College Rankings

Best Writing & Rhetoric Schools

The top 25 of 119 U.S. colleges offering an undergraduate Writing & Rhetoric degree, ranked by early-career earnings and return on investment — using each school's real, aid-adjusted net price rather than sticker tuition.

Is Writing & Rhetoric worth it?

It absolutely can be, provided you treat it as a professional credential rather than an excuse to take out heavy student loans. The modern economy runs on clear communication—tech companies need UX writers, defense contractors need proposal managers, and every major corporation needs internal communications staff. But because starting salaries in these roles are comfortable rather than astronomical, the financial math heavily favors low-cost public universities over elite private institutions. If you leverage this degree into technical writing or corporate strategy at a state school price, the payoff is swift and reliable. If you pay premium private-school prices for the exact same entry-level copywriting job, you'll be digging out of debt for a decade.

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#	School	State	Score	Median earnings	Net price / yr	10-yr net ROI
1	University of California-Berkeley	CA	54	$44,553	$13,481†	+$392K
2	Arizona State University Campus Immersion	AZ	50	$44,411	$14,967†	+$384K
3	The University of Texas at Arlington	TX	48	$37,883	$13,951†	+$323K
4	Clemson University	SC	47	$43,505	$22,253†	+$346K
5	University of North Texas	TX	46	$45,015	$15,649†	+$388K
6	Johns Hopkins University	MD	46	$43,524	$18,809	+$360K
7	George Mason University	VA	46	$40,114	$17,915†	+$329K
8	University of South Florida	FL	44	$35,634	$9,812†	+$317K
9	Metropolitan State University of Denver	CO	43	$39,526	$15,327†	+$334K
10	University of Utah	UT	42	$47,950	$16,200†	+$415K
11	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	MN	42	$38,407	$16,778†	+$317K
12	Missouri State University-Springfield	MO	41	$47,377	$17,613†	+$403K
13	Texas Tech University	TX	41	$39,943	$19,070†	+$323K
14	The University of Texas at Austin	TX	41	$38,713	$19,857†	+$308K
15	Columbia University in the City of New York	NY	41	$36,244	$21,590	+$276K
16	California State University-Los Angeles	CA	41	$28,725	$3,967†	+$271K
17	Texas State University	TX	40	$37,548	$16,805†	+$308K
18	Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania	PA	40	$37,446	$23,726†	+$280K
19	Wabash College	IN	39	$50,446	$24,336	+$407K
20	Weber State University	UT	39	$36,205	$10,258†	+$321K
21	Old Dominion University	VA	39	$35,716	$14,638†	+$299K
22	University of Pittsburgh-Bradford	PA	38	$35,700	$15,350†	+$296K
23	California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt	CA	38	$34,309	$13,171†	+$290K
24	St. Joseph's University-New York	NY	38	$33,205	$19,035	+$256K
25	University of Rhode Island	RI	37	$43,267	$21,440†	+$347K
26	Metropolitan State University	MN	37	$39,558	$16,863†	+$328K
27	Michigan State University	MI	37	$33,401	$19,680†	+$255K
28	University of Michigan-Flint	MI	36	$24,195	$7,007†	+$214K
29	University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg	PA	35	$35,700	$17,945†	+$285K
30	University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown	PA	35	$35,700	$18,202†	+$284K
31	University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus	CO	35	$34,339	$11,900†	+$296K
32	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	MI	34	$31,239	$13,138†	+$260K
33	Miami University-Oxford	OH	33	$42,287	$28,384†	+$309K
34	University of Nebraska at Kearney	NE	33	$35,726	$16,242†	+$292K
35	University of Wisconsin-Stout	WI	33	$35,423	$17,490†	+$284K
36	University of New Mexico-Main Campus	NM	32	$33,999	$15,489†	+$278K
37	Ohio University-Eastern Campus	OH	32	$23,399	$3,925†	+$218K
38	Oakland University	MI	31	$34,464	$9,120†	+$308K
39	San Francisco State University	CA	31	$32,431	$12,278†	+$275K
40	DePauw University	IN	31	$31,640	$22,264	+$227K
41	University of Washington-Tacoma Campus	WA	31	$29,758	$10,163†	+$257K
42	Ferris State University	MI	30	$23,508	$8,624†	+$201K
43	CUNY Brooklyn College	NY	30	$20,242	$3,103†	+$190K
44	Elmhurst University	IL	29	$33,556	$24,185	+$239K
45	Oglethorpe University	GA	29	$32,415	$19,509	+$246K
46	Ohio University-Lancaster Campus	OH	29	$23,399	$5,650†	+$211K
47	Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus	OH	28	$23,399	$5,755†	+$211K
