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English & Literature · Rhetoric & Writing Rank #29 of 121

Rhetoric & Writingat Wabash College

Graduates earn $50,446/yr in their first year — about 70.0% above the national Rhetoric & Writing average. Base-case 10-year earnings $529K; scenarios range from $486K to $535K depending on AI disruption.

Crawfordsville, IN Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
36 AT RISK
38
Optimistic
29
Pessimistic
Earnings
$50,446
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.6x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$529K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
61% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Wabash College

Wabash's Rhetoric and Composition program stands out because it leverages the college's strong liberal arts foundation and tight-knit alumni network. Unlike programs focused solely on creative writing, this major emphasizes the strategic application of language, critical thinking, and persuasive communication—skills highly sought after in professional environments. You're not just learning to write; you're learning to analyze audiences, craft arguments, and lead discussions. This translates into graduates excelling in fields like technical communication, marketing, public relations, and even law, where their analytical and communication prowess is invaluable. While AI can automate basic writing tasks, your education here cultivates the higher-order reasoning and ethical judgment that machines cannot replicate. Focus on developing sophisticated critical analysis and interpersonal communication skills; these are your enduring assets in a changing landscape.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$486K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score29/100
Earnings Multiple2.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$529K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score36/100
Earnings Multiple2.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$535K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score38/100
Earnings Multiple2.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Wabash College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Rhetoric & Writing graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Technical writers
+0.9% 10-yr growth · 4,500 openings/yr
$91,670/yr
Very High
2
Postsecondary teachers, all other
+1.8% 10-yr growth · 13,500 openings/yr
$78,490/yr
Low
3
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
0.0% 10-yr growth · 5,100 openings/yr
$78,270/yr
High
4
Editors
+0.6% 10-yr growth · 9,800 openings/yr
$75,260/yr
High
5
Writers and authors
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 13,400 openings/yr
$72,270/yr
Very High
6
Proofreaders and copy markers
-0.6% 10-yr growth · 1,900 openings/yr
$49,210/yr
Very High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Rhetoric & Writing

How Wabash College stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of Utah
UT · Public
46
DW Score
$48K
1-yr earn
11.9x
ROI
Missouri State University-Springfield
MO · Public
47
DW Score
$47K
1-yr earn
12.9x
ROI
University of North Texas
TX · Public
47
DW Score
$45K
1-yr earn
11.6x
ROI
Top score
University of California-Berkeley
CA · Public
50
DW Score
$45K
1-yr earn
10.7x
ROI
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
AZ · Public
50
DW Score
$44K
1-yr earn
12.2x
ROI
Also at Wabash College

Other top programs at Wabash College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Wabash College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Rhetoric & Writing offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Rhetoric & Writing trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Rhetoric & Writing at Wabash College

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Rhetoric & Writing at Wabash College?

A score of 36/100 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 $485,659 in decade earnings vs $534,986 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Wabash College's Rhetoric & Writing program stand out?

Ranked #29 of 121 programs nationally, Wabash College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Is Wabash College a hidden gem for Rhetoric & Writing?

After financial aid, the average student pays $87,624 over four years — 55% below the $196,500 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.