by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in General Publishing covers Publishing. A Program That Focuses On The Process Of Managing The Creation, Publication, And Distribution Of Print And Electronic Books And Other Text Products And Prepares Individuals To Manage The Editorial, Technical, And Business Aspects Of Publishing Operations. Includes Instruction In Product Planning And Design, Editing, Author Relations, Business And Copyright Law, Publishing Industry Operations, Contracting And Purchasing, Product Marketing, Electronic Publishing And Commerce, History Of Publishing, And Professional Standards And Ethics. Read on to learn the important information every general publishing major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general publishing programs.
Nationwide, general publishing is a widely-pursued major, with 340 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Publishing Schools ranking analyzes these 26 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general publishing students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general publishing programs later in this article.
Studies in General Publishing emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general publishing graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a general publishing program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a general publishing major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general 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 general 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-master’s certificate | 1.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general publishing careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in general publishing opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to general publishing.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general publishing.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Editors | 11,763 | 3.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of general 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 general publishing graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general publishing grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Editors | $100,346 |
With 26 different general publishing programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general publishing school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