48	Ohio University-Southern Campus	OH	28	$23,399	$5,993†	+$210K
49	Ohio University-Zanesville Campus	OH	28	$23,399	$5,746†	+$211K
50	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus	PA	27	$35,700	$30,434†	+$235K
51	Youngstown State University	OH	27	$31,763	$12,767†	+$267K
52	Georgia Southern University	GA	27	$31,447	$15,267†	+$253K
53	California State University-San Bernardino	CA	27	$20,726	$4,564†	+$189K
54	Emory University	GA	26	$29,909	$22,585	+$209K
55	University of Washington-Seattle Campus	WA	26	$29,758	$14,091†	+$241K
56	Binghamton University	NY	26	$24,377	$21,620†	+$157K
57	California State University-Long Beach	CA	26	$21,854	$10,440†	+$177K
58	Loyola University Maryland	MD	25	$34,013	$30,574	+$218K
59	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus	OH	25	$31,218	$24,022†	+$216K
60	University of Southern California	CA	25	$26,636	$32,740	+$135K
61	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	IL	25	$24,225	$14,355†	+$185K
62	Franklin and Marshall College	PA	24	$33,476	$36,425	+$189K
63	Pepperdine University	CA	24	$33,228	$58,098	+$100K
64	University of Arizona	AZ	24	$26,715	$16,674†	+$200K
65	University of Central Florida	FL	24	$26,282	$10,411†	+$221K
66	Saint Edward's University	TX	23	$31,518	$25,578	+$213K
67	Grand Valley State University	MI	23	$31,016	$16,317†	+$245K
68	Grand Canyon University	AZ	23	$31,006	$22,472	+$220K
69	Saginaw Valley State University	MI	23	$23,298	$10,775†	+$190K
70	Brown University	RI	22	$30,741	$25,184	+$207K
71	State University of New York at Oswego	NY	22	$28,103	$16,236†	+$216K
72	Purdue University-Main Campus	IN	22	$25,084	$14,600†	+$192K
73	Macalester College	MN	21	$29,487	$32,149	+$166K
74	University of Central Arkansas	AR	21	$27,366	$16,511†	+$208K
75	University of Nebraska at Omaha	NE	21	$26,360	$13,441†	+$210K
76	Kutztown University of Pennsylvania	PA	21	$26,242	$21,331†	+$177K
77	Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies	MO	21	$24,127	$10,566	+$199K
78	Pratt Institute-Main	NY	21	$18,842	$52,659	−$22K
79	Emerson College	MA	20	$33,441	$49,180	+$138K
80	Hamilton College	NY	20	$28,442	$28,985	+$168K
81	Central Washington University	WA	20	$27,832	$18,476†	+$204K
82	Elizabethtown College	PA	20	$26,534	$26,598	+$159K
83	University of Idaho	ID	20	$25,574	$14,831†	+$196K
84	Stephen F Austin State University	TX	20	$25,292	$14,260†	+$196K
85	Arcadia University	PA	19	$27,390	$29,466	+$156K
86	Lipscomb University	TN	19	$26,994	$24,739	+$171K
87	Manhattanville University	NY	19	$26,779	$20,991	+$184K
88	Calvin University	MI	19	$26,637	$22,992	+$174K
89	University of Central Oklahoma	OK	19	$25,268	$18,309†	+$179K
90	Seattle University	WA	18	$32,663	$34,662	+$188K
91	The University of Tampa	FL	18	$25,510	$36,211	+$110K
92	University of California-Riverside	CA	18	$21,765	$14,304†	+$160K
93	Southern New Hampshire University	NH	17	$30,077	$36,708	+$154K
94	Syracuse University	NY	17	$24,935	$38,793	+$94K
95	Drury University	MO	17	$24,127	$20,831	+$158K
96	Chapman University	CA	17	$23,939	$46,555	+$53K
97	Ohio University-Main Campus	OH	17	$23,399	$21,637†	+$147K
98	Western Michigan University	MI	17	$21,468	$15,273†	+$154K
99	Western Washington University	WA	16	$27,116	$21,193†	+$186K
100	Taylor University	IN	16	$25,471	$24,865	+$155K
101	University of North Carolina Wilmington	NC	16	$24,205	$20,109†	+$162K
102	University of Puget Sound	WA	16	$22,251	$38,394	+$69K
103	Northern Michigan University	MI	16	$21,696	$14,085†	+$161K
104	Roanoke College	VA	16	$19,925	$24,503	+$101K
105	Augustana College	IL	16	$19,775	$22,736	+$107K
106	Aquinas College	MI	16	$17,827	$16,626	+$112K
107	Truman State University	MO	16	$16,569	$12,780†	+$115K
108	Cornell College	IA	15	$18,241	$23,634	+$88K
109	Oberlin College	OH	15	$15,501	$38,645	+$430
110	Savannah College of Art and Design	GA	14	$28,418	$49,430	+$86K
111	Ithaca College	NY	14	$26,443	$33,926	+$129K
112	Columbia College Chicago	IL	14	$25,060	$26,598	+$144K
113	SUNY College at Potsdam	NY	14	$20,455	$13,624†	+$150K
114	Hamline University	MN	14	$20,059	$20,744	+$118K
115	Beloit College	WI	13	$21,720	$21,526	+$131K
116	Champlain College	VT	12	$23,237	$35,860	+$89K
117	Susquehanna University	PA	12	$19,753	$28,819	+$82K
118	SUNY at Purchase College	NY	12	$16,556	$18,913†	+$90K
119	Knox College	IL	11	$15,466	$24,595	+$56K

