WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-25% vs national median33 grads tracked

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Pennsylvania State University (The) - Erie, The Behrend College

Ranked 98th of 107 bachelor's programs in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$25,504
middle 50%: $19,109 – $32,115
Median · 5 years out
$42,709
middle 50%: $30,620 – $64,996
Median · 10 years out
$48,487
middle 50%: $36,674 – $86,929

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 Pennsylvania State University (The) - Erie, The Behrend College's bachelor's program in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies earn a median $25,504 one year after graduating, rising to $48,487 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 25% below the national median of $57,301 for this field, ranking 98th 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
10.7 yrs
≈ $13,077 total interest

Same major at other universities

South Dakota State University
$45,751 · 5 yrs out
Fitchburg State University
$45,075 · 5 yrs out
Truman State University
$44,849 · 5 yrs out
Roanoke College
$44,398 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Oswego (SUNY Oswego)
$42,734 · 5 yrs out
Millikin University
$42,709 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina at Wilmington (The)
$42,617 · 5 yrs out
Southwest Minnesota State University
$42,423 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at El Paso
$42,235 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York College at Potsdam
$42,186 · 5 yrs out
Bemidji State University
$40,793 · 5 yrs out
Randolph College
$40,793 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Pennsylvania State University (The) - Erie, The Behrend College

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$102,796 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$101,968 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$100,616 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$98,769 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,088 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$94,389 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$93,253 · 5 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$92,296 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's)
$91,385 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$90,845 · 5 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$89,501 · 5 yrs out
Polymer/Plastics Engineering (Bachelor's)
$88,324 · 5 yrs out

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