Texas · Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies

Best colleges for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies in Texas

Ranked by graduate earnings

Texas Tech University, The University of Texas at Austin and Texas State University are the top bachelor's Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs in Texas by graduate earnings. Texas Tech University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,943, College Scorecard. The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas at El Paso and Texas Tech University award the most Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies degrees in Texas: 129, 53 and 52 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 31 Texas colleges offer Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies and award 512 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies program focuses on the art and science of writing, particularly at the college level. It is designed for students interested in developing their writing skills, understanding the nuances of…

Institutions
31
offering CIP 23.13
States offered
50
with a program page
Degrees / yr
512
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$37,548
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
7
College Scorecard
Median net price
$23,152
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
52%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Editors
$57,300
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 6 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Texas Tech University
Lubbock Public · Bachelor's degree
$39,9435269%—$21,500
2The University of Texas at Austin
Austin Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,71312989%—$21,323
3Texas State University
San Marcos Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,5482555%—$21,765
4University of North Texas
Denton Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$45,0151461%—$19,424
5Saint Edward's University
Austin Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$31,518863%$24,630$26,000
6Stephen F Austin State University
Nacogdoches Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$25,292953%—$21,726

Top certificate or associate program

Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Austin Community College District
Austin Public · Associate degree
$33,5142020%—$13,967

Colleges awarding the most Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies degrees in Texas

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1The University of Texas at Austin
Austin Public
129$38,713
2The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso Public
53Not reported
3Texas Tech University
Lubbock Public
52$39,943
4Baylor University
Waco Private not-for-profit
25Not reported
5Texas State University
San Marcos Public
25$37,548
6University of Houston-Downtown
Houston Public
24Not reported
7University of Houston
Houston Public
22Not reported
8University of St Thomas
Houston Private not-for-profit
17Not reported
9University of North Texas
Denton Public
14$45,015
10Texas Christian University
Fort Worth Private not-for-profit
14Not reported
Show the other 21 Texas colleges offering Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
El Paso Community CollegeEl PasoPublic28
Austin Community College DistrictAustinPublic20
The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyEdinburgPublic11
Texas A&M University - VictoriaVictoriaPublic10
Stephen F Austin State UniversityNacogdochesPublic9
Saint Edward's UniversityAustinPrivate not-for-profit8
The University of Texas at San AntonioSan AntonioPublic8
Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsvillePublic6
Sul Ross State UniversityAlpinePublic5
Austin CollegeShermanPrivate not-for-profit4
Lubbock Christian UniversityLubbockPrivate not-for-profit4
McMurry UniversityAbilenePrivate not-for-profit4
Southern Methodist UniversityDallasPrivate not-for-profit4
Trinity UniversitySan AntonioPrivate not-for-profit4
Del Mar CollegeCorpus ChristiPublic3
Texas Woman's UniversityDentonPublic3
Texas A & M University - Corpus ChristiCorpus ChristiPublic2
Galveston CollegeGalvestonPublic1
Houston Christian UniversityHoustonPrivate not-for-profit1
Our Lady of the Lake UniversitySan AntonioPrivate not-for-profit1
Temple CollegeTemplePublic1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Editors (SOC 27-3041).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+0.6%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~9,800
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$75,260
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionWritingCritical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingActive Learning

What Editors earn in Texas

Jobs in Texas
6,460
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$57,300
median $45,950
Best-paying metro
$71,630
Waco, TX

Related careers

Editors
$57,300 avg · 6,460 jobs
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
$86,400 avg · 4,310 jobs
Technical Writers
$88,140 avg · 3,340 jobs
Writers and Authors
$81,210 avg · 2,320 jobs
Proofreaders and Copy Markers
$46,670 avg · 200 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs in Texas.

Which Texas colleges award the most Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies degrees?+

The University of Texas at Austin (129 graduates a year), The University of Texas at El Paso (53 graduates a year) and Texas Tech University (52 graduates a year) award the most Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies degrees in Texas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 31 Texas colleges offer Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies.

What is the best college for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies in Texas?+

By graduate earnings, Texas Tech University leads among bachelor's Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs in Texas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,943, College Scorecard. The University of Texas at Austin and Texas State University follow. By degrees awarded, The University of Texas at Austin is the largest, with 129 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies program in Texas has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Texas Tech University tops the list at $39,943. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Editors earn in Texas?+

The average annual wage for Editors in Texas is $57,300 (median $45,950), across about 6,460 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies program?+

The Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies program focuses on the art and science of writing, particularly at the college level. It is designed for students interested in developing their writing skills, understanding the nuances of…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking, active listening, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Editors?+

The national job outlook is about +0.6% growth with around 9,800 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies in other statesUtahArizonaMarylandSouth CarolinaRhode IslandColoradoMinnesotaNebraska

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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