Best Graphic Communications Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
48
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$260,243
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$40,783
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Brigham Young University
Grad rate: 80.4% |
UT | +$569,484 | $74,650 | $20,879 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
University of Maryland Global Campus
Grad rate: 23.6% |
MD | +$352,368 | $65,334 | $19,790 | $26,038 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Grad rate: 85.3% |
CA | +$273,900 | $62,891 | $29,918 | $17,961 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Rochester Institute of Technology
Grad rate: 71.5% |
NY | +$118,014 | $64,066 | $71,714 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Grad rate: 52.2% |
WI | +$5,953 | $48,372 | $21,618 | $25,937 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Roger Williams University
Grad rate: 67.0% |
RI | +$1,640 | $54,118 | $60,180 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Grad rate: 73.4% |
NJ | -$29,123 | $48,736 | $32,228 | $25,875 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Ringling College of Art and Design
Grad rate: 73.7% |
FL | -$30,094 | $57,463 | $75,726 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Illinois State University
Grad rate: 66.7% |
IL | -$72,612 | $44,861 | $32,458 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Eastern Michigan University
Grad rate: 45.5% |
MI | -$78,005 | $45,559 | $28,168 | $27,047 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Baker College
Grad rate: 22.9% |
MI | -$79,447 | $44,927 | $23,456 | $32,714 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Grad rate: 67.4% |
AZ | -$126,649 | $42,557 | $28,047 | $18,964 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
George Mason University
Grad rate: 69.9% |
VA | -$145,018 | $41,696 | $26,972 | $23,000 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
University of Northern Iowa
Grad rate: 66.3% |
IA | -$152,272 | $40,134 | $21,627 | $21,070 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
University of Silicon Valley
Grad rate: 40.5% |
CA | -$157,274 | $43,501 | $36,361 | $31,000 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
Grad rate: 62.1% |
OH | -$166,156 | $41,361 | $29,238 | $26,981 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Ferris State University
Grad rate: 48.6% |
MI | -$166,794 | $40,696 | $26,066 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Laguna College of Art and Design
Grad rate: 63.1% |
CA | -$169,782 | $46,570 | $56,183 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Carroll University
Grad rate: 68.3% |
WI | -$185,990 | $44,510 | $49,935 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Pittsburg State University
Grad rate: 56.5% |
KS | -$194,649 | $38,474 | $22,426 | $25,500 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Bradley University
Grad rate: 74.0% |
IL | -$217,850 | $43,476 | $52,730 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Loyola Marymount University
Grad rate: 80.6% |
CA | -$229,028 | $45,722 | $75,867 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
University of Idaho
Grad rate: 61.0% |
ID | -$260,429 | $35,332 | $22,669 | $26,958 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Columbia College Chicago
Grad rate: 47.8% |
IL | -$262,986 | $40,498 | $49,799 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Regent University
Grad rate: 54.3% |
VA | -$295,460 | $35,092 | $30,550 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Western Illinois University
Grad rate: 46.2% |
IL | -$299,052 | $32,613 | $27,828 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
DigiPen Institute of Technology
Grad rate: 55.5% |
WA | -$311,474 | $38,522 | $51,366 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
California Baptist University
Grad rate: 61.2% |
CA | -$341,812 | $35,391 | $52,408 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Atlantic University
Grad rate: 35.4% |
PR | -$370,976 | $26,291 | $12,363 | $5,440 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
Grad rate: 53.5% |
NY | -$401,478 | $28,545 | $23,982 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Indian River State College
Grad rate: 44.4% |
FL | -$403,931 | $25,000 | $11,764 | $12,500 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Grad rate: 62.5% |
HI | -$406,295 | $28,021 | $23,832 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Academy of Art University
Grad rate: 42.4% |
CA | -$406,627 | $33,586 | $47,195 | $36,717 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
Grad rate: 39.0% |
PR | -$422,748 | $25,077 | $21,072 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
Webster University
Grad rate: 60.0% |
MO | -$443,012 | $29,693 | $49,218 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
East Tennessee State University
Grad rate: 52.4% |
TN | -$448,240 | $26,412 | $25,947 | $24,217 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
DePaul University
Grad rate: 69.7% |
IL | -$450,724 | $33,103 | $59,467 | $25,864 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Savannah College of Art and Design
Grad rate: 71.5% |
GA | -$454,049 | $33,037 | $59,670 | $26,748 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
College for Creative Studies
Grad rate: 66.7% |
MI | -$457,582 | $33,191 | $61,238 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
New Mexico State University-Main Campus
Grad rate: 51.6% |
NM | -$468,815 | $24,264 | $20,930 | $22,500 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Columbus College of Art & Design
Grad rate: 60.6% |
OH | -$476,954 | $30,491 | $52,581 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
Full Sail University
Grad rate: 45.0% |
FL | -$492,456 | $25,340 | $39,814 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 43 |
Pratt Institute-Main
Grad rate: 74.4% |
NY | -$500,549 | $34,083 | $76,533 | $26,724 | Full ROI → |
| 44 |
Fashion Institute of Technology
Grad rate: 83.3% |
NY | -$524,039 | $23,086 | $29,732 | $19,875 | Full ROI → |
| 45 |
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Grad rate: 62.8% |
MN | -$555,614 | $26,963 | $54,606 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 46 |
Kansas City Art Institute
Grad rate: 61.0% |
MO | -$636,966 | $23,530 | $57,779 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 47 |
California College of the Arts
Grad rate: 65.7% |
CA | -$716,246 | $23,743 | $78,664 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 48 |
School of Visual Arts
Grad rate: 74.4% |
NY | -$803,774 | $18,637 | $75,016 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Graphic Communications Degrees by State
Browse Graphic Communications programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.