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Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at The University of Texas at Arlington

Arlington, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $37,883/yr (28% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)

Job Market Large (48,200 openings/yr)

ROI 13.1x earnings multiple (5.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #6 of 121 Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs Top 5%

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	$632K	$612K	$543K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.5x	13.1x	11.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.3x	5.2x	4.6x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	42%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	48	47	40

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$46,912

Out-of-state: $118,640 (5.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$60,940

-30% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$12,917

4.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$66,592

76% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $37,883 per year, Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates from The University of Texas at Arlington significantly outpace the $29,653 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

The 13.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 62% task exposure — and the 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $12,917 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #6 out of 121 programs, The University of Texas at Arlington's Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $37,883 to $66,592 over five years (76% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About The University of Texas at Arlington

With 81% of applicants admitted, The University of Texas at Arlington prioritizes broad access, serving a student body of 30,834 in Arlington, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas at Arlington →

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

Other Majors at The University of Texas at Arlington

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does The University of Texas at Arlington's Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies program score?

This program scores 47/100 — on the lower end for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies 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.

Why does The University of Texas at Arlington rank so high for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies?

The #6 ranking out of 121 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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