Temple University
Temple University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Temple University at a Glance
Temple University is a public state-related research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded in 1884 by the Baptist minister Russell Conwell and his congregation at the Grace Baptist Church of Philadelphia, then called Baptist Temple. Today, Temple is the third-largest university in Pennsylvania by enrollment and awarded 9,128 degrees in the 2023–24 academic year. It has a worldwide alumni base of 378,012, with 352,175 alumni residing in the United States.
1888
138 years old
$1.1B
$1.05 billion (2025)
30,005
21,747 undergrad · 8,258 grad
1,327
115 acres
Identity
Is Temple University Worth It?
Temple University offers moderate value at $28,198/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $63,727, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.8 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 75% graduation rate means roughly 25% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Temple University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #78 of 92 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 100 | $11,531 | $71,902 |
| #2 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #3 | San Jose State University | 96 | $13,760 | $78,988 |
| #4 | University of Illinois Chicago | 95 | $10,974 | $68,740 |
| #5 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #6 | Oakland University | 92 | $9,120 | $58,612 |
| #78 | Temple University | 42 | $28,198 | $63,727 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Temple University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in PA.
Best Programs at Temple University
The highest-earning program at Temple University is Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at $66,600/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Music at $15,500/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduate from Temple University earns $66,600, while a Music graduate earns $15,500. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduates carry $27,000 in median debt vs. $26,697 for Music.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $28,198/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $66,600 | $66,600 | $27,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $65,200 | $65,200 | $27,000 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $65,100 | $65,100 | $26,124 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $63,800 | $63,800 | $26,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $57,900 | $57,900 | $25,000 |
| Insurance | $57,200 | $57,200 | $26,000 |
| Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $56,300 | $56,300 | $28,250 |
| Civil Engineering | $55,600 | $55,600 | $27,000 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $51,200 | $51,200 | $25,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $49,800 | $49,800 | $26,171 |
| Engineering Technology, General | $48,900 | $48,900 | $25,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $47,200 | $47,200 | $25,000 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $44,500 | $44,500 | $26,381 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $44,400 | $44,400 | $26,000 |
| Legal Professions and Studies, Other | $43,800 | $43,800 | $27,000 |
| Economics | $43,700 | $43,700 | $26,000 |
| Landscape Architecture | $43,500 | $43,500 | N/A |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | $43,100 | $43,100 | $26,185 |
| Mathematics | $42,300 | $42,300 | $26,875 |
| Marketing | $42,300 | $42,300 | $24,000 |
| Architecture | $40,800 | $40,800 | N/A |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $40,300 | $40,300 | $25,755 |
| International Business | $40,000 | $40,000 | $27,000 |
| Chemistry | $39,700 | $39,700 | $25,872 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $39,200 | $39,200 | $27,000 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $38,400 | $38,400 | $24,000 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $37,800 | $37,800 | $26,000 |
| Natural Sciences | $37,700 | $37,700 | $30,005 |
| Biology, General | $37,300 | $37,300 | $26,000 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $35,800 | $35,800 | $26,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $35,300 | $35,300 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $35,000 | $35,000 | $26,250 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $33,600 | $33,600 | $24,092 |
| Political Science and Government | $33,200 | $33,200 | $23,375 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $32,900 | $32,900 | $27,000 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $32,800 | $32,800 | $25,000 |
| Sociology | $32,500 | $32,500 | $22,696 |
| Public Health | $32,300 | $32,300 | $27,000 |
| Social Work | $31,900 | $31,900 | $26,253 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $31,300 | $31,300 | $24,250 |
| Philosophy | $30,400 | $30,400 | $25,725 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $30,000 | $30,000 | $22,100 |
| Journalism | $30,000 | $30,000 | $25,000 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $29,800 | $29,800 | $26,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $29,400 | $29,400 | $24,250 |
| History | $29,200 | $29,200 | $24,250 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $29,100 | $29,100 | $24,637 |
| Anthropology | $28,900 | $28,900 | $25,606 |
| Geography and Cartography | $28,700 | $28,700 | $21,243 |
| Psychology, General | $28,500 | $28,500 | $23,250 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $27,900 | $27,900 | $27,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $27,100 | $27,100 | $26,000 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $25,500 | $25,500 | $25,989 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $22,200 | $22,200 | $26,316 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $21,900 | $21,900 | $23,000 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $20,700 | $20,700 | $26,835 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $18,800 | $18,800 | $26,456 |
| Dance | $18,200 | $18,200 | N/A |
| Music | $15,500 | $15,500 | $26,697 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Philadelphia, PA
- Student Body
- 20,970 students
- Admission Rate
- 80%
- Graduation Rate
- 75%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $28,198
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $63,727
- Median Student Debt
- $24,395