Home › Art Center College of Design › Graphic Communications

Graphic Communications at Art Center College of Design

Pasadena, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
41
Optimistic
40
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings $67,010/yr (134% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (32,300 openings/yr)
ROI 2.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #6 of 54 Graphic Communications programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Graphic Communications graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $623K $606K $540K
Earnings Multiple 3.0x 2.9x 2.6x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 41% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 41 40 34

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$206,560
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$200,836
3% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$37,000
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates of Art Center College of Design's Graphic Communications program earn $67,010/yr in their first year — 134% above the $28,601 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

An earnings multiple of 2.9x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $37,000 debt-to-$67,010 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #6 out of 54 programs, Art Center College of Design's Graphic Communications program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

About Art Center College of Design

Art Center College of Design has a 75% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a smaller student body of 2,054 in Pasadena, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at Art Center College of Design →

Top Career Paths

Special effects artists and animators $99,800/yr
Desktop publishers $53,620/yr
Prepress technicians and workers $47,300/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 54 schools offering Graphic Communications →

Graphic Communications at Other Schools

Baker College ($74,387) California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($49,029) University of Wisconsin-Stout ($48,744) University of Maryland Global Campus ($46,581) Ringling College of Art and Design ($44,048) Carroll University ($40,825) New Jersey Institute of Technology ($39,134) Brigham Young University ($38,725)

Other Majors at Art Center College of Design

Engineering-Related Fields ($66,860) Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians ($59,384) Design and Applied Arts ($47,053) Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($22,988)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Graphic Communications trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Art Center College of Design's Graphic Communications program score?
This program scores 40/100 — on the lower end for Graphic Communications. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Graphic Communications to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Graphic Communications careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 49% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does Art Center College of Design rank so high for Graphic Communications?
The #6 ranking out of 54 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →