Graphic Communications graduates from Academy of Art University earn $28,019 median salary — below the national average for this program.
Graphic Communications at Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California • Associate's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Graphic Communications at Academy of Art University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Academy of Art University and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Graphic Communications at the associate's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 6 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Academy of Art University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $28,019 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $32,471 across all institutions offering Graphic Communications, graduates here earn below the national average for this program. Across all programs at Academy of Art University, the mean median-earnings figure is $49,045, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. Median federal debt is not separately reported for this program at this school.. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Graphic Communications at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake Community College | $50,857 | $8,000 |
| Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | $50,856 | — |
| Ferris State University | $45,033 | $11,678 |
| Austin Community College District | $44,152 | — |
| Camden County College | $43,901 | — |
| Columbus State Community College | $42,634 | — |
| Hawkeye Community College | $41,726 | — |
| Front Range Community College | $41,643 | $13,275 |
| South Central College | $40,769 | — |
| Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology | $40,117 | $8,000 |
Other Programs at Academy of Art University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $87,998 | $71,352 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $73,398 | $36,750 |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $71,613 | $84,794 |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $66,783 | $40,171 |
| Graphic Communications | $64,026 | $83,224 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $62,856 | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $60,731 | $31,211 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $60,284 | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $58,879 | $113,213 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $57,636 | $93,267 |
Other Schools with Graphic Communications
Quick picks offering the same program — compare side by side
About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.