Graphic Communications at Austin Community College District
Austin, TX · Public · Associate Degree
TradeSchoolWorth Score (Base Case)
52
Strong Growth
45
Base Case
41
Conservative
Earnings
$32,657/yr (32% vs median)
AI-Proof
Moderate (51% shielded)
Job Market
Large (32,300 openings/yr)
Future-Proof Earnings
Three scenarios modeling future earnings based on technology adoption rates and job market trends for Graphic Communications graduates.
| Strong Growth Full Stability |
Base Case Moderate Changes |
Conservative Max Disruption |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $450K | $257K | $198K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 88.2x | 50.4x | 38.8x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 21.2x | 12.1x | 9.3x |
| Viable Career Paths | 5 of 6 | 5 of 6 | 3 of 6 |
| TradeSchoolWorth Score | 52 | 45 | 41 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as technology and market conditions evolve over time.
Program Tuition (In-State)
$5,100
Out-of-state: $21,180
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$42,691
31% growth from Year 1
Career Paths
Where Graphic Communications graduates typically work. Raw data — no blending. The scenarios above model how these factors interact. This field has roughly 32,300 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI-Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special effects artists and animators | $99,800 | 5,000 | +1.6% | 48% |
| Desktop publishers | $53,620 | 400 | -12.4% | 35% |
| Prepress technicians and workers | $47,300 | 2,800 | -14.6% | 56% |
| Printing press operators | $45,160 | 13,700 | -8.1% | 71% |
| Etchers and engravers | $40,450 | 900 | -0.7% | 86% |
| Data entry keyers | $39,850 | 9,500 | -25.9% | 11% |
Compare & Explore
Graphic Communications Overview
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TradeSchoolWorth Score for Graphic Communications at Austin Community College District?
This program scores 45/100 in the Base Case scenario, factoring in earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and earnings multiple. The score ranges from 41 (conservative) to 52 (strong growth) depending on market conditions.
How AI-proof is a career in Graphic Communications?
We model three scenarios: Strong Growth (full career stability), Base Case (moderate changes), and Conservative (maximum disruption). In the base case, Graphic Communications graduates retain 5 of 6 viable career paths. 10-year earnings range from $197,727 (conservative) to $449,663 (strong growth).
How many job openings are there for Graphic Communications graduates?
The career paths mapped to Graphic Communications have roughly 32,300 combined job openings per year nationally, making this a large job market.
Is Graphic Communications at Austin Community College District worth it?
In the Base Case, this program earns 50.4x its tuition over 10 years. Even in the Conservative scenario, the multiple is 38.8x. The narrow spread between scenarios shows how stable trade careers are compared to desk jobs.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034
(employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE.
Scenarios model earnings resilience using AI exposure data and BLS job growth projections.
"Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI.
Last updated 2026.