WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+27% vs national median670 grads tracked

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at James Madison University

Ranked 4th of 107 bachelor's programs in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$44,358
middle 50%: $30,758 – $58,465
Median · 5 years out
$72,485
middle 50%: $54,078 – $93,624
Median · 10 years out
$101,137
middle 50%: $68,978 – $139,635

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 James Madison University's bachelor's program in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies earn a median $44,358 one year after graduating, rising to $101,137 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 27% above the national median of $57,301 for this field, ranking 4th 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 yrs
≈ $7,053 total interest

Same major at other universities

Arizona State University
$80,895 · 5 yrs out
Missouri University of Science and Technology
$76,958 · 5 yrs out
University of Richmond
$76,659 · 5 yrs out
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

Other majors at James Madison University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$149,041 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$113,393 · 5 yrs out
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's)
$109,323 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$108,391 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$107,900 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$105,157 · 5 yrs out
Systems Science and Theory (Bachelor's)
$101,995 · 5 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's)
$101,563 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)
$97,528 · 5 yrs out
Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's)
$97,305 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$94,450 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$94,450 · 5 yrs out

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