Computer Graphics

Types of Degrees Computer Graphics Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many computer graphics graduations there were in 2020-2021 for each degree level.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Bachelor’s Degree	1,211
Basic Certificate	752
Associate Degree	617
Master’s Degree	245
Undergraduate Certificate	163

What Computer Graphics Majors Need to Know

People with careers related to computer graphics were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.

Knowledge Areas for Computer Graphics Majors

Computer Graphics majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:

• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Skills for Computer Graphics Majors

computer graphics majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:

• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Abilities for Computer Graphics Majors

As you progress with your computer graphics degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:

• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

What Can You Do With a Computer Graphics Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with computer graphics:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Graphic Designers	4.2%	$50,370

Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Graphics?

Roughly 47% of the graduates are women, and 53% are men.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of computer graphics majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	101
Black or African American	52
Hispanic or Latino	216
White	606
International Students	138
Other Races/Ethnicities	98

Geographic Diversity

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in Computer Graphics. About 11.4% of those with this major are international students.

How Much Do Computer Graphics Majors Make?

Salaries According to BLS

Average salaries range from $54,680 to $89,580 (25th to 75th percentile) for careers related to computer graphics. This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Computer Graphics

Some careers associated with computer graphics require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

Find out what the typical degree level is for computer graphics careers below.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	2.1%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)	4.2%
Some College Courses	5.3%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	12.5%
Bachelor’s Degree	73.7%
Master’s Degree	2.3%

Online Computer Graphics Programs

In 2020-2021, 150 schools offered a computer graphics program of some type. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	31	0
Certificate (2-4 Years)	3	1
Associate’s Degree	73	5
Bachelor’s Degree	1	0
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	9	1
Post-Master’s	1	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	1	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Is a Degree in Computer Graphics Worth It?

The median salary for a computer graphics grad is $54,680 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 37% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $295,600 after 20 years!

Majors Related to Computer Graphics

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to computer graphics.

Major	Number of Grads
Web & Multimedia Design	5,300
Data Modeling/Warehousing & Database Administration	3,756
Other Computer Software & Media Applications	1,438
Modeling, Virtual Environments & Simulation	854

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
• Image Credit: By Negative Space under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.