Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn $34,026 median salary — below the national average for this program. Median debt: $61,000.
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, California • Master's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at California Institute of the Arts
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for California Institute of the Arts and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at the master's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 8 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at California Institute of the Arts, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $34,026 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $50,154 across all institutions offering Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies, graduates here earn below the national average for this program. Across all programs at California Institute of the Arts, the mean median-earnings figure is $36,993, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates at California Institute of the Arts is $61,000, which translates to roughly $508 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.79 is above the 1.0 threshold, meaning cumulative debt exceeds first-year post-completion earnings. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | $129,192 | — |
| University of North Texas | $80,536 | — |
| Johns Hopkins University | $79,084 | $33,763 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | $78,716 | $29,204 |
| University at Albany | $76,461 | — |
| Texas Tech University | $75,064 | — |
| Boise State University | $73,481 | — |
| San Diego State University | $73,113 | $47,128 |
| Northeastern University | $72,910 | — |
| Northeastern University Professional Programs | $72,910 | — |
Other Programs at California Institute of the Arts
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $57,920 | $109,180 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $56,207 | $96,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $49,840 | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $41,192 | $27,000 |
| Music | $40,294 | $19,500 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (current) | $34,026 | $61,000 |
| Music | $29,494 | $44,150 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $29,426 | $27,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $28,617 | $27,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $24,720 | — |
Other Schools with Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
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About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.