Home › Columbia College Chicago › Graphic Communications

Graphic Communications at Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
26 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
27
Optimistic
26
Base Case
23
Pessimistic
Earnings $26,309/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (32,300 openings/yr)
ROI 5.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #23 of 54 Graphic Communications programs Top 50%

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 $687K $662K $579K
Earnings Multiple 5.3x 5.1x 4.5x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 41% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 27 26 23

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$130,080
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$107,152
18% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,000
9.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$65,596
149% growth from Year 1

About Columbia College Chicago

A 91% acceptance rate means Columbia College Chicago is accessible to most applicants, serving 6,294 students in Chicago, IL. With 43% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Columbia College Chicago →

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) Art Center College of Design ($67,010) 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)

Other Majors at Columbia College Chicago

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($39,794) Marketing ($36,386) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($34,798) American Sign Language ($33,775) Journalism ($31,369) Design and Applied Arts ($29,630) Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies ($25,060) Radio, Television, and Digital Communication ($24,191)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Graphic Communications trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Columbia College Chicago's Graphic Communications program score?
This program scores 26/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →