2026 Best Value Rhetoric & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Rhetoric & Composition](/majors/english-language-literature/writing-studies/rhetoric-and-composition/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong rhetoric & composition education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 139 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value rhetoric & composition schools.
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2026 Best Value Rhetoric & Composition Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in rhetoric & composition, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Rhetoric & Composition Schools
Leading the list is Cuny Brooklyn College, our #1 best value for rhetoric & composition in the United States. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. In-state tuition and fees average $7,452, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Rhetoric & Composition graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $40,843. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
Weber State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value rhetoric & composition schools. Set in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,557, while out-of-state students pay about $17,545. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $21,398. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $36,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Minnesota Morris is a great value for students pursuing a degree in rhetoric & composition, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Morris, University Of Minnesota Morris is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,526, compared with $16,710 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,080 to complete the rhetoric & composition program here. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $44,479. Set against $21,080 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Morris admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Central Florida is a great value for students pursuing a degree in rhetoric & composition, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Students borrow a median of $22,676 to complete the rhetoric & composition program here. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $26,282. Set against $22,676 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
A rank of #5 makes The University Of Texas At El Paso one of the best values for rhetoric & composition. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,544 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $19,819. Rhetoric & Composition graduates of The University Of Texas At El Paso earn a median of $63,112 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
San Francisco State University came in at #6 for value in rhetoric & composition this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,846, compared with $20,446 for out-of-state students. Rhetoric & Composition graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $50,955. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #7 position for value in rhetoric & composition this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $13,999 to complete the rhetoric & composition program here. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $31,239. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Youngstown State University earned the #8 position for value in rhetoric & composition this year. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. Students from in state pay about $9,926 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $26,169. Rhetoric & Composition graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $31,763 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,169 median debt. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Utah placed #9 among the best values for rhetoric & composition. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Students borrow a median of $20,798 to complete the rhetoric & composition program here. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $47,950. Set against $20,798 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of California Berkeley ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value rhetoric & composition schools. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Rhetoric & Composition graduates carry a median of $14,037 in student loans. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $44,553. Set against $14,037 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.
Ferris State University landed the #11 spot for rhetoric & composition value this year. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,778. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $23,508. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver landed the #12 spot for rhetoric & composition value this year. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,124, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. Students borrow a median of $19,998 to complete the rhetoric & composition program here. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from Metropolitan State College Of Denver generally make around $39,526. Set against $19,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Old Dominion University came in at #13 for value in rhetoric & composition this year. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. In-state tuition and fees average $12,750, while out-of-state students pay about $33,780. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the rhetoric & composition program here. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $35,716. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #14 position for value in rhetoric & composition this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $23,250. Rhetoric & Composition graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $24,225 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Houston Downtown ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value rhetoric & composition schools. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Downtown is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,582, compared with $17,434 for out-of-state students. Rhetoric & Composition graduates carry a median of $23,925 in student loans. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from University Of Houston Downtown generally make around $50,595. That is a strong return on a $23,925 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Arizona came in at #16 for value in rhetoric & composition this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Rhetoric & Composition graduates carry a median of $24,822 in student loans. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $26,715. Set against $24,822 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
East Tennessee State University placed #17 among the best values for rhetoric & composition. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. In-state tuition and fees average $10,216, compared with $13,726 for out-of-state students. Rhetoric & Composition graduates carry a median of $21,301 in student loans. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from East Tennessee State University generally make around $45,444. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #18 position for value in rhetoric & composition this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Rhetoric & Composition graduates carry a median of $22,375 in student loans. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $38,407. Set against $22,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Southern University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value rhetoric & composition schools. Located in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,022, compared with $17,734 for out-of-state students. Rhetoric & Composition graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from Georgia Southern University generally make around $45,531. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgia Southern University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg landed the #20 spot for rhetoric & composition value this year. University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg is a small public school located in the suburb of Greensburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,710, while out-of-state students pay about $26,584. Rhetoric & Composition graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Rhetoric & Composition graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg earn a median of $35,700 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus earned the #21 position for value in rhetoric & composition this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,140, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $14,363. Rhetoric & Composition graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $33,999 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,363 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Montevallo came in at #22 for value in rhetoric & composition this year. University Of Montevallo is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Montevallo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,948, with out-of-state students paying around $26,968. Rhetoric & Composition graduates carry a median of $25,096 in student loans. Rhetoric & Composition graduates of University Of Montevallo earn a median of $36,673 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,096 median debt. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
George Mason University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value rhetoric & composition schools. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $23,250. Rhetoric & Composition graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $40,114 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #24 position for value in rhetoric & composition this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Rhetoric & Composition graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Rhetoric & Composition graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $47,377 early in their careers. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #25 among the best values for rhetoric & composition. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $21,323. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $57,819. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 45 Best Value Rhetoric & Composition Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for rhetoric & composition this year:
Other Rhetoric & Composition Degree Levels
Explore the best-value rhetoric & composition schools at other degree levels:
View All Rhetoric & Composition Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 139 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 24 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
