Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 3 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$115,010 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting associate's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 2-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
91.1 yrsModeled economic break-even
−89%Modeled 10-year ROI
$46,418Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$46,418Median reported earnings · year 4
$40,736Average reported earnings · year 5
$25,250Median federal debt
47thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
3Reporting programs
3With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,877
- Federal debt
- $26,698
- Reporting programs
- 4
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $46,418
- Federal debt
- $25,250
- Reporting programs
- 3
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $47,141
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Reporting programs
- 153
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,116
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 76
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,788
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $65,582
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$36,220National median$46,41875th percentile$46,418
3 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Austin Community College District$50,5392University of Phoenix-Arizona$46,4183Full Sail University$36,220Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
EditorsSOC 27-3041 · 5 crosswalk linksEnglish Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1123 · 5 crosswalk linksWriters and AuthorsSOC 27-3043 · 5 crosswalk linksPostsecondary Teachers, All OtherSOC 25-1199 · 4 crosswalk linksProofreaders and Copy MarkersSOC 43-9081 · 2 crosswalk linksTechnical WritersSOC 27-3042 · 2 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Austin, TX | $50,539 | $13,967 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | University of Phoenix-ArizonaAssociate's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $46,418 | $25,250 | -88% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Full Sail UniversityAssociate's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $36,220 | $34,757 | -152% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.