by our College Data Analytics Team
[Writing Studies](/majors/english-language-literature/writing-studies/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a writing studies degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the early-career earnings of their writing studies graduates.
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Below are the schools whose writing studies graduates go on to earn the most.
Drake University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid writing studies graduates in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career writing studies graduates from Drake University make a median of around $59,135 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Southwest Minnesota State University earned it the #2 place for writing studies. Located in the town of Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University is a public institution. After graduating, writing studies degree recipients from Southwest Minnesota State University typically earn about $49,740 annually.
A rank of #3 makes Missouri State University Springfield one of the highest-paying schools for writing studies. Missouri State University Springfield is a public school located in the city of Springfield. Students who complete the writing studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,032.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities produces some of the highest-paid graduates in writing studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. Students who complete the writing studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,881.
Metropolitan State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying writing studies schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a public institution. Writing Studies graduates of Metropolitan State University earn a median of about $50,935 a year early in their careers.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for writing studies. Set in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a public institution. Early-career writing studies graduates from University Of Nebraska At Kearney make a median of around $47,989 per year.
Bemidji State University earned the #7 position for writing studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a public institution. Early-career writing studies graduates from Bemidji State University make a median of around $36,034 per year.
Macalester College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for writing studies. Macalester College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Writing Studies graduates of Macalester College earn a median of about $29,487 a year early in their careers.
Hamline University landed the #9 spot for writing studies salaries this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career writing studies graduates from Hamline University make a median of around $40,394 per year.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for writing studies. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a public school located in the city of Omaha. After graduating, writing studies degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha typically earn about $26,360 annually.
Drury University landed the #11 spot for writing studies salaries this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Drury University is a private not-for-profit institution. Writing Studies graduates of Drury University earn a median of about $24,127 a year early in their careers.
Cornell College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying writing studies schools. Set in the town of Mount Vernon, Cornell College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the writing studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $18,241.
Truman State University landed the #13 spot for writing studies salaries this year. Located in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a public institution. Early-career writing studies graduates from Truman State University make a median of around $16,569 per year.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries writing studies graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 13 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.