Bachelor's+1% vs national median205 grads tracked
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Elmhurst University
Ranked 30th of 107 bachelor's programs in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$37,067
middle 50%: $26,697 – $46,880
Median · 5 years out
$57,781
middle 50%: $43,216 – $74,472
Median · 10 years out
$58,659
middle 50%: $38,181 – $79,471
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Elmhurst University graduates in writing studies earn $37k in their first year. Median earnings reach $58k at five years and $59k at ten years.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
7.7 yrs
≈ $8,878 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of North Texas
$61,309 · 5 yrs out
Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$61,085 · 5 yrs out
Clemson University
$60,926 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Tyler
$60,144 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston - Downtown
$60,042 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$58,829 · 5 yrs out
Colorado State University
$57,672 · 5 yrs out
Northern Arizona University
$57,471 · 5 yrs out
Sam Houston State University
$57,301 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at San Antonio
$56,929 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Stout
$56,563 · 5 yrs out
West Texas A&M University
$56,406 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Elmhurst University
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$118,787 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$113,771 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$111,686 · 5 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Master's)
$109,443 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$91,818 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$90,251 · 5 yrs out
Physics (Bachelor's)
$89,645 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Master's)
$88,942 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$85,633 · 5 yrs out
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's)
$84,610 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)
$82,708 · 5 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's)
$79,471 · 5 yrs out