What can you do with a Graphic Design degree from Pennsylvania College of Technology?

First, some facts. Of the Graphic Design graduates from Pennsylvania College of Technology we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 72%, Graphic Design graduates from Pennsylvania College of Technology have a slightly higher likelihood (+5%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 72%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 10% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Graphic Design graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Graphic Design graduate from Pennsylvania College of Technology and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2017 from Pennsylvania College of Technology with a Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Graphic Designer
andculture
May 2017 - Nov 2019
As a Graphic Designer at andculture, this position directly utilizes skills and knowledge gained from the Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, requiring expertise in visual communication and design principles.

Graphic Designer
andculture
Nov 2019 - Aug 2020
This role continues to apply graphic design skills and principles relevant to the individual's educational background, focusing on creating visual content regularly.

Graphic Designer
Direggio Advertising
Sep 2020 - Mar 2021
Working as a Graphic Designer at Direggio Advertising, the individual applies the core qualifications of their graphic design education in their daily tasks, making it highly relevant.

Graphic Designer
Direggio Advertising
Mar 2021 - Jan 2022
This position also necessitates the practical application of skills learned in the Bachelor's program, reinforcing its strong relevance to graphic design.

Senior Brand Designer
Writ. A Brand Strategy Group
Feb 2022 - Apr 2022
As a Senior Brand Designer at Writ, the job demands advanced design skills and brand development knowledge that directly relate to their Bachelor's education.

Graphic Designer
Freelance
Oct 2019 - Present
Freelance Graphic Design work inherently requires the application of design concepts and skills cultivated during the individuals degree, ensuring direct relevance.

Senior Designer
Vulgar
Sep 2022 - Present
As a Senior Designer at Vulgar, the position leverages advanced graphic design skills and creative thinking, which are essential components of the Bachelor's degree, maintaining high relevance.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Fine Arts - MFA
Marywood University
2018 - 2021
ABOUT

HELLO!My name is [NAME REMOVED]. Im an award-winning graphic designer and illustrator. I got an early start in this field as a child taking a ball-point pen to the fresh canvas of my parents' newly-painted basement walls. Still true today, I am always looking for ways to make improvements and help others.I am a strategic thinker and skilled at helping my clients create a graphic solution to reach their target audience. My education and experience in graphic design has taught me the importance of having a solid understanding of competition in the marketplace, knowing who I am communicating with and aligning myself with my clients goals.My passion is creating design solutions that stand out and build identity and loyalty that my clients and I are proud of. In every project, I search for the breakthrough ah-ha moment; and I believe getting there comes from a healthy mix of strategy, collaboration, communication, creativity and fun! Lets talk.

What jobs can you get with a Graphic Design degree from Pennsylvania College of Technology?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When looking at the career paths of graduates from the Graphic Design program at Pennsylvania College of Technology, it’s clear that a solid chunk of them landed roles that are directly related to graphic design. Most of the jobs listed, such as Graphic Designer positions at various companies, really leverage the skills they gained during their studies. Roles like Graphic Application Artist, Senior Designer, and even freelancing show that many graduates are actively applying their design knowledge in real-world scenarios where they are responsible for visual content creation, branding, and design strategy.

However, there are also quite a few cases where graduates ended up in roles that don't tap into their graphic design education at all. Jobs like Customer Service Assistant, Associate Dog Trainer, or part-time roles that focus mainly on operational tasks don't make use of the specific skills they developed in school. This mix paints a picture where, while many graduates find relevant positions in graphic design, others may drift into roles that don’t utilize their training, which can be a bit disappointing for those wanting to fully embrace their degree. Overall, it's a blend of both worlds, with a tendency for graduates to succeed in their field but also facing some unrelated job paths along the way.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Graphic Design graduates (this is across all Graphic Design graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Pennsylvania College of Technology):

What kind of career trajectories do Graphic Design graduates from Pennsylvania College of Technology have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

It seems like graduates from Pennsylvania College of Technology who studied Graphic Design often start their careers with entry-level positions in design-related fields. For example, many of the recent grads have found roles as graphic designers, marketing specialists, or even creative assistants shortly after graduation. The earlier profiles show that some graduates landed jobs quickly, such as becoming a designer at Auntie Anne's or a graphic application artist at GK Elite. However, others had a more rocky start, taking on a mix of design work alongside unrelated roles like customer service or training, which might not fully utilize their graphic design skills.

