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Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $27,832/yr (-6% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)

Job Market Large (48,200 openings/yr)

ROI 11.4x earnings multiple (3.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #52 of 121 Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$407K	$419K	$410K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.1x	11.4x	11.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.8x	3.9x	3.8x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	42%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	26	26	22

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$36,768

Out-of-state: $107,084 (3.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$58,860

-60% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,036

8.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $27,832/yr, roughly in line with the $29,653 national median for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies's typical career paths, with 62% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a -1% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $20,036 represents roughly 9 months of the $27,832 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #52 of 121 Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs, Central Washington University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About Central Washington University

Central Washington University accepts 90% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 8,081 students in Ellensburg, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Central Washington University →

Top Career Paths

Technical writers $91,670/yr

Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490/yr

English language and literature teachers, postsecondary $78,270/yr

View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Other Schools

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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 and Composition/Writing Studies at Central Washington University?

A score of 26/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies careers?

With 62% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $410,368 in decade earnings vs $406,987 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →