Home › California State University-Los Angeles › Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
39 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
39
Optimistic
39
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings $28,725/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market Large (48,200 openings/yr)
ROI 20.6x earnings multiple (7.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #18 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 $573K $562K $508K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 21.0x 20.6x 18.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.7x 7.5x 6.8x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 42% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 39 39 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)
$27,252
Out-of-state: $74,792 (7.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$16,452
40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,500
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,514
90% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $28,725/yr, roughly in line with the $29,653 national median for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 20.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies's typical career paths, with 62% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 11% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $28,725 far exceeding the $12,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #18 of 121 nationally, this is a top-5% Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $54,514 show a 90% jump from the $28,725 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About California State University-Los Angeles

California State University-Los Angeles accepts 92% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 21,478 in Los Angeles, CA. With 66% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $16,452 over four years — 40% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Los Angeles →

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 University-Los Angeles

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($98,811) Civil Engineering ($73,178) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($63,981) Mechanical Engineering ($55,405) Food Science and Technology ($52,806) Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology ($50,428) Fire Protection ($48,289) Air Transportation ($46,267)

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at California State University-Los Angeles?
A score of 39/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies careers?
With 62% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $507,954 in decade earnings vs $572,891 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes California State University-Los Angeles's Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies program stand out?
Ranked #18 of 121 programs nationally, California State University-Los Angeles lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →