by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 16 U.S. colleges awarded 589 degrees and certificates in Other Rhetoric & Composition/Writing Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 55% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Other Rhetoric & Composition/Writing Studies Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $34,712 one year after completing, rising to $52,903 after four years.
A major in Other Rhetoric & Composition/Writing Studies explores Rhetoric And Composition/writing Studies, Other. Any Instructional Program In Rhetoric And Composition/writing Studies Not Listed Above.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., other rhetoric & composition/writing studies draws strong interest, with 589 degrees awarded annually. 16 colleges award other rhetoric & composition/writing studies degrees, an average of 37 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 473.
By level, the 589 awards include 108 associate degrees, 323 bachelor’s degrees, 150 master’s degrees and 8 doctorates.
Women earned 61% of other rhetoric & composition/writing studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (359 of 589). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (239) and multiracial (118), and international students earned 8.
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Other Rhetoric & Composition/Writing Studies Schools ranking, including 1 for associate degrees, 2 for bachelor’s degrees and 1 for master’s degrees. It also ranks other rhetoric & composition/writing studies schools within 2 states. In all, 16 colleges offer other rhetoric & composition/writing studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Other Rhetoric & Composition/Writing Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common other rhetoric & composition/writing studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 323 of the 589 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to other rhetoric & composition/writing studies call most for Reading Comprehension, Writing and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Communications and Media and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an other rhetoric & composition/writing studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 108 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 323 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 150 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 8 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to other rhetoric & composition/writing studies, at 37.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 37.6% |
| Master’s degree | 20.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.6% |
| Some college courses | 7.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 7.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| First professional degree | 0.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Other Rhetoric & Composition/Writing Studies, with an average median salary of $70,620; the strongest outlook belongs to English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, at 14.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Online English Instructor, Literature Professor, English Faculty Member and Instructor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to other rhetoric & composition/writing studies, at 1,273,615.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,273,615 | 14.3% |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | 284,430 | 0.7% |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | 175,767 | 9.1% |
| Writers and Authors | 155,629 | -4.3% |
| Editors | 11,763 | 3.2% |
Other Rhetoric & Composition/Writing Studies graduates earn a median $34,712 one year after completing their program, $52,903 after four years and $51,929 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,712 |
| 4 years | $52,903 |
| 5 years | $51,929 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to other rhetoric & composition/writing studies is Editors, with a median salary of $100,346.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Editors | $100,346 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $88,437 |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | $70,619 |
| Writers and Authors | $63,195 |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | $30,503 |
Other Rhetoric & Composition/Writing Studies has 4 similar majors in the English Language & Literature field, which together award 13,280 degrees a year; the largest are Creative Writing (7,430), Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing (3,756) and Rhetoric and Composition (1,367). Browse all English Language & Literature majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Creative Writing | 7,430 |
| Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing | 3,756 |
| Rhetoric and Composition | 1,367 |
| Writing, General | 727 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
