WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-15% vs national median94 grads tracked

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Macalester College

Ranked 76th of 107 bachelor's programs in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$33,239
middle 50%: $23,315 – $45,365
Median · 5 years out
$48,698
middle 50%: $30,681 – $63,270
Median · 10 years out
$62,075
middle 50%: $45,300 – $105,099

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 Macalester College's bachelor's program in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies earn a median $33,239 one year after graduating, rising to $62,075 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 15% below the national median of $57,301 for this field, ranking 76th 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
8.7 yrs
≈ $10,363 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Alabama in Huntsville
$49,855 · 5 yrs out
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
Salem State University
$48,682 · 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

Other majors at Macalester College

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$121,630 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$121,630 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Bachelor's)
$99,879 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics (Bachelor's)
$99,879 · 5 yrs out
Economics (Bachelor's)
$94,989 · 5 yrs out
Physics (Bachelor's)
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's)
$68,022 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Bachelor's)
$64,005 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Bachelor's)
$61,737 · 5 yrs out
Education (Bachelor's)
$61,545 · 5 yrs out
Education, General (Bachelor's)
$61,545 · 5 yrs out
International/Globalization Studies (Bachelor's)
$58,734 · 5 yrs out

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