Graphic Communications at Fashion Institute of Technology

FIT's graphic communications program shows alarmingly low starting earnings—$12,261 puts graduates in the bottom 5% nationally and bottom 10% even among New York schools, where this major pays less to begin with. The nearly $20,000 in debt, while lower than typical for this field, still exceeds that first-year salary. For context, Rochester Institute of Technology's graduates in the same program earn more than 2.5 times as much ($32,044) right out of the gate.

The substantial caveat here is sample size: with fewer than 30 graduates in this data, we might be seeing an unrepresentative snapshot. Perhaps some graduates took unpaid internships or freelance work that doesn't show up properly in wage records. The 88% earnings jump by year four suggests things improve, though $23,086 is still concerning—roughly what New York's minimum wage would yield working full-time.

If your child is genuinely passionate about this field and specifically wants FIT's design-focused environment, have honest conversations about the financial reality of those first few years. But families counting on quick return on investment should look closely at programs where typical graduates actually earn enough to cover their loans. The numbers suggest this path requires either substantial family support during those lean early years or a backup plan.