Rhetoric & Writing at California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
29
Optimistic
28
Base Case
26
Pessimistic
Earnings
$21,854/yr (-26% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market
Large (48,200 openings/yr)
ROI
18.2x earnings multiple (6.8x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Rhetoric & Writing graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $514K | $511K | $473K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 18.3x | 18.2x | 16.9x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.8x | 6.8x | 6.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 49% | 42% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 29 | 28 | 26 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$28,032
Out-of-state: $75,552 (6.8x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
8.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,603
100% growth from Year 1
About California State University-Long Beach
California State University-Long Beach's 47% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with 34,131 students enrolled in Long Beach, CA. With 49% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.
See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Long Beach →Top Career Paths
Technical writers
$91,670/yr
Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78,490/yr
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
$78,270/yr
Compare & Explore
Rhetoric & Writing at Other Schools
Other Majors at California State University-Long Beach
Consider the Trade Route?
Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Rhetoric & Writing at California State University-Long Beach?
A score of 28/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Rhetoric & Writing. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Rhetoric & Writing careers?
With 62% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $473,368 in decade earnings vs $514,091 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Rhetoric & Writing from California State University-Long Beach?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →