Graphic Communications
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Types of Degrees Graphic Communications Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many graphic communications graduations there were in 2020-2021 for each degree level.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Bachelor’s Degree | 3,201 |
Associate Degree | 1,757 |
Basic Certificate | 1,205 |
Undergraduate Certificate | 895 |
Master’s Degree | 410 |
Graduate Certificate | 50 |
What Graphic Communications Majors Need to Know
People with careers related to graphic communication were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.
Knowledge Areas for Graphic Communication Majors
According to O*NET survey takers, a major in graphic communication should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
- Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Skills for Graphic Communication Majors
The following list of skills has been highlighted as some of the most essential for careers related to graphic communication:
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Abilities for Graphic Communication Majors
Some of the most crucial abilities to master while a graphic communication student include the following:
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
What Can You Do With a Graphic Communications Major?
People with a graphic communication degree often go into the following careers:
Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
---|---|---|
Multimedia Artists and Animators | 8.4% | $72,520 |
Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Communications?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of graphic communication majors is as follows:
Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 292 |
Black or African American | 243 |
Hispanic or Latino | 498 |
White | 1,538 |
International Students | 300 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 330 |
Geographic Diversity
Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in Graphic Communication. About 9.4% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:
- China
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- India
- Singapore
How Much Do Graphic Communications Majors Make?
Bachelor’s Degree Starting Salary
According to 2019-2020 data from the U.S. Department of Education, students who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in graphic communication have a median salary of $26,669 during the early years of their career. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $21,058 (25th percentile) and $35,591 (75th percentile).
It’s important to note that just because the people reporting these salaries have a degree in graphic communication, it does not mean that they are working in a job related to their degree.
Salaries According to BLS
Graphic Communication majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $34,550 to $46,750 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.
To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Graphic Communications
Some degrees associated with graphic communication may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.
Find out what the typical degree level is for graphic communication careers below.
Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
---|---|
Less than a High School Diploma | 6.7% |
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) | 38.6% |
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) | 9.2% |
Some College Courses | 17.3% |
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 14.0% |
Bachelor’s Degree | 13.0% |
Master’s Degree | 0.0% |
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession. | 1.4% |
Online Graphic Communications Programs
In 2020-2021, 431 schools offered a graphic communication program of some type. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.
Degree Level | Colleges Offering Programs | Colleges Offering Online Classes |
---|---|---|
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) | 0 | 0 |
Certificate (1-2 years) | 201 | 7 |
Certificate (2-4 Years) | 11 | 1 |
Associate’s Degree | 235 | 10 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 4 | 0 |
Post-Baccalaureate | 0 | 0 |
Master’s Degree | 23 | 2 |
Post-Master’s | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
Is a Degree in Graphic Communications Worth It?
The median salary for a graphic communication grad is $38,470 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
Top Ranking Lists for Graphic Communications
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Majors Related to Graphic Communications
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to graphic communication.
Major | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Audiovisual Communications | 6,229 |
Communications Technology | 915 |
Other Communication Technology | 164 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
- Image Credit: By Auburn University College of Architecture, Design and Construction under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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