As for the longer-term career trajectories, many seem to stick with graphic design, moving into more advanced roles as they gain experience. A bunch of them, like those who graduated in 2017, have transitioned to senior or more specialized design roles, while others are even freelancing or running their own creative businesses. On the flip side, some graduates have taken paths that drift away from graphic design, focusing on other interests like dog training or brand associate roles in retail. So, while a decent number of these graduates are finding success in design-related careers, there are definitely a few outliers who have strayed into different fields entirely.

How hard is a Graphic Design degree from Pennsylvania College of Technology?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design can be a mix of challenging and rewarding, and it really depends on your passion for the subject. At places like Pennsylvania College of Technology, you’re likely going to dive deep into design principles, software skills, and a lot of hands-on projects, which can be tough if you’re not super into it. There will be late nights spent perfecting your portfolio and critiques that might sting a bit, but if you genuinely enjoy creating and learning about design, it’ll feel more like fun than torture. Overall, it’s probably about average in terms of difficulty—if you keep your creative spark alive and are willing to put in the effort, you’ll probably do just fine!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Graphic Design.

Do Graphic Design graduates from Pennsylvania College of Technology tend to make good money?

Looking at these Graphic Design grads from Pennsylvania College of Technology, it's a mixed bag when it comes to money. The 2010 grad working at Auntie Anne's has probably made a steady income over the years, which is decent stability, but it doesn't scream big bucks. The 2011 grad has bounced around a lot of different jobs, some of which seem part-time or freelance, which can be hit or miss financially. The 2015 grad seems to have found a niche in dog training in addition to graphic design, which could add some income diversity. On the other hand, the 2017 grads have been busy with a mix of graphics roles and seem to be climbing the ladder with some brands, especially the one at Vulgar who might be pulling in more as a senior designer. The newer grads are still getting started, with internships and entry-level jobs, so they might be on the lower end of the pay scale for now. Overall, it looks like some grads are doing alright, but many are still working their way up in the field, which can definitely affect how much they’re making early in their careers.

What buzzwords do Graphic Design graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Graphic Design (this is across all Graphic Design graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Pennsylvania College of Technology). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Graphic Design?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Graphic Design (ordered by the average relevance score of their Graphic Design graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
ArtCenter College of Design 97 10
Florida Atlantic University 95 11
Rhode Island School of Design 93 12
Brigham Young University 92 10
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 90 14
Massachusetts College of Art and Design 90 10
University of Houston 89 14
Kendall College of Art and Design 87 15
Auburn University 85 11
George Mason University 85 18
Savannah College of Art and Design 85 47
California State University-Sacramento 83 13
Iowa State University 82 16
Louisiana State University 82 13
San Diego State University 82 17
Liberty University 81 21
Drexel University 81 13
School of Visual Arts 81 18
Illinois State University 79 15
Utah Valley University 78 10
University of Central Florida 77 10
University of Nevada-Las Vegas 77 12
Towson University 76 15
Portland State University 76 18
Kean University 76 12
Saginaw Valley State University 76 11
California State University-Long Beach 75 14
Colorado State University 74 12
Virginia Commonwealth University 74 10
Art Institute of Pittsburgh 74 11
Pennsylvania College of Technology 72 10
University of Wisconsin-Stout 71 13
The Art Institutes 71 34
James Madison University 70 14
Brigham Young University - Idaho 70 15
Columbia College Chicago 69 18
State University of New York College at Oswego 69 10
Pensacola Christian College 69 11
San Jose State University 68 17
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 68 10
University of Massachusetts Lowell 63 18
Queens College 62 21
Oakland University 59 10
Southern New Hampshire University 50 16
Full Sail University 50 47
Georgia Southern University 50 10