WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+17% vs national median32 grads tracked

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Pennsylvania State University (The)

Ranked 12th of 107 bachelor's programs in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$37,592
middle 50%: $26,989 – $54,051
Median · 5 years out
$67,042
middle 50%: $48,487 – $90,582
Median · 10 years out
$84,962
middle 50%: $55,464 – $135,472

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)'s bachelor's program in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies earn a median $37,592 one year after graduating, rising to $84,962 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 17% above the national median of $57,301 for this field, ranking 12th 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
6.7 yrs
≈ $7,990 total interest

Same major at other universities

Wabash College
$70,012 · 5 yrs out
College of Saint Benedict
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Saint John's University
$68,098 · 5 yrs out
Binghamton University
$67,438 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Arlington
$67,254 · 5 yrs out
George Mason University
$67,236 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$66,572 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University
$65,807 · 5 yrs out
Utah State University
$65,774 · 5 yrs out
Providence College
$65,194 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$64,811 · 5 yrs out
St. Cloud State University
$64,718 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Pennsylvania State University (The)

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$182,178 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$177,057 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$143,044 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$135,252 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$130,869 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$122,394 · 5 yrs out
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's)
$116,440 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$115,495 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's)
$115,004 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$114,831 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$114,734 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$114,727 · 5 yrs out

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