Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania earn $43,607 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $26,000.
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Shippensburg, Pennsylvania • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 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 25 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $43,607 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 above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, the mean median-earnings figure is $55,417, 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 Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is $26,000, which translates to roughly $217 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $94,657 | $20,750 |
| Physics | $91,610 | — |
| Computer Engineering | $90,384 | $27,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $74,598 | — |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $73,570 | $26,000 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $71,938 | $23,300 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $71,432 | $26,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $70,459 | $26,319 |
| Mathematics | $69,153 | $22,954 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $68,919 | $24,518 |
View all 46 programs at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania →
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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.