Computer Graphics Degrees (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Computer Graphics maps to BLS occupations averaging about $143,798, with roughly 961,420 workers nationwide in those roles. About 1,393 bachelor's completions in IPEDS 2023; median in-state published tuition is about $4,896.
Key Statistics
Computer Graphics: what the data shows
Common questions about computer graphics degrees, answered from IPEDS, College Scorecard, BLS OEWS, and O*NET in this repository—not program marketing copy.
What is a computer graphics degree?
A Computer Graphics program is classified under NCES CIP 11.0803 in the Computer Software and Media Applications field family (11.08).
A program that focuses on the software, hardware, and mathematical tools used to represent, display, and manipulate topological, two-, and three-dimensional objects on a computer screen and that prepares individuals to function as computer graphics specialists. Includes instruction in graphics software and systems; digital multimedia; graphic design; graphics devices, processors, and standards; attributes and transformations; projections; surface identification and rendering; color theory and application; and applicable geometry and algorithms
IPEDS counted 1,393 completions for this CIP in the survey year in our extract.
Types of computer graphics degrees and related programs
Other NCES program codes in the 11.08 family with pages on EDsmart Data:
- Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration (CIP 11.0802)
- Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation (CIP 11.0804)
- Web Development (CIP 11.0801)
How long does it take to get a computer graphics degree?
Award levels reported to IPEDS for CIP 11.0803 in our file:
- 547 Associate (24.9% of IPEDS total)—about two years of full-time study
- 1,393 Bachelor's (63.3% of IPEDS total)—typically four years
- 259 Master's (11.8% of IPEDS total)—one to two years beyond a bachelor's
Time to completion depends on enrollment intensity and transfer credits; figures above describe credential type, not calendar time for every student.
What degree do you need?
For Computer Hardware Engineers (top mapped occupation), O*NET incumbent surveys in our career profile report these education credentials most often: Some college (29%), High School or Equivalent (27%), Bachelors Degree (22%). Bachelor's awards account for a majority of IPEDS completions for CIP 11.0803, but occupation data show multiple pathways.
O*NET education distributions describe incumbent workers, not minimum legal or employer requirements.
What jobs can you get with a computer graphics degree?
Our degree→occupation mapping links Computer Graphics to the BLS roles below. Employment is U.S. OEWS; median wage is national May 2024 where published in our extract.
| Occupation | U.S. employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Hardware Engineers | 75,710 | $155,020 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | 497,800 | $103,790 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | 93,940 | $127,590 |
| Information Security Analysts | 179,430 | $124,910 |
| Budget Analysts | 47,170 | $87,930 |
| Credit Analysts | 67,370 | $80,970 |
See Careers & Jobs for mean wages and industry context.
Is a computer graphics degree worth it?
College Scorecard national medians for the Computer Software and Media Applications bachelor's program family: median debt $23,839, median earnings $58,894 four years after enrollment. Debt-to-earnings proxy: 0.63.
About 9.8% of graduates in this field family were not working and not enrolled one year after completion in Scorecard's national program medians.
Among schools reporting in our Scorecard extract, median published in-state tuition is $4,896 and median net price is $11,495.
We do not score "worth" on opinion—compare debt, earnings, wages for mapped occupations, and completion data above against your cost and career target.
Institutions
Information about the types of higher education institutions that grant degrees in Computer Graphics and the types of students that study this field.
Tuition Costs for Common Institutions
$4,896 Median In-State Public
$35,056 Median Out of State Private
Tuition costs for Computer Graphics majors are, on average, $4,896 for in-state public colleges, and $35,056 for out of state private colleges.
Tuition costs comparison for Computer Graphics programs.
Degrees Awarded Over Time
100,000 Total Degrees Awarded in 2023
This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Computer Graphics from 2015 to 2023.
Historical trend of degrees awarded in Computer Graphics.
