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2025 Writing Studies Degree Guide

Do you keep a journal, scribble down stories or help out your classmates by editing their papers? If so, a Writing Studies major may be for you. You will learn how to write for different audiences and for different purposes. In any writing concentration, you will read and analyze poetry and fiction. You will learn different approaches and perfect your writing style while completing numerous assignments.

Some of the classes you will encounter will include writing theory and linguistics, creative writing, poetry, technical writing, format and layout and more.

You can pursue a general writing major or choose a concentration in Creative Writing, Technical and Scientific Writing or Rhetoric and Composition.

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Writing Studies Degrees in the United States

#81 Most Popular Major
13.5k Degrees Awarded
239 Schools Offering Degrees

Writing Studies was the 81st most popular major in the 2021-2022 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 13,544 degrees in this year alone. Our 2025 Best Writing Studies Schools ranking analyzes 187 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for writing studies students. Explore this or one of our many other custom writing rankings further below.

2025 Best Colleges for Writing Studies
2025 Overall Best Writing Studies Colleges >

Best Writing Studies Schools by Degree

Associate Degrees in Writing Studies
Bachelor's Degrees in Writing Studies
Master's Degrees in Writing Studies
Doctorate Degrees in Writing Studies
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What Are The Requirements For a Degree in Writing Studies

Creativity and an open mind will help you analyze and critique all different styles, genres, and themes of literature. Part of your education will include participating in poetry and prose readings. You may be required to read aloud your own writing, so you may want to work on your public speaking skills.

Working independently will be a large part of this major. You should be able to self motivate and complete your work by the appropriate deadlines. Learn to accept constructive criticism and use it to improve your writing style.

Try to get as much real-life experience with writing as possible. One suggestion is to join the school newspaper, volunteer as a tutor or work in the school writing center. Obtain an internship in a publishing house, newspaper or Media Company to give you an edge over other students. Start building a portfolio of work during your undergraduate years.

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Getting Accepted Into a Writing Studies Program

A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most writing degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic writing studies program qualifications, to serve in some writing careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.

Types of Writing Studies Degrees

There are various different levels of writing degrees. You can get anything from a in writing studies to the highest writing degree, a . Depending on the writing studies degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.

DegreeCredit RequirementsTypical Program Length
Associate Degree60-70 credits2 years
Bachelor’s Degree120 credits4 years
Master’s Degree50-70 credits1-3 years
DoctorateProgram required coursework including thesis or dissertationAt least 4 years

A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to writing, with approximately 46.2% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to writing tend obtained the following education levels.

Level of EducationPercentage of Workers
Bachelor’s Degree42.9%
Doctoral Degree16.1%
Master’s Degree12.8%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)8.5%
Some College Courses7.7%
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Most workers in writing have at least a bachelor's degree. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in writing studies have obtained.

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The education level required is different depending on the writing career you are seeking.

Career Opportunities for Writing Majors

Average Number of Jobs
$34.6k Average Starting Salary
7% Growth Job Outlook 2016-26

You can work in various fields with a writing degree. Many students work toward becoming a published author or poet, but it may take years to become published. Strong writers are also able to find work in editing, publishing, journalism, digital media, and advertising. There is a high demand for technical writers in certain fields. Professional or Tech Writers take difficult to understand material and concepts and rewrite them so the average person is able to understand them. Writing majors also become teachers, copywriters, freelance writers or work in business.

Growth Projected for Writing Careers

Want a job when you graduate with your writing degree? Writing Studies careers are expected to grow 7.0% between 2016 and 2026.

The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to writing studies.

Occupation NameProjected JobsExpected Growth
Professors258,7009.4%
Writers and Authors141,2007.6%
Editors125,600-1.4%
English Language and Literature Professors92,9009.8%
Technical Writers58,10010.9%
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How Much Money Do People With a Writing Degree Make?

Writing Studies graduates between <nil> reported earning an average of $34,589 in the <nil> timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $13,661 to as high as $82,205. As you might expect, salaries for writing graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.

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High Paying Careers for Writing Majors

Salaries for writing studies graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers writing grads often go into.

Occupation NameMedian Average Salary
English Language and Literature Professors$78,150
Professors$76,990
Technical Writers$75,500
Writers and Authors$73,090
Editors$69,480
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Getting Your Writing Studies Degree

With over 1,482 different writing degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased writing school rankings to help you with this.

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Writing Studies is one of 9 different types of English Language & Literature programs to choose from.

Writing Focus Areas

MajorAnnual Graduates
Creative Writing7,164
Professional, Technical, Business, & Scientific Writing3,129
Rhetoric & Composition1,835
General Writing853
Other Rhetoric & Composition/Writing Studies563

View All Writing Concentrations >

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Related MajorAnnual Graduates
General English Literature37,414
English Literature (Other)977
Literature769

View All Writing Related Majors >

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References

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