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Communications Technology · Graphic Communications Rank #4 of 54

Graphic Communicationsat University of Wisconsin-Stout

Graduates earn $48,744/yr in their first year — about 70.0% above the national Graphic Communications average. Base-case 10-year earnings $552K; scenarios range from $502K to $561K depending on AI disruption.

Menomonie, WI Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
52 AVERAGE
53
Optimistic
44
Pessimistic
Earnings
$48,744
1-year post-graduation
ROI
14.1x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$552K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
46% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Wisconsin-Stout

UW-Stout’s strength comes from its identity as a polytechnic university. Your education here won't be just about design theory; it's a hands-on immersion into the technical production side of the graphics industry. You'll learn the machinery, the software, and the processes that turn a concept into a physical product, from commercial printing to packaging. This practical, job-ready focus is why graduates are so sought-after by regional manufacturing and corporate employers, especially in the robust print and packaging sectors of the Upper Midwest. The career paths can be vulnerable to automation, so your key advantage will be mastering the entire production workflow, not just one part of it. To future-proof your career, actively seek internships that blend traditional print with digital media and project management, making you an indispensable bridge between creative and production teams.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$502K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score44/100
Earnings Multiple12.4x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$552K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score52/100
Earnings Multiple13.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$561K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score53/100
Earnings Multiple13.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Wisconsin-Stout's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Graphic Communications graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Special effects artists and animators
+1.6% 10-yr growth · 5,000 openings/yr
$99,800/yr
High
2
Desktop publishers
-12.4% 10-yr growth · 400 openings/yr
$53,620/yr
High
3
Prepress technicians and workers
-14.6% 10-yr growth · 2,800 openings/yr
$47,300/yr
Moderate
4
Printing press operators
-8.1% 10-yr growth · 13,700 openings/yr
$45,160/yr
Low
5
Etchers and engravers
-0.7% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$40,450/yr
Low
6
Data entry keyers
-25.9% 10-yr growth · 9,500 openings/yr
$39,850/yr
Very High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Graphic Communications

How University of Wisconsin-Stout stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Baker College
MI · Private nonprofit
51
DW Score
$74K
1-yr earn
13.5x
ROI
Art Center College of Design
CA · Private nonprofit
40
DW Score
$67K
1-yr earn
2.2x
ROI
Top score
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
59
DW Score
$49K
1-yr earn
18.7x
ROI
University of Maryland Global Campus
MD · Public
57
DW Score
$47K
1-yr earn
21.8x
ROI
Ringling College of Art and Design
FL · Private nonprofit
38
DW Score
$44K
1-yr earn
2.4x
ROI
Also at University of Wisconsin-Stout

Other top programs at University of Wisconsin-Stout

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Wisconsin-Stout, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Graphic Communications offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Graphic Communications trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Graphic Communications at University of Wisconsin-Stout

What does a 52/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Graphic Communications at University of Wisconsin-Stout?

At 52/100, University of Wisconsin-Stout's Graphic Communications program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Should I worry about AI if I study Graphic Communications at University of Wisconsin-Stout?

The 49% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.