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.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying graphic communications schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose graphic communications graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Northcentral Technical College, our #1 for graphic communications graduate salaries in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a public institution. Early-career graphic communications graduates from Northcentral Technical College make a median of around $39,904 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Illinois State University earned it the #2 place for graphic communications. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a public institution. Students who complete the graphic communications program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,462.
University Of Wisconsin Stout came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying graphic communications schools. University Of Wisconsin Stout is a public school located in the town of Menomonie. After graduating, graphic communications degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stout typically earn about $61,093 annually.
Carroll University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying graphic communications schools. Located in the city of Waukesha, Carroll University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the graphic communications program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,027.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying graphic communications schools. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public institution. Graphic Communications graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of about $48,089 a year early in their careers.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for graphic communications. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a public school located in the city of Green Bay. Students who complete the graphic communications program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,223.
Columbia College Chicago ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying graphic communications schools. Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students who complete the graphic communications program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,596.
Bradley University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for graphic communications. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the graphic communications program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,232.
Milwaukee Area Technical College placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for graphic communications. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a public institution. Graphic Communications graduates of Milwaukee Area Technical College earn a median of about $31,959 a year early in their careers.
Ferris State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying graphic communications schools. Ferris State University is a public school located in the town of Big Rapids. Students who complete the graphic communications program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,604.
Depaul University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for graphic communications. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. Graphic Communications graduates of Depaul University earn a median of about $50,382 a year early in their careers.
College For Creative Studies placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for graphic communications. Set in the city of Detroit, College For Creative Studies is a private not-for-profit institution. Graphic Communications graduates of College For Creative Studies earn a median of about $42,209 a year early in their careers.
Columbus College Of Art And Design landed the #13 spot for graphic communications salaries this year. Columbus College Of Art And Design is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. Early-career graphic communications graduates from Columbus College Of Art And Design make a median of around $37,010 per year.
Huntington University placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for graphic communications. Set in the town of Huntington, Huntington University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career graphic communications graduates from Huntington University make a median of around $28,856 per year.
Cleveland Institute Of Art earned the #15 position for graphic communications graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland Institute Of Art is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, graphic communications degree recipients from Cleveland Institute Of Art typically earn about $19,409 annually.
Michigan Career And Technical Institute ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying graphic communications schools. Michigan Career And Technical Institute is a public school located in the rural area of Plainwell. Early-career graphic communications graduates from Michigan Career And Technical Institute make a median of around $14,862 per year.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their graphic communications graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 16 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.