Top 5 Schools by Enrollment
| # | School | State | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern New Hampshire University | NH | 163,164 |
| 2 | Western Governors University | UT | 155,088 |
| 3 | Western Governors University | UT | 155,088 |
| 4 | University of Phoenix-Arizona | AZ | 85,991 |
| 5 | University of Phoenix-Arizona | AZ | 85,991 |
Schools with the largest enrollment offering Computer Graphics programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Tuition
| # | School | State | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antelope Valley Community College District | CA | $1,124 |
| 2 | Antelope Valley Community College District | CA | $1,124 |
| 3 | Lake Tahoe Community College | CA | $1,131 |
| 4 | Lake Tahoe Community College | CA | $1,131 |
| 5 | El Camino Community College District | CA | $1,144 |
Schools with the lowest tuition costs for Computer Graphics programs.
Top 5 Lowest Net Price
| # | School | State | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada College | CA | $32 |
| 2 | New Mexico State University-Grants | NM | $68 |
| 3 | Fort Peck Community College | MT | $400 |
| 4 | College of San Mateo | CA | $536 |
| 5 | Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | GA | $614 |
Schools with the lowest average net price for Computer Graphics programs.
Graduation Rates
Graduation rate data is not available for this degree program.
Graduation/completion rates for Computer Graphics programs across institutions.
Where students complete this major (IPEDS)
Bachelor's-level completions (IPEDS Completions, award level 5) summed by institution state. State is taken from IPEDS Directory (HD2023) for each reporting institution.
Geographic concentration
The largest number of reported bachelor's completions for Computer Graphics is in NH (368 completions). That state represents about 26.4% of U.S. bachelor's completions reported for this CIP in the IPEDS file we use.
Among states, the highest concentration relative to all bachelor's degrees awarded in-state is NH (0.58% of that state's bachelor's completions).
Top states by count of bachelor's completions for this CIP (IPEDS).
| State | Bachelor's completions (this CIP) | % of U.S. total (this CIP) | % of state's all bachelor's |
|---|---|---|---|
| NH | 368 | 26.4% | 0.58% |
| TX | 185 | 13.3% | 0.06% |
| PR | 165 | 11.8% | 0.56% |
| IN | 164 | 11.8% | 0.16% |
| NY | 90 | 6.5% | 0.03% |
| RI | 89 | 6.4% | 0.35% |
| CA | 68 | 4.9% | 0.01% |
| PA | 46 | 3.3% | 0.03% |
| MO | 43 | 3.1% | 0.06% |
| DE | 38 | 2.7% | 0.27% |
| NC | 35 | 2.5% | 0.03% |
| CO | 24 | 1.7% | 0.03% |
| SD | 24 | 1.7% | 0.20% |
| UT | 16 | 1.1% | 0.01% |
| CT | 14 | 1.0% | 0.03% |
| TN | 8 | 0.6% | 0.01% |
| IA | 6 | 0.4% | 0.01% |
| GA | 4 | 0.3% | 0.00% |
Related specializations
Other NCES program codes in the 11.08 CIP family with dedicated pages on EDsmart Data.
- Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration CIP 11.0802
- Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation CIP 11.0804
- Web Development CIP 11.0801
Degree Levels (IPEDS)
Completions reported to IPEDS for CIP 11.0803 in the survey year used in our extract (2,199 total across levels below).
- 547 Associate (24.9% of IPEDS total)
- 1,393 Bachelor's (63.3% of IPEDS total)
- 259 Master's (11.8% of IPEDS total)
Source: IPEDS Completions (c2024_a), summed by award level for this CIP.
Careers & Jobs
Occupations linked to this major in our degree→career mapping, with wages and employment from processed BLS career profiles in this repo.
Across these BLS occupations, employment-weighted mean pay is about $143,798. Figures are national OEWS estimates for the occupation—not earnings of Computer Graphics graduates alone.
