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Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $38,713/yr (31% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)

Job Market Large (48,200 openings/yr)

ROI 12.4x earnings multiple (3.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #7 of 121 Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs Top 10%

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	$592K	$578K	$519K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.7x	12.4x	11.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.5x	3.4x	3.0x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	42%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	47	46	38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$46,712

Out-of-state: $171,112 (3.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$78,712

-69% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,323

6.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$61,896

60% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $38,713 put The University of Texas at Austin's Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies program 31% above the national median of $29,653 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.4x 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 12% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,323 represents roughly 7 months of the $38,713 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #7 of 121 programs, The University of Texas at Austin's Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $61,896 show a 60% jump from the $38,713 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About The University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin accepts 29% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, serving a student body of 42,100 in Austin, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas at Austin →

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

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at The University of Texas at Austin?

A score of 46/100 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 $519,329 in decade earnings vs $592,232 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →