Rhetoric & Writing at University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
46 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
47
Optimistic
46
Base Case
37
Pessimistic
Earnings $47,950/yr (62% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market Large (48,200 openings/yr)
ROI 13.9x earnings multiple (4.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #8 of 121 Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs Top 10%

Program Analysis

Your placement among the nation's top programs reflects the University of Utah's strong reputation in rhetoric, translating into excellent career prospects. These outcomes are driven by the program's rigorous focus on practical communication skills, highly valued in Utah's burgeoning "Silicon Slopes" tech sector. Companies like Adobe, Qualtrics, and Recursion Pharma actively seek graduates who can translate complex information into clear, persuasive content for technical writing and content strategy roles. While the "Very High" AI risk for fields like technical writing and editing is a significant consideration, it emphasizes that the *nature* of these jobs is evolving. AI tools can draft content, but human specialists remain crucial for strategic thinking, audience analysis, ethical communication, and ensuring accuracy and tone. To thrive, focus on developing expertise in areas where human judgment and critical thinking are paramount, like user experience (UX) writing, content strategy, or complex project management within communication teams.

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 $521K $517K $477K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.0x 13.9x 12.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.4x 4.3x 4.0x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 42% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 47 46 37

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$37,260
Out-of-state: $119,348 (4.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$52,688
-41% less than sticker · See by income

About University of Utah

A 87% acceptance rate means University of Utah is accessible to most applicants, with 26,041 students enrolled in Salt Lake City, UT.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Utah →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Rhetoric & Writing at University of Utah?
A score of 46/100 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 $477,348 in decade earnings vs $520,858 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →