by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 83 U.S. colleges awarded 1,335 degrees and certificates in Prepress/Desktop Publishing & Digital Imaging Design. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 47% of graduates. College Factual ranks 37 schools in its 2027 Best Prepress/Desktop Publishing & Digital Imaging Design Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $28,094 one year after completing, rising to $44,537 after four years.
A 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.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design is a widely-pursued major, with 1,335 degrees awarded annually. 83 colleges award prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design degrees, an average of 16 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 167.
By level, the 1,335 awards include 180 certificates, 521 associate degrees and 634 master’s degrees.
Women earned 54% of prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design degrees and certificates in the latest year (722 of 1,335). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Hispanic or Latino (486) and White (469), and international students earned 32.
College Factual ranks 37 schools in its 2027 Best Prepress/Desktop Publishing & Digital Imaging Design Schools ranking, including 19 for associate degrees. It also ranks prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design schools within 3 states. In all, 83 colleges offer prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Prepress/Desktop Publishing & Digital Imaging Design Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design credential is the master’s degree: 634 of the 1,335 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design call most for Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension and Judgment and Decision Making, and for knowledge of Computers and Electronics, English Language and Communications and Media, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Near Vision, Information Ordering and Visualization.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 180 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 521 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 634 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design, at 42.4%.
| 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% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Prepress/Desktop Publishing & Digital Imaging Design, with an average median salary of $26,491; the strongest outlook belongs to Prepress Technicians and Workers, at 12.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Desktop Operator, Computer Typesetter, Compositor and DTP Operator (Desktop Publishing Operator).
The occupation related to prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design with the most projected jobs is Desktop Publishers, at 644,611.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop Publishers | 644,611 | 3.9% |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | 442,588 | 12.2% |
Prepress/Desktop Publishing & Digital Imaging Design graduates earn a median $28,094 one year after completing their program, $44,537 after four years and $47,560 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $28,094 |
| 4 years | $44,537 |
| 5 years | $47,560 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design, with a median salary of $27,130.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Desktop Publishers | $27,130 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $25,852 |
Prepress/Desktop Publishing & Digital Imaging Design has 8 similar majors in the Communications Technology/Support field, which together award 7,823 degrees a year; the largest are Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects (6,864), Graphic Communications, General (458) and Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator, General Production (252). Browse all Communications Technology/Support majors or the full list of college majors.
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