Computer Graphics: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Computer Graphics is a dynamic field dedicated to the creation, manipulation, and visualization of digital imagery using advanced computational techniques. This program equips students with the technical and creative skills needed to design and implement visual content across industries such as entertainment, architecture, engineering, and scientific visualization.
- Graphics Software and Systems: Mastery of industry-standard tools and platforms used for modeling, animation, and rendering digital assets, including real-time and offline rendering engines.
- Digital Multimedia Integration: Techniques for combining visual elements with audio, video, and interactive components to create immersive digital experiences.
- Graphic Design Principles: Foundational knowledge in composition, layout, typography, and visual storytelling to support effective digital communication.
- Graphics Hardware and Standards: Understanding of display technologies, GPU architectures, and industry protocols that enable high-performance rendering and cross-platform compatibility.
- Geometric Transformations and Attributes: Application of mathematical operations to scale, rotate, translate, and modify visual properties of objects in digital space.
- Projection Techniques: Methods for projecting three-dimensional scenes onto two-dimensional surfaces, including perspective and orthographic views.
- Surface Identification and Rendering: Processes for defining surface properties and simulating light interaction to produce realistic visual effects.
- Color Theory and Application: In-depth study of color models, perception, and harmonization to ensure accurate and impactful visual output.
- Computational Geometry and Algorithms: Core mathematical frameworks and computational strategies essential for efficient modeling, animation, and rendering of complex digital forms.
Computer Graphics Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Computer Graphics Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Computer Graphics degrees, including Computer Programmers, Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary and Graphic Designers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 435,280 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Programmers 15-1251 | $98,670 | $52,190 - $162,090 | 109,870 | $47.44 |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1194 | $61,490 | $38,680 - $106,580 | 111,150 | $29.56 |
| Graphic Designers 27-1024 | $61,300 | $37,600 - $103,030 | 214,260 | $29.47 |
Computer Graphics Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $53,630 in Mississippi to $100,753 in Washington—a 88% difference. The highest-paying states include Washington, Oregon, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 435,280 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Computer Graphics by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Computer Graphics programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Computer Graphics is found at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) (368 graduates), Valencia College (287 graduates), Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (190 graduates), Atlantic University (157 graduates), and School of Visual Arts (SVA) (112 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 3,296 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) |
Bachelor's
|
368 | Manchester, New Hampshire | Private | snhu.edu |
| Valencia College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
287 | Orlando, Florida | Public | valenciacollege.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
190 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Atlantic University |
Bachelor's
|
157 | Guaynabo, Puerto Rico | Private | atlanticu.edu |
| School of Visual Arts (SVA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
112 | New York, New York | Private | sva.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
|
107 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
102 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Broward College (BC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
95 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Public | broward.edu |
| Miami Dade College (MDC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
94 | Miami, Florida | Public | mdc.edu |
| Academy of Art University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
75 | San Francisco, California | Private | academyart.edu |
| Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
75 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | risd.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Carolina) |
Other Award
|
69 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| Pensacola State College (PSC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
68 | Pensacola, Florida | Public | pensacolastate.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Master's
|
67 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| South Florida Institute of Technology (SFIT) |
Other Award
|
66 | Miami, Florida | Private | sf-institute.com |
| Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
57 | Melbourne, Florida | Public | easternflorida.edu |
| Macomb Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
54 | Warren, Michigan | Public | macomb.edu |
| Florida State College (FSCJ) |
Other Award
|
50 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | fscj.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Lindenwood University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
48 | Saint Charles, Missouri | Private | lindenwood.edu |
| Seminole State College of Florida |
Associate's
Other Award
|
44 | Sanford, Florida | Public | seminolestate.edu |
| Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) |
Residency
Other Award
|
41 | Santa Rosa, California | Public | santarosa.edu |
| Pierce College District |
Associate's
Other Award
|
40 | Lakewood, Washington | Public | pierce.ctc.edu |
| California College of the Arts (CCA) |
Bachelor's
|
38 | San Francisco, California | Private | cca.edu |
| Wilmington University (WilmU) |
Bachelor's
|
38 | New Castle, Delaware | Private | wilmu.edu |
| MiraCosta College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
36 | Oceanside, California | Public | miracosta.edu |
| Antelope Valley Community College District (AVCCD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
33 | Lancaster, California | Public | avc.edu |
| Schoolcraft Community College District |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
32 | Livonia, Michigan | Public | schoolcraft.edu |
| Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
32 | Sewell, New Jersey | Public | rcsj.edu |
| Palm Beach State College (PBSC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
27 | Lake Worth, Florida | Public | palmbeachstate.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | jwu.edu |
| State College of Florida (SCF) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
26 | Bradenton, Florida | Public | scf.edu |
| Hudson County Community College (HCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
25 | Jersey City, New Jersey | Public | hccc.edu |
| New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
25 | Old Westbury, New York | Private | nyit.edu |
| Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Lakewood, Colorado | Private | rmcad.edu |
| Tallahassee Community College (TCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
24 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | tcc.fl.edu |
| Washtenaw Community College (WCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
24 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | wccnet.edu |
| Dakota State University (DSU) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Madison, South Dakota | Public | dsu.edu |
| Bellevue College (BC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
24 | Bellevue, Washington | Public | bellevuecollege.edu |
| North Carolina A & T State University (NC A&T) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | ncat.edu |
