2027 Best Value Rhetoric & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Rhetoric & Composition](/majors/english-language-literature/writing-studies/rhetoric-and-composition/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 45 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for rhetoric & composition students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Rhetoric & Composition Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the rhetoric & composition degrees they offer, see the list below.
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. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the rhetoric & composition program here. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $40,843. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ferris State University earned it the #2 place for rhetoric & composition. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,778. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $21,500. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $23,508. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Weber State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in rhetoric & composition, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,557, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Rhetoric & Composition graduates carry a median of $21,398 in student loans. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $36,205. That is a strong return on a $21,398 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At El Paso earned it the #4 place for rhetoric & composition. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Rhetoric & Composition graduates carry a median of $19,819 in student loans. Rhetoric & Composition graduates of The University Of Texas At El Paso earn a median of $63,112 early in their careers. Set against $19,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 100%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Central Florida earned it the #5 place for rhetoric & composition. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Rhetoric & Composition graduates carry a median of $22,676 in student loans. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $26,282. That is a strong return on a $22,676 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #6 among the best values for rhetoric & composition. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Rhetoric & Composition graduates carry a median of $13,999 in student loans. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $31,239. That is a strong return on a $13,999 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
San Francisco State University landed the #7 spot for rhetoric & composition value this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. In-state tuition and fees average $7,846, compared with $20,446 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the rhetoric & composition program here. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $49,716. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of California Berkeley came in at #8 for value in rhetoric & composition this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Rhetoric & Composition graduates carry a median of $14,037 in student loans. Rhetoric & Composition graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $44,553 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,037 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Rhode Island College placed #9 among the best values for rhetoric & composition. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,300, compared with $27,299 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,394 to complete the rhetoric & composition program here. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from Rhode Island College generally make around $45,088. That is a strong return on a $23,394 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Houston Downtown earned the #10 position for value in rhetoric & composition this year. University Of Houston Downtown is a large public school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $7,582, with out-of-state students paying around $17,434. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $23,925. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $50,595. That is a strong return on a $23,925 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Youngstown State University earned the #11 position for value in rhetoric & composition this year. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,926, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Rhetoric & Composition graduates carry a median of $26,169 in student loans. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $31,763. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #12 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. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the rhetoric & composition program here. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $24,225. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Old Dominion University placed #13 among the best values for rhetoric & composition. 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. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $26,000. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $35,716. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver placed #14 among the best values for rhetoric & composition. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,124, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $19,998. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $39,526. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus came in at #15 for value in rhetoric & composition this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,140, while out-of-state students pay about $33,060. Rhetoric & Composition graduates carry a median of $14,363 in student loans. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $33,999. Set against $14,363 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New Mexico Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
University Of Utah ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value rhetoric & composition schools. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. 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. Rhetoric & Composition graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $47,950 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value rhetoric & composition schools. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $22,375. Rhetoric & Composition graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $38,407 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,375 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
East Tennessee State University landed the #18 spot for rhetoric & composition value this year. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. In-state tuition and fees average $10,216, while out-of-state students pay about $13,726. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $21,301. Rhetoric & Composition graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of $45,444 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,301 median debt. East Tennessee State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Salem State University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value rhetoric & composition schools. Located in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,338, while out-of-state students pay about $19,531. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $27,176. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from Salem State University generally make around $49,656. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Arizona landed the #20 spot for rhetoric & composition value this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Rhetoric & Composition graduates carry a median of $24,822 in student loans. Rhetoric & Composition graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $26,715 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
George Mason University landed the #21 spot for rhetoric & composition value this year. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Rhetoric & Composition graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $40,114. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #22 position for value in rhetoric & composition this year. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $26,500. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $47,377. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Iowa State University landed the #23 spot for rhetoric & composition value this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $23,496. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $54,204. That is a strong return on a $23,496 median debt. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Montevallo landed the #24 spot for rhetoric & composition value 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. Students borrow a median of $25,096 to complete the rhetoric & composition program here. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from University Of Montevallo generally make around $36,673. Set against $25,096 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg landed the #25 spot for rhetoric & composition value this year. Set in the suburb of Greensburg, University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,710, while out-of-state students pay about $26,584. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the rhetoric & composition program here. Rhetoric & Composition graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg earn a median of $35,700 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg admits about 95% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 45 Best Value Rhetoric & Composition Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s rhetoric & composition value ranking:
Other Rhetoric & Composition Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Rhetoric & Composition rankings across degree levels:
View All Rhetoric & Composition Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 45 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 45 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.
