Best Technical Writing Schools
Explore the typical characteristics of a school with a strong program in technical writing. Read about three well-ranked schools with programs in this field, and find out what kinds of undergraduate and graduate technical writing degrees you could pursue at each school.
What Should I Look For In A Top Technical Writing Schools?
Top technical writing schools not only have good writing and communications programs; they also have modern facilities that address training in digital media. You'll probably want to find a school that's strong in your area of interest, whether that's health communications or computer engineering. Look for special workshops, journal sponsorships, affiliations, writing institutes and library facilities that support your studies. Some schools have both on-campus and online programs.
<h2 id="section---WhatAreThreeTopTechnicalWritingSchools">What Are Three Top Technical Writing Schools?</h2><h3 id="section---MiamiUniversityInOxfordOH">Miami University in Oxford, OH</h3><p>Miami University (MU) tied for 96th among national universities according to <i>U.S. News & World Report</i> in 2019. MU hosts several writing centers, including the Center for Writing Excellence for all students and the Center for the Study of Writing for graduate students and faculty. The Digital Writing Collaborative encourages work with digital technologies; in fact, some English department courses are taught in computer classrooms with plasma screens and document cameras. The English department shares a media lab with the Interactive Media Studies program.
</p><ul><li>Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English/Professional Writing
</li></ul><h3 id="section---PurdueUniversityInWestLafayetteIN">Purdue Global in West Lafayette, IN</h3><p>According to <i>U.S. News & World Report</i>, Purdue tied for 56th among all national universities for 2019. Communications faculty hold federal research grants from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Health and Human Services.
</p><p>You can pursue a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree in professional writing through the English department. The bachelor's program requires a subject area minor outside of the English department, like computer science or communication. Professional writing graduate students may work for Purdue's writing lab or pursue editorial board internships with publishing groups like Parlor Press.
</p><p>Undergraduate and graduate programs in Purdue's Department of Communications often examine topics related to professional writing. Relevant courses might include advanced reporting techniques, writing in the advertising industry, science news reporting and editing for publications. Media, technology and society, health communication and public relations management are among the graduate tracks available.
</p><p>Purdue shares its writing knowledge through the Online Writing Lab (OWL), a resource available to students as well as the public. OWL offers specific tips for many writing forms, including professional and technical writing.
</p><ul><li>B.A. in Professional Writing
</li><li>B.A. in Communication
</li><li>Master of Science (M.S.) in Communication (Online)
</li></ul><h3 id="section---TexasTechUniversityInLubbockTX">Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX</h3><p>Texas Tech tied for 187th among national universities according to <i>U.S. News & World Report</i> in 2019. To develop expert knowledge in your chosen field, a minor is required for the on-campus bachelor's degree in technical communication. M.A. and Ph.D. programs are available either on campus or online; in these programs, you might take courses like production of technical reports and manuals, online publishing, grant writing and usability testing.
</p><p>As a student, you could join an active chapter of the Society for Technical Communication. Texas Tech publishes the <i>Technical Communication Quarterly</i> journal and hosts the website of the Association of Teachers of Technical Writing. You can use Texas Tech's Multiple Literacy Lab or the Usability Research Laboratory for your research. The following degrees are available:
</p><ul><li>B.A. in Technical Communication
</li><li>M.A. in Technical Communication (Also available online)
</li><li>Ph.D. in Technical Communication and Rhetoric (Also available online)
</li></ul><h2 id="section---TenSchoolsThatOfferTechnicalWritingPrograms">Ten Schools That Offer Technical Writing Programs</h2><p></p><table border="1"><tr><th>College/University</th><th>Institution Type</th><th>Location</th><th>Estimated Undergrad In-State Tuition (2018-2019)*</th></tr>
<tr><td>University of Arkansas at Little Rock</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>Little Rock, AR</td><td>$9,500</td></tr>
<tr><td>Carnegie Mellon University</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td>Pittsburgh, PA</td><td>$55,500</td></tr>
<tr><td>Minnesota State University-Mankato</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>Mankato, MN</td><td>$8,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Northeastern University</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td> Boston, MA</td><td>$51,500</td></tr>
<tr><td>University of Tennessee-Knoxville</td><td>4 year, Public</td><td>Knoxville, TN</td><td>$13,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>North Carolina State University</td><td>4 year, Public</td><td>Raleigh, NC</td><td>$9,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>University of Central Florida</td><td>4 year, Public</td><td>New Haven, CT</td><td>$6,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Dixie State University</td><td> 4-year, Public </td><td>Saint George, UT</td><td>$5,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Georgia Southern University</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td> Statesboro, GA</td><td>$6,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>University of North Texas</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td> Denton, TX</td><td>$11,000</td></tr>
</table><p><i>*Source: NCES, U.S. Department of Education</i></p>