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2026 Best Value Rhetoric & Composition Schools in the Southwest Region

5 Colleges in the United States
$21,197 Avg Student Debt
$55,501 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Rhetoric & Composition Badge [Rhetoric & Composition](/majors/english-language-literature/writing-studies/rhetoric-and-composition/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

College Factual analyzed 25 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value rhetoric & composition schools.

What’s on this page:

2026 Best Value Rhetoric & Composition Schools in the Southwest Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in rhetoric & composition, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Rhetoric & Composition Schools

1

For return on investment in rhetoric & composition, no school beat The University Of Texas At El Paso this year. The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. In-state tuition and fees average $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Students borrow a median of $19,819 to complete the rhetoric & composition program here. Rhetoric & Composition graduates of The University Of Texas At El Paso earn a median of $63,112 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,819 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%.

2

University Of Houston Downtown is a great value for students pursuing a degree in rhetoric & composition, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Downtown is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,582 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,434 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $23,925. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $50,595. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.

3

Students looking for strong value in rhetoric & composition will find it at Northern Arizona University, which ranked #3. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $21,645. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $39,899. That is a strong return on a $21,645 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.

4

Students looking for strong value in rhetoric & composition will find it at University Of Arizona, which ranked #4. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,822 to complete the rhetoric & composition program here. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $34,240. Set against $24,822 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.

5

A rank of #5 makes Texas State University San Marcos one of the best values for rhetoric & composition. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Students borrow a median of $21,765 to complete the rhetoric & composition program here. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $37,618. Set against $21,765 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.

6

University Of New Mexico Main Campus came in at #6 for value in rhetoric & composition this year. University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Students from in state pay about $10,140 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $14,363. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $33,999. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.

7

University Of Central Oklahoma landed the #7 spot for rhetoric & composition value this year. Set in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,818, compared with $19,704 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,917 to complete the rhetoric & composition program here. Early-career rhetoric & composition graduates make about $44,085. Set against $21,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.

8

The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #8 for value in rhetoric & composition this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for rhetoric & composition graduates is $21,323. Soon after graduation, rhetoric & composition degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $57,819. That is a strong return on a $21,323 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 25 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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