WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-15% vs national median114 grads tracked

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Salem State University

Ranked 77th of 107 bachelor's programs in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$34,473
middle 50%: $24,514 – $43,181
Median · 5 years out
$48,682
middle 50%: $34,382 – $60,647
Median · 10 years out
$69,154
middle 50%: $52,354 – $96,791

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 Salem State University's bachelor's program in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies earn a median $34,473 one year after graduating, rising to $69,154 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 15% below the national median of $57,301 for this field, ranking 77th 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
8.3 yrs
≈ $10,086 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Louisiana at Monroe
$49,582 · 5 yrs out
University of Saint Thomas
$49,482 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Brooklyn College
$49,399 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Plattsburgh
$49,073 · 5 yrs out
Marshall University
$49,008 · 5 yrs out
Macalester College
$48,698 · 5 yrs out
Sul Ross State University
$48,487 · 5 yrs out
Western Connecticut State University
$48,085 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$48,030 · 5 yrs out
University of Northern Iowa
$47,574 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$47,492 · 5 yrs out
Youngstown State University
$47,409 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Salem State University

Fire Protection (Bachelor's)
$128,416 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$112,807 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$112,298 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$99,994 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$99,994 · 5 yrs out
History (Master's)
$97,133 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$95,876 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Bachelor's)
$93,844 · 5 yrs out
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (Bachelor's)
$93,589 · 5 yrs out
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's)
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Master's)
$91,284 · 5 yrs out
English Language and Literature/Letters (Master's)
$89,036 · 5 yrs out

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