Arts, design and media
Technical Writers
- Median pay
- $90,390
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
ProgramsEnglish Language and Literature/Letters
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
CIP23.13
492 colleges offer Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 492
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $47,088
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $20,885
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 182
- Associate's
- 74
- Bachelor's
- 492
- Master's
- 278
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 19
- Doctoral
- 33
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 119
What it covers
About Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
A program that focuses on writing for applied and liberal arts purposes. Includes instruction in writing and document design in multiple genres, modes, and media; writing technologies; research, evaluation, and use of information; editing and publishing; theories and processes of composing; rhetorical theories, traditions, and analysis; communication across audiences, contexts, and cultures; and practical applications for professional, technical, organizational, academic, and public settings.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 23.13.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 23.13.
- Writing, General
- Creative Writing
- Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing
- Rhetoric and Composition
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 182 | $46,6144 yrs after · 3 colleges | $21,0626 colleges |
| Associate's | 74 | $46,4184 yrs after · 3 colleges | $24,2131 college |
| Bachelor's | 492 | $47,0884 yrs after · 130 colleges | $20,88584 colleges |
| Master's | 278 | $56,9394 yrs after · 70 colleges | $41,00042 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 19 | $62,4121 yr after · 1 college | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 33 | $68,7884 yrs after · 1 college | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 119 | $65,5824 yrs after · 1 college | $42,6031 college |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
University of Richmond, VA · Private nonprofit · 19 graduates
$81,253
debt not reported
- 2
Salt Lake City, UT · Public · 24 graduates
$75,686
debt not reported
- 3
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit · 13 graduates
$71,205
debt not reported
- 4
Ames, IA · Public · 11 graduates
$69,673
debt not reported
- 5
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public · 39 graduates
$69,373
debt $12,136
- 6
Geneva, NY · Private nonprofit · 12 graduates
$68,522
debt not reported
- 7
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX · Public · 34 graduates
$68,314
debt $15,500
- 8
Clemson, SC · Public · 78 graduates
$67,102
debt $19,500
- 9
Crawfordsville, IN · Private nonprofit · 15 graduates
$65,605
debt not reported
- 10
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofit · 23 graduates
$63,503
debt not reported
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
Education
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $78,760
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Doctoral or professional degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Instructing
- Writing
Arts, design and media
Editors
- Median pay
- $77,920
- Outlook
- Decline
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Listening
Education
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
- Median pay
- $77,640
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Doctoral or professional degree
Arts, design and media
Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
- Median pay
- $76,910
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
Arts, design and media
Writers and Authors
- Median pay
- $76,910
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
Office and administrative support
Proofreaders and Copy Markers
- Median pay
- $51,120
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Speaking
More in English Language and Literature/Letters
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this areaQuestions about Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
How many colleges offer Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at these degree levels: certificate (182 colleges), associate's (74 colleges), bachelor's (492 colleges), master's (278 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (19 colleges), doctoral (33 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (119 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies earn $47,088 a year four years after finishing, across 130 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates earn the most?
University of Richmond reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies: $81,253 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.