by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 251 U.S. colleges awarded 6,817 degrees and certificates in Visual Communications. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 46% of graduates. College Factual ranks 143 schools in its 2027 Best Visual Communications Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $32,258 one year after completing, rising to $50,151 after four years.
Studying Visual Communications explores Design And Visual Communications, General. A Program In The Applied Visual Arts That Focuses On The General Principles And Techniques For Effectively Communicating Ideas And Information, And Packaging Products, In Digital And Other Formats To Business And Consumer Audiences, And That May Prepare Individuals In Any Of The Applied Art Media.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, visual communications is a widely-pursued major, with 6,817 degrees awarded annually. 251 colleges award visual communications degrees, an average of 27 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,008.
By level, the 6,817 awards include 776 certificates, 1,323 associate degrees, 3,167 bachelor’s degrees, 1,474 master’s degrees and 3 doctorates.
Women earned 68% of visual communications degrees and certificates in the latest year (4,625 of 6,817). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (3,640) and Hispanic or Latino (1,075), and international students earned 285.
College Factual ranks 143 schools in its 2027 Best Visual Communications Schools ranking, including 39 for associate degrees, 86 for bachelor’s degrees and 13 for master’s degrees. It also ranks visual communications schools within 36 states. In all, 251 colleges offer visual communications programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Visual Communications Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common visual communications credential is the bachelor’s degree: 3,167 of the 6,817 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to visual communications call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Fine Arts, English Language and Design, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a visual communications degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 776 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,323 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,167 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,474 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to visual communications, at 35.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.9% |
| Master’s degree | 29.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.8% |
| Some college courses | 5.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.0% |
| First professional degree | 0.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
7 occupations are related to Visual Communications, with an average median salary of $71,861; the strongest outlook belongs to Web and Digital Interface Designers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Designer, Voice Professor, Adjunct Lecturer and Open Rank Professor.
The occupation related to visual communications with the most projected jobs is Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,074,154.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | 509,308 | 13.0% |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | 387,029 | 12.4% |
| Graphic Designers | 267,813 | 4.6% |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | 253,386 | -2.7% |
| Video Game Designers | 207,860 | 2.6% |
| Designers, All Other | 45,592 | 3.0% |
Visual Communications graduates earn a median $32,258 one year after completing their program, $50,151 after four years and $47,460 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,258 |
| 4 years | $50,151 |
| 5 years | $47,460 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to visual communications is Set and Exhibit Designers, with a median salary of $109,049.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $109,049 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $88,198 |
| Designers, All Other | $73,407 |
| Graphic Designers | $66,386 |
| Video Game Designers | $62,617 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $56,384 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
Visual Communications has 9 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 33,089 degrees a year; the largest are Graphic Design (10,828), Interior Design (5,801) and Fashion/Apparel Design (3,254). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Graphic Design | 10,828 |
| Interior Design | 5,801 |
| Fashion/Apparel Design | 3,254 |
| Illustration | 3,183 |
| Commercial and Advertising Art | 3,106 |
| Game and Interactive Media Design | 2,975 |
| Design and Applied Arts, Other | 1,743 |
| Industrial and Product Design | 1,433 |
| Commercial Photography | 766 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
