by our College Data Analytics TeamBeing a publisher gives you the ability to create visually stimulating layouts. Publishers take information, shift it into a distributable form, and advertise it to the general public. They work to ensure other people's messages are read and received by others. They can do everything from editing and designing book covers to producing and selling a final product.
As a student, you will take classes in computer hardware and software, digital imaging, page layout and design, desktop publishing, graphic design, and other courses that will teach you how to layout and arrange text or images. The curriculum will also focus on businesses classes such as marketing and finance.
A degree in Publishing involves the study of Publishing. Read on to learn the important information every publishing student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering publishing programs.
Nationwide, publishing draws strong interest, with 340 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Publishing Schools ranking analyzes these 26 schools to determine the best overall colleges for publishing students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of publishing programs later in this article.
Programs in Publishing develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations publishing graduates commonly enter.
Publishing is a great major for someone who is creative and a multi-tasker. Publishers will do much of their work on computers making this a good job for those who understand and enjoy working with different types of software. Those who are successful in publishing pay close attention to detail and have excellent time management skills to ensure deadlines are kept and met. Meeting those deadlines takes a lot of hard work and can mean working overtime. Current publishers note that publishing can be hectic and, at times, can take up most of your free time.
It is recommended that those who are interested in publishing gain experience at a magazine, newspaper, website, or other publishing firm. This will teach you the basic tasks and prepare you for a career in publishing. Other opportunities to gain experience in publishing are by working with your campus' newspaper, magazine, or journal.
The skill set built by a publishing program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a publishing major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several publishing degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 84 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 253 |
People currently working in careers related to publishing tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 80.4% |
| Master’s degree | 17.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in publishing careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A major in Publishing could lead to a variety of careers. While many graduates may decide to work for a publishing house, magazine, or website, there are plenty of other jobs graduates are qualified for. These include a career in book promotions and sales, advertising, project management, and writing. Some graduates decide to pursue an advanced degree and go into the fields of law, business or education.
As fewer newspapers, books, and magazines are being published in print, there will be likely decrease in the amount of publishers needed.
Studying publishing prepares you for many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to publishing.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to publishing.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Editors | 11,763 | 3.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of publishing graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $42,218 |
| 4 years | $59,025 |
| 5 years | $65,201 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for publishing graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers publishing grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Editors | $100,346 |
With 26 different publishing programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased publishing school rankings to help you.
Those considering publishing, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Publishing | 340 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Communication, General | 55,210 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 19,636 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 17,813 |
| Journalism | 11,334 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | 1,080 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
