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Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Wabash College

Crawfordsville, IN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
36 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
38
Optimistic
36
Base Case
29
Pessimistic
Earnings $50,446/yr (70% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market Large (48,200 openings/yr)
ROI 2.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #29 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 $535K $529K $486K
Earnings Multiple 2.7x 2.7x 2.5x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 42% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 38 36 29

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$196,500
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$87,624
55% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $50,446 put Wabash College's Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies program 70% above the national median of $29,653 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

The financial case is thin at 2.7x — 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 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 6 months of the $50,446 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #29 of 121 nationally, this is a top-5% Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

About Wabash College

A 63% admission rate makes Wabash College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, a smaller institution with 845 students in Crawfordsville, IN. The average net cost of $87,624 over four years represents a 55% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Wabash College →

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

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) Clemson University ($43,505)

Other Majors at Wabash College

Economics ($51,815) History ($39,138) Political Science and Government ($32,834) Religion/Religious Studies ($26,455)

Explore the Trade Alternative

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

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Wabash College?
A score of 36/100 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 $485,659 in decade earnings vs $534,986 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Wabash College's Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies program stand out?
Ranked #29 of 121 programs nationally, Wabash College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Is Wabash College a hidden gem for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies?
After financial aid, the average student pays $87,624 over four years — 55% below the $196,500 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →