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Temple University
Temple University says yes to 80.4% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $63,727 median earnings.
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Temple University sits in Philadelphia proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The university runs its own medical system, which colors both its budget and its biggest programs.
Its highest-earning path is Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, where graduates median $104,311 four years out. 32% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 20,970 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 82.6% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Temple University won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Temple University received 36,399 applications and admitted 30,181 (82.9%), with 3,763 enrolling.
Leave the SAT prep out of this one — test scores are disregarded entirely. Temple University's 80.4% admission rate turned on grades and application strength.
How Temple University compares
| Temple University | Pennsylvania median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 80.4% | 82% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $23,011 | $33,730 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $63,727 | $62,101 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Temple University: $63,727 median at year ten, versus $62,101 across Pennsylvania institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $23,011 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $38,958. For non-residents, Temple University's $38,958 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
Temple University is a big school: 20,970 undergraduates at last count.
75% of Temple University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 20.2 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $23,011 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Temple University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $104,311 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $101,670 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $101,101 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $97,839 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $96,342 |
| Insurance | $92,555 |
| Mathematics | $91,330 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $91,131 |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | $89,674 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $85,777 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $85,011 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $82,570 |
| Civil Engineering | $82,553 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $80,364 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General | $79,351 |
| Chemistry | $78,052 |
| Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $77,673 |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics | $76,927 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $75,632 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $75,286 |
| Economics | $73,154 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $73,127 |
| Marketing | $72,289 |
| Biology, General | $72,134 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $67,840 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | $66,518 |
| Real Estate | $65,650 |
| International Business | $65,302 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $64,063 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $63,714 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $62,061 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $60,864 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $60,782 |
| Legal Professions and Studies, Other | $60,714 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $60,672 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $60,437 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $60,347 |
| Political Science and Government | $59,848 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $59,764 |
| Public Health | $57,499 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $56,164 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $55,494 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $54,283 |
| Social Work | $54,166 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $53,818 |
| Journalism | $53,518 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $53,018 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $52,739 |
| History | $52,584 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $51,931 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $51,610 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $51,599 |
| Psychology, General | $50,582 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $50,536 |
| Sociology | $47,631 |
| Philosophy | $47,414 |
| Anthropology | $43,793 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $42,731 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $42,526 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $42,126 |
| Music | $40,387 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $39,449 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $36,994 |
| Dance | $36,524 |
| Plant Sciences | $35,728 |
Median earnings for these 65 Temple University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $63,727 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 33 additional Temple University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Temple University?
Temple University doesn't look at test scores; its 80.4% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is Temple University's acceptance rate?
82.9% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 30,181 admitted from 36,399 applicants.
How much does Temple University cost?
In-state tuition is $23,011; out-of-state students pay $38,958. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Temple University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $63,727 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Pennsylvania
- Thiel College — 71.5% admitted
- Thomas Jefferson University — 81% admitted
- Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology — 71.2% admitted
- Susquehanna University — 81.4% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.