Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 153 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$241,097 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
122.6 yrsModeled economic break-even
−92%Modeled 10-year ROI
$47,141Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$47,141Median reported earnings · year 4
$49,789Average reported earnings · year 5
$25,000Median federal debt
14thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
153Reporting programs
137With year-4 earnings
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.
OPEN PROFILE
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$40,573National median$47,14175th percentile$57,012
137 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Richmond$81,2532University of Utah$75,6863Carnegie Mellon University$71,2054Iowa State University$69,6735University of California, Berkeley$69,3736Hobart William Smith Colleges$68,5227The University of Texas at Austin$68,3148Saint Johns University$67,6079Clemson University$67,10210Wabash College$65,605Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
EditorsSOC 27-3041 · 5 crosswalk linksEnglish Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1123 · 5 crosswalk linksWriters and AuthorsSOC 27-3043 · 5 crosswalk linksPostsecondary Teachers, All OtherSOC 25-1199 · 4 crosswalk linksProofreaders and Copy MarkersSOC 43-9081 · 2 crosswalk linksTechnical WritersSOC 27-3042 · 2 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of RichmondBachelor's Degree | University of Richmond, VA | $81,253 | Not available | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | University of UtahBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $75,686 | Not available | +25% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $71,205 | Not available | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Iowa State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ames, IA | $69,673 | Not available | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | University of California, BerkeleyBachelor's Degree | Berkeley, CA | $69,373 | $14,037 | +4% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Hobart William Smith CollegesBachelor's Degree | Geneva, NY | $68,522 | Not available | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $68,314 | $21,323 | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Saint Johns UniversityBachelor's Degree | Collegeville, MN | $67,607 | Not available | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Clemson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Clemson, SC | $67,102 | $23,250 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Wabash CollegeBachelor's Degree | Crawfordsville, IN | $65,605 | $27,000 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | College of Saint BenedictBachelor's Degree | Saint Joseph, MN | $64,449 | Not available | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Johns Hopkins UniversityBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $63,503 | $13,728 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Loyola University MarylandBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $62,745 | $27,000 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | University of North TexasBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $62,703 | $19,424 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Marquette UniversityBachelor's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $62,473 | $26,000 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | George Mason UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairfax, VA | $62,383 | $23,250 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | University of Nebraska at KearneyBachelor's Degree | Kearney, NE | $61,941 | Not available | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $61,676 | $30,114 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $61,676 | $30,114 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 20 | Miami University-OxfordBachelor's Degree | Oxford, OH | $61,474 | $23,750 | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Syracuse UniversityBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $61,159 | $27,000 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Utah State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Logan, UT | $60,940 | Not available | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Texas Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $60,563 | $21,500 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $60,415 | $22,375 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Seattle UniversityBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $60,291 | $24,500 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Metropolitan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $59,779 | $26,680 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | The University of Texas at ArlingtonBachelor's Degree | Arlington, TX | $59,430 | $17,417 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Grand Canyon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $59,281 | $26,186 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | San Francisco State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $59,032 | $18,500 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Metropolitan State University of DenverBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $58,918 | $19,998 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Texas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, TX | $58,484 | $21,765 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | St. Joseph's University-New YorkBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $57,305 | $26,170 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | University at AlbanyBachelor's Degree | Albany, NY | $57,286 | Not available | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | James Madison UniversityBachelor's Degree | Harrisonburg, VA | $57,179 | $22,714 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | University of Pittsburgh-BradfordBachelor's Degree | Bradford, PA | $57,012 | $26,000 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | University of Pittsburgh-GreensburgBachelor's Degree | Greensburg, PA | $57,012 | $26,000 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | University of Pittsburgh-JohnstownBachelor's Degree | Johnstown, PA | $57,012 | $26,000 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $57,012 | $26,000 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $56,662 | $25,750 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleBachelor's Degree | Carbondale, IL | $56,632 | Not available | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | University of New Mexico-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $56,244 | $14,363 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $55,361 | $33,000 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Missouri State University-SpringfieldBachelor's Degree | Springfield, MO | $54,917 | $26,500 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Emory UniversityBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $54,848 | $21,000 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | University of South FloridaBachelor's Degree | Tampa, FL | $54,778 | Not available | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Old Dominion UniversityBachelor's