Program Analysis
Graduates earn $26,534/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.
The 3.8x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.
AI risk is moderate — 62% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $27,000 debt load exceeds a year of the $26,534 starting salary, suggesting a multi-year repayment window before graduates break even financially.
At #97 out of 121 programs, Elizabethtown College's financial outcomes for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
Earnings growth from $26,534 to $52,248 over five years (97% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.