Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Color technician education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a color technician. Color technicians usually study graphic design, cosmetology, or business. 47% of color technicians hold a bachelor's degree, and 26% hold an high school diploma. We analyzed 511 real color technician resumes to see exactly what color technician education sections show.
The most common colleges for color technicians are the Western Washington University and the Western Washington University.
There are also many online color technician courses to help get the education required to be a color technician.
What education do you need to become a color technician?
What degree do you need to be a color technician?
- Bachelor's, 47%
- High School Diploma, 26%
- Associate, 21%
- Master's, 1%
- Other Degrees, 5%
What should I major in to become a color technician?
- Graphic Design, 14%
- Cosmetology, 14%
- Business, 12%
- General Studies, 8%
- Other Majors, 52%
Most common colleges for color technicians
| Color technician common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Western Washington University | 11.63% |
| Texas A&M University | 9.30% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 6.98% |
| University of Phoenix | 6.98% |
| Columbus College of Art and Design | 6.98% |
Best majors for color technicians
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graphic Design | 13.7% |
| 2 | Cosmetology | 13.7% |
| 3 | Business | 12.4% |
| 4 | General Studies | 8.1% |
| 5 | Biology | 5.0% |
Best colleges for color technicians
The best colleges for color technicians are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.
A color technician with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for color technicians. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become color technicians.
1. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon
Bayamon, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$5,940
Enrollment
4,169
2. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Guayama
Guayama, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$5,902
Enrollment
1,585
3. Ball State University
Muncie, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,896
Enrollment
15,529
4. University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH • Private
In-state tuition
$11,000
Enrollment
25,973
5. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Knoxville, TN • Private
In-state tuition
$13,006
Enrollment
22,653
6. New York City College of Technology of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,120
Enrollment
16,204
7. Lawrence Technological University
Southfield, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$33,570
Enrollment
1,991
8. Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$11,788
Enrollment
11,008
9. University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD • Private
In-state tuition
$9,061
Enrollment
6,228
10. Murray State University
Murray, KY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,084
Enrollment
6,830
20 best online courses for color technicians
Advertising disclosure
1. Premiere Pro Lumetri 2020: Color Correct & Color Grade
Start learning Color Correction and Color Grading in this complete beginners class...
2. Adobe Premiere Pro: Color Grading Masterclass (Updated)
Learn Color Correction & Color Grading and Create Professional Cinematic Looks with Adobe Premiere Pro...
3. Premiere Pro Lumetri: Color Correct like a Pro
Learn the essentials of color philosophy and perform technical color correction and grading tasks...
4. Mastering Advanced Color Grading in Photoshop
Learn Professional Color Grading Techniques in Photoshop and make your Images Stand Out - with Ressources...
5. Color Theory for Designers
Get Inspired by Color for Graphic Design...
6. Cinematic Color Grading: Making Your Videos Come Alive
Learn how to take your footage to the next level using professional color correct and grading techniques...
7. The Beginner's Guide to Color Theory for Digital Artists
Let's go beyond the color wheel. Learn how to practically apply color theory to your art & stop being afraid of color!...
8. Learn the Secret of Successful Color Mixing for Painters
How to get the color you want every time you paint...
9. Graphic Design Theory - Color & Contrast
Use Color And Contrast Masterfully In Your Design Projects...
10. Understanding Color: A Comprehensive Course for Artists
A deep look into the history, science and application of Color Theory...
11. Color Mixing Course in Acrylics & Oil Paints
Complete Color Mixing Course For Acrylic Painting & Oil Painting - Understand how to mix color in acrylics and oils...
12. Learn Digital Color with Photoshop
Learn coloring from a professional colorist!...
13. The Colored Pencil Drawing Course
Draw Like a Pro With Colored Pencils...
14. How to Use Color Like a Pro
Interior Design Color Schemes Made Easy...
15. Color Grading Masterclass: Resolve 15
Learn How to Take Your Color Grading to the Next Level and Become a Pro. Made by a Netflix Film Director...
16. Customer Service, Customer Support, And Customer Experience
Customer service, customer support, and customer experience training. Loyal clients through world-class customer service...
17. The Complete Drawing Course: Colored Pencil Drawing Art
Complete Drawing Course from Beginner to Advanced. Ultimate Drawing & Sketching Art with Colored Pencils Drawing...
18. A Pro's Guide to Digital Comic Book Coloring
Learn the entire process start to finish in Photoshop. Coloring is so much more than just staying inside the lines...
19. The Psychology of Color in Game Design & Development
Comprehensive Theory/Psychology Course that Analyzes how Color can affect a Player's Emotion, Actions and Thinking!...
20. Customer Service Foundation
An introductory course about understanding the foundations of Customer Service...
Top 10 most affordable universities for color technicians
The most affordable schools for color technicians are Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, brigham young university, and hunter college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for color technicians are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for color technicians.
1. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
2. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
3. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
4. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
5. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-state tuition
$7,064
Cost of attendance
15,576
6. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon
Bayamon, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$5,940
Cost of attendance
13,508
7. Clayton State University
Morrow, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$5,419
Cost of attendance
17,697
8. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,338
Cost of attendance
14,281
9. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
10. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for color technicians
The hardest universities for color technicians to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.
Some great schools for color technicians are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for color technicians based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
4. Amherst College
Amherst, MA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,449
5. Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,465
6. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,422
7. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
8. Hamilton College
Clinton, NY • Private
Admissions rate
21%
SAT average
1,446
9. Tufts University
Medford, MA • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,461
10. University of Tulsa
Tulsa, OK • Private
Admissions rate
41%
SAT average
1,321
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for color technicians
The easiest schools for color technicians to get into are D'Youville College, mount saint mary's university, and saint joseph's college of maine.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a color technician without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for color technicians.
1. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
2. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
3. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
4. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
5. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
6. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
7. Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,111
8. Thomas More University
Crestview Hills, KY • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,099
9. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
10. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
Average color technician salary by education level
| Color technician education level | Color technician salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $54,530 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $55,014 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $56,190 |
Color technician education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.
Search for color technician jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025