Rhetoric & Writing at California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
39
Optimistic
39
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings
$28,725/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market
Large (48,200 openings/yr)
ROI
20.6x earnings multiple (7.5x 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 | $573K | $562K | $508K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 21.0x | 20.6x | 18.6x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 7.7x | 7.5x | 6.8x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 49% | 42% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 39 | 39 | 35 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$27,252
Out-of-state: $74,792 (7.5x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,500
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,514
90% growth from Year 1
About California State University-Los Angeles
California State University-Los Angeles accepts 92% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 21,478 in Los Angeles, CA. With 66% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $16,452 over four years — 40% below sticker price.
See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Los Angeles →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
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Rhetoric & Writing at California State University-Los Angeles?
A score of 39/100 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 $507,954 in decade earnings vs $572,891 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes California State University-Los Angeles's Rhetoric & Writing program stand out?
Ranked #18 of 121 programs nationally, California State University-Los Angeles lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →