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Specifications writer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a specifications writer. Specifications writers usually study business, architecture, or drafting and design. 63% of specifications writers hold a bachelor's degree, and 23% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 285 real specifications writer resumes to see exactly what specifications writer education sections show.

The most common colleges for specifications writers are the Old Dominion University and the Old Dominion University.

There are also many online specifications writer courses to help get the education required to be a specifications writer.

What education do you need to become a specifications writer?

What degree do you need to be a specifications writer?

The most common degree for specifications writers is bachelor's degree, with 63% of specifications writers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 23% and associate degree degree at 7%.
  • Bachelor's, 63%
  • Associate, 23%
  • Master's, 7%
  • Diploma, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a specifications writer?

You should major in business to become a specifications writer. 21% of specifications writers major in business. Other common majors for a specifications writer include architecture and drafting and design.

Most common colleges for specifications writers

Specifications writers often get their degrees at Old Dominion University, Clemson University, and Purdue University. Here are the most common colleges for specifications writers in the US based on their resumes.
Specifications writer common collegePercentages
Old Dominion University8.89%
Clemson University8.89%
Purdue University6.67%
ECPI University4.44%
The University of Alabama4.44%

Best majors for specifications writers

RankMajorPercentages
1Business20.6%
2Architecture12.2%
3Drafting And Design9.9%
4Biology5.3%
5Mechanical Engineering5.3%

Best colleges for specifications writers

The best colleges for specifications writers are Northwestern University, Washington University in St Louis, and University of Southern California.

A specifications 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 specifications 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 specifications writers.

1. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

2. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

3. University of Houston

Houston, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$8,913

Enrollment

37,291

4. Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,853

Enrollment

14,759

5. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

6. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

7. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

8. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$15,094

Enrollment

32,974

9. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

10. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

In-state tuition

$53,399

Enrollment

7,356

20 best online courses for specifications writers

Advertising disclosure

1. Requirements Engineering: Secure Software Specifications

coursera

This specialization is intended for software engineers, development and product managers, testers, QA analysts, product analysts, tech writers, and security engineers. Even if you have experience in the requirements realm, this course will expand your knowledge to include new viewpoints, development styles, techniques and tools.\n\nFor anyone seeking a graduate degree, certificate, or professional degree in computer science, these courses will additionally give you a broad understanding of how...

2. Create Customer Support Data with Google Sheets

coursera

By the end of this project, you will create a Google Sheet that transforms a business’s raw customer support data into a useful data set that provides the business with an overview of past support requirements. You will be able to determine which areas of the business are exceeding standards and which departments are performing below standard. This course will include an introduction to Google Sheets, how to leverage formulas, how to link multiple tabs, and how to utilize Google Sheets to...

3. Learn Swagger and the OpenAPI Specification

udemy
4.5
(4,467)

API Definition Files, Tools, and Documentation (OAS 2.0)...

4. OpenAPI Specification & Swagger Tools - Zero To Master

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4.6
(524)

Document, Mock, Test APIs using Open API specification & Swagger Tools. Generate code from Open API. Based on OAS 3 ver...

5. OpenAPI (Swagger) Specification for Software Developers

udemy
4.5
(383)

A guide to learning Open API (Swagger) Specification for highly productive API design, documentation, development, & test...

6. Learn API Technical Writing: JSON and XML for Writers

udemy
4.5
(10,540)

API Documentation 1: Teaches technical writers how to document structured data. No programming experience required...

7. Learn API Technical Writing 2: REST for Writers

udemy
4.6
(2,877)

API Documentation 2: Teaches technical writers how to document REST. No programming experience required...

8. Technical Writing: Master Your Writing Career

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4.5
(1,007)

Technical Writing: How to Become a Profitable, Reliable, and Successful Technical Writer...

9. Git and GitHub for Writers

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4.7
(1,024)

Not a software developer? Learn how to use Git and Git Hub version control in a course specifically designed for writers...

10. Technical Writing: How to Write Using DITA XML

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How to Become a Modern and Successful Technical Writer Using DITA XML...

11. Professional Technical Writing: Advance Your Writing Skills

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4.6
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Create your first technical document by applying the principles and techniques of technical writing taught by Pro Writer...

12. Tech Writers Master Class

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4.4
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Learn professional writing skills that will help you advance in your career...

13. Technical Writing: How to Write Software Documentation

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4.4
(1,983)

Learn a proven strategy for writing software docu in Git Hub wiki based on the 12 main principles of technical writing!...

14. OpenAPI: Beginner to Guru

udemy
4.4
(2,739)

Master Open API (formerly Swagger) to Create Specifications for Your APIs...

15. Technical Writing: How to Write API Software Documentation

udemy
4.4
(685)

A framework for writing software documentation for an API as a technical writer, using Postman or Swagger UI...

16. Essential Non Technical Skills of Effective Data Scientists

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4.4
(1,019)

Boost your Data Science Career by developing these crucial Non Technical Skills & become a Successful Data Scientist...

17. Introduction To Technical Writing

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4.6
(274)

How To Write Proper Documentation...

18. Business Writing & Technical Writing Immersion

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4.5
(5,722)

Effective Writing Technical Documentation Writing System Software Documentation Emails PPTs...

19. IT & Technical Support Guide to Helpdesk, Desktop & Servers

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4.2
(1,138)

Learn how the different levels of IT technical support work, from service desk to infrastructure and server support...

20. IT Support Technical Skills Helpdesk

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4.7
(1,561)

Hands-on Technical skills for IT Support Learners...

Top 10 most affordable universities for specifications writers

The most affordable schools for specifications writers are University of Florida, baruch college of the city university of new york, and usf sarasota-manatee.

If the best universities for specifications 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 specifications writers.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

3. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

4. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,140

Cost of attendance

14,430

5. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

6. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

7. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

8. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

9. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

10. University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,368

Cost of attendance

21,034

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for specifications writers

The hardest universities for specifications writers to get into are Northwestern University, Washington University in St Louis, and University of Southern California.

Some great schools for specifications 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 specifications 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. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

5. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

7. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

8. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

9. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

10. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

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

The easiest schools for specifications writers to get into are Holy Names University, notre dame de namur university, and oklahoma wesleyan university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a specifications 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 specifications writers.

1. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

4. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

5. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

6. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

7. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

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. University of Baltimore

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,020

Average specifications writer salary by education level

According to our data, specifications writers with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $76,506 annually. Specifications writers with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $75,984.
Specifications writer education levelSpecifications writer salary
Master's Degree$75,984
Bachelor's Degree$76,506

Specifications writer education FAQs

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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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