Rhetoric & Writing at Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
26
Optimistic
26
Base Case
22
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)
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 | $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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,036
8.6 months of Year 1 earnings
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
Compare & Explore
Rhetoric & Writing 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 & Writing at Central Washington University?
A score of 26/100 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 $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 →