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Printing estimator education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a printing estimator. Printing estimators usually study business, graphic communications, or accounting. 63% of printing estimators hold a bachelor's degree, and 19% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 161 real printing estimator resumes to see exactly what printing estimator education sections show.

The most common colleges for printing estimators are the Illinois State University and the Illinois State University.

There are also many online printing estimator courses to help get the education required to be a printing estimator.

What education do you need to become a printing estimator?

What degree do you need to be a printing estimator?

The most common degree for printing estimators is bachelor's degree, with 63% of printing estimators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 19% and associate degree degree at 10%.
  • Bachelor's, 63%
  • Associate, 19%
  • High School Diploma, 10%
  • Master's, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a printing estimator?

You should major in business to become a printing estimator. 21% of printing estimators major in business. Other common majors for a printing estimator include graphic communications and accounting.

Most common colleges for printing estimators

Printing estimators often get their degrees at Illinois State University, University of Wisconsin - Stout, and Rochester Institute of Technology. Here are the most common colleges for printing estimators in the US based on their resumes.
Printing estimator common collegePercentages
Illinois State University14.29%
University of Wisconsin - Stout10.71%
Rochester Institute of Technology10.71%
University of North Texas7.14%
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania3.57%

Best majors for printing estimators

Best colleges for printing estimators

The best colleges for printing estimators are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.

A printing estimator with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for printing estimators. 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 printing estimators.

1. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$9,816

Enrollment

21,047

2. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

7. Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$52,930

Enrollment

5,030

8. North Carolina State University

Raleigh, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$9,101

Enrollment

23,708

9. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

10. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

20 best online courses for printing estimators

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Top 10 most affordable universities for printing estimators

The most affordable schools for printing estimators are University of Florida, california state university - long beach, and suny farmingdale.

If the best universities for printing estimators 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 printing estimators.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

3. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

4. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

6. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

7. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

8. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

9. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

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 printing estimators

The hardest universities for printing estimators to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.

Some great schools for printing estimators 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 printing estimators 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. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

4. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

7. Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,380

8. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

9. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,434

10. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for printing estimators

The easiest schools for printing estimators to get into are Bluefield College, oklahoma wesleyan university, and gwynedd mercy university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a printing estimator 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 printing estimators.

1. Bluefield College

Bluefield, VA • Private

Admissions rate

95%

SAT average

980

2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

3. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

4. Pennsylvania State University - Worthington Scranton

Dunmore, PA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

1,056

5. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

6. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

7. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

8. Pennsylvania State University - Fayette (The Eberly Campus)

Lemont Furnace, PA • Private

Admissions rate

80%

SAT average

1,067

9. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

10. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

Average printing estimator salary by education level

Printing estimators with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $53,746 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, printing estimators earn a median annual income of $50,006 compared to $46,914 for printing estimators with an Associate degree.
Printing estimator education levelPrinting estimator salary
Master's Degree$53,746
High School Diploma or Less$45,631
Bachelor's Degree$50,006
Some College/ Associate Degree$46,914

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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