Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Temple University

Median Earnings (1yr)

$24,951

5th percentile

25th percentile in Pennsylvania

Earnings Distribution

How Temple University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Temple University	$24,951	$39,963	+60%
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus	$43,896	$60,048	+37%
University of Iowa	$29,647	$37,630	+27%

Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies certificate's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (11 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Temple UniversityPhiladelphia	$22,082	$24,951	$39,963	—	—
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh	$21,524	$43,896	$60,048	$26,698	0.61
National Median	—	$30,398	—	$25,780	0.85

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with rhetoric and composition/writing studies graduates

Technical Writers

Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.

$91,670/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in English language and literature, including linguistics and comparative literature. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Editors

Plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.

$75,260/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Writers and Authors

Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.

$72,270/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.

$72,270/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Postsecondary Teachers, All Other

All postsecondary teachers not listed separately.

Proofreaders and Copy Markers

Read transcript or proof type setup to detect and mark for correction any grammatical, typographical, or compositional errors. Excludes workers whose primary duty is editing copy. Includes proofreaders of braille.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Temple University, approximately 30% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.