Comic Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a comic. Comics usually study photography, graphic design, or communication. 67% of comics hold a bachelor's degree, and 11% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 633 real comic resumes to see exactly what comic education sections show.

The most common colleges for comics are the San Diego State University and the San Diego State University.

There are also many online comic courses to help get the education required to be a comic.

What education do you need to become a comic?

What degree do you need to be a comic?

The most common degree for comics is bachelor's degree, with 67% of comics earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 11% and associate degree degree at 11%.
  • Bachelor's, 67%
  • Associate, 11%
  • High School Diploma, 11%
  • Master's, 7%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a comic?

You should major in photography to become a comic. 13% of comics major in photography. Other common majors for a comic include graphic design and communication.

Most common colleges for comics

Comics often get their degrees at San Diego State University, University of California - Davis, and University of California, Santa Barbara. Here are the most common colleges for comics in the US based on their resumes.
Comic Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
San Diego State University8.70%
University of California - Davis7.25%
University of California, Santa Barbara7.25%
Academy of Art University5.80%
New York University5.80%

Best majors for comics

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Photography13.1%
2Graphic Design12.2%
3Communication10.4%
4Business9.0%
5Fine Arts9.0%

Best colleges for comics

The best colleges for comics are Stanford University, Harvard University, and Northwestern University.

A comic with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for comics. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become comics.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Journalism
Liberal Arts
Communication
Psychology

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

Website

www.stanford.edu/

Address

450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-2061

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $92,800 per year

Net Price: $12,265 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.36%
SAT Average - 1497
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Computer Science
Business
General Education, Specific Areas
English
Communication

3. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

Website

www.harvard.edu

Address

Massachusetts Hall, Cambridge, MA 02138

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,300 per year

Net Price: $15,561 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.73%
SAT Average - 1520
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
History
English
Liberal Arts
Psychology

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Communication
English
General Education, Specific Areas
Liberal Arts

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

Website

www.bu.edu

Address

One Silber Way, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02215

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $52,800 per year

Net Price: $30,729 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.09%
SAT Average - 1420
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Communication
Psychology
Criminal Justice
Journalism

20 best online courses for comics

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Top 10 most affordable universities for comics

The most affordable schools for comics are University of Florida, brooklyn college of the city university of new york, and fashion institute of technology.

If the best universities for comics are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for comics.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,381

Cost of Attendance

21,034

Website

www.ufl.edu/

Address

300 SW 13th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,700 per year

Net Price: $8,057 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 38.75%
SAT Average - 1362
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Liberal Arts
General Education, Specific Areas
English

2. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,240

Cost of Attendance

13,991

Website

www.brooklyn.cuny.edu

Address

2900 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11210-2889

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $36,900 per year

Net Price: $3,000 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 44.26%
SAT Average - 1150
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
General Education, Specific Areas
Photography
English
F

3. Fashion Institute of Technology

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,740

Cost of Attendance

17,864

Website

www.fitnyc.edu

Address

Seventh Avenue At 27th Street, New York, NY 10001-5992

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $43,200 per year

Net Price: $11,760 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 52.67%
Most Popular Majors
Graphic Design
Business
Fine Arts
Photography

4. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,798

Cost of Attendance

18,306

Website

www.csulb.edu

Address

1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90840-0115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $40,000 per year

Net Price: $8,982 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 31.21%
SAT Average - 1146
ACT Average - 23
Most Popular Majors
Business
Liberal Arts
Communication
Fine Arts
English

5. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,306

Cost of Attendance

16,091

Website

www.farmingdale.edu/

Address

2350 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale, NY 11735-1021

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $44,800 per year

Net Price: $9,268 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 46.07%
SAT Average - 1091
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Business
Liberal Arts
Criminal Justice
Graphic Design
Psychology

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for comics

The hardest universities for comics to get into are Stanford University, Harvard University, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for comics are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for comics based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

4%

SAT Average

1,497

Website

www.stanford.edu/

Address

450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-2061

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $92,800 per year

Net Price: $12,265 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.36%
SAT Average - 1497
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Computer Science
Business
General Education, Specific Areas
English
Communication

2. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

5%

SAT Average

1,520

Website

www.harvard.edu

Address

Massachusetts Hall, Cambridge, MA 02138

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,300 per year

Net Price: $15,561 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.73%
SAT Average - 1520
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
History
English
Liberal Arts
Psychology

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Journalism
Liberal Arts
Communication
Psychology

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,492

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Communication
English
General Education, Specific Areas
Liberal Arts

5. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions Rate

9%

SAT Average

1,516

Website

WWW.DUKE.EDU

Address

103 Allen Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $93,200 per year

Net Price: $23,442 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.91%
SAT Average - 1516
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Science
Psychology
English
Education

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for comics

The easiest schools for comics to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, notre dame de namur university, and notre dame college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a comic without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for comics.

1. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

84%

SAT Average

1,031

Website

https://www.msmu.edu

Address

12001 Chalon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $57,700 per year

Net Price: $29,267 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 83.82%
SAT Average - 1031
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Education
Liberal Arts
Business
Accounting
Photography

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

82%

SAT Average

983

Website

www.ndnu.edu

Address

1500 Ralston Ave, Belmont, CA 94002-1908

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,000 per year

Net Price: $25,610 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 81.52%
SAT Average - 983
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Communication

3. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions Rate

90%

SAT Average

994

Website

www.notredamecollege.edu

Address

4545 College Rd, Cleveland, OH 44121-4293

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $37,000 per year

Net Price: $21,651 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 89.65%
SAT Average - 994
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Psychology
Criminal Justice
General Education, Specific Areas

4. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

98%

SAT Average

1,003

Website

www.wbu.edu

Address

1900 W 7th St., Plainview, TX 79072

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,300 per year

Net Price: $21,855 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 98.04%
SAT Average - 1003
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Education
Criminal Justice
Psychology

5. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

93%

SAT Average

1,026

Website

https://www.curry.edu

Address

1071 Blue Hill Ave, Milton, MA 02186-2395

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $44,800 per year

Net Price: $30,293 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 92.71%
SAT Average - 1026
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Criminal Justice
Business
Psychology
Education
Communication

Average comic salary by education level

According to our data, comics with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $103,646 annually. Comics with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $103,281.
Comic education level
ascdesc
Comic salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$103,281
High School Diploma or Less$67,953
Bachelor's Degree$103,646
Some College/ Associate Degree$79,786

Comic Education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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