Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates from Northern Arizona University earn $56,638 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $30,366.
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona • Master's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Northern Arizona University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Northern Arizona University 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 32 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Northern Arizona University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $56,638 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 Northern Arizona University, the mean median-earnings figure is $60,832, 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 Northern Arizona University is $30,366, which translates to roughly $253 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. 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 Northern Arizona University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $123,400 | $72,425 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $117,110 | $42,539 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | $102,760 | $38,000 |
| Computer Science | $99,067 | $26,500 |
| Construction Management | $99,015 | $22,589 |
| Computer Systems Analysis | $97,511 | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $95,388 | $19,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $91,941 | $23,413 |
| Civil Engineering | $88,184 | $25,188 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $86,375 | $30,500 |
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.