2026 Best Rhetoric & Composition Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Rhetoric & Composition programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 27 schools to find the best for rhetoric & composition students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Rhetoric & Composition in the Great Lakes Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the rhetoric & composition degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Rhetoric & Composition
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in rhetoric & composition. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. About 42 rhetoric & composition degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their rhetoric & composition degree from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn around $58,659 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,530.
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A rank of #2 makes Michigan State University one of the top schools for rhetoric & composition. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. About 12 rhetoric & composition degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Rhetoric & Composition graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $33,401 early in their careers. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in rhetoric & composition, ranking #3. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 20 rhetoric & composition degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Rhetoric & Composition graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $24,225 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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A rank of #4 makes Depaul University one of the top schools for rhetoric & composition. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 13 rhetoric & composition degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Graduates of the rhetoric & composition program make about $49,334 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,310.
More information about a degree in rhetoric & composition from Depaul University
Students looking for a strong rhetoric & composition program will find one at Elmhurst College, which ranked #5. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elmhurst. Elmhurst College graduates 70% of students within six years. About 12 rhetoric & composition degrees were awarded at Elmhurst College in the most recent year. Graduates of the rhetoric & composition program make about $33,556 in their early career. Elmhurst College graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #6 among the best rhetoric & composition schools. This large public university is located in the town of Bowling Green. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 65 rhetoric & composition students who graduated with this degree at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the rhetoric & composition program make about $38,632 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Ferris State University earned the #7 position for rhetoric & composition this year. This large public university is located in the town of Big Rapids. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 11 rhetoric & composition degrees were awarded at Ferris State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their rhetoric & composition degree from Ferris State University earn around $23,508 in the first couple years of their career. Ferris State University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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Youngstown State University came in at #8 for rhetoric & composition this year. This large public university is located in the city of Youngstown. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 39 rhetoric & composition degrees were awarded at Youngstown State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the rhetoric & composition program make about $31,763 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,169 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in rhetoric & composition from Youngstown State University
Wabash College came in at #9 for rhetoric & composition this year. Set in the town of Crawfordsville, Wabash College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 13 rhetoric & composition degrees were awarded at Wabash College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from Wabash College generally make around $50,446. Wabash College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in rhetoric & composition from Wabash College
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 27 schools evaluated.
- 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.