| Ace Institute of Technology |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
22 | New York, New York | Private | acecareer.edu |
| College of the Desert (COD) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
20 | Palm Desert, California | Public | collegeofthedesert.edu |
| Stark State College |
Associate's
|
20 | North Canton, Ohio | Public | starkstate.edu |
| Orange Coast College (OCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
18 | Costa Mesa, California | Public | orangecoastcollege.edu |
| Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
17 | Seattle, Washington | Private | seattle.aie.edu |
| Santa Fe College (SF) |
Associate's
|
16 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | sfcollege.edu |
| Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) |
Associate's
|
16 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Public | qcc.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| University of Hartford (UHart) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | West Hartford, Connecticut | Private | hartford.edu |
| Five Towns College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
14 | Dix Hills, New York | Private | ftc.edu |
| Modesto Junior College (MJC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | Modesto, California | Public | mjc.edu |
| Los Angeles Pacific College (LAPC) |
Other Award
|
13 | Los Angeles, California | Private | lapacific.edu |
| Carroll Community College |
Associate's
|
13 | Westminster, Maryland | Public | carrollcc.edu |
| Hillsborough Community College (HCC) |
Other Award
|
12 | Tampa, Florida | Public | hccfl.edu |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Wilmington, North Carolina | Public | uncw.edu |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
12 | Kirkland, Washington | Public | lwtech.edu |
| Saint Johns River State College (SJR) |
Associate's
|
11 | Palatka, Florida | Public | sjrstate.edu |
| Palomar College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
10 | San Marcos, California | Public | www2.palomar.edu |
| Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
10 | Bangor, Maine | Public | emcc.edu |
| Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
10 | Newark, Ohio | Public | cotc.edu |
| Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
|
10 | Lafayette, Louisiana | Private | lafayette.aie.edu |
| Indian River State College (IRSC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
9 | Fort Pierce, Florida | Public | irsc.edu |
| Santa Ana College (SAC) |
Associate's
|
8 | Santa Ana, California | Public | sac.edu |
| Woodbury University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Burbank, California | Private | woodbury.edu |
| Lansing Community College (LCC) |
Associate's
|
8 | Lansing, Michigan | Public | lcc.edu |
| Trevecca Nazarene University (TNU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | trevecca.edu |
| NUC University (NUC) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | nuc.edu |
| Moreno Valley College (MVC) |
Other Award
|
8 | Moreno Valley, California | Public | mvc.edu |
| Purdue University Northwest (PNW) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Hammond, Indiana | Public | pnw.edu |
| ABC Adult School |
Other Award
|
8 | Cerritos, California | Public | abcadultschool.edu |
| Canada College |
Other Award
|
7 | Redwood City, California | Public | canadacollege.edu |
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Other Award
|
7 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
6 | Niceville, Florida | Public | nwfsc.edu |
| University of Dubuque (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Dubuque, Iowa | Private | dbq.edu |
| Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Traverse City, Michigan | Public | nmc.edu |
| Wright State University |
Associate's
|
6 | Celina, Ohio | Public | lake.wright.edu |
| Luzerne County Community College (LCCC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Nanticoke, Pennsylvania | Public | luzerne.edu |
| Saddleback College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
5 | Mission Viejo, California | Public | saddleback.edu |
| Parkland College |
Other Award
|
5 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | parkland.edu |
| Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Marion, Indiana | Private | indwes.edu |
| North Central Michigan College (NCMC) |
Other Award
|
5 | Petoskey, Michigan | Public | ncmich.edu |
| Rowan College of South Jersey |
Associate's
Other Award
|
5 | Vineland, New Jersey | Public | rcsj.edu |
| Citrus College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
4 | Glendora, California | Public | citruscollege.edu |
| City College of San Francisco (CCSF) |
Other Award
|
4 | San Francisco, California | Public | ccsf.edu |
| Emmanuel University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Franklin Springs, Georgia | Private | ec.edu |
| Kankakee Community College (KCC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Kankakee, Illinois | Public | kcc.edu |
| The University of Montana (UM) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
4 | Missoula, Montana | Public | umt.edu |
| Clovis Community College (CCC) |
Other Award
|
4 | Clovis, New Mexico | Public | clovis.edu |
| Mountwest Community and Technical College (MCTC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Huntington, West Virginia | Public | mctc.edu |
| Mohave Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Kingman, Arizona | Public | mohave.edu |
| Chaffey College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
3 | Rancho Cucamonga, California | Public | chaffey.edu |
| College of Our Lady of the Elms (Elms College) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Chicopee, Massachusetts | Private | elms.edu |
| Saint Paul College |
Associate's
|
3 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Public | saintpaul.edu |
| Sisseton Wahpeton College (SWC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Sisseton, South Dakota | Public | swcollege.edu |
| Everett Community College (EvCC) |
Other Award
|
3 | Everett, Washington | Public | everettcc.edu |
| EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc |
Associate's
|
3 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | edpuniversity.edu |
| Enterprise State Community College (ESCC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Enterprise, Alabama | Public | escc.edu |
| University of Arkansas (UAFS) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Fort Smith, Arkansas | Public | uafs.edu |
| American River College (ARC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Sacramento, California | Public | arc.losrios.edu |
| Chabot College (CC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Hayward, California | Public | chabotcollege.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Computer Graphics programs
How much can I earn with a Computer Graphics degree?
Salaries for Computer Graphics graduates vary by role and location. Computer Programmers earn a median of $98,670 annually, while Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $61,490. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Washington average $100,753 compared to $53,630 in Mississippi. Approximately 435,280 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Computer Graphics programs?
Currently 113 accredited institutions offer Computer Graphics degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) (368 graduates), Valencia College (287 graduates), and Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (190 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Computer Graphics growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 3,284 in 2010 to 3,312 in 2023-24. This represents a 1% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Computer Graphics degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Computer Programmers, Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary, and Graphic Designers. Related occupations employ approximately 435,280 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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