Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates from Emerson College earn $56,485 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $61,500.
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Emerson College
Boston, Massachusetts • Master's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Emerson College
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Emerson College 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 61 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Emerson College, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $56,485 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 above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Emerson College, the mean median-earnings figure is $56,629, 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 Emerson College is $61,500, which translates to roughly $513 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.09 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 Emerson College
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | $93,412 | $41,000 |
| Marketing | $76,623 | $21,500 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $74,005 | $54,435 |
| Journalism | $63,337 | $23,610 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $61,496 | $26,000 |
| Publishing | $61,304 | $44,360 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $59,301 | $23,719 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $59,202 | $23,717 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $57,493 | $41,000 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $57,318 | — |
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.