Bachelor's+17% vs national median2,966 grads tracked
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at George Mason University
Ranked 11th of 107 bachelor's programs in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$44,932
middle 50%: $32,454 – $57,731
Median · 5 years out
$67,236
middle 50%: $50,075 – $87,252
Median · 10 years out
$87,909
middle 50%: $62,801 – $122,083
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
George Mason University graduates in Writing Studies see a first-year median of $45k. Salaries reach $67k after five years and $88k after ten years.
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
6.3 yrs
≈ $7,286 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Utah
$72,204 · 5 yrs out
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
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$67,042 · 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
Other majors at George Mason University
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$183,592 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$158,478 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$148,304 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$137,848 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$137,668 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$134,767 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$134,767 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Doctorate)
$130,148 · 5 yrs out
Biological and Biomedical Sciences (Doctorate)
$127,509 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$126,951 · 5 yrs out
Natural Resources and Conservation (Doctorate)
$122,445 · 5 yrs out
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (Master's)
$121,298 · 5 yrs out