Top 10 programs by 10-year net ROI

How to read this: Median earnings = typical pay one year after graduation. Net price = average annual cost after grant aid, incl. living costs — not sticker tuition. 10-yr net ROI = ten years of earnings minus four years of net price. Score = the CollegeRanked Score (0–100) that sets the order — it blends ROI with longer-run earnings, job demand and automation resilience, so a school can outrank one with a slightly higher 10-yr ROI. † = public university — net price shown is the in-state cost; out-of-state students pay more. See the full methodology.

Why these schools rank where they do

UC Berkeley takes the top spot because of simple geography and a deeply entrenched alumni network. Berkeley boasts one of the few standalone Rhetoric departments in the country, and it sits right in the backyard of Silicon Valley. The program feeds graduates directly into highly lucrative UX writing, content strategy, and technical communication roles at companies like Apple, Google, and Meta. When your first job out of college involves shaping the user interface for software used by billions, your earnings potential skyrockets.

The broader story of this ranking, however, is the absolute dominance of Texas public universities. The University of Texas at Arlington, University of North Texas, Texas Tech, and UT Austin all crowd the top of the board. This is a direct reflection of the booming tech, aerospace, and defense sectors in Dallas and Austin. Companies like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Oracle have a voracious appetite for technical writers and proposal managers, turning these affordable state schools into incredibly efficient wealth-builders for their graduates.

Meanwhile, the penalty for high tuition is obvious when you look at the Ivy League. Columbia University sits down at number 15, beaten by regional state schools like Missouri State University-Springfield. Columbia offers undeniable prestige, but in a field where employers care strictly about your portfolio and your ability to synthesize complex information, a name-brand degree doesn't command a high enough salary premium to offset a massive Manhattan tuition bill.

What is Writing & Rhetoric?

Far from a traditional literature or creative writing degree, Writing and Rhetoric is the applied study of how language informs, persuades, and shapes human interaction. Graduates spend their days as technical writers decoding complex software for users, UX writers designing app interfaces, grant writers securing millions for nonprofits, or corporate communications specialists managing public relations and crisis strategy.

Frequently asked questions

How is this different from a traditional English degree?

An English degree focuses primarily on consuming and analyzing historical literature, whereas Writing and Rhetoric focuses on producing functional, persuasive text. Instead of writing essays on Shakespeare, you will take classes in document design, digital media, grant writing, and technical communication. It is a much more applied, career-oriented path designed for the corporate and nonprofit sectors.

Do I need a portfolio to get a job?

Yes. In the professional writing world, employers care far more about what you can do than where you went to school. You need a digital portfolio showcasing your ability to write clean, effective copy across different mediums—whether that is a software manual, a press release, or a UX wireframe. The highest-ranking programs on this list mandate internships and client projects precisely to help you build this portfolio before you graduate.

Is Writing & Rhetoric a good major for pre-law?

It is arguably one of the best. Rhetoric is the classical study of constructing and deconstructing arguments. The heavy emphasis on logical persuasion, audience analysis, and precise language provides a massive advantage for both the LSAT and the grueling reading and writing demands of law school.