WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-5% vs national median347 grads tracked

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Ranked 47th of 107 bachelor's programs in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$36,966
middle 50%: $27,505 – $45,794
Median · 5 years out
$54,281
middle 50%: $41,915 – $69,115
Median · 10 years out
$69,042
middle 50%: $50,574 – $92,113

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

Graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's bachelor's program in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies earn a median $36,966 one year after graduating, rising to $69,042 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 5% below the national median of $57,301 for this field, ranking 47th of 107 reporting programs.

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
7.8 yrs
≈ $9,152 total interest

Same major at other universities

Stephen F Austin State University
$55,577 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$55,525 · 5 yrs out
University of Montana (The)
$55,307 · 5 yrs out
Tarleton State University
$54,857 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Denver
$54,788 · 5 yrs out
Georgia College & State University
$54,496 · 5 yrs out
Bowling Green State University
$54,177 · 5 yrs out
Old Dominion University
$54,110 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Kent State University
$53,753 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Cortland
$53,485 · 5 yrs out
Agnes Scott College
$53,181 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Dentistry (Doctorate)
$168,009 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$156,616 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$153,805 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$110,993 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$109,392 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$102,790 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$98,753 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$96,425 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$94,896 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$93,766 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's)
$91,284 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$89,231 · 5 yrs out

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