by our College Data Analytics Team
[Graphic Communications](/majors/communications-tech-support/graphic-communications/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a graphic communications degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the early-career earnings of their graphic communications graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send graphic communications graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Art Center College Of Design earned the #1 spot for highest-paid graphic communications graduates in California. Located in the city of Pasadena, Art Center College Of Design is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the graphic communications program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,010.
Students chasing top earnings in graphic communications will find them at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. After graduating, graphic communications degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo typically earn about $87,135 annually.
A rank of #3 makes Loyola Marymount University one of the highest-paying schools for graphic communications. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Graphic Communications graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of about $63,611 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in graphic communications will find them at Cogswell Polytechnical College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of San Jose, Cogswell Polytechnical College is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the graphic communications program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,685.
Academy Of Art University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in graphic communications, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a private for-profit institution. Early-career graphic communications graduates from Academy Of Art University make a median of around $54,175 per year.
Laguna College Of Art And Design landed the #6 spot for graphic communications salaries this year. Located in the rural area of Laguna Beach, Laguna College Of Art And Design is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, graphic communications degree recipients from Laguna College Of Art And Design typically earn about $62,659 annually.
California College Of The Arts placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for graphic communications. Set in the city of San Francisco, California College Of The Arts is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career graphic communications graduates from California College Of The Arts make a median of around $48,315 per year.
Los Angeles Film School came in at #8 for graphic communications graduate earnings this year. Los Angeles Film School is a private for-profit school located in the city of Hollywood. Early-career graphic communications graduates from Los Angeles Film School make a median of around $15,529 per year.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries graphic communications graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 8 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.