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Technical publications writer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a technical publications writer. Technical publications writers usually study english, business, or communication. 73% of technical publications writers hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 207 real technical publications writer resumes to see exactly what technical publications writer education sections show.

The most common colleges for technical publications writers are the Miami Dade College and the Miami Dade College.

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

What education do you need to become a technical publications writer?

What degree do you need to be a technical publications writer?

The most common degree for technical publications writers is bachelor's degree, with 73% of technical publications writers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 16% and associate degree degree at 6%.
  • Bachelor's, 73%
  • Associate, 16%
  • Master's, 6%
  • Diploma, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become a technical publications writer?

You should major in english to become a technical publications writer. 24% of technical publications writers major in english. Other common majors for a technical publications writer include business and communication.

Most common colleges for technical publications writers

Technical publications writers often get their degrees at Miami Dade College, Brigham Young University, and Minnesota State University - Moorhead. Here are the most common colleges for technical publications writers in the US based on their resumes.
Technical publications writer common collegePercentages
Miami Dade College7.50%
Brigham Young University7.50%
Minnesota State University - Moorhead7.50%
High Point University5.00%
University of South Florida5.00%

Best majors for technical publications writers

RankMajorPercentages
1English24.3%
2Business18.0%
3Communication7.2%
4Journalism6.3%
5Automotive Technology6.3%

Best colleges for technical publications writers

The best colleges for technical publications writers are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and University of Southern California.

A technical publications 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 technical publications 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 technical publications writers.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

4. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

5. University of Houston

Houston, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$8,913

Enrollment

37,291

6. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

7. Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,853

Enrollment

14,759

8. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

9. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,625

Enrollment

17,407

10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

20 best online courses for technical publications writers

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Top 10 most affordable universities for technical publications writers

The most affordable schools for technical publications writers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and usf sarasota-manatee.

If the best universities for technical publications 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 technical publications 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. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

4. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

5. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

6. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

7. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

8. 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

9. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

10. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for technical publications writers

The hardest universities for technical publications writers to get into are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and University of Southern California.

Some great schools for technical publications 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 technical publications 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. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

5. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

6. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

7. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

8. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

9. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

10. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,407

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for technical publications writers

The easiest schools for technical publications writers to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, holy names university, and oklahoma wesleyan university.

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

1. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

2. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

4. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

5. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

6. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

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. Rochester University

Rochester Hills, MI • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,002

Average technical publications writer salary by education level

According to our data, technical publications writers with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $71,214 annually. Technical publications writers with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $70,881.
Technical publications writer education levelTechnical publications writer salary
Master's Degree$70,881
Bachelor's Degree$71,214

Technical publications 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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