Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $20,059 place Hamline University below the $29,653 national median for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.
The financial case is thin at 2.6x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
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 7% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $25,000 against $20,059/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.2 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.
Ranked #118 of 121 Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs, Hamline University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $40,394 show a 101% jump from the $20,059 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.