Best institutions to study Printing Management
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical and managerial knowledge and skills to the processes and procedures of managing printing operations from initial design through finished product distribution.
3 U.S. institutions graduated 56 Printing Management students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 10.0302, a specialization of Graphic Communications (CIP 10.03), and leads most directly to the Printing Press Operators occupation (BLS SOC 51-5112).
About Printing Management programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical and managerial knowledge and skills to the processes and procedures of managing printing operations from initial design through finished product distribution. Includes instruction in the principles of graphic communications design and production; quality control; printing operations management; computerization; printing plant management; business finance and marketing; logistics and distribution; personnel supervision and leadership; and professional standards in the graphic communications industry.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Printing Management program, part of the Graphic Communications field, prepares individuals to manage printing operations effectively. Students learn to apply both technical and managerial skills from the design phase to the distribution of the finished product, making this program ideal for those interested in a career in the printing industry.
In this program, students gain knowledge in graphic communications design, quality control, printing operations management, and business finance. Coursework also covers logistics, personnel supervision, and professional standards, equipping graduates with a comprehensive skill set for managing printing processes.
Credentials awarded
What Printing Management graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree56 graduates / yr · 3 institutions100%
Graduates over time
Printing Management completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 57 |
| 2013 | 66 |
| 2014 | 91 |
| 2015 | 78 |
| 2016 | 84 |
| 2017 | 110 |
| 2018 | 92 |
| 2019 | 77 |
| 2020 | 78 |
| 2021 | 62 |
| 2022 | 66 |
| 2023 | 55 |
| 2024 | 59 |
| 2025 | 56 |
Top 3 institutions for Printing Management, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburg State University Pittsburg, KSPublicBachelor's | 28 | 57% | — | $30,270 |
| 2 | University of Minnesota - Duluth Duluth, MNPublicBachelor's | 24 | 65% | — | $36,557 |
| 3 | Ferris State University Big Rapids, MIPublicBachelor's | 4 | 47% | — | $30,059 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Graphic Communications field (CIP 10.03) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 3 states
Where Printing Management graduates come from. Each state links to all Graphic Communications programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | 1 | 28 | Pittsburg State University28 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 24 | University of Minnesota - Duluth24 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 4 | Ferris State University4 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 51-5112, Printing Press Operators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Printing Management program can pursue careers as Printing Press Operators or Prepress Technicians. The job outlook indicates a decline of 8.1% in this field, with approximately 13,700 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is around $45,160, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 10.0302
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Printing Press Operatorsprimary SOC 51-5112 | $45,780 | -8.1% Decline | ~13,700 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Prepress Technicians and Workers SOC 51-5111 | $48,690 | -14.6% Decline | ~2,800 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Printing Management programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Start presses and pull proofs to check for ink coverage and density, alignment, and registration.
- Examine job orders to determine quantities to be printed, stock specifications, colors, or special printing instructions.
- Adjust ink fountain flow rates.
- Verify that paper and ink meet the specifications for a given job.
- Collect and inspect random samples during print runs to identify any necessary adjustments.
- Feed paper through press cylinders and adjust feed and tension controls.
Tools and technology used
Other Graphic Communications specializations
The 8 other 6-digit CIP codes under Graphic Communications (CIP 10.03).
- Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special EffectsCIP 10.03046,849 graduates / yr250 institutions
- Prepress/CIP 10.0303
Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design 1,335 graduates / yr83 institutions - Graphic CommunicationsCIP 10.0301455 graduates / yr29 institutions
- Graphic and Printing Equipment OperatorCIP 10.0305252 graduates / yr19 institutions
- Graphic CommunicationsCIP 10.0399170 graduates / yr10 institutions
- Printing Press OperatorCIP 10.0307limited data9 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Platemaker/CIP 10.0306
Imager limited data7 graduates / yr2 institutions - Computer Typography and Composition Equipment OperatorCIP 10.0308limited data7 graduates / yr1 institutions
Common questions
What degree do I earn in this program?+
You will earn a Bachelor's degree in Printing Management.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
Currently, there are three colleges offering this program.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in monitoring, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 8.1%, with 13,700 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Printing Management?+
Printing Management is CIP 10.0302 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Graphic Communications (CIP 10.03). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply technical and managerial knowledge and skills to the processes and procedures of managing printing operations from initial design through finished product distribution. Includes instruction in the principles of graphic communications design and production; quality control; printing operations management; computerization; printing plant management; business finance and marketing; logistics and distribution; personnel supervision and leadership; and professional standards in the graphic communications industry.
How many institutions offer Printing Management programs?+
3 U.S. institutions reported Printing Management graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 3 states, awarding 56 credentials in the year. That is 0.6% of all Graphic Communications graduates.
How much do Printing Management graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Printing Press Operators occupation, which Printing Management most directly leads to, pays a median of $45,780 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Graphic Communications field report median earnings of $30,270 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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