Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn $29,685 median salary — below the national average for this program.
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, Washington • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Pacific Lutheran University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Pacific Lutheran University and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at the bachelor'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 12 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Pacific Lutheran University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $29,685 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 $43,119 across all institutions offering Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies, graduates here earn below the national average for this program. Across all programs at Pacific Lutheran University, the mean median-earnings figure is $60,574, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. Median federal debt is not separately reported for this program at this school.. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| University of Richmond | $81,253 | — |
| University of Utah | $75,686 | — |
| Carnegie Mellon University | $71,205 | — |
| Iowa State University | $69,673 | — |
| University of California-Berkeley | $69,373 | $13,000 |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges | $68,522 | — |
| The University of Texas at Austin | $68,314 | $21,323 |
| Saint Johns University | $67,607 | — |
| Clemson University | $67,102 | $20,250 |
| Wabash College | $65,605 | $27,000 |
Other Programs at Pacific Lutheran University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $128,703 | $23,534 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $104,932 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $101,335 | $82,634 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $100,684 | $39,150 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $91,528 | $27,000 |
| Mathematics | $78,056 | $19,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $77,198 | $34,896 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $75,576 | $20,750 |
| Political Science and Government | $69,366 | $20,500 |
| Social Work | $67,458 | $21,774 |
Other Schools with Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Quick picks offering the same program — compare side by side
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.