by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Prepress/Desktop Publishing & Digital Imaging Design covers Prepress/desktop Publishing And Digital Imaging Design. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To The Layout, Design And Typographic Arrangement Of Printed And/or Electronic Graphic And Textual Products. Includes Instruction In Printing And Lithographic Equipment And Operations, Computer Hardware And Software, Digital Imaging, Print Preparation, Page Layout And Design, Desktop Publishing, And Applicable Principles Of Graphic Design And Web Page Design. Read on to learn the key facts every prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design programs.
In the U.S., prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design is a widely-pursued major, with 1,171 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Prepress/Desktop Publishing & Digital Imaging Design Schools ranking analyzes these 85 schools to determine the best overall colleges for prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design programs later in this article.
Coursework for Prepress/Desktop Publishing & Digital Imaging Design emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 221 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 485 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 462 |
People currently working in careers related to prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 42.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 15.8% |
| Some college courses | 8.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.8% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop Publishers | 644,611 | 3.9% |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | 442,588 | 12.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $28,061 |
| 4 years | $41,119 |
| 5 years | $47,590 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Desktop Publishers | $27,130 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $25,852 |
With 85 different prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design school rankings to help you.
Students interested in prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects | 6,026 |
| Graphic Communications, General | 551 |
| Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator, General Production | 314 |
| Graphic Communications, Other | 157 |
| Printing Management | 59 |
| Printing Press Operator | 12 |
| Platemaker/Imager | 8 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
