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Rhetoric & Composition

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Rhetoric & Composition

Rhetoric & Composition graduates earn $48,471 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $32,167 and $67,306. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.

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About Rhetoric & Composition

Rhetoric & Composition is a focused area of study within English. Graduates typically earn around $48,471 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. The program is available at 766 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 13,176 students complete this program each year, most earning a bachelor's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.

Median Earnings · 1yr: $28,418
Median Earnings · 4yr: $48,471
Colleges Offering: 766
Graduates / Year: 13,176
Avg Net Price / yr: $26,721

How Much Do Rhetoric & Composition Graduates Earn?

Rhetoric & Composition graduates earn $48,471 four years out, below average for bachelor's degree holders. The middle 50% of earners fall between $32,167 and $67,306. Earnings typically jump significantly in the first few years. The one-year figure of $28,418 climbs to $48,471 by year four.

$28,418

1 Year After Graduation

Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.

$48,471

4-Year National Median

Below average for bachelor's degree holders.

$47,141

4-Year Institutional Median

Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.

Earnings Range

There is a wide earnings spread across Rhetoric & Composition graduates. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.

$32,167 25th pct.

$48,471 Median

$67,306 75th pct.

Understanding the Cost vs. Return

At median 4-year earnings of $48,471 and an estimated $106,884 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 5.8 years. Compare specific programs before committing to a high-cost option.

Based on outcomes from 511 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 13,176 students who complete Rhetoric & Composition programs each year, the majority (54%) earn a bachelor's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

54% 37%

Bachelor's 54%

Master's 37%

Post-Bacc Cert. 4%

What Can You Do With a Rhetoric & Composition Degree?

Rhetoric & Composition connects to 4 occupations in the job market. Technical Writers leads at $90,390/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

↗ +0.9% Zone 4: Considerable preparation

Technical Writers

$90,390

$71K $116K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 4,500 openings/yr 46K employed nationally

Writing Reading Comprehension Active Listening Speaking Critical Thinking

Day-to-day responsibilities

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

Organize material and complete writing assignment according to set standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology.
Maintain records and files of work and revisions.
Edit, standardize, or make changes to material prepared by other writers or establishment personnel.

↗ +0.0% Zone 5: Extensive preparation

English Language and Literature Teachers

$78,760

$61K $103K 25th–75th pct.

Doctoral or professional degree 5,100 openings/yr 58K employed nationally

Reading Comprehension Instructing Writing Speaking Learning Strategies

Day-to-day responsibilities

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.

Teach writing or communication classes.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.

↗ +0.6% Zone 4: Considerable preparation

Editor

$77,920

$57K $106K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 9,800 openings/yr 92K employed nationally

Reading Comprehension Writing Active Listening Critical Thinking Speaking

Day-to-day responsibilities

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

Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax.
Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources.
Read, evaluate and edit manuscripts or other materials submitted for publication, and confer with authors regarding changes in content, style or organization, or publication.

↗ +3.6% Zone 4: Considerable preparation

Writer & Author

$76,910

$58K $102K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 13,400 openings/yr 48K employed nationally

Writing Writing Reading Comprehension Reading Comprehension Active Listening

Day-to-day responsibilities

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

Develop advertising campaigns for a wide range of clients, working with an advertising agency's creative director and art director to determine the best way to present advertising information.
Vary language and tone of messages based on product and medium.
Present drafts and ideas to clients.

Top Colleges for Rhetoric & Composition

The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Rhetoric & Composition students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

#	College	Graduates	Acceptance	Net Price/yr	Earnings 10yr
1	Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH · Nonprofit	879	99.5%	$36,708	$50,318
2	Liberty University Lynchburg, VA · Nonprofit	253	99%	$29,357	$44,813
3	Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA · Public	187	90.4%	$14,638	$54,914
4	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA · Public	174	58.1%	$30,434	$66,125
5	Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY · Nonprofit	166	4%	$21,590	$102,491
6	Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD · Nonprofit	159	6.4%	$18,809	$87,555
7	Emerson College Boston, MA · Nonprofit	159	51.3%	$49,180	$62,832
8	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN · Public	150	79.8%	$16,778	$69,020
9	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Bowling Green, OH · Public	128	81%	$24,022	$47,896
10	Western Washington University Bellingham, WA · Public	122	93.3%	$21,193	$62,569
11	West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, PA · Public	118	78.4%	$23,331	$61,258
12	University of California-Riverside Riverside, CA · Public	115	76.4%	$14,304	$67,699
13	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati, OH · Public	105	85.3%	$25,648	$54,810
14	The New School New York, NY · Nonprofit	102	63.5%	$58,741	$52,901
15	Lindenwood University Saint Charles, MO · Nonprofit	96	56.8%	$19,638	$53,278
16	Miami University-Oxford Oxford, OH · Public	86	75.4%	$28,384	$55,076
17	University of New Mexico-Main Campus Albuquerque, NM · Public	84	95.2%	$15,489	$44,792
18	University of Iowa Iowa City, IA · Public	80	83.6%	$22,531	$64,762
19	Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL · Nonprofit	75	89.5%	$26,598	$42,195
20	New York University New York, NY · Nonprofit	74	9.2%	$37,050	$82,509

View all colleges

Ranked by Rhetoric & Composition graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Rhetoric & Composition program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if a Rhetoric & Composition degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Rhetoric & Composition Degree: Pros & Cons

Rhetoric & Composition carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 3 strengths and 3 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.

PROS

Strong salary growth Median earnings climb from $28,418 at graduation to $48,471 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 32,800 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
Wide availability Offered at 766 colleges nationwide, with options at every price point and institution type.

CONS

Modest median earnings Four-year median of $48,471 lags STEM and business fields, affecting ROI at higher-cost programs.
Advanced degree often expected Top roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
High earnings variance Gap between 25th ($32,167) and 75th ($67,306) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.

Rhetoric & Composition Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Rhetoric & Composition graduates earn?

Rhetoric & Composition graduates earn a national median of $48,471 four years after completing their program. The middle 50% of earners fall between $32,167 and $67,306. Where you land typically depends on employer, role, and location.

What is the starting salary for a Rhetoric & Composition degree?

One year after graduation, Rhetoric & Composition degree holders earn a median of $28,418. That climbs to $48,471 four years out. The biggest salary jumps typically come once you move past entry-level roles.

What jobs can you get with a Rhetoric & Composition degree?

Rhetoric & Composition degree holders pursue careers including Technical Writers, which pays a median of $90,390/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.

How long does a Rhetoric & Composition program take?

A Rhetoric & Composition bachelor's degree typically takes four years of full-time study. Community colleges offer associate programs in two years for students who want a faster path into the workforce.

How many colleges offer Rhetoric & Composition?

766 colleges and universities in the United States offer Rhetoric & Composition programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.

Is a Rhetoric & Composition degree worth it?

With a median 4-year salary of $48,471 and an average net price of roughly $26,721/yr, a Rhetoric & Composition degree can pay off well, especially at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific programs before deciding.

What is the difference between Rhetoric & Composition and English?

Rhetoric & Composition is a focused concentration within the broader English field. The English major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Rhetoric & Composition-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.

What skills do employers look for in Rhetoric & Composition graduates?

Employers hiring Rhetoric & Composition graduates consistently prioritize writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles.

What is the job outlook for Rhetoric & Composition graduates?

The job outlook for Rhetoric & Composition graduates is slow overall. Related occupations project an average of +1.3% job growth over the next 10 years. Writer & Author is among the strongest-growth roles at +3.6%. Growth varies by role and location, so check the Career Paths section for projections on each specific occupation.