Graphic Communications at New Jersey Institute of Technology

With only two schools offering this program in New Jersey and fewer than 30 graduates measured, these numbers come with real uncertainty—but they tell an intriguing story. NJIT's Graphic Communications degree starts graduates at $39,134, nearly 55% above the national median for this field. Even more impressive: that number climbs to $47,959 by year four, suggesting graduates find paths into better-paying roles as they gain experience.

The debt picture looks manageable at $25,875—graduates owe about eight months of their starting salary, which they're paying down while their earnings grow substantially. That's a stark contrast to the typical graphic communications graduate nationally, who earns just $25,330 and often carries similar or higher debt. The catch is that NJIT ranks only in the 60th percentile among New Jersey programs, though with just one other school offering this degree in-state, that comparison means little.

For a parent, the calculus here depends on what you're comparing against. If your child is set on graphic communications, NJIT appears to deliver far stronger outcomes than most programs nationally. But the small sample size means you can't bank on these exact numbers—this could represent a particularly successful cohort rather than a typical one. Still, the combination of reasonable debt and earnings that significantly outpace the field makes this worth serious consideration, especially if your student has the technical aptitude that NJIT's STEM-focused environment would complement.