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Ad writer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an ad writer. Ad writers usually study journalism, communication, or writing. 70% of ad writers hold a bachelor's degree, and 10% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 80 real ad writer resumes to see exactly what ad writer education sections show.

The most common colleges for ad writers are the University of South Florida and the University of South Florida.

There are also many online ad writer courses to help get the education required to be an ad writer.

What education do you need to become an ad writer?

What degree do you need to be an ad writer?

The most common degree for ad writers is bachelor's degree, with 70% of ad writers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 10% and associate degree degree at 8%.
  • Bachelor's, 70%
  • Associate, 10%
  • Master's, 8%
  • High School Diploma, 8%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become an ad writer?

You should major in journalism to become an ad writer. 13% of ad writers major in journalism. Other common majors for an ad writer include communication and writing.

Most common colleges for ad writers

Ad writers often get their degrees at University of South Florida, University of Pennsylvania, and Wayne State University. Here are the most common colleges for ad writers in the US based on their resumes.
Ad writer common collegePercentages
University of South Florida11.54%
University of Pennsylvania7.69%
Wayne State University7.69%
Point Park University7.69%
Berklee College of Music7.69%

Best majors for ad writers

RankMajorPercentages
1Journalism13.3%
2Communication13.3%
3Writing11.1%
4English8.9%
5General Education, Specific Areas6.7%

Best colleges for ad writers

The best colleges for ad writers are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and Boston University.

An ad writer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for ad writers. 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 ad writers.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,832

Enrollment

4,550

2. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. University of Houston

Houston, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$8,913

Enrollment

37,291

5. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

7. University of Georgia

Athens, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,830

Enrollment

29,474

8. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

9. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Enrollment

34,564

10. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,522

Enrollment

13,760

20 best online courses for ad writers

Advertising disclosure

1. Google & YouTube Ads, Bing Ads, Retargeting & ChatGPT Course

udemy
4.3
(333)

Learn Google Ads, You Tube Ads, Bing Ads & Google Retargeting. Use Chat GPT. Learn Google Max Performance & Display Ads...

2. Meta Advertising for Beginners: Facebook Ads & Instagram Ads

udemy
4.6
(458)

Set Up Facebook Business Page & Meta Business Manager. Use Meta Business Suite. Launch Traffic & Lead Generation Ads...

3. Facebook Ads: Business Manager And Retargeting

udemy
4.5
(281)

Advanced Facebook ads with Facebook Pixel, custom audiences, lookalike audiences & do Facebook retargeting ads that sell...

4. [2022] Facebook Ads: Facebook / Instagram Advertising Course

udemy
4.1
(950)

This course is used by Tesla, Walmart, and other leading organizations. Be able to get results from your Facebook Ads!...

5. Facebook Ads & Instagram Ads For E-Commerce [For Beginners]

udemy
4.6
(909)

Sell More: Guide to Selling with Facebook Ads & Instagram Ads. Find your Customers with Meta Conversion Ads. Use Chat GPT...

6. The Facebook Ads & Instagram Ads Course 2023 + ChatGPT Guide

udemy
4.3
(342)

Facebook Ads Course you will Love. Learn Fast & Fun. Overcome i OS Restrictions. Create Customer Journey. Enjoy Quizzes...

7. 2023 Facebook Ads & Instagram Ads Social marketing

udemy
4.7
(393)

Growth hack Facebook Ads with Digital Marketing, Social Media. FB advertising 101. Create profitable facebook ads...

8. Be a Facebook Ads Pro 2023 with Dekker: Facebook Advertising

udemy
4.6
(606)

Groundbreaking Udemy Facebook Ads Unofficial Generatie Leads & Customers Learn from a Fortune 100 Facebook Ads Pro...

9. 2023 Elite Course In Google Ads - Profit for Success Online

udemy
4.4
(464)

Master Google Ads (Adwords) and Google Shopping to take your business and those of your clients to the next level...

10. Best of Facebook Ads: Facebook Ads 2023 Ultimate Pro Edition

udemy
4.6
(1,398)

Be a Facebook Ads Consultant - Profit with Facebook Ads: 2023's Most Powerful Fast Learn Facebook & Instagram Ads Course...

11. Facebook Ads Copywriting & Facebook Ads for Real Estate 2023

udemy
4.5
(510)

Learn Facebook Ads Copywriting & Facebook Ads for Real Estate Fast & Fun! Enjoy Quizzes, Animations & Screen Recordings!...

12. Facebook Ads 2023: Launch Your Best Advertising Campaign

udemy
4.5
(283)

Move from simple to compelling advertising campaigns with Facebook Ads and increase your value in the business...

13. Marketer's Guide To Creating Facebook Ads That Convert

udemy
4.5
(731)

Select high-converting ad images and craft ad copies that resonate with your target audience...

14. Facebook Ads for Beginners

udemy
4
(292)

Learn to Create Powerful Facebook Ads to Increase Your Sales and Revenue Promoting Your Business All Over the World!...

15. Bing Ads For Beginners

udemy
4.3
(259)

How to Get Targeted Traffic using Microsoft Advertising (formerly Bing Ads)...

16. Generate Leads With Facebook Ads For Local Business [2017]

udemy
4.3
(443)

Learn How To Generate 92 Leads in 7 days! The Step-By-Step Facebook Advertising System For Local Businesses 2017...

17. Google Ads 2023: How to Drive Sales With PPC!

udemy
4.4
(316)

Get started with Google Ads and launch effective PPC advertising campaigns to reach new customers and grow your business...

18. Online Business Masterclass: Sell Your Own Digital Products

udemy
4.5
(711)

Create, Launch & Market an Online Business w/ Digital Products: Online Courses, Coaching, e Books Passive Income Course...

19. Ultimate Google Ads Training 2021: Profit with Pay Per Click

udemy
4.6
(51,252)

Google Ads 2021: How our clients have transformed their sales using Google Ads & get your Google Ads certification!...

20. The Complete Facebook Ads Course - Beginner to Advanced

udemy
4.2
(3,514)

Master Facebook Advertising and Grow Any Business - Facebook Marketing Strategy, Ad Retargeting, Remarketing & More!...

Top 10 most affordable universities for ad writers

The most affordable schools for ad writers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and brigham young university.

If the best universities for ad writers 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 ad writers.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

4. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

6. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

7. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

8. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

9. University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,368

Cost of attendance

21,034

10. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for ad writers

The hardest universities for ad writers to get into are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and Boston University.

Some great schools for ad writers 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 ad writers 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. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

3. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

5. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

6. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,545

8. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

9. University of Miami

Coral Gables, FL • Private

Admissions rate

32%

SAT average

1,365

10. Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

51%

SAT average

1,395

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for ad writers

The easiest schools for ad writers to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, saint joseph's college of maine, and mount saint mary's university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an ad writer 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 ad writers.

1. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

2. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

3. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

4. Rochester University

Rochester Hills, MI • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,002

5. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

6. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

7. Grand View University

Des Moines, IA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,060

8. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

9. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,035

10. William Paterson University of New Jersey

Wayne, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

994

Average ad writer salary by education level

According to our data, ad writers with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $73,057 annually. Ad writers with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $72,408.
Ad writer education levelAd writer salary
Master's Degree$72,408
Bachelor's Degree$73,057

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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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