Graphic Communications at Salt Lake Community College

Salt Lake Community College's Graphic Communications associate program lands right at the national median for earnings—$23,932 in the first year—but keep in mind this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making it less reliable than larger programs. The $11,375 in typical debt translates to a 0.48 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates carry roughly half their first-year salary in loans. While this ratio isn't alarming compared to some programs, the modest starting salary means even moderate debt takes a real bite out of early paychecks.

The challenge here is economic, not educational: graphic communications roles simply don't command high salaries at the associate level, regardless of where you study. This program performs slightly better than average among Utah graphic communications programs (60th percentile statewide), though it's the only one in the state tracked by this data. Nationally, it sits squarely in the middle of the pack—no better or worse than typical outcomes elsewhere.

For families, this comes down to whether $24,000 annual earnings justify the investment. If your student has strong portfolio work and plans to quickly move into freelance or build skills toward higher-paying design roles, this could serve as an affordable entry point. But if they're expecting the associate degree alone to deliver financial stability, that's unlikely given these earnings levels across the field.