Printmaking: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Printmaking is a dynamic and expressive discipline that equips students with the technical precision and creative vision to translate artistic concepts into lasting visual forms. Through hands-on engagement with traditional and contemporary methods, learners master the art of image transfer using ink, dyes, and a variety of substrates, cultivating both technical mastery and a distinct personal aesthetic.
- Monochrome and color printing: Explore the nuances of single-color and multi-layered color applications, emphasizing control, layering, and visual impact across prints.
- Tonality and contrast: Develop skills in manipulating light and shadow to create depth, mood, and visual hierarchy within printed compositions.
- Printmaking chemistry: Understand the chemical properties of inks, solvents, and etching agents, ensuring safe and effective material use in studio practice.
- Equipment set-up and maintenance: Gain proficiency in preparing and caring for presses, plates, and other essential tools to ensure consistent, high-quality output.
- Serigraphy (screen printing): Learn to create stencils and use mesh screens to transfer ink in precise, repeatable patterns across diverse surfaces.
- Lithography: Master the principle of oil and water repulsion to draw directly on stone or metal plates, producing detailed and nuanced prints.
- Intaglio techniques: Engage with methods like etching and engraving, where lines are incised into metal plates to hold ink and create rich, textured impressions.
- Woodcut and relief printing: Practice carving away areas of a block to leave raised surfaces that receive ink, emphasizing bold forms and high-contrast imagery.
- Stencil and composite methods: Experiment with layered and mixed-media approaches, combining multiple techniques to expand expressive possibilities.
- Personal style development: Cultivate a unique artistic voice through sustained practice, conceptual exploration, and critical reflection on work.
Printmaking Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Printmaking Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Printmaking degrees, including Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators and Craft Artists. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 112,260 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1121 | $80,190 | $47,040 - $194,530 | 97,890 | N/A |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators 27-1013 | $60,560 | $26,420 - $140,660 | 10,000 | $29.12 |
| Craft Artists 27-1012 | $38,480 | $22,620 - $65,850 | 4,370 | $18.50 |
Printmaking Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $41,790 in Kansas to $129,330 in Hawaii—a 209% difference. The highest-paying states include Hawaii, California, and Rhode Island. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 112,260 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Printmaking by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 34 institutions offering Printmaking programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Printmaking is found at Yale University (21 graduates), Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) (14 graduates), Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) (12 graduates), SUNY, Purchase College (12 graduates), and Temple University (10 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 154 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yale University |
Master's
|
21 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | risd.edu |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Boston, Massachusetts | Public | massart.edu |
| SUNY |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Purchase, New York | Public | purchase.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Kansas City, Missouri | Private | kcai.edu |
| Pratt Institute |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Brooklyn, New York | Private | pratt.edu |
| Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
6 | Portland, Oregon | Private | willamette.edu |
| Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | mica.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
|
5 | New Paltz, New York | Public | newpaltz.edu |
| Cranbrook Academy of Art |
Master's
|
4 | Bloomfield Hills, Michigan | Private | cranbrookart.edu |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Private | artacademy.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Master's
|
4 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico (EAPD) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | eap.edu |
| California College of the Arts (CCA) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | San Francisco, California | Private | cca.edu |
| Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Portland, Maine | Private | meca.edu |
| Rhode Island College (RIC) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Providence, Rhode Island | Public | ric.edu |
| South Dakota State University (SDSU) |
Other Award
|
3 | Brookings, South Dakota | Public | sdstate.edu |
| University of Dallas (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Irving, Texas | Private | udallas.edu |
| University of Puget Sound (UPS) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Tacoma, Washington | Private | pugetsound.edu |
| University of Hartford (UHart) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | West Hartford, Connecticut | Private | hartford.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Master's
|
2 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Montserrat College of Art |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Beverly, Massachusetts | Private | montserrat.edu |
| Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | mcad.edu |
| Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | pafa.org |
| Salem State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Salem, Massachusetts | Public | salemstate.edu |
| Aquinas College (AQ) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Private | aquinas.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| New England College (NEC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Henniker, New Hampshire | Private | nec.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | cia.edu |
| Arcadia University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Glenside, Pennsylvania | Private | arcadia.edu |
| Bennington College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Bennington, Vermont | Private | bennington.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Printmaking programs
How much can I earn with a Printmaking degree?
Salaries for Printmaking graduates vary by role and location. Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $80,190 annually, while Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators earn around $60,560. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Hawaii average $129,330 compared to $41,790 in Kansas. Approximately 112,260 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Printmaking programs?
Currently 34 accredited institutions offer Printmaking degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Yale University (21 graduates), Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) (14 graduates), and Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) (12 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Printmaking growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 318 in 2010 to a peak of 191 in 2020, before declining slightly to 154 in 2023-24. This represents a 52% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Printmaking degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators, and Craft Artists. Related occupations employ approximately 112,260 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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