Graphic Communications at Minneapolis College of Art and Design

At $24,427 in first-year earnings, Minneapolis College of Art and Design's graphic communications graduates earn substantially less than the Minnesota median of $30,492—landing in just the 25th percentile among state programs. That $6,000 gap is significant when you're trying to pay off $27,000 in student loans on roughly $2,000 per month before taxes. More concerning, earnings don't improve: graduates earn essentially the same four years later, while University of Minnesota-Duluth graduates in the same field earn $36,557.

The program does keep debt manageable relative to national norms (25th percentile), and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.11 suggests the loans are technically serviceable. However, these are poverty-level wages in Minneapolis for a bachelor's degree graduate. With 40% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on meaningful income mobility that this program isn't delivering.

If your child is set on graphic design, they should understand they're likely facing several years of very tight budgets and possibly needing roommates or family support while building a freelance portfolio or climbing through entry-level positions. The Minnesota data suggests other in-state options deliver significantly better outcomes for similar debt.