Best institutions to study Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Any instructional program in rhetoric and composition/writing studies not listed above.
16 U.S. institutions graduated 581 Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 23.1399, a specialization of Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (CIP 23.13), and leads most directly to the Editors occupation (BLS SOC 27-3041).
About Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs
Any instructional program in rhetoric and composition/writing studies not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies program focuses on the study and practice of writing and rhetoric, equipping students with essential communication skills. This program is ideal for those interested in enhancing their writing abilities and understanding the nuances of effective communication in various contexts.
Students will develop core skills such as reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking, and active listening. Coursework often includes topics related to English language, communications, and media, preparing graduates for diverse roles in writing and editing.
Credentials awarded
What Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree315 graduates / yr · 6 institutions54%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year122 graduates / yr · 5 institutions21%
- Associate's degree108 graduates / yr · 1 institution19%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate18 graduates / yr · 4 institutions3.1%
- Master's degree10 graduates / yr · 2 institutions1.7%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship8 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.4%
Graduates over time
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 42 |
| 2013 | 73 |
| 2014 | 50 |
| 2015 | 116 |
| 2016 | 105 |
| 2017 | 249 |
| 2018 | 437 |
| 2019 | 485 |
| 2020 | 497 |
| 2021 | 538 |
| 2022 | 557 |
| 2023 | 568 |
| 2024 | 444 |
| 2025 | 581 |
Top 16 institutions for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Full Sail University Winter Park, FLPrivate for-profitBachelor'sAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 473 | 44% | $32,163 | $23,449 |
| 2 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 29 | 67% | — | — |
| 3 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 12 | 84% | $28,851 | $24,935 |
| 4 | University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth North Dartmouth, MAPublicBachelor's | 9 | 52% | — | — |
| 5 | Old Dominion University Norfolk, VAPublicDoctoral | 8 | 46% | — | $35,716 |
| 6 | Middle Georgia State University Macon, GAPublicPost-degree cert. | 7 | 25% | — | — |
| 7 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 6 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
| 8 | Delta College University Center, MIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 27% | — | — |
| 9 | Whitman College Walla Walla, WAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 81% | $28,508 | — |
| 10 | Pepperdine University Malibu, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 83% | $41,986 | $33,228 |
| 11 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 5 | 92% | $26,873 | $26,636 |
| 12 | The University of Findlay Findlay, OHPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 5 | 58% | $23,128 | — |
| 13 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, PAPublicPost-degree cert.Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 58% | — | — |
| 14 | Pennsylvania Western University California, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 52% | — | — |
| 15 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 61% | — | — |
| 16 | University of California - Merced Merced, CAPublicBachelor's | 1 | 69% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies field (CIP 23.13) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 12 states
Where Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 1 | 473 | Full Sail University473 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 29 | Rowan University29 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 15 | University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth9 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 12 | Syracuse University12 / yr |
| California | 3 | 11 | Pepperdine University5 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 8 | Old Dominion University8 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 7 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania4 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 7 | Middle Georgia State University7 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 6 | Delta College6 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 6 | Whitman College6 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 5 | The University of Findlay5 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 2 | Northern Arizona University2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3041, Editors, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as editors, writers, or postsecondary English language and literature teachers. The job outlook shows little change, with approximately 9,800 annual openings and a median wage of $75,260, typically requiring a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 23.1399
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Editorsprimary SOC 27-3041 | $77,920 | +0.6% Little or no change | ~9,800 | Bachelor's degree |
Writers and Authors SOC 27-3043 | $76,910 | +3.6% About as fast as average | ~13,400 | Bachelor's degree |
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1123 | $78,760 | 0.0% Little or no change | ~5,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Proofreaders and Copy Markers SOC 43-9081 | $51,120 | -0.6% Little or no change | ~1,900 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax.
- Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources.
- Read, evaluate and edit manuscripts or other materials submitted for publication, and confer with authors regarding changes in content, style or organization, or publication.
- Develop story or content ideas, considering reader or audience appeal.
- Prepare, rewrite and edit copy to improve readability, or supervise others who do this work.
- Oversee publication production, including artwork, layout, computer typesetting, and printing, ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget requirements.
Tools and technology used
Other Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies specializations
The 4 other 6-digit CIP codes under Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (CIP 23.13).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, an Associate's degree, or an Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in writing, critical thinking, and active listening, among others.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as an editor, writer, or English language and literature teacher, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 9,800 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies?+
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies is CIP 23.1399 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (CIP 23.13). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in rhetoric and composition/writing studies not listed above.
How many institutions offer Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs?+
16 U.S. institutions reported Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 12 states, awarding 581 credentials in the year. That is 4.4% of all Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates.
How much do Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Editors occupation, which Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies most directly leads to, pays a median of $77,920 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies field report median earnings of $26,636 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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