Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?
National picture across 4 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$54,877 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$54,877Median year-4 earnings
$19,171Average institution net-price context
$26,698Median federal debt
Four useful answers about Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
How much do Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies undergraduate certificate or diploma graduates earn?
The national median is $54,877 four years after completion across reportable undergraduate certificate or diploma programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $26,698. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $44,564 to $63,139 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 6 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$54,877Median reported earnings · year 4
$65,924Average reported earnings · year 5
$26,698Median federal debt
56thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
161IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
4With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
CURRENT VIEW
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,877
- Federal debt
- $26,698
- Reporting programs
- 4
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $46,418
- Federal debt
- $25,250
- Reporting programs
- 3
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $47,141
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Reporting programs
- 153
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,116
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 76
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,788
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $65,582
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$44,564National median$54,87775th percentile$63,139
4 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
3 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus$63,1392University of Iowa$46,6143Delta College$44,564Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$78,760 median wage57,720 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1123+0.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$48,270–$137,250 10th–90th percentileEditors$77,920 median wage91,690 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-3041-1.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 7.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$41,250–$153,700 10th–90th percentileWriters and Authors$76,910 median wage47,940 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-3043-0.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 11.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$44,310–$139,870 10th–90th percentilePostsecondary Teachers, All Other$77,640 median wage149,840 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1199+2.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 12.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$44,300–$160,700 10th–90th percentileTechnical Writers$90,390 median wage45,500 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-3042+0.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$57,440–$145,270 10th–90th percentileProofreaders and Copy Markers$51,120 median wage4,580 U.S. jobs · SOC 43-9081-0.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$34,510–$79,290 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Pittsburgh, PA | $63,139 | $26,698 | Baseline needed | $30,434 |
| 2 | University of IowaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Iowa City, IA | $46,614 | $24,862 | Baseline needed | $22,531 |
| 3 | Delta CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | University Center, MI | $44,564 | Not available | Baseline needed | $4,547 |
| 4 | The Creative CircusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | , | $98,182 | $29,334 | Baseline needed | Not available |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.