by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Rhetoric & Composition covers Rhetoric And Composition. A Program That Focuses On The Humanistic And Scientific Study Of Rhetoric, Composition, Literacy, And Language/linguistic Theories And Their Practical And Pedagogical Applications. Includes Instruction In Historical And Contemporary Rhetoric/composition Theories; Composition And Criticism Of Written, Visual, And Mixed-Media Texts; Analysis Of Literacy Practices In Cultural And Cross-Cultural Contexts; And Writing Program Administration. Examples: [Rhetoric And Writing], [Rhetoric And Writing Studies], [Rhetoric And Composition]. Read on to learn the essential details every rhetoric & composition student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering rhetoric & composition programs.
In the U.S., rhetoric & composition is a widely-pursued major, with 1,400 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Rhetoric & Composition Schools ranking analyzes these 86 schools to determine the best overall colleges for rhetoric & composition students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of rhetoric & composition programs later in this article.
Programs in Rhetoric & Composition develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations rhetoric & composition graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a rhetoric & composition program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a rhetoric & composition major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several rhetoric & composition 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 48 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,094 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 164 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 94 |
People currently working in careers related to rhetoric & composition tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 44.9% |
| Master’s degree | 24.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 8.9% |
| Some college courses | 7.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.0% |
| First professional degree | 1.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in rhetoric & composition careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying rhetoric & composition can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to rhetoric & composition.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to rhetoric & composition.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,273,615 | 14.3% |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | 175,767 | 9.1% |
| Writers and Authors | 155,629 | -4.3% |
| Editors | 11,763 | 3.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of rhetoric & composition graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 rhetoric & composition graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers rhetoric & composition 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 |
With 86 different rhetoric & composition programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased rhetoric & composition school rankings to help you.
Those considering rhetoric & composition, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Creative Writing | 7,423 |
| Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing | 2,835 |
| Writing, General | 765 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies, Other | 446 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
