by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 25 U.S. colleges awarded 175 degrees and certificates in Technical & Scientific Communication. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 56% of graduates. College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Technical & Scientific Communication Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $43,684 one year after completing, rising to $67,080 after four years.
A major in Technical & Scientific Communication involves the study of Technical And Scientific Communication. A Program That Focuses On The Communication Of Technical And Scientific Knowledge To A Variety Of Audiences Through Print, Video, And Digital Media; And That Prepares Individuals To Function As Technical Writers And Editors, Documentation Developers, Web Designers, And Usability Specialists. Includes Instruction In Scientific And Technical Writing And Editing, Graphic And Information Design, Web Design, Audience Analysis, Document Usability And Field Testing, Publications Management, And Applications To Specific Technical Fields. Examples: [Technical Communication], [Scientific Communication].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, technical & scientific communication is a widely-pursued major, with 175 degrees awarded annually. 25 colleges award technical & scientific communication degrees, an average of 7 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 29.
By level, the 175 awards include 4 associate degrees, 73 bachelor’s degrees and 98 master’s degrees.
Women earned 67% of technical & scientific communication degrees and certificates in the latest year (117 of 175). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (101) and Hispanic or Latino (21), and international students earned 10.
College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Technical & Scientific Communication Schools ranking, including 3 for bachelor’s degrees and 3 for master’s degrees. It also ranks technical & scientific communication schools within 4 states. In all, 25 colleges offer technical & scientific communication programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Technical & Scientific Communication Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common technical & scientific communication credential is the master’s degree: 98 of the 175 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to technical & scientific communication call most for Writing, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Communications and Media, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a technical & scientific communication degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 73 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 98 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to technical & scientific communication, at 51.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 51.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 10.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 9.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 7.7% |
| Some college courses | 4.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Technical & Scientific Communication, with an average median salary of $82,871; the strongest outlook belongs to Technical Writers, at 6.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Associate Professor, Speech Teacher, Public Speaking Teacher and Interpersonal Communications Professor.
The occupation related to technical & scientific communication with the most projected jobs is Communications Teachers, Postsecondary, at 919,494.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 919,494 | -1.5% |
| Technical Writers | 396,969 | 6.9% |
| Editors | 11,763 | 3.2% |
Technical & Scientific Communication graduates earn a median $43,684 one year after completing their program, $67,080 after four years and $64,953 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,684 |
| 4 years | $67,080 |
| 5 years | $64,953 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to technical & scientific communication is Editors, with a median salary of $100,346.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Editors | $100,346 |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $96,169 |
| Technical Writers | $52,099 |
Technical & Scientific Communication has 10 similar majors in the Communication & Journalism field, which together award 20,372 degrees a year; the largest are Advertising (4,633), Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (4,246) and Public Relations/Image Management (4,191). Browse all Communication & Journalism majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Advertising | 4,633 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 4,246 |
| Public Relations/Image Management | 4,191 |
| Communication Management and Strategic Communications | 2,072 |
| Organizational Communication, General | 1,837 |
| Sports Communication | 1,509 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Other | 1,165 |
| Health Communication | 365 |
| Political Communication | 196 |
| International and Intercultural Communication | 158 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