Related occupations (BLS OEWS)
| Occupation | Mean annual wage | U.S. employment |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $188,333 | 75,710 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $136,553 | 497,800 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $162,232 | 93,940 |
| Information Security Analysts | $156,788 | 179,430 |
| Budget Analysts | $110,155 | 47,170 |
| Credit Analysts | $110,532 | 67,370 |
Open each occupation for full career profile charts and industry breakdowns on EDsmart Data.
Program outcomes (College Scorecard)
National medians across bachelor's programs in the Computer Software and Media Applications CIP family (22 programs reporting debt). Not specific to every Computer Graphics graduate.
- $23,839 median federal loan debt among completers
- $58,894 median earnings four years after enrollment (national program median)
- 0.63 debt-to-earnings ratio (Scorecard proxy)
- 9.8% of graduates not working and not enrolled one year out (program cohort)
Source: College Scorecard program-level outcomes aggregated by 4-digit CIP family.
Employment
Wages and industry mix below use BLS OEWS data for occupations linked to this major in our mapping—not a graduate earnings survey.
Yearly Income for Common Jobs
$143,798 Average Wage in Workforce
The average salary for Computer Graphics majors is $143,798.
Average annual salaries of the most common occupations for Computer Graphics majors.
Occupations by Share
961,420 2023 Workforce
The number of Computer Graphics graduates in the workforce has been growing.
Various jobs filled by those with a major in Computer Graphics by share of the total number of graduates.
Diversity
Demographic information for those who earn a degree in Computer Graphics in the United States.
Workforce Age
N/A Average Age in 2023
This chart shows distribution of ages for employees with a degree in Computer Graphics.
Age distribution for Computer Graphics degree holders in the workforce.
Gender Distribution
Counts below are bachelor's-level completions only (IPEDS Completions, award level 5).
1,393 Total Degrees Awarded
705 Male (50.61%)
688 Female (49.39%)
Gender distribution of Computer Graphics degree recipients.
Race and Ethnicity Distribution
Counts below are bachelor's-level completions only (IPEDS Completions, award level 5).
599 White (43.00%)
320 Hispanic or Latino (22.97%)
129 Asian (9.26%)
89 Black or African American (6.39%)
48 Two or More Races (3.45%)
Racial and ethnic distribution of Computer Graphics degree recipients.
Degrees Awarded
The most common degree types awarded to students graduating in Computer Graphics are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Associates Degree.
Distribution of degree types awarded in Computer Graphics.
Skills
Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the Computer Graphics field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Required Skills
Computer Graphics majors need many skills, but most especially Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Rating of how necessary various skills are for Computer Graphics majors.
Skills Bar Chart
This bar chart shows the same information as the radar chart, displaying the importance of each skill.
Skill importance ratings for Computer Graphics majors.
About
A program that focuses on the software, hardware, and mathematical tools used to represent, display, and manipulate topological, two-, and three-dimensional objects on a computer screen and that prepares individuals to function as computer graphics specialists. Includes instruction in graphics software and systems; digital multimedia; graphic design; graphics devices, processors, and standards; attributes and transformations; projections; surface identification and rendering; color theory and application; and applicable geometry and algorithms
In 2023, 100,000 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs in Computer Graphics.
CIP Code
11.0803 - Computer Graphics
What the data shows
At the program-family level, College Scorecard reports median debt of $23,839 for bachelor's completers and median earnings near $58,894, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63. Those figures describe national program cohorts in this CIP family—not every individual Computer Graphics graduate.
About 9.8% of graduates in this field family were not working and not enrolled one year after completion in Scorecard's national program medians. That is a program-level mobility signal, not a national underemployment rate.
Mapped BLS occupations show employment-weighted mean pay of about $143,798. The largest mapped role by headcount is Computer Hardware Engineers (75,710 U.S. jobs in OEWS).
Published tuition medians in College Scorecard land at $4,896 in-state at public colleges and $35,056 at private institutions for programs in this field.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, IPEDS completion data, and Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Employment and wage data are from the most recent Census Bureau ACS PUMS estimates.