Home › Pittsburg State University › Graphic Communications

Graphic Communications at Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, KS · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $30,270/yr (6% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

Job Market Large (32,300 openings/yr)

ROI 15.1x earnings multiple (6.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #18 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	$482K	$483K	$454K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.0x	15.1x	14.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.1x	6.1x	5.8x
Probability of Field Employment	47%	41%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	31	31	26

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$32,032

Out-of-state: $78,768 (6.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$75,556

-136% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,750

8.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$43,447

44% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $30,270 at Pittsburg State University come in 6% above the national median of $28,601 for Graphic Communications programs.

The 15.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,750 debt-to-$30,270 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #18 out of 54 programs, Pittsburg State University's Graphic Communications offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $30,270 to $43,447 shows 44% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg State University accepts 88% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 4,162 in Pittsburg, KS.

See all programs and financial aid at Pittsburg State University →

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

Graphic Communications at Other Schools

Other Majors at Pittsburg State University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Pittsburg State University's Graphic Communications program score?

This program scores 31/100 — 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 →