by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in General Writing explores Writing, General. A Program That Focuses On Writing For Applied And Liberal Arts Purposes. Includes Instruction In Writing And Document Design In Multiple Genres, Modes, And Media; Writing Technologies; Research, Evaluation, And Use Of Information; Editing And Publishing; Theories And Processes Of Composing; Rhetorical Theories, Traditions, And Analysis; Communication Across Audiences, Contexts, And Cultures; And Practical Applications For Professional, Technical, Organizational, Academic, And Public Settings. Examples: [English Composition], [Writing]. Read on to learn the key facts every general writing student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general writing programs.
Across the country, general writing is a popular field of study, with 765 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Writing Schools ranking analyzes these 108 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general writing students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general writing programs later in this article.
Coursework for General Writing develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general writing graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a general writing program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a general writing major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general writing degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 22 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 512 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 231 |
People currently working in careers related to general writing tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 31.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 18.7% |
| Master’s degree | 17.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 10.7% |
| Some college courses | 9.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 6.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general writing careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in general writing opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to general writing.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general writing.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,273,615 | 14.3% |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Technical Writers | 396,969 | 6.9% |
| 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% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of general writing graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,712 |
| 4 years | $44,745 |
| 5 years | $51,958 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general writing graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general writing grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Editors | $100,346 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $88,437 |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | $70,619 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $68,967 |
| Writers and Authors | $63,195 |
| Technical Writers | $52,099 |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | $30,503 |
With 108 different general writing programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general writing school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in general writing, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Creative Writing | 7,423 |
| Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing | 2,835 |
| Rhetoric and Composition | 1,400 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies, Other | 446 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
