Program Description

The Graphic Communication Technologies Associate Degree covers the complete printing process, starting with basic layout and design and an introduction to printing and ending with advanced courses in all of the various areas of printing. Specific areas covered include computer design, plate making, presswork, binding and finishing, digital photography and video, estimating and customer service. The program focuses on providing hands-on training on typical software programs, printing presses and bindery equipment.

Found in These Career Fields:

Approximate Program Cost

$11,430
Tuition & Fees: $10,796
Books & Supplies: $634

Starting Salary

$22,880–$32,240
Average, based on the NTC Graduate Outcomes Report

Financial Aid

Available
Total financial aid offered may not exceed the estimated Cost of Attendance (COA).
An aerial view of NTC's Wausau Campus main entrance on a sunny summer day. Trees and greenery frame the spacious side walks that lead up to the light-brown brick building.

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Availability

Courses for this program may be available at a variety of campus locations through multiple modes of delivery if you meet the admission requirements and prerequisites.

100%
at Wausau
20-30%
at Antigo
20-30%
at Medford
20-30%
at Phillips
20-30%
at Spencer
20-30%
at Wittenberg
20-30%
at Online

* Campus and online availability of courses and programs may be subject to change.

Outcomes

Graduates will be able to…

  • Estimate, schedule and invoice a wide range of printing jobs
  • Demonstrate basic digital photography, digital video and web page design skills
  • Produce a wide range of printed products on various presses
  • Design and layout basic print, web and multimedia projects using computer page layout, illustration and photo manipulation programs
  • Demonstrate basic design principles, color theory and typography in a variety of multi-media applications
  • Demonstrate printing processes including offset lithography, flexographic printing, screen printing, large format and digital printing

Careers

Some of the potential careers graduates can pursue are:

  • Prepress Technician
  • Print Production Coordinator
  • Digital Press Operator
  • Offset Press Operator
  • Graphic Designer for Print
  • Variable Data Specialist
  • Print Estimator
  • Quality Assurance Specialist
  • Print Sales Representative
  • Wide-Format Printer Operator

Courses

The Graphic Communication Technologies Associate Degree is a 64 Credit program. The following is a typical semester breakdown of the courses within the program.

First Term

College 101 1.00
Introduction To Printing 2.00
Introduction To Graphics Software And Design 2.00
Computer Page Layout 2.00
Photoshop/Image Manipulation 2.00
Digital Photography 3.00
College Mathematics 3.00

Second Term

Computer Illustration 2.00
Postpress Operations 3.00
Press Systems 3.00
Cross Media Personalization 3.00
Oral/interpersonal Communication 3.00

Third Term

Printing Estimating 3.00
Advanced Page Layout 2.00
Advanced Press Operations 4.00
Screen And Specialty Printing 3.00
Intro To Sociology 3.00
Written Communication 3.00
English Composition 1 3.00

Fourth Term

Graphics For Web Design 2.00
Digital Video 3.00
Portfolio Preparation 2.00
Industry Applications 4.00
Microeconomics 3.00
Psychology Of Human Relations 3.00
Intro To Psychology 3.00

Credit for Prior Learning Available

View All Detailed Course Information

Pathways

Pathways are a series of connected programs that enable you to advance over time to better jobs and higher levels of education and training. By earning one degree, you could also be completing several courses of a related program in a pathway, bringing you one step closer to an advanced degree.

If you begin with one of the following programs, you will earn significant credit towards this Graphic Communication Technologies Associate Degree:

Transfer Information

You can continue your education to earn a four-year degree in a variety of ways.

Program Transfer

The following transfer guides, executed in partnership with post-secondary institutions, are based on agreements that allow you to continue your program at another college.

School Name Degree Name
Minnesota State University - Moorhead Bachelor of Operations Management
Siena Heights University Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing
Siena Heights University Bachelor of Professional Communication
University Of Maryland- Global Campus Bachelor of Graphic Communication

General Transfer

All associate degrees transfer to a variety of programs at other partner colleges to give you the opportunity to continue your education in other areas of study.

View all transfer guides

Cost of Attendance

2024–2025 Estimated Academic Year Budgeted Cost of Attendance

The estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) is a budget that includes categories of expenses that a student can expect to incur while attending college. The COA does not reflect actual charges. It is an average based on the estimated living costs typical of our region. In determining the cost of attendance, Northcentral Technical College uses the budget established by the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Financial Aid Budget Work Group. This budget is used to determine financial need for all students who apply for financial aid. A student's cost of attendance is composed of all educational expenses that can be included for financial aid purposes that a student may accrue while pursuing their education for the year (or semester, if enrolled less than a year). A student's financial aid cannot exceed their cost of attendance. Schools are required to provide a fuller picture of what it may cost students to pursue their degree, not just what they will owe in tuition/fees and books/supplies.

Please Note: this COA budget estimate assumes full-time attendance for two semesters — Fall 2024 and Spring 2025.
Expenses Student Living With Parents (Home) Student Living on Own (Other)
Full-time Tuition (based on a total of 30 credits, 15 credits fall and 15 credits spring)
In-State Tuition & Fees
$4,844*
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees
$7,127*
In-State Tuition & Fees
$4,844*
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees
$7,127*
Living Expenses (Housing & Food) $3,008 $9,147
Books / Supplies $1,465 $1,465
Transportation $4,017 $4,017
Personal Expenses $3,608 $3,608
Loan Fees $85 $85
Total Estimated Cost Of Attendance
In-State
$17,027
Out-of-State
$19,310
In-State
$23,166
Out-of-State
$25,449

* Tuition listed is based on approved rates for the 2024–2025 academic year. Rates are approved each March by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board and estimated budgets are updated at that time.

For the 2024–2025 academic year, the Wisconsin Resident tuition rate is $149.50 per credit and Out-of-State resident tuition is $224.25 per credit.

For the 2024–2025 academic year, Student Fees include: a minimum $5.00 material fee and a $13.15 per credit activity fee. A $4.00 per semester insurance fee will be assessed to students taking at least one course which has a scheduled session on campus.

Students awarded Federal Direct Loan(s) also have an average of the mandatory loan fees automatically added to their COA.

Students with disability-related expenses may contact the Financial Aid Office to have their additional expenses considered. Disability-related expenses include but are not limited to: personal assistance, equipment, and supplies. The Financial Aid Office may potentially include disability expenses in the COA that are not provided by other assisting agencies.

NTC also offers a Net Price Calculator to help estimate costs.

For more information regarding billed tuition and fees visit https://www.ntc.edu/admissions/tuition-fees

We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about how the financial aid process works. Please feel free to reach out for more information.

NTC Financial Aid Office

715.803.1647
financialaid@ntc.edu

Admissions Process

Our application process takes just a few minutes to complete, but we want to make sure you have the things you’ll need on hand to complete the application. We’re here to help if you have any questions while submitting your application.

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What’s Next?

We’ll review your application and let you know if we need anything else. If you’re all set, your acceptance letter will be emailed to you.