by our College Data Analytics TeamDo 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.
A degree in Writing Studies covers Rhetoric And Composition/writing Studies. Read on to learn the essential details every writing studies major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering writing studies programs.
Across the country, writing studies is a popular field of study, with 12,869 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Writing Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 643 schools to determine the best overall colleges for writing studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of writing studies programs later in this article.
Studies in Writing Studies emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations writing studies graduates commonly enter.
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.
The skill set emphasized by a writing studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a writing studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several writing studies degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 90 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 351 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 5,962 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6,318 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 146 |
People currently working in careers related to writing studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 38.1% |
| Master’s degree | 21.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.0% |
| Some college courses | 8.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 7.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in writing studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
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.
Majoring in writing studies can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to writing studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to writing studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,273,615 | 14.3% |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Technical Writers | 396,969 | 6.9% |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | 284,430 | 0.7% |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | 175,767 | 9.1% |
| Writers and Authors | 155,629 | -4.3% |
| Editors | 11,763 | 3.2% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of writing studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,712 |
| 4 years | $44,745 |
| 5 years | $51,958 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for writing studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers writing studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Editors | $100,346 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $88,437 |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | $70,619 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $68,967 |
| Writers and Authors | $63,195 |
| Technical Writers | $52,099 |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | $30,503 |
With 643 different writing studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased writing studies school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in writing studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Creative Writing | 7,423 |
| Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing | 2,835 |
| Rhetoric and Composition | 1,400 |
| Writing, General | 765 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies, Other | 446 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General | 34,210 |
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other | 1,064 |
| Literature | 783 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
