt at completion is $16K against $48K in first-year earnings — a debt-to-income ratio of 0.33x. On the other end, Chowan University sits at the bottom of the field with a 63/100 ROI Score (Grade C). Median debt at completion is $36K against $48K in first-year earnings — a debt-to-income ratio of 0.75x.
Where does this Graphic Communications data come from?
Every figure on this page comes from federal public datasets — the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (collegescorecard.ed.gov) for debt and earnings, IPEDS (nces.ed.gov/ipeds) for graduation rates, and BLS Employment Projections for the job-growth outlook component of the ROI Score. Borrower-rights guidance: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov). The dataset was last refreshed March 2026.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS, Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. All federal datasets are public domain.
Last updated 2026-03-15 · 21 schools reporting for this major.