Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates earn an average annual wage of $137,183, making it one of the higher-paying degree fields. With 2,930 professionals in the field earning competitive wages, this degree offers strong career prospects.
Key Statistics
Institutions
Information about the types of higher education institutions that grant degrees in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies and the types of students that study this field.
Tuition Costs for Common Institutions
$8,798 Median In-State Public
$40,290 Median Out of State Private
Tuition costs for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies majors are, on average, $8,798 for in-state public colleges, and $40,290 for out of state private colleges.
Tuition costs comparison for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs.
Degrees Awarded Over Time
12,869 Total Degrees Awarded in 2023
This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies from 2015 to 2023.
Historical trend of degrees awarded in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies.
Top 5 Schools by Enrollment
| # | School | State | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern New Hampshire University | NH | 156,755 |
| 2 | University of Phoenix-Arizona | AZ | 76,996 |
| 3 | Grand Canyon University | AZ | 68,619 |
| 4 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | AZ | 64,398 |
| 5 | University of Central Florida | FL | 59,095 |
Schools with the largest enrollment offering Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Tuition
| # | School | State | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haskell Indian Nations University | KS | $600 |
| 2 | Compton College | CA | $1,142 |
| 3 | El Camino Community College District | CA | $1,144 |
| 4 | College of Alameda | CA | $1,148 |
| 5 | Laney College | CA | $1,148 |
Schools with the lowest tuition costs for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Net Price
| # | School | State | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coastal Pines Technical College | GA | $124 |
| 2 | Cerritos College | CA | $693 |
| 3 | Southern Regional Technical College | GA | $1,085 |
| 4 | Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | GA | $1,228 |
| 5 | Georgia Northwestern Technical College | GA | $1,432 |
Schools with the lowest net price (after financial aid) for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs.
Graduation Rates
61.44% Median Graduation Rate (150% of normal time)
61.34% Average Graduation Rate
124 Institutions Reporting
51.18% - 72.20% Interquartile Range
Graduation/completion rates for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs across institutions.
Employment
Information on the businesses and industries that employ Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates and on wages and locations for those in the field.
Yearly Income for Common Jobs
$137,183 Average Wage in Workforce
The average salary for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies majors is $137,183.
Average annual salaries of the most common occupations for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies majors.
Occupations by Share
2,930 2023 Workforce
The number of Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates in the workforce has been growing.
Various jobs filled by those with a major in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies by share of the total number of graduates.
Return on Investment & Value
Financial analysis of Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies degree including debt, earnings, and return on investment metrics.
Financial Value Analysis
ROI data is not available for this degree program.
Financial value comparison for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies degree.
Diversity
Demographic information for those who earn a degree in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies in the United States.
Workforce Age
N/A Average Age in 2023
This chart shows distribution of ages for employees with a degree in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies.
Age distribution for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies degree holders in the workforce.
Gender Distribution
Gender distribution data is not available for this degree program.
Gender distribution of Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies degree recipients.
Race and Ethnicity Distribution
Race and ethnicity distribution data is not available for this degree program.
Racial and ethnic distribution of Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies degree recipients.
Degrees Awarded
The most common degree types awarded to students graduating in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Associates Degree.
Distribution of degree types awarded in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies.
Skills
Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Required Skills
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies majors need many skills, but most especially Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Rating of how necessary various skills are for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies majors.
Skills Bar Chart
This bar chart shows the same information as the radar chart, displaying the importance of each skill.
Skill importance ratings for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies majors.
About
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
In 2023, 12,869 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies.
CIP Code
00.2313 - Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Insights and Analysis
High Earning Potential: Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates earn an average annual wage of $137,183, placing them among the top earners in the workforce. This strong earning potential reflects both the demand for skills in this field and the value employers place on this degree.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, IPEDS completion data, and Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Employment and wage data are from the most recent Census Bureau ACS PUMS estimates.