Degree | Norfolk, VA | $54,390 | $26,000 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | University of Wisconsin-StoutBachelor's Degree | Menomonie, WI | $53,436 | $27,000 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Saint Edward's UniversityBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $53,151 | $26,000 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | University of Rhode IslandBachelor's Degree | Kingston, RI | $52,625 | $22,195 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | DePauw UniversityBachelor's Degree | Greencastle, IN | $51,983 | $27,000 | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Emerson CollegeBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $51,742 | $24,250 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | California State University, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $51,414 | $13,500 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Ithaca CollegeBachelor's Degree | Ithaca, NY | $51,001 | $25,000 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Saginaw Valley State UniversityBachelor's Degree | University Center, MI | $50,875 | $30,432 | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Weber State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ogden, UT | $50,847 | $21,398 | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Drake UniversityBachelor's Degree | Des Moines, IA | $50,591 | Not available | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Drury UniversityBachelor's Degree | Springfield, MO | $50,287 | $23,094 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Drury University-College of Continuing Professional StudiesBachelor's Degree | Springfield, MO | $50,287 | $23,094 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Bowling Green, OH | $50,120 | $27,000 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $49,918 | $20,038 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Binghamton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Vestal, NY | $49,366 | $20,500 | -84% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | Oglethorpe UniversityBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $48,774 | $28,000 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | East Tennessee State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Johnson City, TN | $48,263 | Not available | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | Savannah College of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | Savannah, GA | $48,189 | $26,000 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Ferris State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Big Rapids, MI | $47,823 | $21,500 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $47,702 | Not available | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Kutztown, PA | $47,530 | $27,000 | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | Georgia Southern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Statesboro, GA | $47,439 | $25,000 | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | Champlain CollegeBachelor's Degree | Burlington, VT | $47,141 | $26,000 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $47,124 | $17,872 | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | University of Washington-Tacoma CampusBachelor's Degree | Tacoma, WA | $47,124 | $17,872 | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Elmhurst UniversityBachelor's Degree | Elmhurst, IL | $47,052 | $23,250 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | University of MontevalloBachelor's Degree | Montevallo, AL | $46,767 | Not available | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Manhattanville UniversityBachelor's Degree | Purchase, NY | $46,500 | $27,000 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Loyola University New OrleansBachelor's Degree | New Orleans, LA | $46,374 | $27,000 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | Capital UniversityBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $46,135 | Not available | -96% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Illinois CollegeBachelor's Degree | Jacksonville, IL | $45,716 | Not available | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | Rhode Island CollegeBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $45,378 | Not available | -98% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | Hamline UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $45,253 | $25,000 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $44,260 | $24,822 | -103% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | Chapman UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orange, CA | $44,183 | Not available | -102% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $44,004 | $23,250 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Roanoke CollegeBachelor's Degree | Salem, VA | $43,974 | Not available | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $43,689 | $13,999 | -106% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | East Carolina UniversityBachelor's Degree | Greenville, NC | $43,647 | Not available | -106% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Shippensburg University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Shippensburg, PA | $43,607 | $27,000 | -105% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | Grand Valley State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Allendale, MI | $43,552 | $25,000 | -106% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | Youngstown State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Youngstown, OH | $43,031 | $26,169 | -109% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | Lipscomb UniversityBachelor's Degree | Nashville, TN | $42,863 | $19,500 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | Hamilton CollegeBachelor's Degree | Clinton, NY | $42,806 | Not available | -107% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | SUNY at Purchase CollegeBachelor's Degree | Purchase, NY | $42,372 | $23,250 | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | California State University, San BernardinoBachelor's Degree | San Bernardino, CA | $42,232 | $16,210 | -114% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | Central Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ellensburg, WA | $41,971 | $23,224 | -112% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | University of Central OklahomaBachelor's Degree | Edmond, OK | $41,870 | $21,917 | -112% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $41,637 | $19,500 | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | California State University, Long BeachBachelor's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $41,123 | $15,394 | -117% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtBachelor's Degree | Arcata, CA | $41,105 | $16,500 | -117% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | Susquehanna UniversityBachelor's Degree | Selinsgrove, PA | $40,989 | $27,000 | -114% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | Eastern Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ypsilanti, MI | $40,929 | Not available | -117% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | State University of New York at PlattsburghBachelor's Degree | Plattsburgh, NY | $40,814 | Not available | -117% | Negative payoff |
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.