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Desktop operator education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a desktop operator. Desktop operators usually study graphic design, graphic communications, or business. 50% of desktop operators hold a bachelor's degree, and 28% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 338 real desktop operator resumes to see exactly what desktop operator education sections show.
The most common colleges for desktop operators are the Des Moines and the Des Moines.
There are also many online desktop operator courses to help get the education required to be a desktop operator.
What education do you need to become a desktop operator?
What degree do you need to be a desktop operator?
- Bachelor's, 50%
- Associate, 28%
- High School Diploma, 16%
- Master's, 3%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a desktop operator?
- Graphic Design, 33%
- Business, 8%
- Computer Science, 6%
- Other Majors, 44%
Most common colleges for desktop operators
| Desktop operator common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Des Moines | 12.50% |
| The Art Institute of Pittsburgh | 9.38% |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | 9.38% |
| Alfred University | 6.25% |
| Illinois State University | 6.25% |
Best majors for desktop operators
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graphic Design | 32.8% |
| 2 | Graphic Communications | 8.8% |
| 3 | Business | 8.0% |
| 4 | Computer Science | 6.4% |
| 5 | Fine Arts | 5.6% |
Best colleges for desktop operators
The best colleges for desktop operators are Northeastern University, New York University, and Southern Methodist University.
A desktop operator with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for desktop operators. 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 desktop operators.
1. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
2. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
3. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
4. North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$9,101
Enrollment
23,708
5. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA • Private
In-state tuition
$13,620
Enrollment
27,730
6. New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, NJ • Private
In-state tuition
$17,338
Enrollment
7,820
7. Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$5,740
Enrollment
7,938
8. Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$54,492
Enrollment
6,448
9. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Enrollment
31,441
10. Daemen College
Amherst, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$28,580
Enrollment
1,712
20 best online courses for desktop operators
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Top 10 most affordable universities for desktop operators
The most affordable schools for desktop operators are Brigham Young University, fashion institute of technology, and suny farmingdale.
If the best universities for desktop operators 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 desktop operators.
1. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
2. Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$5,740
Cost of attendance
17,864
3. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
4. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,338
Cost of attendance
14,281
5. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
6. North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$9,101
Cost of attendance
23,600
7. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Cost of attendance
25,228
8. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
9. Brigham Young University - Hawaii
Laie, HI • Private
In-state tuition
$5,560
Cost of attendance
18,043
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 desktop operators
The hardest universities for desktop operators to get into are Northeastern University, New York University, and Southern Methodist University.
Some great schools for desktop operators 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 desktop operators 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. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
2. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
3. Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
51%
SAT average
1,395
4. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
5. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
6. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
Admissions rate
39%
SAT average
1,367
7. Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,465
8. North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC • Private
Admissions rate
47%
SAT average
1,336
9. Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
47%
SAT average
1,321
10. Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
66%
SAT average
1,319
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for desktop operators
The easiest schools for desktop operators to get into are University of the Incarnate Word, notre dame de namur university, and kean university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a desktop operator 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 desktop operators.
1. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
2. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
3. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
4. Grand View University
Des Moines, IA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,060
5. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
6. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
7. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
8. University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,020
9. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
10. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
Average desktop operator salary by education level
| Desktop operator education level | Desktop operator salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $61,198 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $50,692 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $55,939 |
| Doctorate Degree | $59,256 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $52,246 |
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025