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Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
42
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,309/yr (16% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market Large (48,200 openings/yr)
ROI 16.8x earnings multiple (6.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #14 of 121 Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $537K $530K $487K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.0x 16.8x 15.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.8x 6.7x 6.1x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 42% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 42 42 35

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$31,652
Out-of-state: $79,172 (6.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$52,668
-66% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,750
5.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,626
53% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt's Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates start at $34,309/yr — above the $29,653 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 16.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 62% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $15,750 in median debt clears quickly against $34,309 in annual earnings.

Ranked #14 out of 121 programs, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt's Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $34,309 to $52,626 over five years (53% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

A 99% acceptance rate means California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 5,491 in Arcata, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 46% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt →

Top Career Paths

Technical writers $91,670/yr
Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490/yr
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary $78,270/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 121 schools offering Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies →

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Other Schools

Wabash College ($50,446) University of Utah ($47,950) Missouri State University-Springfield ($47,377) University of North Texas ($45,015) University of California-Berkeley ($44,553) Arizona State University Campus Immersion ($44,411) Arizona State University Digital Immersion ($44,411) Johns Hopkins University ($43,524)

Other Majors at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($55,589) Forestry ($52,810) Plant Sciences ($44,038) Computer Science ($37,153) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($36,586) Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics ($36,444) Political Science and Government ($36,079) Social Work ($35,693)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt's Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies program score?
This program scores 42/100 — on the lower end for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 62% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt rank so high for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies?
The #14 ranking out of 121 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →