by our College Data Analytics Team
[Writing Studies](/majors/english-language-literature/writing-studies/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a writing studies degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools on the early-career earnings of their writing studies graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose writing studies graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in writing studies, no school beat University Of Southern California this year. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. After graduating, writing studies degree recipients from University Of Southern California typically earn about $73,165 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in writing studies will find them at University Of Washington Bothell Campus, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a public institution. Early-career writing studies graduates from University Of Washington Bothell Campus make a median of around $115,188 per year.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus produces some of the highest-paid graduates in writing studies, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school located in the city of Seattle. After graduating, writing studies degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus typically earn about $115,188 annually.
Mount St Marys College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying writing studies schools. Mount St Marys College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students who complete the writing studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $70,010.
University Of San Francisco came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying writing studies schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, writing studies degree recipients from University Of San Francisco typically earn about $51,069 annually.
National University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying writing studies schools. Located in the city of San Diego, National University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, writing studies degree recipients from National University typically earn about $60,763 annually.
Pacific University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying writing studies schools. Pacific University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Forest Grove. After graduating, writing studies degree recipients from Pacific University typically earn about $49,513 annually.
Chapman University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for writing studies. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Writing Studies graduates of Chapman University earn a median of about $56,350 a year early in their careers.
Oregon State University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for writing studies. Oregon State University is a public school located in the city of Corvallis. Students who complete the writing studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,178.
Portland State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying writing studies schools. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a public institution. Students who complete the writing studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,695.
University Of California Riverside ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying writing studies schools. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a public institution. Writing Studies graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of about $66,609 a year early in their careers.
San Diego State University came in at #12 for writing studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a public institution. Early-career writing studies graduates from San Diego State University make a median of around $41,328 per year.
San Francisco State University earned the #13 position for writing studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. Early-career writing studies graduates from San Francisco State University make a median of around $52,477 per year.
Eastern Washington University came in at #14 for writing studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a public institution. Writing Studies graduates of Eastern Washington University earn a median of about $47,794 a year early in their careers.
California State University San Bernardino landed the #15 spot for writing studies salaries this year. California State University San Bernardino is a public school located in the city of San Bernardino. After graduating, writing studies degree recipients from California State University San Bernardino typically earn about $36,388 annually.
California State University Fresno ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying writing studies schools. California State University Fresno is a public school located in the city of Fresno. Students who complete the writing studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,661.
California Institute Of The Arts ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying writing studies schools. Set in the suburb of Valencia, California Institute Of The Arts is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, writing studies degree recipients from California Institute Of The Arts typically earn about $50,363 annually.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying writing studies schools. University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a public school located in the city of Las Vegas. Early-career writing studies graduates from University Of Nevada Las Vegas make a median of around $27,533 per year.
Saint Marys College Of California earned the #19 position for writing studies graduate earnings this year. Saint Marys College Of California is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moraga. Early-career writing studies graduates from Saint Marys College Of California make a median of around $25,711 per year.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their writing studies graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 19 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.