# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/rhetoric-and-composition-writing-studies
- CIP code: 23.13 (English Language and Literature/Letters)
- Colleges offering it: 492 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 182 | $36,724 | $46,614 | $21,062 |
| Associate's | 74 | $21,509 | $46,418 | $24,213 |
| Bachelor's | 492 | $35,359 | $47,088 | $20,885 |
| Master's | 278 | $46,219 | $56,939 | $41,000 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 19 | $62,412 | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 33 | not reported | $68,788 | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 119 | $40,081 | $65,582 | $42,603 |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Richmond](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-richmond-3026) | University of Richmond, VA | $81,253 | not reported |
| [University of Utah](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-utah-3069) | Salt Lake City, UT | $75,686 | not reported |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Pittsburgh, PA | $71,205 | not reported |
| [Iowa State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/iowa-state-university-1305) | Ames, IA | $69,673 | not reported |
| [University of California-Berkeley](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Berkeley, CA | $69,373 | $12,136 |
| [Hobart William Smith Colleges](https://www.collegesref.com/college/hobart-william-smith-colleges-1210) | Geneva, NY | $68,522 | not reported |
| [The University of Texas at Austin](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-austin-main-campus-2764) | Austin, TX | $68,314 | $15,500 |
| [Clemson University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/clemson-university-572) | Clemson, SC | $67,102 | $19,500 |
| [Wabash College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wabash-college-3145) | Crawfordsville, IN | $65,605 | not reported |
| [Johns Hopkins University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/johns-hopkins-university-1344) | Baltimore, MD | $63,503 | not reported |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Technical Writers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/technical-writers): $90,390 median pay
- [English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/english-language-and-literature-teachers-postsecondary): $78,760 median pay
- [Editors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/editors): $77,920 median pay
- [Postsecondary Teachers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/postsecondary-teachers-all-other): $77,640 median pay
- [Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/poets-lyricists-and-creative-writers): $76,910 median pay
- [Writers and Authors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/writers-and-authors): $76,910 median pay
- [Proofreaders and Copy Markers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/proofreaders-and-copy-markers): $51,120 median pay

## More in English Language and Literature/Letters

- [English Language and Literature, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/english-language-and-literature-general): 1,250 colleges
- [Literature](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/literature): 73 colleges
- [English Language and Literature/Letters, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/english-language-and-literature-letters-other): 55 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/