Rhetoric & Writing at Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
19
Optimistic
19
Base Case
15
Pessimistic
Earnings
$26,534/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market
Large (48,200 openings/yr)
ROI
3.8x earnings multiple
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 | $565K | $555K | $503K |
| Earnings Multiple | 3.8x | 3.8x | 3.4x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 49% | 42% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 19 | 19 | 15 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$147,368
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
12.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,248
97% growth from Year 1
About Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown College accepts 77% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 1,815 students in Elizabethtown, PA.
See all programs and financial aid at Elizabethtown College →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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Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Elizabethtown College's Rhetoric & Writing program score?
This program scores 19/100 — on the lower end for Rhetoric & Writing. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Do Elizabethtown College Rhetoric & Writing graduates earn enough to justify the loans?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.0x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
How vulnerable is Rhetoric & Writing to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Rhetoric & Writing careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 62% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →