Federal data
Highest earning graphic communications programs in California
California graphic communications programs, ranked by median earnings one year after completion, from the College Scorecard field-of-study file (September 18, 2026). Only programs with at least 30 counted graduates in the earnings sample are shown, and at least 5 programs must qualify for this list to exist.
| Rank | School | City | Sector | Median earnings, 1 year after | Graduates counted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo | Public, 4-year | $49,029 | 84 |
| 2 | University of Silicon Valley | San Jose | For-profit, 4-year | $33,727 | 66 |
| 3 | Academy of Art University | San Francisco | For-profit, 4-year | $27,481 | 94 |
| 4 | California College of the Arts | San Francisco | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $26,481 | 45 |
| 5 | University of California-Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz | Public, 4-year | $25,358 | 71 |
| 6 | Laguna College of Art and Design | Laguna Beach | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $17,941 | 44 |
| 7 | Los Angeles Film School | Hollywood | For-profit, 4-year | $15,529 | 56 |
Earnings cover federally aided graduates only, as published by College Scorecard.
How to read this. A smaller program can show a high or low figure from just a few graduates, and this earnings figure only ever covers students who received federal aid, so it does not describe every graduate.
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