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Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Drury University

Springfield, MO · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
17 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
18
Optimistic
17
Base Case
14
Pessimistic
Earnings $24,127/yr (-19% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market Large (48,200 openings/yr)
ROI 2.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #108 of 121 Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs

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 $386K $401K $398K
Earnings Multiple 2.7x 2.8x 2.8x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 42% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 18 17 14

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$140,940
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$86,092
39% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,186
10.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $24,127/yr fall 19% below the $29,653 national median for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The financial case is thin at 2.8x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 -3% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $20,186 represents roughly 10 months of the $24,127 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #108 of 121 Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs, Drury University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Drury University

With a 59% acceptance rate, Drury University is moderately selective, a smaller institution with 1,367 students in Springfield, MO. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $86,092 — 39% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Drury 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

Compare this program → View all 121 schools offering Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies →

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Other Schools

Wabash College ($50,446) University of Utah ($47,950) Missouri State University-Springfield ($47,377) University of North Texas ($45,015) University of California-Berkeley ($44,553) Arizona State University Campus Immersion ($44,411) Arizona State University Digital Immersion ($44,411) Johns Hopkins University ($43,524)

Other Majors at Drury University

Architecture ($54,723) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($43,374) Criminal Justice and Corrections ($38,014) Sociology ($35,881) Psychology, General ($34,095) Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($33,862) Biology, General ($33,699) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($31,726)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Drury University?
A score of 17/100 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 $398,031 in decade earnings vs $386,016 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies from Drury University?
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 →