Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies

Bachelor's degree · University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA

CIP 23.13

$44,553Median earnings 1 year after graduating
$69,373Median earnings 4 years after
$69,742Median earnings 5 years after
$13,000Median federal debt
42Graduates per year

How this program compares

Graduates of the bachelor's degree program in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at University of California-Berkeley earn a median of $44,553 one year after completing the program. Nationally, bachelor's degree graduates in this field earn a median of $48,471 four years after graduating (middle half: $32,167–$67,306). Median debt is $13,000, about 29% of first-year earnings – a manageable level by common guidelines.

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Bachelor's degree) at other California schools

CollegeEarnings (1 yr)Median debt
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
Arcata
$34,309$15,750
Pepperdine University
Malibu
$33,228$23,013
San Francisco State University
San Francisco
$32,431$16,689
California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$28,725$12,500
University of Southern California
Los Angeles
$26,636$19,131
Chapman University
Orange
$23,939—
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach
$21,854$15,000
University of California-Riverside
Riverside
$21,765$20,783
California State University-San Bernardino
San Bernardino
$20,726$16,254

Highest-paying Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies programs nationwide →

Other programs at University of California-Berkeley

Frequently asked questions

How much do Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates from University of California-Berkeley make?

The median salary is $44,553 one year after graduation and $69,742 after five years.

How much student debt do graduates have?

Graduates who borrowed federal loans owe a median of $13,000.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release (Field of Study data). Earnings are for graduates who received federal financial aid.