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Graphic Communications

Instructional content for this group of programs is defined in codes 10.0301 - 10.0399.

Types of Degrees Graphic Communications Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Graphic Communications have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	957
Associate’s Degree	1,950
Bachelor’s Degree	3,539
Master’s Degree	1,825

What Graphic Communications Majors Need to Know

Programs in Graphic Communications build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Graphic Communications graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Graphic Communications emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Production and Processing — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills emphasized by a Graphic Communications program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Monitoring — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Graphic Communications careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Information Ordering — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Visualization — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Graphic Communications graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.0 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.0 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	3.9 / 7
Thinking Creatively	3.9 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.8 / 7
Processing Information	3.5 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.5 / 7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	3.5 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Graphic Communications professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Adobe Illustrator	Graphics or photo imaging software	✓
Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Adobe Photoshop	Graphics or photo imaging software	✓
Adobe Acrobat	Document management software	—
Adobe InDesign	Desktop publishing software	✓
QuarkXPress	Desktop publishing software	—
Adobe PageMaker	Desktop publishing software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Graphic Communications graduates include:

• Computer Typesetter
• Desktop Operator
• Compositor
• Hand Etcher
• Plate Maker
• Pantograph Setter
• Lithographing Machine Operator
• Electrotyper
• Digital Print Operator
• Lithographic Press Operator
• Stereotyper
• Print Operator
• Letterpress Setter
• Striping Machine Operator
• Roller Print Tender

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Graphic Communications graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	45.1%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	17.2%
Some college courses	13.6%
Bachelor’s degree	11.2%
Postsecondary certificate	7.1%
Less than a high school diploma	5.9%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Graphic Communications?

Gender Distribution

This field has a relatively balanced gender distribution: 53.1% women and 46.9% men among Graphic Communications graduates.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	4,410	53.1%
Men	3,888	46.9%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Graphic Communications graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	3,455	41.6%
Asian	676	8.1%
Hispanic or Latino	1,873	22.6%
Black or African American	701	8.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native	74	0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	15	0.2%
Two or More Races	428	5.2%
Race Unknown	273	3.3%
International Students	803	9.7%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Graphic Communications Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of Graphic Communications graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$28,061
4 years	$41,119
5 years	$47,590

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $47,590 — roughly 70% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Graphic Communications Programs

Fully online options is reported by IPEDS for Graphic Communications. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	13	13
Bachelor’s	9	6
Master’s	1	2

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Graphic Communications Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Graphic Communications graduates earn a median of $41,119 four years after completion — roughly 8% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Communications Tech Support	16,676
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians	7,169
Communications Technologies/Technicians	1,043
Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services, Other	166
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES/TECHNICIANS AND SUPPORT SERVICES	—

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.